The Role Of Women At The Big Two
Those crazy cads over at Bad Genius are no strangers to discussing the role of women in comics. Why stop a good thing, they say, with Cindy Cooper's article focusing on why fangirls are often left out in the cold. Jumping from feminism to Lynda Carter to American Girl is an impressive feat, but she handles it well.
Check out some snippets:
That is not to say that there aren't more developed depictions of women in super hero comics. One example is the push to make Ms. Marvel a major player in the Marvel U, a heroine with some authority. I appreciate moves like that. However, it's a small step and since the marketing is not there how are girls and women to know that there might be a story they'd enjoy coming from the Big 2?
It's true that, movies about super heroines haven't delivered financially. The reason being is that the efforts, for example Elektra and Catwoman, have been abysmal. It seems movies featuring super heroines as the title characters haven't been given the same amount of respect as movies featuring their male counterparts. Just look at the recent Catwoman costume. You can't look at that costume and tell me there was respect involved.
There is a lot more at the Bad Genius blog, so head over there and read the article.
Is Cindy right? Are women strategically left out of the industry or is it simply a marketing decision and it's easier to keep the fanboy dollars than actively recruit the fangirl dollars? It's a question that also plagues the gay community as it's another lifestyle* that seems to be in direct odds with the stereotypical idea of a fanboy. Will it be possible at some point soon to make a women or gay focused book that doesn't alienate the hardcore Spider-Man or Superman audience? I'm glad to see some major characters like Spider-Woman and the Young Avengers getting the spotlight, but it's only the first step.
Something tells me that with ads like the one above it will be a while.
Goblin
Posted to Comics on 3 June 2008
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Other stuff like this: Feminism, Homosexuality, Women
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