10 comic books that are doing it right
So, as a kind of companion piece to this post and as a general "hurrah!" - also as proof that I don't just bitch about the Awful State Of Things but can hand out credit where credit's due (in my self-nominated positions as arbiter of taste, Grand High Poobah of forward thinking Art and Captain of the Seekrit PC Brigade*)
This is my list of 10 comics that have, in my view, stood out amidst a sea of lycra clad football breasts and vapid girlfriends being rescued to present a variety of female characters in exciting and interesting situations with damn fine plotlines. These are not just examples of non-sexist comics, they are examplers of outstanding pieces of comic creation that also happen to be non-sexist. None of them are dry, dusty or "worthy" and very few of them make a song and dance about their characterisation, it's just have that built in to them in the same way that sexism is built into far too many comics. They are all superb pieces of work in and of themselves, proving that you don't have to sacrifice art, storytelling or creative quality.
They are all, above everything, comics that I love to bits and I could read and re-read over and over again.
They are not in order of preference, because I couldn't jostle them about like that.
1) BONE by Jeff Smith. I could sing the praises of this forever. It's cute, smart, funny and whimsical without making you want to vomit. The art is wonderful - lovingly done traditional style inked characters - Disney without the schmaltz. Hidden princesses who fight for what they believe in and who don't come close to needing a handsome prince. Also I defy anyone to fail to enjoy Grandma Ben and the cow race or understanding the true meaning of STUPID, STUPID RAT CREATURES.
2) Promethea by Alan Moore. This is a beautiful comic - some of the artwork on the panels is lush beyond belief. It's a story about magic, mysticism, sci fi and superheroes. It has an array of female characters, from diverse backgrounds. Like a lot of Moore's work it's complex (and often complicated) and has plenty of subtelties that mean you pick up something new with each re-reading.
3) Phonogram by Gillen & McKelvie. You can look at the first issue here. There's the obvious inclusion of female magic - calls to Goddesses and suchlike, but beyond that it's the simple things - that women characters are present in number and without simply being add-ons to prove that the male characters are heterosexual.
4) The Invisibles by Grant Morrison. There's a lot going on in this piece of work, about many things, so I'll just touch on what I really like - female characters of colour not defined by their colour, transgendered and queer characters and subversion of what it means to be a superhero as well as what it means to save the world.
5) Y The Last Man by Brian K Vaughan. This one almost didn't make the list because despite it being about one man stuck in a world with only women, he is the central figure and more about his relationship with this strange, new world than anything else. However, it stands out because Vaughan has made a serious effort to imagine what a world without men might look and feel like, highlighting our own societal views and values. He also makes women as varied as men - they are good, bad and ugly. And many things in between.
6) Fell by Warren Ellis. On the surface, it's a detective comic but what I like about Fell is the way it subverts and marginalises traditional stereotypes often adopted by the genre. Femme fatales and dames are avoided. Instead we get more interested women like vitenamese Mayko who neatly avoids most of the "exotic eastern" paradigms. And our "mystery woman" is a dangerous nun in a Reagan mask.
7) Dykes to Watch Out For by Alison Bechdel. A series of comic strips about a group of lesbians home to the (in)famous Bechdel test. It is rather a niche comic, especially compared to the others, about a very specific subject - lesbian musings and slice-of-life. It's funny, grown-up and winsome.
8) Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi. I'm really growing to enjoy the comic medium as a way of presenting real stories and this is a wonderful example. Divided into two parts we follow Marjane as she grows up, leaves and returns to Iran. I like the way she is able to present the difficulties of the regime and of her life without ever seeming like the helpless victim.
9) Air by Willow and Perker. You wouldn't really expect a comic about an air hostess to make the list. Or my bookshelf. But it does. Aside from the lovely art and twisty plotline there's a lead heroine who treads a wonderful line between nascent hero and uncertain young woman. And Amelia Earhart is in it.
10) The Ballad of Halo Jones by Alan Moore. Featuring in 2000AD and competing against the likes of uber vamp (literally) Durham Red, here we have a female lead character who is real, realistic and grows up before our eyes. Her gung-ho attitude always makes me smile. Along with her cool 80s stylings. I wish there had been more of this than there was.
There are parts of this list that I am not happy with. Starting with the fact that there are so few female writers or artists involved - partly a sign of their lack in the field and partly a sign that my reading list is clearly not wide enough - suggestions welcomed. I'm also aware that these are, more or less, mainstream comics and that there are more and more varied representations in the indie sphere - again, suggestions welcome. The reason for the latter is that I wanted to include titles that it was easy to get hold of, and to show that you can walk into any Forbidden Planet (or even Waterstones) and come out with a real gem.
* You know, those powerful people with mind control powers who have infiltrated all levels of society so that no racist or sexist statement can ever be uttered or printed thus ensuring we live in a complete Utopia of fairness and equality. Ahem.
This is my list of 10 comics that have, in my view, stood out amidst a sea of lycra clad football breasts and vapid girlfriends being rescued to present a variety of female characters in exciting and interesting situations with damn fine plotlines. These are not just examples of non-sexist comics, they are examplers of outstanding pieces of comic creation that also happen to be non-sexist. None of them are dry, dusty or "worthy" and very few of them make a song and dance about their characterisation, it's just have that built in to them in the same way that sexism is built into far too many comics. They are all superb pieces of work in and of themselves, proving that you don't have to sacrifice art, storytelling or creative quality.
They are all, above everything, comics that I love to bits and I could read and re-read over and over again.
They are not in order of preference, because I couldn't jostle them about like that.
1) BONE by Jeff Smith. I could sing the praises of this forever. It's cute, smart, funny and whimsical without making you want to vomit. The art is wonderful - lovingly done traditional style inked characters - Disney without the schmaltz. Hidden princesses who fight for what they believe in and who don't come close to needing a handsome prince. Also I defy anyone to fail to enjoy Grandma Ben and the cow race or understanding the true meaning of STUPID, STUPID RAT CREATURES.
2) Promethea by Alan Moore. This is a beautiful comic - some of the artwork on the panels is lush beyond belief. It's a story about magic, mysticism, sci fi and superheroes. It has an array of female characters, from diverse backgrounds. Like a lot of Moore's work it's complex (and often complicated) and has plenty of subtelties that mean you pick up something new with each re-reading.
3) Phonogram by Gillen & McKelvie. You can look at the first issue here. There's the obvious inclusion of female magic - calls to Goddesses and suchlike, but beyond that it's the simple things - that women characters are present in number and without simply being add-ons to prove that the male characters are heterosexual.
4) The Invisibles by Grant Morrison. There's a lot going on in this piece of work, about many things, so I'll just touch on what I really like - female characters of colour not defined by their colour, transgendered and queer characters and subversion of what it means to be a superhero as well as what it means to save the world.
5) Y The Last Man by Brian K Vaughan. This one almost didn't make the list because despite it being about one man stuck in a world with only women, he is the central figure and more about his relationship with this strange, new world than anything else. However, it stands out because Vaughan has made a serious effort to imagine what a world without men might look and feel like, highlighting our own societal views and values. He also makes women as varied as men - they are good, bad and ugly. And many things in between.
6) Fell by Warren Ellis. On the surface, it's a detective comic but what I like about Fell is the way it subverts and marginalises traditional stereotypes often adopted by the genre. Femme fatales and dames are avoided. Instead we get more interested women like vitenamese Mayko who neatly avoids most of the "exotic eastern" paradigms. And our "mystery woman" is a dangerous nun in a Reagan mask.
7) Dykes to Watch Out For by Alison Bechdel. A series of comic strips about a group of lesbians home to the (in)famous Bechdel test. It is rather a niche comic, especially compared to the others, about a very specific subject - lesbian musings and slice-of-life. It's funny, grown-up and winsome.
8) Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi. I'm really growing to enjoy the comic medium as a way of presenting real stories and this is a wonderful example. Divided into two parts we follow Marjane as she grows up, leaves and returns to Iran. I like the way she is able to present the difficulties of the regime and of her life without ever seeming like the helpless victim.
9) Air by Willow and Perker. You wouldn't really expect a comic about an air hostess to make the list. Or my bookshelf. But it does. Aside from the lovely art and twisty plotline there's a lead heroine who treads a wonderful line between nascent hero and uncertain young woman. And Amelia Earhart is in it.
10) The Ballad of Halo Jones by Alan Moore. Featuring in 2000AD and competing against the likes of uber vamp (literally) Durham Red, here we have a female lead character who is real, realistic and grows up before our eyes. Her gung-ho attitude always makes me smile. Along with her cool 80s stylings. I wish there had been more of this than there was.
There are parts of this list that I am not happy with. Starting with the fact that there are so few female writers or artists involved - partly a sign of their lack in the field and partly a sign that my reading list is clearly not wide enough - suggestions welcomed. I'm also aware that these are, more or less, mainstream comics and that there are more and more varied representations in the indie sphere - again, suggestions welcome. The reason for the latter is that I wanted to include titles that it was easy to get hold of, and to show that you can walk into any Forbidden Planet (or even Waterstones) and come out with a real gem.
* You know, those powerful people with mind control powers who have infiltrated all levels of society so that no racist or sexist statement can ever be uttered or printed thus ensuring we live in a complete Utopia of fairness and equality. Ahem.