Hey, darksigma! Bulge Debate Alert!
Many folks on my list have already heard about this (apparently it's about a month old), but I was just made aware of it. I'm calling out darksigma in particular because the packaging on many of her male characters tends to draw a lot of commentary, so I thought she might be interested/amused with the whole business.
Anyway, an upcoming issue of JSA (Justice Society of America) features a painted Alex Ross cover. This isn't all that unusual, because all the issues of JSA have Alex Ross covers. This upcoming picture is of Citizen Steel, a character whose superpower lets him turn his body into living metal. Alex Ross uses actual models to paint from when he's doing his superhero art, so for the painting, he appears to have taken a model wearing little besides underwear and chromed the whole thing up, underwear and all, to demonstrate the living metal body. This picture has now caused something of a ruckus among male fans. Why?
Because Alex Ross dared to not neuter his model, thereby suggesting that male superheroes have, ZOMG, penises!
Now, personally, crotch or no crotch, I feel that the artwork is absolutely beautiful. It's a wonderful handling of a reflective metallic surface, and I'm pretty happy that I was already going to get that issue, anyway (even without the Ross covers, JSA has been excellent. The Ross covers are just a nice bonus).
For anyone wanting to read up on the argument itself, I'll point you to the Comics212 Blog, which contains an interesting a funny write-up of the whole affair. It's also somewhat biased, but it's biased in a direction that I agree with, so that makes it okay! :D
Anyway, an upcoming issue of JSA (Justice Society of America) features a painted Alex Ross cover. This isn't all that unusual, because all the issues of JSA have Alex Ross covers. This upcoming picture is of Citizen Steel, a character whose superpower lets him turn his body into living metal. Alex Ross uses actual models to paint from when he's doing his superhero art, so for the painting, he appears to have taken a model wearing little besides underwear and chromed the whole thing up, underwear and all, to demonstrate the living metal body. This picture has now caused something of a ruckus among male fans. Why?
Because Alex Ross dared to not neuter his model, thereby suggesting that male superheroes have, ZOMG, penises!
Now, personally, crotch or no crotch, I feel that the artwork is absolutely beautiful. It's a wonderful handling of a reflective metallic surface, and I'm pretty happy that I was already going to get that issue, anyway (even without the Ross covers, JSA has been excellent. The Ross covers are just a nice bonus).
For anyone wanting to read up on the argument itself, I'll point you to the Comics212 Blog, which contains an interesting a funny write-up of the whole affair. It's also somewhat biased, but it's biased in a direction that I agree with, so that makes it okay! :D