Superhero Feminist Round-up

[the_pending]

As a feminist who enjoys comics, I have some issues. For one, I love Spider-man, but Spider-girl just bores me.  Same with Miss Marvel. Same with She-Hulk, Wasp, Super girl, etc. Boring, boring, boring. Even Wonder Woman only holds my interest because I know it's supposed to (which seriously calls my feminist cred into question on some sort of

Comments

[htbthomas]

Aw... obviously we don't agree on this, because Spider-Girl and She-Hulk are two of my favorite books. I don't read the DC titles outside of Superman (though Birds of Prey is slowly making its way on my list).

But all the Bratz stuff? Ew. I totally agree about that. :P

And LOL! My friend van_el was just telling me about that Planned Parenthood comic! hahahaha...

[the_pending]

I probably shouldn't have pulled out Spider-girl and She-Hulk, because I don't think they're poorly written in any way, I just can't stay interested. My brother once gave me a Spider-girl book as a gift and once I finished it I realized I couldn't remember a thing that had happened; it had made zero impact on me.
But "I don't find it involving" is a totally different league from actual douchebaggery in the comics industry: things like the infamous tentacle-rape Heroes for Hire cover, or the MJ bending over doing laundry statuette.

That Planned Parenthood comic needs a re-release. It's fantastic and I want a copy. ^_^

[celestialblendr]

Why can't the X-men be the X-men for girls? That's actually been one of the less forced or trite gender-mixed comics.

See, I've never found the "derivative female character" (i.e. Spider-girl, She-Hulk, Supergirl, etc.) particularly empowering. It's always seemed like a cheesy afterthought. Wonder Woman is a notable exception to this. I haven't read most of those comics, but I see it as part of a larger phenomenon of the token female afterthought/sidekick thing in all sorts of pop culture

[the_pending]

That's what a lot of comments on Jezebel said (although they were mainly in the spirit of "Have you seen Hugh Jackman? Rowr.")

I'm all conflicted over whether Jean Grey is a powerful female figure (because she becomes powerful enough to destroy the universe) or a retroactive steriotype (she nearly does-- women are so hysterical!) but that's because the women in X-Men tend to be complicated. Emma's a bitch and a powerful woman, but it's clear that she's not one because of the other; thanks to Astonishing X-Men she's actually become one of my all-time favorites. Although, arguably, beyond her actual mutant powers, one could argue that Emma's other super-powers are bitchery and shopping.

I didn't even think about it, but now that you mention it, Bratz girls are the girls who made my K-12 life miserable. I mean, I didn't give a damn when it was just ugly dolls, but the 4 girls in the movie are like walking archetypes of the girls I hated in my former life. Creepy.

[mrvoid]

I think that reading the story on its own, one could go either way with Dark Phoenix. But given Byrne's other work, which takes... let's be really, incredibly charitable and say "a dim view of certain aspects of feminist theory"... I think it's safe to read Dark Phoenix as the story of the PMS fit from hell. The lesson seems to read like, "women really can't handle power."

Semi-side-note... you still need to read Alias. Especially if you're looking for a superhero story with a female lead that doesn't suck.

[the_pending]

I do read Buffy: Season 8, and really enjoy it... I have a big soft spot for Joss Wheadon. I feel like he's made a name for himself writing strong female characters.

[the_pending]

I don't think it would bother me if was just the recent runs I haven't been interested in; good creative teams come and go. My lack of interest is more deep-seeded, extending all the way to the golden age WW comics (which should be crazy enough to hold anyone's interest).

But it might be one of those self-fulfilling prophecies: because I think I don't like it I don't pick it up, so I never really give it an honest chance. Next time I'm at the comic book store I'll try and see if they have any Rucka issues, I always appreciate a recommendation.

[nitf]

I second the Birds of Prey recommendation, although you you may have to go the trade route for the bulk of Simone's run, as she just finished up her run and is headed to Wonder Woman (and I'm pretty sure WW will hold your interest THEN). As for BOP, Simone's departure doesn't mean you shouldn't still pick it up, as Sean McKeever is her successor and artists Nicola Scott and Doug Hazlewood are staying.