What People Had to Say About DC's Survey

[aeka]

In response to the survey DC did at the start of their relaunch that proved "women don't read comics," various blogs, comic retailers, and even comic creator Gail Simone commented on the issue finding the results skewed at best.

The Boat Builder wrote an excellent article on the matter, and the part that really stood out to me was this bit right

Comments

[perletwo]

My feeling about surveying comics fandom is that when you're dealing with a population made up largely of statistical outliers of one sort or another, the term "representative sample" tends to lose its meaning...

[shadwing]

What they should do is set up these survey's at someplace like SDCC or NYCC where there is a much more diverse pool than an online survey, especially since that online thing was so skewed they only wanted to hear from certian people (ie people who had already put money down for the books) rather than the comic reading community as a whole (ie your actual target demographic who you want to reach and sell your stuff to)

Seriously look at any of the cons these days, back in the mid to late 90's they were mostly male attendence...speaking from experence here I was a female comic geek among male geeks and I was looked at like a rare almost extinct creature.

Now I go to cons and I'm seeing many more female geeks there because they love comics not because they were dragged there by a boyfriend or sibling.

DC as usual...has marketing fail.

[katieupsidedown]

Personally, I had a manga period in high school and early college, but then I got sick of it and now I buy nothing but DC.

I have a good number of female friends here who love the idea of comics, and love the characters - many keep up to date by reading Wikipedia every few months - but none of them read comics at all. When I ask them why, the things I hear most often are

1) There is too much ridiculous backstory to catch up on, even when dealing with "rebooted" New 52 books

2) They've heard too many heartbroken fans talk about their favorite characters get killed, mischaracterized, or just erased from continuity

... I don't think either of these things are issues women have with comics so much as issues everyone who is aware of comics might have. The only thing here that I think differs by gender is that men probably have a bit more awareness of characterization and story for characters because of watching superhero cartoons growing up more than most women did.

[bradygirl_12]

Maybe I was an unusual girl, but I read DC Comics and Marvel as soon as I learned how to read and watched dozens of superhero cartoons. I knew all the backstories and canon and then they blew it all up and now change canon and continuities every five years or so. *rolls eyes*

So I think that the survey was very skewed and if DC really found out how many females are out there loving their characters but turned off by their rampant sexism and other fail, they'd faint, the dears.

[bradygirl_12]

As usual, DC is fail. I haven't bought their comics (or Marvel's) in years because I'm not into gory violence, which they seem to delight in nowadays. Also, their insistence on killing off characters willy-nilly and then bringing them back almost immediately cheapens emotional impact. They killed off my favorite characters years ago or said they didn't exist so I said, "Goodbye".

Of course, they don't care about attracting female readers otherwise they wouldn't diss characters like Wonder Woman and an endless array of female characters. I have a multitude of female friends who love DC and create all kinds of fanworks for that universe. Some even buy the comics! I stick to fanfic because for me, it's way more satisfying than canon.

I have little to no interest in manga.

And women don't buy comics? When I was in college, I regularly bought a dozen per month. If DC wants to attract female readers, start reaching out to them.

[aeka]

Also, their insistence on killing off characters willy-nilly and then bringing them back almost immediately cheapens emotional impact. They killed off my favorite characters years ago or said they didn't exist so I said, "Goodbye".

So much motto. That's about the one thing most people (including) fear most about these franchise reboots, all in the name of "great storytelling."

I must have the patience of a saint if I haven't given up on them yet. Then again I only picked up my first comic six years ago.

[bradygirl_12]

The reboot isn't great storytelling, it's just a desperation ploy on DC's part to boost sales. So much of it irritates me, even a detail like trashing the high numbers of Action and Detective Comics and other titles to start with #1, 2, 3...

But then, our culture scoffs at history and everything has to be up-to-the-minute, which usually dates everything dreadfully.

You are patient! :) I keep up with the comics by comms like this but can't bring myself to spend good money on any of the stuff coming out right now. I guess I was spoiled by the days of paying less than a buck for a comic, LOL!

Fanfic, baby! It costs nothing but my time. :)

[aeka]

The reboot isn't great storytelling, it's just a desperation ploy on DC's part to boost sales.

Yup. That was the same excuse they gave for Crisis on Infinite Earths.

I guess I was spoiled by the days of paying less than a buck for a comic, LOL!

I think I was still an egg and sperm cell in those days. :<

Fanfic, baby! It costs nothing but my time. :)

Wanting some Huntress/Power Girl fic right about now. :3

The Flip Test

[gsyh]

When checking out new comics, I do the flip test. I take a quick flip, scan for the female characters, and...

1. Are they in T&A pin up poses even in the middle of a fight?
2. Are the only costume choices catsuits and bikinis?
3. Are all the women's faces drawn interchangably identical?

If so, I put it down.

Black Summer by Warren Ellis and Juan Jose Ryp made it past the flip test wonderfully.

Re: The Flip Test

[aeka]

I like your style. :)

Re: The Flip Test

[aaron_bourque]

The Comics Code was a bunch of stupid, but it did have a few useful little rules.

"Nudity in any form is prohibited, as is indecent or undue exposure.
"Suggestive and salacious illustration or suggestive posture is unacceptable.
"Females shall be drawn realistically without exaggeration of any physical qualities.
"Seduction and rape shall never be shown or suggested.
"Nudity with meretricious purpose and salacious postures shall not be permitted in the advertising of any product; clothed figures shall never be presented in such a way as to be offensive or contrary to good taste or morals."

Of course, you couldn't be shown to oppose authority figures, nor have homosexual relationships, nor use the word "horror" or "terror" in its title, and some other dumb rules.

::sigh:: Nothing's perfect . . .

Re: The Flip Test

[theidolhands]

#3 -- we're on the same page there.

One of the reasons I initially didn't like Marc Silvestri on Marvel -- Jean & Storm do not look alike. However, there are other elements of his comic-book style that I now miss.

I'm sad to see that it's happening to male characters as well. At least Silvestri didn't have a problem with slim male characters. Or maybe it's just the changing times.