From DC’s The Source Blog last week, the announcement that as of issue #55, Amy Reeder will be the new cover artist for Supergirl. Though that should be awesome enough news on its own, the post came with a preview of cover art for Supergirl #55 – and it’s beautiful. This is going to make Cover Solicits more fun than ever. Absolutely stunning.
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New SHE HAS NO HEAD! is up – a review of Linda Medley’s excellent tome, Castle Waiting.
Tags: fantagraphics
New SHE HAS NO HEAD! is up, a review of Brian Wood’s new miniseries DV8: Gods And Monsters, as well as a discussion of why THIS is comics for men AND women, without compromise.
In case you guys missed this a few weeks ago (in addition to being featured originally on Comics Alliance, it was also picked up by two of my favorite sites – Project Rooftop and Jezebel) here is part one of a great interview about superhero fashion with the illustrious Tim Gunn and comics historian Alan Kistler for the series Crazy Sexy Geeks.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fQwU7uUPcU&hl=en_US&fs=1&]
As I said in a comment on Jezebel when it popped up there…I don’t really want to criticize either of these guys and this interview IS completely awesome….HOWEVER (isn’t there always a however?) I find it pretty frustrating that two such smart guys are just skipping over a huge part of the problem of the idealized body types (I’ll give Tim a pass since he’s not a superhero expert). The issue is not inequality between male and female superheroes because they are both idealized forms…of course they are…the problem is what those forms are BASED on. For the most part men get idealized ATHLETIC forms, which denotes power, ability, and strength (etc); while for the most part women get idealized MODEL/PORN STAR forms, which denotes beauty, sexuality, and far too often submissiveness.
And this same theme carries through to costumes and posing. Women get posed sexually, men get posed powerfully.
Yes, both sexes wear spandex, but the men are fully covered up (with a few usually logical exceptions – Namor comes instantly to mind) while women are subjected to swimsuits, thongs, fishnets, heels, unzipped body suits, skirts, bare midriffs, boob windows, and beyond (as well evidenced in their discussion in this clip) without any regard for if that fits their “character” the same way it makes sense for a character like Namor.
So while I still love this (and both these guys) it’s frustrating to see them blow off such a complicated issues with “see? it’s the same inequalities and idealization for BOTH the men and the women”.
It’s not.
If it was there wouldn’t have been a discussion of women in that clip as being portrayed as vulgar and slutty. Those characters are NOT vulgar and slutty (not that there’s anything particularly wrong with those characteristics) but it’s unfair to pigeonhole them as such because men have designed ridiculous costumes for them and given them idealized porn star figures for years.
Okay, end of rant (although I’ve been working on a post that delves more deeply into this issue…so of course expect to see more in the future). If you liked this first clip of Gunn and Kistler, check out part two here.
New She Has No Head! is up at CSBG. A review of three new superheroine books from Marvel – Firestar, Sif, and Her-Oes.
Tags: sif
I took some time (five minutes to be exact) to draw with Tim and his lovely girls again for 5 Minute Marvels. I chose Catwoman, and the girls (and Tim) really outdid themselves…I love how they’re incorporating color…I need to be less afraid of color.
Anyway, if you haven’t checked out 5 Minute Marvels yet, you should. They’re sweeping the internet with tons of great artists from Ross Campbell to Colleen Coover sending in original work for the site, and it’s just a great thing to see kids and parents drawing together…superhero or otherwise (although I’m obviously pre-disposed to superheroes!). Tim’s site has been really catching on – recently getting featured on Wired and Whitney Matheson’s Pop Candy – not to mention a slew of great comics sites like Robot 6, Comics Alliance, and Kate Beaton’s site – so don’t fall behind – get there before the rush!
On Tim’s other site Marvel Smartass he currently has a great interview up right now with Project Rooftop and comics creator extraordinare, Dean Trippe, so check that out while you’re at it.
A bonus for you SHNH fans this week, as I have a second post up today, a follow up on my Ross Campbell Spotlight post of yesterday. Today there’s an epic interview of Ross Campbell up. Check it out!
A spotlight on phenom indie creator Ross Campbell over on She Has No Head! Also, tune in tomorrow for an in-depth interview with Campbell on SHNH as well.
I know what I want for my birthday this year. Are you ready? Are you listening? Is this thing on?!
BATMAN!!!!!!!
Here is where you can buy it for me…since I’m sure that is your next question. That is all. Please return to your lives.