Kurt Busiek took to the comments thread of an article on The Beat yesterday to settle the score on the sexualization of women in the comics industry.
WTF? Wednesday: Girl Gone Wild
Kissing is the path to ruin.
WTF? Wednesday: ‘Full Hands, Empty Heart’
Happy endings? Sorry. Those are only for same-race couples.
WTF? Wednesday: Miss Peeping Tom
Insults. Shaming. Physical intimidation. Ah, love.
WTF? Wednesday: ‘That Strange Girl’
Climb into that heteronormative box, kids.
WTF? Wednesday: Cruel to Be Kind
All the sexist body-shaming one comic can possibly deliver.
WTF? Hall of Fame: Archie and Betty’s Motel Scandal
Remember that time Archie and Betty checked into a motel cabin far from Riverdale, shed their clothes and spent a memorable night together in front of a crackling fire? And then Betty’s dad showed up in a rage just as Archie was putting his clothes back on, subjecting them to a lengthy diatribe about values … Continue reading WTF? Hall of Fame: Archie and Betty’s Motel Scandal
BatWondy Nation Weeps
Erika's BatWondy dreams are smashed to blue and red bits.
WTF? Wednesday: Snow’s Ugly Lecture
Fables character Mrs. Spratt (as in wife of Jack) is easy to hate. She’s spiteful and seems to delight in saying awful things to vulnerable people, which sucks considering that she’s a nurse. Those deplorable characteristics were evident in issue #100 during the birth of Beauty and Sheriff Beast’s child. She coldly dismissed Beast’s concerns … Continue reading WTF? Wednesday: Snow’s Ugly Lecture
WTF? Wednesday: Punishing Diana
In the world of many superheroes, killing a villain is verboten. Theoretically, doing so would undermine their moral authority and blur the line between angels and demons — even if the target is a cold-blooded murderer with no remorse and a high recidivism rate. Better to break a few of the bad guy’s bones and … Continue reading WTF? Wednesday: Punishing Diana
WTF? Wednesday: Justice Served Cold – Or Toasted!
For many a geek, food ads featuring superheroes were integral to the childhood comic-reading experience. In between scenes of Wonder Woman whupping Nazis, you’d see spots for Hostess fruit pies — usually illustrated as nicely as the main story itself — starring Justice League members. Those ads are considered retro comedy gold now, but my … Continue reading WTF? Wednesday: Justice Served Cold – Or Toasted!
WTF? Wednesday: Longsuffering Sue
Saying that Sue Storm has come a long way since the pre-feminist era is like saying Joan Rivers has had a little work done. While the portrayal of female characters was sketchy across the board in decades past, Sue was practically her own category. We know her today as an incredibly powerful heroine, a leader, … Continue reading WTF? Wednesday: Longsuffering Sue
WTF? Wednesday: Lois Goes Black, Manages to Go Back
Before I start making fun of Lois Lane’s attempts to understand the plight of my people in the early 1970s, I’ll say this much: A silly as Lois Lane #106 looks now, it was probably quite a powerful comic book when it first published, and I say it’s better to address racism awkwardly than not … Continue reading WTF? Wednesday: Lois Goes Black, Manages to Go Back
Fast Times at Riverdale High
I hadn't intended to write about anything Archie-related again so soon, but when my friend Craig sent me this link, well, it had to happen. Canadian sketch comedy group The Cross Eyed Bear, with the help of donors from the Vancouver film industry, put together a brilliant, live-action movie trailer that imagines the Archie gang … Continue reading Fast Times at Riverdale High
WTF? Wednesday: Three’s Company
If a picture says a thousand words, the World's Finest covers of yore are entire novels. Faulkner novels. As in, engrossing and deeply troubling. While this storied title was innocent, action-packed fun for generations of comic book-loving kids, things look very different when viewed from an adult perspective. It's like when you look at H.R. … Continue reading WTF? Wednesday: Three’s Company
Girls Gone Geek 