The State of Comics

Was reading an article HERE about the state of comics and the old "Women in Comics" debate. I got some thoughts.

--There ARE women in comics! Just like there are passionate male creators and talent in comics. You just gotta look for em. Good stories are out there but you gotta give em a chance. Search out the indie side too folks. Just cause it aint in the big two, doesn't mean its not viable. Some great webcomics are done by women. Some great art done by women. Look at the likes of Amanda Conner, who is one of my top five favorite artists working right now. And thats not cause she has boobs and no penis. Cause her art is playful, fun and alive, like I like my comic art to be.

--I'm tired of people attacking the big two saying that its THEIR fault the industry sucks. Such waste of time and energy could be better spent making YOUR OWN comics and doing good work. Sharpening your craft to do great stories. If something is great, it will be noticed eventually. No one should just flock to your story cause you release it and you are a female to make it more equal. No, you gotta make good comics on your own. Then IF YOU WANT TO, and are offered the chance, you can take a stab at a big two character if thats your goal. Instead of pointing fingers, just make good comics. Keep your own back porch swept off. Let them polish the brass on the Titanic and you just keep doing your thing. Trust me, comics will not go away. Not in our lifetime anyway. and good is good, it will be found.

--I get tired of the women dress like sluts in comics debate as well. Look, superhero comics are FANTASY. That simple. You can choose to buy into that or not. But alot of things in fantasy are designed to look visually appealing. And I think there's no problem with a female character displaying some of her womanhood. By the same token, look at the men. Tight clothes, muscles bulging, shirts off, testosterone seeping through their pores. And we call them "gay overtone comics." Makes no sense to me if you put it that way. To me, both the male and the female of a FANTASY BASED GENRE (that being Superheroes) get a pass to display such costumes. Now of course, there's a line there. Like recently there was a pic of the new Zatanna costume where her pants barely covered her mooseknucle. That offends me not from a feminist stance but from a "hey, design something at least FUNCTIONAL" standpoint. Just like males, sometimes capes are not functional. Same token. Hope that is clear.

--The female characters I have shown the world so far (in the pages of PLEASANT LIFE and ANNA POCALYPSE) have been for the most part non-fantasy. And they are written/created as such. So they have more "realistic" clothes as I would say. More functional. More "if this REALLY happened, then a girl would probably wear this" type of mentality. But I got stuff coming that is sort of superhero genre deconstructionist and you will see some of the over the top type of styling from that genre. Additionally, I hope that is made clear to my audience. (you guys!)

--I just get tired of the bickering. More time could be spent making good work instead of pointing fingers. I like the big two. They got their place and its definitely cool. But that is one side of the street. My side of the street is indie and I love the neighborhood for a variety of reasons. And I am not about to justify why my side is "better" by taking pot shots at the big two. Its a Hatfields vs. McCoys type of thing. Just keep your own damn porch swept off and make good art. To quote Rocky Balboa yet again:

"You let people stick a finger in your face and tell you you're no good. And when things got hard, you started looking for something to blame, like a big shadow. Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place and I don't care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard ya hit. It's about how hard you can get it and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done! Now if you know what you're worth then go out and get what you're worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain't you! You're better than that!"

In other words, quit yer bitchin'. Make some goddamn art.

;)

T