You are currently browsing the daily archive for January 19th, 2007.
Um. Wow?
Okay. Hargrove is, like, 79. But you know, both my Grandmothers are older than that. And neither would make such an idiotic statement. Get over that whole “slavery” thing? First off, how often do we ear complaints about slavery? Oh sure, you might hear a crack from Dave Chapelle or Chris Rock while they are making a pointed commentary about race and culture. But seriously, when was the last time some black guy walked up to one of us white guys and started going off on us about slavery?
Okay, there was that incident on my way into work this morning, but other than that? Never! It just doesn’t get brought up in daily life. Most African Americans have more pressing matters in their lives, such as, but not limited to, jobs, rent, family. Crazy, huh?
Maybe I am wrong. Maybe in Virginia, political discourse goes like this:
Hargrove: We need to cut spending.
Black Opponent: Slavery, man.
Hargrove: Crap. You win again, dammit.
But you know what? It got worse. He proclaimed:
“are we going to force the Jews to apologize for killing Christ?“
Seriously? That’s the guy’s defense?! First off, any Christian who is comfortable using the phrase “Jews killed Jesus” needs a Bible slapped up their noggin. Yes, you are an idiot. Read your Bible. There were lots of folks involved in that particular killing. And, frankly, unless we expect “the Whites” to apologize for the murder of James Byrd, Jr. And that is not likely, is it?
*sigh*
I suppose I should just be relieved he did not trot out, “Heeeey, some of my best friends are black people”, huh?
Now, let’s take a step back. Suppose, and just suppose, he didn’t mean to say what we heard. Maybe, when he brought up the “Jews killing Jesus” thing, he was trying to point out the absurdity of generational guilt. Maybe he was trying to get across the idea that you don’t hold modern people and a society accountable for what people and a society did a 140 years back. And if 140 years is still recent enough…when does it become far enough back. Maybe he doesn’t even hold Jews accountable for killing Jesus at all.
That may all be true. Really. And yet, the trouble is, we have to go by what and how he said it, not by what he might have meant (at least, that’s how it was when John Kerry screwed up his joke). How he said it was immensely dismissive of the concerns of members of his community. He opposes an apology. Why? Don’t really know. Frankly, at this point I do not care. He used a phrase in such a way that it certainly sounds like he thinks “Jews killed Jesus”. And when someone raised a complaint about that, he was rude and dismissive yet again!
The sad truth is there might have been a worthwhile debate to be had if Hargrove had engaged his brain before his mouth.
Time for another installment of my advice for my fellow aspiring female audience. Comics are not just read by geeky boys who can’t get dates with girls anymore. Now those girls they can’t get dates with are reading them as well.
This advice is based on my hard work and research over the past couple of years. You want to have a large female fan base? Read on!
1. Skirts and Stilleto Heels:This is important. Nothing is more believable than a female superhero in stilletos. And how about skirts? Nothing tells people a female hero means business than a mini skirt that might let you see her girl bits or underwear. And women appreciate this attention to their fashion sense. If you are drawing a book and these do not appear in the character design? Ignore it and add them!
2. Barely There Outfits: As we all know, women always try and dress to distract us men. Super heroes are no different. A female hero knows that her super powers alone are inadequate to defeat a villain. Get into her head when designing a costume…and if she has no powers? Expose more skin. Because when fighting crime in dark alleys, you want to have as little protection from the elements and weapons as possible. If the breasts are not at risk of falling out, you are drawing the costume wrong.
3. Enormous Breasts and Small Waists: This is a given. Women really appreciate when we artists show how breasts appear in clothing. Basically, draw large round circles, that consume large portions of the torso. The costume should also look painted onto the torso. Don’t worry about observing real life, women hate if you actually understand how cothing looks on their bodies. Weird, I know. Keep the waists tiny. Remember, women like the idea that these heroines are the type of woman you would jump into bed with, not look up to. Don’t draw them like a real woman, with room for minor things like…oh, internal organs.
4. Impractical Positions:Arched backs and twisted spines. Sure, a real woman could not turn so that you can get a good shot of her breasts AND her butt…but that’s what is great. Women really appreciate fantasy.
5. Vacant Eyes: Women don’t appreciate a female hero who has…you know, personality. Keep the expressions vague and lifeless, though a slight “f***k me” expression is desirable.
6. Trace Porn: If you do decide to go for more realism, trace porn! This way, you get those rare women who want a more plausible body type. And bonus: poses. By tracing porn you can get those realistic poses and facial expressions that occur when fighting villains. You can really capture the closed eyes and wide open mouth that scream “OH YESYESYESYES! I am kicking your assssssssssssssss!” Plus, the girl is already naked, so you can draw the costume as it should be…looking like body paint.
7. Keep Her In Her Place: Always make sure that your female hero, no matter HOW powerful, is never more powerful your male heroes-even if she is the title character! And if you forget this point and make her too powerful? Have her go crazy with power and then require her to die. If you don’t want her to end too badly, instead of having other heroes kill her, have her sacrifice herself! Women appreciate when you can show both sides of womanhood. Both the crazy woman who can’t handle her strength AND the noble hero.
8. Whores!: Trying to think of a gritty and tough woman for your comic? Make her a prostitute. Women really appreciate it when you comics feature a cast of women composed primarily of strippers and prostitues. In fact, some writers fill their work with nothing BUT strippers and prostitutes. Women really appreciate this attention to their career options.
9. Screw the Real World: Seriously. When designing your female character, don’t worry about things like body mass, height and weight. Just pick random numbers under 125 lbs and make sure she is shorter than her male counterpart. Women appreciate this attention to detail.
10. Traumatic Backstory: Every super-heroine needs one. Your women readers will not be able to accept the idea that your heroine just happened to use her super powers for good for…you know, the sake of doing the right thing. She needs a motivator. The best motivators are either child molestation or raped in college. At the very least, there should be a lousy boyfriend in her past. Maybe he broke up with her unexpectedly or cheated on her and shot her parents and puppy. And then raped her.
I need to give credit, where credit is due. I could never have compiled such a list without the kind folks at Girl Wonder as well as other female fans on the web. I know they will really appreciate me putting together this advice for artists and writers, so we can continue to get the fine portrayals of women in comic books that we have gotten for years.
