I can't move my BW pokemon into the pokebank because I have a japanese BW...and they claimed the DS was region-free.
Indeed.
But that's not really relevant when people who have no clue about videogames or insight into the industry try to paint it as some little boys club where all the protagonists are white 30 somethings.
And people certainly shouldn't be able to strongarm developers or blacklist them for not having a particular character in their games.
What bothers me about the original cover is that Batgirl's emotional reaction seems wrong: I can't picture that someone like her, who's faced danger so many times before, would react in the depicted fashion (the "corrected" cover, where she's angry, seems much more in character).
As for the feminists: they have the right to complain, but hey, if you want more female superheroes, this is what can come with that territory. Get perspective and stop projecting your political agenda (I wonder if these are the same feminists who got pissed when Ms. Nevada suggested women learn how to defend themselves).
As for DC: for shame that you buckled.
__________________
Shinier than a speeding bullet.
^It annoys me that we had very little outcry during the truly bad years of the 90s, but we're seeing this nonsense about covers that are little more than homages to other work....
Well, it shouldn't be difficult to shoot them down if they're wrong though. If it isn't a boys club, you'd do better simply showing them counter examples. The "you're an outsider" defense raises red flags to most people(rightfully so, I'd argue).
I haven't seen the strongarming personally. People have to present an argument for or against something when they see a problem.
Last edited by StyleTime on Mar 19th, 2015 at 03:31 PM
I was speaking more in general, as usually there is just a rage response. Regardless, I already voiced typical concerns there, and there's more( the various character creation games being marketed with clear indicators of a certain protagonist, problematic representations, the fact that many of the games you dismissed are still relevant) but I think we're off topic at this point. Might visit the games forum later or something. I do applaud positive changes though, so don't think this is a complete dismissal of what you're saying.
I disagree. You just interpret things differently.
Last edited by StyleTime on Mar 19th, 2015 at 05:09 PM
After thinking it over, I have to agree the cover is at the very least sexist and bias, if not offensive. Show me a cover where the male hero is weeping, fearful and helpless like this one, and I'll be convinced there's a parallel. Simple jeopardy isn't enough.
It's doubly loaded because of the twisted past history between Barbara Gordon and the Joker. It's because of the sick events in 1988's The Killing Joke (also that same year, Green Lantern Katma Tui got murdered in a sick fashion), that was how DC got the discussion going about the 'Women In Refrigerators' syndrome in comics - the name finally getting coined after Kyle Rayner's girlfriend got murdered some years later and shoved in his fridge. After all these years, either DC hasn't learned or they are just provoking for controversy and sales. I mean, they have turned Harley Quinn into an anti-hero after years of accusations they were promoting battered women's syndrome, because she was so loyal to the Joker.
The page showing a simple change in Barbara's expression - going from fearful to angry - that would have made all the necessary difference here.
__________________
"I'm not smart so much as I am not dumb." - Harlan Ellison
It's really frustrating that it's seemingly impossible for an effective discussion on this/adjacent topics to take place without it devolving into inflammatory bullshit.
I appreciated reading Q99 and Pr's stuff on the first page, but since then it's just been pages of this: lol, what?
and all the rageposting in this thread...
There's obviously lots to talk about concerning this cover, so it would be cool if this thread could facilitate that function.
Yes that's a good point. Why would she be scared when she's tied up by the biggest psycho in comics who has a gun and is likely in his own warehouse filled with thugs?
And everyone knows Barbara has never cried before. And everyone knows it isn't a reference to the worst moment in her life when she got possibly raped, but for sure got pictures of her taken when she was naked, and got shot and crippled.
Why would she be crying? She should be mad! No woman ever cries.
I think the real issue here is did "the Killing Joke" depict Batgirl being raped?
I've always interpreted it as yes, but I assume Joker didn't take part in that, merely enjoying her anguish.
I could understand if that upsets people that it is being brought up, in a very kiddy Batgirl run: couple issues;
1) Feminists don't read comics, atleast not the crazy militant one. They are too busy pooping on parties
2.) this should only offend you if you read Killing Joke and Batgirl's current run so .01% of those people
3.) and most of all... It is a VARIANT Cover, you don't have to buy it.