I'm going to talk specifically about stuff relating to the comic, because as soon as anything gets gamergatey, people lose their shit. I think it would be really cool if we could have a rational talk about any significant similarities or differences between this comic situation and gamergate, but that's clearly not happening here, and I don't want to get pulled into some flame war.
So, the comic:
I think Q99 was right to point out that the reason that the cover was pulled was, per the artist and DC, because people were threatened with harassment after vocalizing their complaints and negative feelings re: Batgirl's portrayal.
Further, I basically agree that the way that Batgirl is drawn on this cover is:
a) Not in line with the 'feel' of her current character or comic (which may or may not be a problem; your mileage may vary)
b) Obviously gendered. Maybe the cover doesn't spell out sexual assault, but I do think it shows that she is completely at the mercy of Joker, and reduced to terror and tears. I think the raw vulnerability that she's displaying is much starker than we usually/ever see in the way male heroes are drawn, and we're able to fit this within a context of previous sexual assault, whether that means nude photographs or rape.
It feels, as a fan, like Batgirl's not able to overcome and move through her previous trauma in a way that I would expect of any other superhero.
I'm not saying that I think that's necessarily a problem, but it's obvious some people do, including Q99, and I think the discussion on the first page was effective in that it was shedding light on two different perspectives.
Obviously just my take on things though, it looks like Pr and yourself felt differently about it. /shrug.
Same goes for Q99. I hope that, even if we see things this wildly differently, that Q knows that I have no personal problem with them, and just because they're on a side I don't personally agree with, doesn't mean I'm passing judgement on them as a person.
We just don't agree on very many things, but I would hope that, when it really comes down to it, we want the same things like equality and such. I'm sure they do, I'm just saying I hope I get extended the same courtesy.
We should band together, and complain about the treatment of men in romantic comedies. If they are ever remotely written as funny at the expense of a man we stage mass Twitter hate.
Getting in trouble doesn't mean they've done something wrong.
Marvel got in trouble for the Spider-woman cover....
If DC collectively decides that they want Harley Quinn to be chopped into little pieces and served to Robin, then that's their right. It's their characters, their right.
Having Batgirl look afraid of the man who crippled her on an alternate cover is nothing.
That's odd, I recall seeing a video that said that you could play BW games in 3DS disregarding their origin. I'll look into that, I'm a bit surprised to hear about this until now.
Ever read Knightfall? I'm going to assume you have, Bane sig and all. The issues that happen just after Bruce gets his back broken actually surpriseded me when I read them. I've never seen a major hero look so emasculated and, almost pathetic, so broken was he both physically and mentally.
I mean, Batman is the poster child for trauma that never gets dealt with, but this was something different.
I'll ask again; post a cover where the male superhero looks like this - weeping, frightened and helpless. This cover plays very much on Barbara's gender.
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Mar 20th, 2015 02:38 AM
