Comicsgirl

We all know that “best of” lists are basically just created so people can complain about them on the Internet. Still, Empire’s list is pretty good — it covers a broad range of genres — from superhero to indie — and even a decent range of countries.

Still, I was disappointed to see that there’s only five female characters on the list. I think there are more than just that.

(You see? I’m complaining about a “best of” list. It apparently did its job.)

First, late last month, Christian Sciene Monitor, whose staff really should know better, brought us Pow! Zowie! Scholars discover the comic book. Then this week, The Washington Post, whose staff should also know better, brings us Drawing Power, where Bob Thompson wonders in amazement about how people — and not just kids — are reading comics and graphic novels!

And while Thompson eventually gets around to talking about this, I am waiting for the day where people realize that comics are a medium. They are no different than film or prose or poetry. They are a way to tell stories. Nothing more. They are not for any particular person or demographic. You can happily like one more than another — you can be a film buff and not read a lot of fiction or you can spend all your time reading poetry and not really care for movies — but that doesn’t mean the others are inferior to your chosen medium.

Is there a lot of crap out there? Yeah, but that goes for any medium. For every best picture nominee, there’s five Meet the Spartans. For every Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, there’s 10 cranked-out mysteries. For every poet laureate, there’s a teenager posting her trite poems on MySpace. Are there bad comics out there? Yeah. I think we all know that. But there’s also some really great ones.

I read a lot comics, sure. But I just read a lot, period. My bookshelves are filled with everything from the classics to fantasy paperbacks, Norton anthologies to second-hand sci-fi novels. I am happy to share my shelf space with the comics I own. One medium is no better than the other. They both offer me something very lovely and I like that.

(And if these sorts of feature writers need a new topic, why don’t they look into bars that are hosting Guitar Hero nights? That hasn’t been done to death yet.)

Not so much comics, but:

For me, creating female characters really isn’t my strong suit. The image of women that appears in Japanese animation, on the whole, is something that should be approached as a pre-existing stereotype. Women like the ones in anime don’t really exist in reality. I don’t appeal to realism as if my life depended on it, but with visuals, characters and the story, there’s a reality amongst all that. The characters that appear in that reality – anime fans, stories, male characters – it’s not like I present those in a purely realistic way either. Women are women, and women characters also have their own intentions and personalities, so I set the story in a way that it lets those personalities come out.

From Anime News Network

He’s being silly if he thinks creating female characters isn’t his strong suit. He’s created some excellent ones.

Writer Nathan Rabin finally gets around to reading Watchmen. It’s more of a summary sprinkle with a few critiques (here’s a hint: He likes it).

I did read Watchmen much later than I should’ve (I mean, it’s been years and years and years now, but there was a period of time where I’d have to shamefully admit I hadn’t read it). To me, it doesn’t matter if you like or dislike it (although I think there would be a rare person who’d say they hated it). If you like comics, Watchmen is just something you read.

I should probably reread it here soon. I’m curious as to what I think of it now.

(The original issues — as in, the floppies — seem to be going for ridiculous amounts on eBay. I may not have a whole set, but I think I have pretty close to it. I should see where they went to and what kind of shape they’re in.)

From a couple of days ago, but the Asheville Citzen-Times talks to both Bryan Lee O’Malley and Hope Larson (she’s seriously only 25?). They’re adorable. They have made a comic together, Bear Creek Apartments, and you will be able to see their cuteness in person at Small Press Expo.

I am aiming for a review on Larson’s Chiggers on Friday. We’ll see.

And if you’re planning on going to SPX, I recommend you sign up to be a volunteer. You will get free admission and have more fun that you can believe is actually possible. I may be helping a friend this year, but honestly, I may abandon him to volunteer instead. That’s how much fun it is.