[...] recognize the work of women comics creators of the past” (which, given how many awards still ignore women, is needed). In 2007, they opened voting to the public, allowing everyone to have their say. The [...]

You & I want the same thing – more women making, reading, & getting awards for, their comics.

Keep fighting the good fight! I will. & feel free to drop me a line anytime, I am always up for talking about comics.

– Eva

My name is Eva Hopkins. I color on the “Dawn” comic, & I also self-publish some B & W indie stuff ont he side. I read your writing often; I even have you linked on my site. Usually I am very appreciative of your combination of insight & occasionally bitter wit.

I am honored to be nopminated for this year’s CBG Fan Awards. The other folks up for Best Colorist are fantastically talented. I am in good company.

You say, in mentioning that the only 2 nominations for women in the CBG Fan Awards are women, & colorists – “(Girls get to use the crayons, but only after the boys have done the rest of the work.)”

Although I agree that there should be more women in comics, & feel that I do my bit to support that, I object to the patronizing tone with which you dismiss my job. Would it be possible to make your point without that condescending, head-patting tone to the two women who *did* get nominated? That’s not very down with the sisterhood.

The Fan Awards are just that – by the fans. I wish there was more comics work by women connecting with fans out there. I’ll keep writing & drawing with that goal in mind – which I also do, when I’m not too busy with the crayons.

Sinecrely,

Eva Hopkins
colorist
writer
artist
http://www.lunamusestudios.com

[...] However, Johanna’s observations about the CBG fan awards made me realize that there’s a similar dynamic when the topic is sexism in comics… a self-perpetuating cycle with customers not showing enough interest in comics that appeal to women, publishers not publishing comics aimed at women because they sell poorly and then women being under-represented in comics’ consumer base because they’re not finding enough material that they find interesting. [...]

And, while females comprise 10%-ish of credits, they do NOT comprise 10% of noms. Female nominations in awards typically go to editors and colorists, or women as teams headed by men. I’m not saying being an editor or colorist is lesser (I’ve done both), just that it seems to me those are the “girl” noms because those are seen as “girl’s jobs.”

Or to sum up: Poop. Poop. Poop.

Two out of 35 is 5.7%. As per your own Chick Check of years past, females make up a little over 10% of the Big Two credits. (And that’s with the large number of female Assistant Editors, which are not represented with their own category. Now *that* is a crime.) A little low, perhaps, but those numbers also come from when Christina Weir was still (being given) writing (assignments) an the fans weren’t praying for Devin Greyson to go away. I have a feeling that 6-7% may be right in line with the current talent pool.

That being said, how VU gets nominated but not Gail Simone, I have no idea. It’s not like it’s a one shot or a fill-in, or her only work for the year. She should at least be competative with Vaughn, and at least for the last year, ahead of Brubaker and David.

But the fact that Fables got Best Story and Favorite Book, and yet Willingham is nowhere to be seen, it’s not sexism. It’s just more of the same old “Award by Popularity”. No one is voting for Johns because he is a not a girl.