[...] The interview itself is dissected in thoughtful and non-inflammatory fashion by Andrea Rubenstein here. She ably demonstrates that Joe's hyperbole is baseless and that "the law of averages" which he "can't control" is a bullshit excuse when you're heading an business that is often passively and occasionally actively hostile to female talent. Other excellent, more inflammatory takes on the giant foot in Joe's big mouth can be found at Hackenbush and Johanna at Comics Worth Reading [...]

1: The industry is unfriendly to women. If the writers and editors do not practice this in the office, they certainly do in their writing. According to writers and editors, there is very little use for women in comic book universes other than wiggling their softer parts, be victimized, or go insane.

2:Fanmen and fanladies need to stop acting so surprised when Joey Q. puts his foot in his mouth. He’s the Geroge W. Bush of Comics. Smoking Gun = Dead is Dead. The sad thing about both of them is that they continously insult the public’s intelligence and think that they are witty.

3: Do not boycott Marvel because you are trying to run them out of business. They do a good enough job of that on their own. Let’s not forget that when Neocons chose to “boycott France,” sales of imported goods from France actually went up. Stop buying the book for the right reasons. for the right reasons. Beacuse their comics are crap.

I’m proceeding from the assumption that the explanations people provide stem from the way they think. If someone doesn’t respond to my email, and I immediately jump to the conclusion that they must be mad at me, then that tells you that I think (perhaps subconsciously) that I’ve given someone a reason to be mad at me and/or that if I was them, I wouldn’t respond to someone out of a grudge.

So if, when asked “why don’t you hire women”, someone responds “we don’t believe in quotas or charity”, then I find it telling that that person thinks of hiring women only to fill slots. “Charity” is a particularly significant word, because it assumes that women couldn’t get a gig out of their own talent but only because of a man’s generosity.

Plus, that interpretation is in keeping with Marvel’s unfriendliness towards women demonstrated elsewhere.

As for the question of hiring policies, no, I don’t know of any companies that have the kind of diversity policy common in other industries I’m familiar with, although they should. As Lyle pointed out, other companies are generally seen as more female-friendly, both in approach and content.

Does any comic book company have these “ways to seek more diverse talent,” or are companies other than Marvel exempt from scrutiny because they have more female employees?

No, I didn’t misinterpret it, although I may not have explained fully. That he IMMEDIATELY jumps to that excuse provides a key insight into his thought patterns, that he thinks that women get work just because they’re women.

That sounds like you’re making some assumptions there. The original statement was

But, let me also add, that just because there is a lack of female writers doesn’t mean that we’re going to hand out a charity gig to a female just because of her gender.

While I understand the desire to spin this statement beyond its face value (and there’s circumstantial evidence aplenty to do so), two things have me questioning the merit of suggesting that Quesada’s statement means the inverse of its face value.

First is the existence of “quota” requirements in the United States that sprang into existence in the wake of Affirmative Action. While the existence of such quotas is questionable (I’ve never seen such things in action), the concept has become ingrained in much of the American psyche in one form or another (usually either because someone believes they exist and is outraged at them or because someone thinks they’re a good idea). It seems reasonable that someone who’s involved in hiring and firing would think “quota” when confronted with questions of sexism/racism/homophobia/etc. in the workplace.

Too, this statement is also not what he “IMMEDIATELY” jumped to. His first statement was that he didn’t even get many submissions from women. And that statement–

What I can tell you is that is that when I look at the pitches and art samples that we get, 99.9% of those pitches and samples come from males. I can’t control that, that’s just the law of averages, that’s who wants to submit.

–can conceivably raise the question of “What about the .1% of pitches and samples from females?” Taken in context, Quesada’s comment about not accepting work “just because” it’s from a woman instead of a man could be a misguided attempt to fend off a followup question he thought would come from his initial statement.

There’s also the issue of numbers. How many women really do submit material to Marvel Comics? I’m talking numbers, not anecdotal evidence. I don’t for a minute believe Quesada’s correct when he says 99.9% of submissions are from men, but the actual numbers and percentages could do far more to damn Quesada’s assertions than ripping apart his rhetoric with counter-rhetoric. :-)

And even though he’s head of a major comic company and could put in place ways to seek more diverse talent, he’s obviously not interested in doing so. Instead, that’s just the way it is, shrug.

Does any comic book industry have these “ways to seek more diverse talent,” or are they exempt from scrutiny because they have more female employees?

I mean, I can understand why Marvel wouldn´t let a girl ruin one of their top books. The logic is perfectly straight in their little boys-club part of the comics world.

Why not let them slowly fade out of relevance?

I, personally, would rather have Alison Bechdel do FUN HOME than, say, SILVER SURFER…

[...] This post, another reactionto Quesada’s cluelessness, has an interesting comment by a female Marvel editor, asking for more submissions by women: Why do women submit in smaller numbers? This is a more complex question than I feel qualified to get into here and now, but it’s certainly something I would love to see change. If you’re a female comic writer or artist, please consider this my personal invitation to submit to Marvel according to the guidelines here: http://www.marvel.com/company/subs.htm [...]

And I think your descent into insults and attacking strawmen in lieu of substantial discussion says more about your lack of point than I ever could.

You really don’t like people to have an opinion that isn’t the same as yours do you?
Keep your narrow view of the world and continue to revel in it. It suits you.

Your are a pathetic excuse to women and democracy and freedom of speech. When something contradicts your own world view, you choose to ignore it. It’s a dangerous way to live your life.

I suspect you live in the states where your angry not having the due respect women should get. I feel for you honey I really do, but don’t let your a anger cloud your judgement too much or you’ll lead a very loney sad life.

I won’t bother you again.

Bye,
Xtatoo ( a WOMAN!)

And there are several editors currently working for Marvel, on the latest Civil War the Editor Molly (sorry don’t have the second name to hand – oh that means I’m not taking her seriously doesn’t it because she’s a woman), and she mentions the very thing you are talking about – women readers and women in the comic book industry in general.

So get your facts right, oh that’s too much to ask isn’t it? It goes against your prejudiced view of Marvel in particular.

Oh and Joey Q does think – That’s why he has an amazing job creating comics and you just offer your biased opinion via a blog. Cool – I know who I respect more.

Enough from me; you don’t deserve my attention any longer. Oh yes, I’ve just played into your hands again havn’t I? You can now continue to slag me off for not agreeing with you and how I’m a mysonistic pig that gives no women respect.

Oh but that doesn’t explain how I think like this being an actual woman now does it?

I’ll just continue to be a traitor to the cause, I suppose.
Bye bye x

Q-tip mentions that it’s not his fault if Marvel doesn’t receive many (or any) submissions from female creators. Yet as someone who is one of the most powerful guys in comics (guys being the operative word), has he been in any way proactive in seeking out or encouraging female creators? Probably not. Why? The answer, like with so many things, is that there’s no money in it. Except of course, there could be, if it means cultivating the next great crop of talent, which might even (*gasp*) attract new readers.

But that would require thinking ahead. Or thinking.

Just because there are not many female writers currently at Marvel, you are casting unjust accusations on Marvel being sexist. This forgets Marvels past for one thing, where you had top writers/editors such as Louise Simonson and Ann Nocenti working for them for a number of years and who’s titles I would glady pick up and read at the time. In fact Nocenti is one of my all time favourite writers. I don’ differentiate between gender, I go by their abilities as an artist on how I see them. Which is what Joe Q was saying and is what you should judge people on – not if they are female or male.

You also forget there are plenty of people within Marvel editorially that are currently working for them who happen to be female.

So really don’t you think your twisted opinions should be directed to them? If they are female they should be on your side shouldn’t they? Making waves to get more females into the business.

Oh but then they are not the problem are the they? They are just slaves to the corporate machine that is marvel. lol