Comments on: DC Spinner Rack: Batgirl #23, Birds of Prey #14, Frankenstein #2, Unwritten #27

By: The Unwritten #29 » Comics Worth Reading

The Unwritten #29 » Comics Worth Reading — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 20:56:56 +0000

[...] storyline begun in issue #27 reaches part 3 of 4 here. It tells of Miri Walzer, an early comic writer working under a male name [...]

By: Johanna

Johanna — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 23:07:19 +0000

Spoiler: it’s her Mom.

As for Creature Commandos, I never read any of the originals, but I liked the concept. I’m sorry to hear that it’s disappointing to a fan of the older version.

By: Jim Perreault

Jim Perreault — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 22:01:09 +0000

After reading this review: so I decided to take a look at Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown #1. Maybe it’s my fondness of the original “Creature Commandos”, but I did not care for it at all. It seems to be the same old “let’s take some old characters and make them dark, twisted version of their former selves” that DC has been doing for the past 20 years. I had hoped they had moved past that. And the fight with Baron Blitzkrieg was very disappointing. Over before it started.

I plan on taking a look at issue #2 to see if it is better, but I don’t have high hopes.

I have not read the Birds of Prey issue yet, but Black Canary was a post-WW II hero so having her fight Nazis could be anachronistic.

By: Johanna

Johanna — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 11:14:32 +0000

It’s the message, Grant. If a company makes a big deal about a brand new direction and an attempt to reach out, then it’s very disappointing when they’re following the same old sexist patterns. Saying “well, it’s the same old” is exactly what’s infuriating. Plus, when it comes to women’s civil rights, there’s a history of being told “just be patient, you’ll get your turn” — which usually turns out to never happen until women make a visible fuss.

By: Grant

Grant — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 05:58:56 +0000

“Especially since I think a female writer handles female superhero characters best”

Which is why I’ll be continuing to buy Batgirl.

“we’ve already talked about how few of them are still working in the DCU.”

I agree. But there are very few working there now. So how much has changed? Those who are upset about the reboot and the lack of women creators seem to be acting as though there are a ton of female creators now and that that’s all going to end in September. Really, the only way it could be any worse than it’s already been for years is if Simone left DC.

But “history suggests” that creative teams come and go. So it just seems strange that people are acting like we will never see a change in creative teams on the new books that might open the door to some female writer/artist down the road. After all, Gail Simone wasn’t always writing Birds of Prey was she? I believe it was two men.

And the writer and artist on the current Batgirl are both men. But with Miller/Perez it’s okay as it’s two men that women like? Ok.

Creative team changes in comics are as cyclical as the weather. Keep hope alive.

By: George

George — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 01:43:06 +0000

Setting aside the gender politics question (except to say that, like Johanna, both the preview covers I’ve seen and the history I’ve lived through don’t make me hopeful for the treatment of (most) of the female characters in the NuDC), I was struck with the same melancholy going through my long-waiting stack this weekend. Here are all the books I won’t be buying anymore, soon:

Batgirl (and, sorry–with all great respect for Simone, this is one where I won’t be picking up the new version on principle)
Superboy
Secret Six
Batman, Inc.
Adventure
Birds of Prey
Booster Gold (intermittently)
Legion of Super Heroes
Power Girl (intermittently)
Zatanna
Detective (intermittently, when Batwoman starred)
Batwoman

That’s 11-12 books of the non-Vertigo line. Right now, I’m interested in checking out only the following from the new non-Vertigo line-up:

Animal Man (maybe, because of Lemire)
Firestorm (Simone)
Batwoman (Williams)
Static Shock (character plus Rozum)
LSH (characters plus Levitz)
DC Universe Presents (intermittently)

That’s 4-6 books, and even if I end up loving both Animal Man and Static Shock, I don’t expect them to last more than 6-8 issues, so could easily get down to 2-3 books.

And I would really much rather get to keep buying the current Batgirl, BOP, Superboy, Zatanna,Batman, Inc., and Secret Six than to sample some of these newer offerings.

By: Johanna

Johanna — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 01:07:54 +0000

I could be wrong, but based on the covers for such upcoming comics as Red Hood and the Outlaws and Catwoman, it appears that DC is committed to aiming its female characters at the male reader. I hope I’m wrong, but too much history suggests otherwise. Especially since I think a female writer handles female superhero characters best, and we’ve already talked about how few of them are still working in the DCU.

By: Grant

Grant — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 00:54:32 +0000

“This is what I read superhero comics for, strong women with amazing abilities using them successfully and making things better. Shame that that particular source of appeal seems to be lacking in DC’s new line.”

That seems like an odd thing to say given that there is going to continue to be a Batgirl series, a Birds of Prey series, a Catwoman series and other series featuring interesting female characters such as Frankenstein, JL Dark, and several others. I can only imagine that their characters will be “fighting to make things better” and not worse.

Losing a specific favorite character is indeed a drag. What comic book fan, male or female hasn’t been through that? But saying its the end of an era for strong female characters at DC seems like a rather facetious remark.

Also, is that the “original” Phantom Lady on the cover of BOP? Because I thought she was dead. Or is it the new one wearing the old costume? Just curious.

By: Johanna

Johanna — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 11:45:34 +0000

Oh, I’m not advocating a boycott or anything — I’ll evaluate the new DC titles in their own right, although “is this as good as books I was previously buying” is part of that, in order to justify spending money.

By: Argo Plummer

Argo Plummer — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 22:11:31 +0000

Johanna,

I have been following your comments about the new DC, in particular with regards to the lack of women books and especially creators. I echo your melancholy vibe about DC books today as I know they are ending abruptly. I feel that way about Batgirl and Superboy. This Batgirl title has done what I thought impossible, make me enjoy someone else in the costume besides Barbara Gordon. I understand and respect your position on the loss of Oracle but I hope you will follow Gail Simone to the new title. As a lifelong Barbara as Batgirl fan (who certainly appreciated Oracle and the role she served) I am excited to see what Gail does with this. I am actually not that big a Gail fan, but I have always appreciated her characterization of Barbara and am hopeful for the new title.