Bird Beats Cat
It’s been feeling lately like the DC reboot has given the finger to female readers and to be fair, also to the men of the world who don’t see women purely as vaginas with bodies attached. I can’t speak for supergirl since I haven’t read that one yet, so far nothing bad has been said but nothing great either. Meanwhile some of the biggest, bad-ass chicks around are getting totally destroyed.
- Catwoman: the sexcapades. Now admittedly, I wasn’t as bothered by this on the first read through. There IS a story present and a good set up for
Selina’s character motivations. Still looking back it starts with sex appeal, has sex as a means to assassination in the middle and sex as escapism at the end. Presumably this is not going to be the direction for each comic and I can see it working in a larger context as how Catwoman is introduced so I’m not bothered by it. Not yet. I mean Catwoman IS pretty much the ultimate seductress.
- Harley Quinn (from Suicide Squad): Magic Corset Powers. She must have them because that thing would not stay on halfway laced. Harley was created for the show that I grew up watching. She was manic and insane. She managed to wear the most ridiculous costume that highlighted Harley’s mental instability perfectly while still making you think “damn the girl is hot.” Harley was so memorable and unique because she was so strik
ingly off the wall and different from the other comic book hotties who wear either female versions of a male costume or lingerie. DC has now completely destroyed that. Looking at her current costume I don’t find her at all unique. It’s really, really upsetting. - Starfire (from Red Hood): sould-deadened prostitute. That’s what they have turned her into. There is NOTHING there. No substance, no fire, nothing. Any man who says “she’s a sexually liberated female” is a sociopath, a virgin or has no understanding/respect for females and should never speak to one again.
So with these Greek Tragedies in our hands, thank God for Birds of Prey getting the girl power thing down. Women if you want something to read, something for your comic book lovin’ daughters to read, please please buy Birds of Prey. The #1 managed to avoid the pitfall of what a 13 year old boy imagines strong, sexy women to be like,and instead has strong, sexy women. So far the reviews I’ve read have been either ones of pleasant surprise at the promising story, worries about the loss of the old team or from several male reviewers, complaints that Black Canary doesn’t look enough like a prostitute. **Cue the eyeroll** Look I get that she’s the one character to get MORE clothes during the reboot but I think what came off Starfire more than makes up for it okay?
Black Canary looks great IMO. Her costume still has elements of what it used to be, but looks more sleek and secret ops. The fishnets on her arms might seem silly but there are plenty of gloves you can buy at Hot Topic or various stores that have the same design. The character still kicks ass. Black Canary is tough and has always been a martial arts bad ass. This gets established early on. Starling, a new character, takes on a totally different sexy vibe. She’s got the bustier, leather pants and a pretty nice looking tat sleeve. The artist has managed to draw sexual, curvy women without forgetting they are human beings. The storyline is intriguing…the ending definitely has a great cliffhanger that’s got me way more excited about the next book than any other.
Oh and for the women sick of the constant sex…well Canary is assaulted with a kiss that she doesn’t want from one of her attackers. It serves a larger plot purpose that I can’t reveal here because it’s *SPOILERS* but she says Senno Ekto Gamat with her fists after the kiss happens. THAT is what I want to see.
I didn’t manage to get my hands on the new Wonder Woman whose comics have always managed to portray women in a positive way in spite of the numerous “woman in bondage” covers. I’m hoping once I do I’ll have another book to say good things about and not add Diana to the list of fallen femme fatales.
