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Brutally Honest: X-Women #1- celebration or exploitation?
Is Marvel's new X-Women book exploitative?
Lately, Marvel has been making a big push to reach a female demographic with their one-shots focusing on female comic book characters as well as their Women of Marvel series. So is their new book, X-Women #1 (which hits store shelves on Thursday, July 8th) celebratory of women in comics, or does it smell of exploitation? If the latter, is this a step back for Marvel? Watch the video, check out the official Marvel.com solicitation as well as the cover and some interior art and let me know what you guys think!
LoganRogue24on July 7, 2010 at 5:25 p.m.
i might pick it up cause iam a Rogue fan and i like Chris Claremonts work.
Grendelon July 7, 2010 at 5:28 p.m.
It's kinda what Gail Simone will frequently (And justifiably) chastise...female characters being drawn in a humiliating manner to titillate. iI's not empowering, it's degrading.
That cover is f-ing ridiculous and how any dude can buy that and not feel it's the equivalent of buying an issue of "Bondage Fairies" is beyond me.
That cover is f-ing ridiculous and how any dude can buy that and not feel it's the equivalent of buying an issue of "Bondage Fairies" is beyond me.
the fact that Marvel sought out the biggest name in erotic comics for an all-female story proves that over-sexualization is their goal here...I like Manara but I prefer his actual original works...his art looks a little off with these Marvel characters IMO
MrMazzon July 7, 2010 at 5:34 p.m.
this seems like some sorta creepy fan fic writers dream the cover ummm yea thats totally going to sell to women
however I don't think strong female characters can't also be scantily clad and sexualized...example: Lady Death
DH69on July 7, 2010 at 5:35 p.m.
oooook so its another useless comic...how long will i have to wait for another lady liberators series, hell despite the artwork heralds wasnt even that bad
wouldnt mind a women of the avengers issue though :p
shawn87on July 7, 2010 at 5:35 p.m.
the way they're being drawn says it all
also this comic was released months ago in Europe, I'm sure it was much more appreciated there, I don't think it needed to be brought to the US
Grendelon July 7, 2010 at 5:38 p.m.
It's on par with the earliest Wonder Woman comics if you've ever read that embarrassing, misogynistic trash. Way to set back the world, Marvel.
RiddlingGambiton July 7, 2010 at 5:39 p.m.
What a silly, ridiculous cover. Rogue looks like she saw a spider and grabbed on to a vine out of fear. Storm looks like she got a nose job and is seducing Kitty Pryde. Psylocke seems oblivious to the fact that Kitty isn't paying attention to her. What the heck is with this cover? This seems more like exploitation of Marvel's finest female characters, making them look scantily clad & vulnerable to make sure guys pick the title up even though they'd like us to think they are doing this for the female readers. It seems more about money than it is a show of respect to women. Pfft, & I thought "Gotham City Sirens" was bad...
Korgon July 7, 2010 at 5:43 p.m.
I'm stealing aztek's thoughts and opinions on this.
@aztek the lost said:
YOINK!
@aztek the lost said:
@aztek the lost said:" the fact that Marvel sought out the biggest name in erotic comics for an all-female story proves that over-sexualization is their goal here"
" however I don't think strong female characters can't also be scantily clad and sexualized"
YOINK!
Decept-Oon July 7, 2010 at 5:44 p.m.
That isn't Storm. I agree with Aztek, Manara should stick with his own creations. All the characters here really look like clones of one another. I also think his portrayal of all the female characters with their mouths agape is a bit much.
Being one who dabbles a bit in pin-up good girl and bad girl art, I am accepting of some portrayals in the comic book medium. I just think this a bad example of it, not very well done.
I am not female, naturally, and I understand it must be frustrating for women to constantly be bombarded what media considers how women should be portrayed. The sexualization of comic characters and the promotion of female characters in an objectifying manner may not be ideal, comics are still, by and large, a market aimed at males. What do most males like? Women.
Not excusing anything, but conversely, there have been Manga and other genre of comics that take a lot of female fantasies and really push the envelope. However, as a comic as a whole, this seems a bit trite and not well done. It's best just to ignore it and hopefully the sales will prove the comic's merit.
Dark Noldoron July 7, 2010 at 5:45 p.m.
I think it´s a question beyond ethics and marketing, that demands on us to aproach it from a different point of view: what´s exploitation? Is it exploitation to draw muscular bodies of males? Those super defined muscles? Is it exploitation to draw Rogue, Storm etc. in a bikini? Is that a normal scene, like a regular shot from the X-Men books? No, but it´s not the first either. As a comic fan I´ve got no problems with this book, already bought it online. I think other publishers like Zenescope and even Broadsword have a sense of diminishing the women´s body in order to sale, but you must not forget tha Manara is famous for porn books, so, it´s a little predictable of what to expect. I´m ok with it.
FoxxFireArton July 7, 2010 at 5:45 p.m.
What strikes me about the cover image. Why are all their mouths open as if they are on the cusp of orgasmic release?
Uh, Babs. How does Iron Man look good in his armor? It's full body. Anyone would look good in it. Everyone looks the same in it. Back in Civil War: Wolverine, Wolverine borrowed Tony's submersible armor to meet with Namor. For the longest time in the conversations they had. Namor mistook this for Tony. It wasn't until Wolverine used his claws did he realize.
I thought some of this art looked a little familiar. I've seen samples of some of his work. Fair work, but too Greg Land for my tastes.
Marvel seems rather tone deaf when it comes to creating strong female character series. DC has had a much better track record in that regard; Birds of Prey, Gotham City Sirens, ect.
I don't really mind some sexual tension and some exploitative images now and again, but don't just limit it to female characters. Make some of men for the women readers.
That's what I try to do in my art. I don't want to just target a male audience. So, I try and also work in some beefcake shots for my female audience, and I find that they are highly appreciative of that attention.
This on the other hand looks like blatant sexual exploitation. We are only seeing a small bit of an overall book, but is there a point where the women in this comic don't look like blowup dolls?
Just by that statement alone. Aren't they admitting this is exploitation? What would be the point in actually pointing out their appearance in the story as part of the advertising for it?"...look great doing it."
Uh, Babs. How does Iron Man look good in his armor? It's full body. Anyone would look good in it. Everyone looks the same in it. Back in Civil War: Wolverine, Wolverine borrowed Tony's submersible armor to meet with Namor. For the longest time in the conversations they had. Namor mistook this for Tony. It wasn't until Wolverine used his claws did he realize.
I thought some of this art looked a little familiar. I've seen samples of some of his work. Fair work, but too Greg Land for my tastes.
Marvel seems rather tone deaf when it comes to creating strong female character series. DC has had a much better track record in that regard; Birds of Prey, Gotham City Sirens, ect.
I don't really mind some sexual tension and some exploitative images now and again, but don't just limit it to female characters. Make some of men for the women readers.
That's what I try to do in my art. I don't want to just target a male audience. So, I try and also work in some beefcake shots for my female audience, and I find that they are highly appreciative of that attention.
This on the other hand looks like blatant sexual exploitation. We are only seeing a small bit of an overall book, but is there a point where the women in this comic don't look like blowup dolls?
Deo Wadeon July 7, 2010 at 5:49 p.m.
Marvel's Solicitation + Erotic artist + O Faces = Definite Sexploitation
JabariSellarson July 7, 2010 at 5:49 p.m.
This cover, like many others that focus on heroines, is nothing more than exploitation. Sadly, no matter how many different voices get added to mainstream comics (i.e. women/non-white artists and writers), this medium--with regard to female characters--is still geared towards a heterosexual pubescent/adolescent male demographic. Great topic, Babs. This is a great extension to the conversation about female costumes.
The sad part is, the sexualization of female characters happens with absolutely no regard. The Queen of Wakanda's main costumes is a leotard with a thong back? The double standard is out there for all to see. The only solution, I contend, is for artists and writers to buck the system. Similar to the solution for the exploitation of non-white (Luke Cage) and non-heteronormative characters (Wiccan/Hulkling, Midnighter/Apollo), creators need to not only place women in authoratative roles, but also change how they are visually depicted. I'm rambling...
One thing about comics that I like is its respect for its characters and the relationship or connection that Comic readers have with a certain character.
But seeing Marvel advertising a One- shot of what they call a "celebration" to those X-women within the wonderful world of Marvel. A special issue for those female Marvel characters who inspired its female readers to continue their interests with their idiolized heroines would be in what I believe to be in a "very special" issue that has a unique cover that looks like it also targets a certain crowd of Marvel fans that are not female.
I feel that Marvel is attempting to do something very immature with this issue. Its obvious why they made it, its obvious what audience its trying to target, and I strongly find it demoralizing as Marvel takes its own creative female characters and throw them into something that looks like a soft-porn magazine.
@Korg said:
also, I charge a $20 fee per character quoted...that'll be $3860
"Aztek: Posting Your Opinions So You Don't Have To"" I'm stealing aztek's thoughts and opinions on this.
@aztek the lost said:@aztek the lost said:" the fact that Marvel sought out the biggest name in erotic comics for an all-female story proves that over-sexualization is their goal here"
" however I don't think strong female characters can't also be scantily clad and sexualized"
YOINK! "
also, I charge a $20 fee per character quoted...that'll be $3860
Anyone else find it ironic that she used the term solicitation rather than preview to describe this issue?
Nicely done, Babs. =)
Nicely done, Babs. =)
Korgon July 7, 2010 at 5:58 p.m.
@aztek the lost said:
@Korg said:"I charge a $20 fee per character quoted...that'll be $3860 "
@Korg also said:" I'm stealing aztek's thoughts and opinions"
" YOINK! "
Dig Deeper into Kitty Pryde
Kitty Pryde is a mutant with the ability to phase through solid materials, as well as render others intangible and disrupt mechanical objects by phasing through them. She originally became the poster child of the X-Men. Kitty currently co-headmasters the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning alongside Wolverine.
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