This week, I want to talk briefly about a genre of books that some snobby readers might feel as being too juvenile: comic books. More specifically, the graphic novel. Here at Semantink the publishers have been doing their best to promote the hell out of the Mythoi: Birth graphic novel, and while Ben’s Comicopea takes a look at comics and the comic industry in a very knowledgeable way, I thought I’d address the issue for people who don’t read comics because they “only read serious books” (or some other smarmy, elitist comment).
So what I thought I’d do is recommend three graphic novels in three different genres that I own and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend to people.

1. The Psychological Thriller

As the only graphic novel appearing on Time Magazine’s “Top 100 Novels of all time” (since 1923), Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons Watchmen is truly a feat of literary genius. Drawing its title from Roman poet and satirist Juvenal’s question “Who watches the watchmen?” the initial premise of the story is a look at what superheroes would be like in real life. Of course, in order to support such a premise, the book also needs a close examination of what type of person might feel the need to put on a costume and fight crime. Watchmen certainly does not shy away from its obligations. As the story unfolds and the single murder of a costumed crime-fighter begins to have global ramifications, Moore and Gibbons deconstruct the concept of the superhuman from two angles: the people who need to be heroes and the people who need others to be heroic. Gripping, gritty, and at times very disturbing, after its completed run in 1987, Watchmen changed the way authors wrote heroes and also the way people read them.

2. The Action/Adventure

Okay, at first glance, a trio of pin-up models in sexy action poses may not look like “literature”, but roll with me here for a second. For more than fifty years the James Bond/Jack Ryan/Jason Bourne (what’s with the J names?) spy thrillers have made their way onto many a book shelf in houses all over the world. The basic premise of Danger Girl is exactly the same, except where in those spy novels the “Bond Girl” is little more than a sexy female for the hero to save, these girls are kicking ass all over the place. And, yes, looking incredible while they do. Right from page one this book burns at full throttle, and the action doesn’t let up one bit.
Equal parts James Bond, Indiana Jones, and a generous helping of curves, the Danger Girls are intelligent, independent, and incredibly sexy. But then, everyone in this comic is sexy from the main heroes and villains to the background characters. It’s what creators J. Scott Campbell and Andy Hartnell do. They could make Quazimodo look sexy. Plus, the comic has got enough puns to satisfy even the most rabid punster.

3. The Romantic Thriller

“It’s not death if you refuse it”

One of the reasons I don’t like the Twilight series might be because of this book. At one point in Meyer’s series, the main character’s love leaves her, and so she shuts down emotionally for six months. Of course, given the lack of individuality and vapid helplessness of the main character, that sort of shut down makes sense. But if there is a book that shows more rage, heartache, and longing at the loss of a loved one than The Crow, I haven’t read it. The story was inspired by a news report of a couple who was murdered for a $20 engagement ring, and written as a way for the author to deal with his own loss. In 1978, author James O’Barr’s fiancee was killed by a drunk driver, and while I’m not saying someone who’s never felt that kind of loss couldn’t write that book, I think you can see every bit of the pain, rage, and heartbreak from that loss show up in every drop of ink.
The book is incredibly violent, but there is a sense of heart-wrenching poetry in each bullet, each blood spatter. The kind of emotional depth that Twilight never even scratches the surface of.

Until next time,
Still paddlin’ the old knew…
_-Akatzen-_

As a critique to last week’s blog on CW’s fecal kryptonite-powered fecal receptacle Smallville, Alex wrote, “Future, feminist-approved rant idea: Comic books should feature more scantily clad (and preferably bearded) men, and then maybe more girls would read comic books and blog for Semantink.”  Many of you may be thinking that I’m going to disagree — but I’m not.  I think Alex is on to something…

Up to this point women have been considerably objectified in comics.  Most female characters have large breasts, small waists and butts worthy of quarter bouncing.  This is all largely in part to the predominately male following of the comic book world.  Recently the demographic has shifted — while it is still mostly boys reading the books, some girls are taking a more active role in what used to be a male-focused medium.  As far back as I can remember the art depicting women has fallen under one of two categories:  Good Girls and Bad Girls, but not like you’re thinking…

Good Girl Art (GGA) is defined by Richard Lupoff in his book The Great American Paperback as, “A cover illustration depicting an attractive young woman, usually in skimpy or form-fitting clothing, and designed for (mild erotic interest).  The term does not apply to the morality of the ‘good girl,’ who is often a gun moll, tough cookie, or wicked temptress.”  So, what’s so “good” about them?  The way they look, of course!

Women are always standing naked in the window, right?

“Two at once? No! NOOOO!”

So many stereotypes here; taboo-delicious.

Well, if “good” girls are bad, or at least good in the sexually motivating sense of the word, what are “bad girls”?  “Bad Girl Art likes to feature all the women as perhaps even more scandalous while retaining a tough persona, like Elektra. The era of this particular art is most commonly seen as the 80’s-90’s and one of its most famed publishers is Chaos! Comics, with Brian Pulido’s line of numerous ‘bad girl babes.”  Okay…  So Good Girl Art features sexually attractive and morally ambiguous women, while Bad Girl Art highlights even more scandalous, bad-ass women?  Awesome.  For purely scientific purposes, here are some examples:

Sexist? No. She seems…talented.

Yes. Even with the green hair, yes.

Bad Girl OG.

The feminine role in comic books has evolved quite a bit in the last few years — sort of.  There have been lesbians, feminists, independent women and even some truly bad ass attempts at breaking stereotypes, but more often than not, at one time or another, they are presented (for at least a moment) as a sexual stimulant for the overwhelmingly male readers (see below).  And sex isn’t the only way women are used in comics — Women in Refrigerators has a list of women whose deaths, rapes, submissions or other forms of punishment were used as plot devices and that’s pretty much it — but how else do you piss off a male super hero?

Huzzah for feminism and strong female characters!

Okay, so we know how women were used, but now that comics are building a more girl-friendly fan base, what will change?  Probably not much…  Comic books are not about sex or stereotyping.  They are merely a format for both writers and artists to engage in storytelling and at times, political, social (or other) agenda.  Just like any other form of media there will be trashy books and books that aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on, and these books, more than any other will feature sexist, stereotypical and misogynistic images/story lines devoid of any redeeming quality.  I’m here to tell you now that good comics are already avoiding these things to a certain degree.

We may see more men drawn as sexually as the women, but I’m thinking you’re still going to get more scandalously clad women than men and you know what?  That’s fine with me.

Click here to view the embedded video.

So, back to Alex and her “feminist-approved idea” that, “Comic books should feature more scantily clad (and preferably bearded) men, and then maybe more girls would read comic books and blog for Semantink.”  I say, why?  Personally, I don’t need more women to read comics and I definitely don’t want more guys staring at me all sexy-eyed off the pages.  Don’t get me wrong, I think someone should create the comic you’re suggesting (I bet if we looked it already exists), but I’m happy with comics and where they are.  I like beautiful and impossibly-shaped women and tough, blood-soaked battle hungry men.  Misogynistic?  Yes.  But I am also a fan of books without the sex-drive; take the deceptively titled Bone, or the thought provoking American Splendor. I don’t need the provocative women to get me to read a book, but I certainly enjoy them when it happens.

And as far as more women reading comic books?  Well, here is a list of the women involved with the creation of comics and here is an article on some women who currently read comics (despite the current state of the female role), and as I already linked, the female fan-base is already growing!  I believe that the reason women are objectified as they are is because it works — like selling HUMMERS (side note: if you drive a HUMMER you are a douchebag) for public consumption — they’re out there because people spend (a lot) of money on them.

A woman writing for Semantink?  That’s actually a great idea!  I think the feminine voice should be heard more clearly.  It’ll help keep us nerd boys in check.  But before she gets to write she’ll have to vacuum, wear a french maids costume, makes some food, finish our laundry, scratch my back, dust something…

Mr. Wolff

PS:  This is Megan Gale, she was going to be Wonder Woman in George Miller’s never-made Justice League and she’s a fine actress.  Why am I putting the picture here?  Because she is a woman who loves comics.  There, you see, I’m not misogynistic at all.  I’m almost a feminist.

Not at all sexual.

While I was reading MR. Wolff’s rant about “Smallville” yesterday, I couldn’t help but to think what comic books would make great TV shows. So, as usual, I made a list about it. Now if I had my druthers, every show would be put out by HBO or Showtime, just because they have so much freedom in terms of content and presentation (just look at “Carnivale”),  but I know there are those of you out there that love you some ABC shows, or FX shows (hey, “Sons of Anarchy” is great), there might even be some of you out there that love CW shows (shudder) so feel free to envision the following list on any network you want (but it would be better on HBO).

1) SANDMAN MYSTERY THEATRE: This book had a great noir feel month after month, focusing on the mystery solving adventures of Wesley Dodds, the original Sandman, and his girlfriend Dian. Take the stories and ambiance from this book, and it would make for must-see TV.

2) NO HONOR: The story of a thief and the Samurai ghost that shares his body. If you were to mix “Kung-Fu” with the odd couple this is what you would get. A new setting every week and a series of wacky adventures (“This ghost is gonna get me killed!”) would make this a hit.

3) 1602: Imagine a John Adams-esque mini-series with all the same great costumes and set pieces of any other historical drama, but then add in super-powers. You could probably even get Neil Gaiman to write the screenplay.

4) CRIMSON: Vampires are hot right now. “True Blood” is great and “New Moon” is coming out soon. If you are going to have a vampire show work though it has to be different that what is out there, and CRIMSON is that. It’s more like a coming of age tale with crazy goth vampires, and buckets off blood.

5) POWERS: This one is a bit of a cheat, as both a POWERS movie and TV show have been announced at some point, but I still think it would make for great TV. Think “NYPD Blue” with capes.

6) HITMAN: This one would have to be on HBO to be done right. HITMAN is about a hard-drinkin’, crude-talkin’ Irish-American assassin who has super powers but usually doesn’t use them. Irreverent, bizarre, and violent as all get out, HITMAN would be a great TV show that would probably offend a lot of people.

7) DANGER GIRL: The whole team-of-spies-on-weekly-missions genre has fallen on hard times. Where once there were shows like “Charlie’s Angels”, “Mission Impossible” and “The A-Team”, now there is nothing but a valley of Blech. DANGER GIRL could be a return to glory for the genre if handled right. Stay away from the corny late night “She-spies” or “V.I.P.” vibe, and put some production value behind the show, and it could go places. Oh, and get attractive women, that never hurts.

100 BULLETS: If you took all the violence that was in “OZ” and a story as dense as “Lost”, you would get 100 BULLETS. YOu could get some mileage out of the series as well, with the book running 100 issues.

9) SCALPED: A story about an undercover FBI agent infiltrating a nasty Native-American crime syndicate. Drugs, sex, lies, and gambling, its like “Las Vegas” but good.

10) THE FRESHMEN: College hi-jinx + new hero hi-jinx+ some french dude who calles himself “squirrel” and collects nuts = greatness.

That’s what I would like to see on TV. What would you like to see?

Thanks for stopping in folks, see you next time!