Girls With Comics

Tonight while discussing ‘The Walking Dead’ at a girls only comic club I attend, I thought to myself, what is it that I look for in a character? A strong independent streak, is the one thing that stood out. Someone who marches to the beat of their own drum.

Jughead Jones, for example, has been a mainstay in my heart since I was 6. By the time I was around, Jughead wasn’t so much a woman-hater as he just didn’t care. Watching Archie and Reggie convinced him dating was more trouble than it’s worth, and in highschool, that is the truth. Plus he is a nerd, but is still just one of the gang. That funny crown? He wouldn’t be Jughead without it.

Batman is also another character who is a loner (ignore Robin). While every now and again he does need the help and socialization from the JL, he is just his own person. I admire that. Batgirl is also another person in the Batfamily who I greatly admire. Stephanie Brown especially, as we rarely see her mingle with Batman and Robin while out in Batgirl. Simply put, like Batman, she doesn’t really need the help of too many other people (except Oracle, who is awesome).

So what about you, dear readers?

-Lauren

Have you heard the news? Much like the title says, one of Riverdale’s most enduring characters is actually going to die, in ‘Life With Archie’ #6. That character being Ms. Grundy, the teacher who has been around since the dawn of time itself (or what seems like). Ms. Grundy, as the story will explain, had cancer, and died. While I would lament and go on about how sad I am, I am very much so under the impression this will not effect the regular titles at all. After all, Life With Archie is about what happens after Archie marries Betty/Veronica. And as we all know, every other title is about the gang in high school.

I am very proud of the direction Archie has taken. From getting married, having kids, having a new gay student, and finally being put in adult situations. However, I’m a little put off with killing a character. Yes yes, death is a part of life and Archie should not ignore it, but I feel like some of my childhood is being punched in the face*. Plus, with all of the mass media publicity the comic has been getting, it just doesn’t seem “special”. Maybe Grundy should have died 3 years from now, and not after an amazing year of gay kids, weddings, and having Obama and Palin in a comic. It seems unfair to Ms. Grundy. (Or on the flip side, this is one helluva way to end a great year.)

-Lauren

*I hate being punched anywhere, especially in the face.

For my final Literary Theory paper, I wrote about sexism in Watchmen. I won’t be posting the whole paper (after all, who wants to read 10 pages of me trying to woo my teacher into giving me an A?), but I would to share my favorite part out of it.

“As Eddie puts it, “C’mon baby. I know what you need. You gotta have some reason for wearin’ an outfit like this, huh?” We can’t ignore that she dresses up as a sexy super hero to fight crime, a stereotype largely dominated by men. Her sexy costume is a way to show that yes, she is female. She’s not afraid of showing some skin, after all, she could beat you to a pulp. The other female fighter in the Minutemen, Silhouette prefers to cover up her body, and is later revealed to be a lesbian. Perhaps Sally’s sexuality is where her power really lay. As Gayle Rubin points out, “Women are oppressed in societies which can by no stretch of the imagination be described as capitalist.” I won’t get into an argument on capitalism and America, but I feel women are oppressed everywhere. Sally’s costume was a way for her to show that she could not be oppressed in their male driven society, while Silhouette chose to show her anger against oppression by instead sleeping with women.

 By the Comedian raping Sally he is also oppressing her, showing that she can never be anything more than a weak woman. Gayle Rubin notes that in the Amazon valley and New Guinea Highlands, men gang rape women.

““We tame our women with the banana.” Said one Mundurucu man. The ethnographic record is littered with practices whose effect is to keep women “in their place.”” When Sally is eventually saved, Eddie says “Hey wait! She wanted me to do it! She…” Perhaps Eddie thought this would tame her, or ultimately put her in her place, which is not with men fighting crime.”

-Lauren

Or guy, whichever.

nOir Jewelry has released a line of DC comics inspired stuff; rings, earings, and more. The items are really pretty (or downright stunning, like the Gotham City ring) are pretty reasonable. My favorite (which was oh so hard to do!) has to be this ring here: http://noirjewelry.com/Rings/BatGirlDome/568. Not only does it match my car (black) it also matches the tattoo on my shoulder (Batman).

Seriously, perfection.

If nOir is still out of your price range, never fear! Hot Topic is here. http://www.hottopic.com/hottopic/PopCulture/Superheroes/All.jsp Some of the items are pretty neat (oooh! A Spider-Man bathroom rug!), but if your lady (or guy) has an eye for the bling, getting them a plush Iron Man may seem silly. But it is the thought that counts, right?

-Lauren