I know you are all truly fascinated in how I spend my free time. This is what I am doing on Saturday. I recommend you come here, buy Bud's book and get autographed copies on Saturday. If you don't live close enough to get drunk with me, Bud & Danno, email Bud. He sell you your very own copy of Muscles & Fights 2: Musclier & Fightier!
Bud Burgy and Cream City Comics invite you to a celebration of one of the most brutal anthologies of all time Muscles & Fights 2: Musclier & Fightier!
Battle and claw your way to the burliest of parties!
WHEN:
7:00pm-10pm(or later)
Saturday, January 19th, 2008
WHERE:
Diamonds Coffee Shoppe
1618 Central Avenue Northeast
Minneapolis, MN 55418
WHO:
Meet the contributing artists of the book! They will be making live art, giving battle demonstrations and signing.
Copies of the book will be available for $12.
WHAT:
Original artwork (from the book) for sale and on display, beer and other beverages, music, live art and food!
PLEASE PASS THIS ALONG TO ANYONE WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED. THIS IS A FREE EVENT.
QUESTIONS & MORE DETAILS:
Bud Burgy & Amado Rodriguez
budburgy@yahoo.com
amadosaurus@hotmail.com
http://www.musclesandfights.com/
1/13/08
Terminator: The Sarah Conner Chronicles and Whitechapel
Terminator: The Sarah Conner Chronicles is terrible. I apologize for being excited to see it.
Here is something completely unrelated yet awesome I wanted to pass it along for all my indie comic pals. I saw this bulletin on ye olde myspace from Warren Ellis:
The Indie Comics Stage
Right. I opened my new little message board WHITECHAPEL towards the end of last year, to shake it down before the webcomic project it's bolted to, FREAKANGELS, gets launched. We're a month away from launch now, and I want to warm the message board up a bit.
So. If you create an indie comic, Whitechapel go to this thread and introduce your work. Indie comic? Anything that isn't published by Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, a book publisher or an Image studio (but I think Image Central counts). "Indie comic" includes webcomics, minicomics, phonecomics, whatever. You get the idea, right?
So go to that thread and show off. Whitechapel is built on HTML, not BBCode -- use the reply interface to post images, links, etc. Don't swamp it with eight full pages of art or anything, but, you know, show people what you've got.
There are currently 1700 people on Whitechapel. Many of them have money. And since I'm also posting this on my website, LiveJournal, MySpace and Bad Signal, there will probably be a few more people than usual taking a look.
Incidentally, if you're starting out as a creator and/or looking for a place to talk about making comics, you should really visit Panel & Pixel as soon as possible.And, obviously, those of you who don't make comics, but like reading them, should watch that thread to see what interesting stuff turns up. I'm hoping for a few nice surprises myself.
Here is something completely unrelated yet awesome I wanted to pass it along for all my indie comic pals. I saw this bulletin on ye olde myspace from Warren Ellis:
The Indie Comics Stage
Right. I opened my new little message board WHITECHAPEL towards the end of last year, to shake it down before the webcomic project it's bolted to, FREAKANGELS, gets launched. We're a month away from launch now, and I want to warm the message board up a bit.
So. If you create an indie comic, Whitechapel go to this thread and introduce your work. Indie comic? Anything that isn't published by Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, a book publisher or an Image studio (but I think Image Central counts). "Indie comic" includes webcomics, minicomics, phonecomics, whatever. You get the idea, right?
So go to that thread and show off. Whitechapel is built on HTML, not BBCode -- use the reply interface to post images, links, etc. Don't swamp it with eight full pages of art or anything, but, you know, show people what you've got.
There are currently 1700 people on Whitechapel. Many of them have money. And since I'm also posting this on my website, LiveJournal, MySpace and Bad Signal, there will probably be a few more people than usual taking a look.
Incidentally, if you're starting out as a creator and/or looking for a place to talk about making comics, you should really visit Panel & Pixel as soon as possible.And, obviously, those of you who don't make comics, but like reading them, should watch that thread to see what interesting stuff turns up. I'm hoping for a few nice surprises myself.
1/12/08
What Spidey Suit is the best?
So I have one Question for ya, What Spidey Suit is the best? Black Symbiote or Original Red/Blue? And why? (if you have a favorite)
JerkBoxJoJo
WHITNEY
The red and blue will always be my favorite. I don't mind 'updates' of super hero costumes but complete redos kind of bug me, like the X men movies. I don't expect to see Rogue in an 80s leather jacket with poofy hair, but keep something original. The black suit looks cool and all, but it's just not the same.
ASHLEY
While Black Symbiote looks really cool (who doesn't look cool in black?), I have to go with Original. The very first thing that suit makes me think of, even today, is an ancient ViewMaster reel I had as a small child with an image of Spidey on the side of a building. (I don't remember specifically which reel that was; I think it also had King Kong and Welcome Back, Kotter in it.) I'm very addicted to nostalgia.
NESSA
Black is sexier. The Blue and Red say little boy PJs to me.
LAUREN
This is definitely a good one, made my palms sweat a bit...
Are you asking if I like the Black suit or the Symbiote suit?
Alright, alright, I won't be a pain.
I really like the black symbiote suit because it brings out this entirely new side of Peter that even he didn't know existed. The portrayal in Spiderman 3 was sort of lame and I wish they would've went darker instead of flashy narcissistic boy with emo hair. Even though the red/blue is classic and you can never go wrong, I do like my Petey dark.
MARY
My favorite alternate Spidey suit is red and gold, the Stark Armor, Iron Spider.
JoJo, I know you want to love black Spidey. Face facts, he is an evil alien symbiote. (In most comics.) Peter isn't happy as black Spidey.
If you are talking about Spiderman 3, I have no answer for you. Although I did laugh my ass off in the theatre during the uber emo Tobey Maguire dance scene.
CLARIFICATION!
JoJo asked about Black Symbiote, not plain ol' black Spidey. I like Iron Spider as best alternate Spidey. I like the standard the best. I am still allowed to think Iron Spider is the prettiest other than original. It may have something to do with red being my favorite color. Oops...my vagina is showing, isn't it? I mean that literally and figuratively. Who took my panties?
JerkBoxJoJo
WHITNEY
The red and blue will always be my favorite. I don't mind 'updates' of super hero costumes but complete redos kind of bug me, like the X men movies. I don't expect to see Rogue in an 80s leather jacket with poofy hair, but keep something original. The black suit looks cool and all, but it's just not the same.
ASHLEY
While Black Symbiote looks really cool (who doesn't look cool in black?), I have to go with Original. The very first thing that suit makes me think of, even today, is an ancient ViewMaster reel I had as a small child with an image of Spidey on the side of a building. (I don't remember specifically which reel that was; I think it also had King Kong and Welcome Back, Kotter in it.) I'm very addicted to nostalgia.
NESSA
Black is sexier. The Blue and Red say little boy PJs to me.
LAUREN
This is definitely a good one, made my palms sweat a bit...
Are you asking if I like the Black suit or the Symbiote suit?
Alright, alright, I won't be a pain.
I really like the black symbiote suit because it brings out this entirely new side of Peter that even he didn't know existed. The portrayal in Spiderman 3 was sort of lame and I wish they would've went darker instead of flashy narcissistic boy with emo hair. Even though the red/blue is classic and you can never go wrong, I do like my Petey dark.
MARY
My favorite alternate Spidey suit is red and gold, the Stark Armor, Iron Spider.
JoJo, I know you want to love black Spidey. Face facts, he is an evil alien symbiote. (In most comics.) Peter isn't happy as black Spidey.
If you are talking about Spiderman 3, I have no answer for you. Although I did laugh my ass off in the theatre during the uber emo Tobey Maguire dance scene.
CLARIFICATION!
JoJo asked about Black Symbiote, not plain ol' black Spidey. I like Iron Spider as best alternate Spidey. I like the standard the best. I am still allowed to think Iron Spider is the prettiest other than original. It may have something to do with red being my favorite color. Oops...my vagina is showing, isn't it? I mean that literally and figuratively. Who took my panties?
1/10/08
Photos of the dead?
Dear CNG,
A weird and blasphemous (possibly offensive) question:
What's your standpoint on taking pictures of recently deceased loved ones?
I ask because there's been a falling-out between people I know, because one had the audacity of taking a picture of her father on the death-bed. She thought it would be cathartic to reflect on it later. Her family took offence whereas I think she has done nothing wrong.
Is this sacrilegious to you? Or can one maybe avoid eternal damnation and loss of respect by merely asking special permission from, let's say, the partner of the deceased? We're talking about a person close to you, not the headless corpse stacked in a garbage bin in your basement.
Sincerly,
Rembrand
WHITNEY
I think this is something that is entirely up to the person taking the picture. Personally, I would want to remember a loved one in life and not have a visual of their death, but I can't judge someone for wanting to. As far as it being sacrilegious, I don't see it that way as long as it's only used for personal emotional well-being.
ASHLEY
I personally see nothing at all sacrilegious or taboo about it, and if somebody wants to do it, that's fine. I do recognize that some people would be offended by it, and so would probably ask permission first.
I don't see myself ever doing it, however, because I would find it extremely creepy. That's why it's important to take lots of pictures now, while the people around you are living, so as not to have to take pictures of corpses later in order to remember someone's image.
NESSA
While I do fully support being sacrilegious whenever offered the opportunity, I'd have to say that out of respect for the other family members it would be polite to ask before you take the photo, but hardly a requirement or something to get all Hatfield and McCoy about. The dead don't care if you take their photo. I would never care if a photo was taken of a dead family member of mine. I might question why one would want a picture of deceased as I figure birth and death get far too much attention versus the actual day to day act of living,but to each their own.
I will admit though that I've been fascinated with Book of Dead after I read about a touring exhibit of the photos. They were used to remind the families of their lost loved one.
Personally I would rather hang living photos of my loved ones around the house, but hey Nessa likes her peoples alive. They look like they are sleeping but don't look at them if you are sensitive, some are children.
All of that said there definitely appears to be a pretty significant cultural moray against such things, even if I personally don't see what the big deal is. And though Thomas Condon wasn't a
family member I think there is still some info on the subject to be garnered from looking at the case of photographer, Thomas Condon
LAUREN
Dignity, always dignity.
That's why you ask permission before you become a shutterbug and take that final pic when a loved one is at their worst. Most people like to be remembered for the person they were, not the shell that they became. When my aunt was on her deathbed not too long ago, a part of me longed to take a picture because I knew I was saying good bye and this was my last chance for a photo op. If they are unable to grant that permission, I am sure that asking the partner would be permissible. I don't think it's odd, but in some cases it could be destructive for the grieving process when you have a picture of a corpse. I guess you could put it side by side in the album; this was when I was fishing with Aunt Grace, and this one here was when she was dying of cancer. Ok, ok, so you probably wouldn't do that. But I definitely don't think that it's grounds for estrangement.
A weird and blasphemous (possibly offensive) question:
What's your standpoint on taking pictures of recently deceased loved ones?
I ask because there's been a falling-out between people I know, because one had the audacity of taking a picture of her father on the death-bed. She thought it would be cathartic to reflect on it later. Her family took offence whereas I think she has done nothing wrong.
Is this sacrilegious to you? Or can one maybe avoid eternal damnation and loss of respect by merely asking special permission from, let's say, the partner of the deceased? We're talking about a person close to you, not the headless corpse stacked in a garbage bin in your basement.
Sincerly,
Rembrand
WHITNEY
I think this is something that is entirely up to the person taking the picture. Personally, I would want to remember a loved one in life and not have a visual of their death, but I can't judge someone for wanting to. As far as it being sacrilegious, I don't see it that way as long as it's only used for personal emotional well-being.
ASHLEY
I personally see nothing at all sacrilegious or taboo about it, and if somebody wants to do it, that's fine. I do recognize that some people would be offended by it, and so would probably ask permission first.
I don't see myself ever doing it, however, because I would find it extremely creepy. That's why it's important to take lots of pictures now, while the people around you are living, so as not to have to take pictures of corpses later in order to remember someone's image.
NESSA
While I do fully support being sacrilegious whenever offered the opportunity, I'd have to say that out of respect for the other family members it would be polite to ask before you take the photo, but hardly a requirement or something to get all Hatfield and McCoy about. The dead don't care if you take their photo. I would never care if a photo was taken of a dead family member of mine. I might question why one would want a picture of deceased as I figure birth and death get far too much attention versus the actual day to day act of living,but to each their own.
I will admit though that I've been fascinated with Book of Dead after I read about a touring exhibit of the photos. They were used to remind the families of their lost loved one.
Personally I would rather hang living photos of my loved ones around the house, but hey Nessa likes her peoples alive. They look like they are sleeping but don't look at them if you are sensitive, some are children.
All of that said there definitely appears to be a pretty significant cultural moray against such things, even if I personally don't see what the big deal is. And though Thomas Condon wasn't a
family member I think there is still some info on the subject to be garnered from looking at the case of photographer, Thomas Condon
LAUREN
Dignity, always dignity.
That's why you ask permission before you become a shutterbug and take that final pic when a loved one is at their worst. Most people like to be remembered for the person they were, not the shell that they became. When my aunt was on her deathbed not too long ago, a part of me longed to take a picture because I knew I was saying good bye and this was my last chance for a photo op. If they are unable to grant that permission, I am sure that asking the partner would be permissible. I don't think it's odd, but in some cases it could be destructive for the grieving process when you have a picture of a corpse. I guess you could put it side by side in the album; this was when I was fishing with Aunt Grace, and this one here was when she was dying of cancer. Ok, ok, so you probably wouldn't do that. But I definitely don't think that it's grounds for estrangement.
MARY
Fuck, as long as she didn't stand next to the body giving a thumbs up to the camera, it is fine. She didn't dress him up and walk him around à la Weekend at Bernie's!
I am guessing this is possibly older family members that were upset. The techie generations understand using technology to connect and disconnect with emotions.
Unlike the other girls, I could see myself doing this. Photos help me process. I have an obsession with going to back to school for mortuary science. I am already a videographer/photographer. Seems natural to me.
I love both the links that Nessa provided. The Thomas Condon story is disturbing yet I do still understand the artistic statement he is making. I am a minority in that though, I'm afraid. Book of Dead is absolutely fascinating to me.
It is respectful to ask for permission to take photos of the dead. However, if this was a daughter taking a photo of her father, she doesn't need permission. It is her father. She gets to deal with it however she deals with it. Photos of him to remember how sad the end of his life was could make her more grateful he has passed on to whatever high holy crap.
12/29/07
Have you ever peed in the shower?
Hi Mary!
I promised you I'd do two things after you added me on myspace...tell my friends about your site (which I did). And I also promised that I'd pose a question to the X Chromisontigency. Far be it from me to not do what I said I would do.But I didn't want to send you & the gang a run-o-the-mill question either. So here goes...
There was a discussion had at a place I used to work at that had interesting results. A female manager posed this question to the staff (males & females) to see how they'd answer.
Question: Have you ever peed in the shower?
Keep in mind, the question isn't "Do" you pee in the shower, which may suggest a habitual act, and thereby affect the answer of the question. The question is have you EVER done it. For the record, even though I don't pee in the shower... I have peed in the shower. I guess you could say I was on the dark side of the argument.
If you're interested in how the results of our survey went, I'd be happy to share at your request.
Thanks to all of you for the cool site. And happy holidays (Merry Xmas) to all.
Later,
Jp
LAUREN
Funny enough, I have peed and sort of continue to do so. I try to finish up my business before I scrub my naughty bits, but sometimes, you gotta go.
ASH
Yes. But not since I was a child, because now, being OCD, it would gross me out too much and I wouldn't feel clean all day.
I would like to point out that there is an episode of Seinfeld that deals with this topic. "Different pipes go to different places!"
WHITNEY
Have I ever peed in the shower? Yes, yes I have and I'd do it again. In the words of George Costanza, "It's all pipes!!"
NESSA
That's quite the conversation for a manager to have with her staff. She is lucky she has cool employees. A lame person might make a big deal about it.
Are you peeing because you were warm? This is a common thing children do. Or are you too lazy to step out of the shower and pee the toilet? Or are you just getting off on peeing in the shower?
I have never peed in the shower.
MARY
I think this question is fucking hilarious. It is also fucking hilarious that Whitney, Ashley and myself all immediately started thinking about that Seinfeld episode. Nerds.
My first reaction is "Sure, who hasn't?" Isn't it sort of a rite of passage as a child when no longer forced to be bathed by a parent? "I'm in here all by myself. I could do whatever I want!" Then I received Nessa's response. She not only hasn't peed in the shower, she doesn't understand the urge to do so. Interesting. Everyone is different and has different urges. I think the warm water was definitely a factor when I have peed in the shower. It was also when I was much younger.
I always have to pee right when I wake up. I don't get in the shower immediately in the morning. I go make coffee and play to the interweb first. My tank is empty when I am in the shower so I don't feel the urge.
I also like to take long, relaxing baths. That could be a bit gross if I have been peeing in the tub.
Yes, I have peed in the shower. No, I don't pee in the shower as an adult. Mainly because I am the one that has to clean the bathtub. At least I have a brush to clean the toilet.
I write back to JP aka Jeff and asked him for the results of his survey. I had to know how it all came out. Pun intended. His results have made me suspicious of my male roommate. I am going to stop taking baths.
The results for our survey follows. I'm a little bummed, though. I called Joyce (the manager who posted the poll) & she threw the original poll away a while ago. I had hoped to scan a picture for you to show the validity. You'll just have to take a stranger's word that he's not a pervert I guess. Anyhoo, I had e-mailed the results to a bunch of my friends for a laugh so I still have the results. I've put initials to protect the staff. You can put my name in bright lights for all I care. I'm a pisser & I'm proud of it damn it! Also, i've put the gender in () for statistical purposes.
Have peed in the shower:
JG (F)
TS (M)
JZ (F)
CA (M)
JP (M-this is me)
AR (M)
SG (M-also wrote that he pooped in the shower-hopefully kidding)
DA (F)
EF (M)
AS (M)
JS (M)
MA (F)
Never have peed in the shower:
BG (M)
RB (M)
MA-R (F)
SA (F)
JH (F)
LH (F- wrote that she thinks this poll is gross and now has new opinion for certain co- workers)
AW (M)
JV (F)
LB (F)
Total pee-ers: 12 (8 males, 4 females)
Total wait until I get out-ers: 9 (6 females, 3 males)
This questions has piqued my curiosity. Now I can't stop asking people if they pee in the shower. I may continue to add results from women I ask.
Carrie
Here's my deal with peeing in the shower....it usually happens when I have to shower right away in the morning on a work day. I don't want to pee, flush the toilet and wait for the toilet to run it's course. It's easier to just hop in the shower, pee while I'm washing my hair that way I'm not waiting for the low pressure scalding water from the toilet flush to calm down, and I'm killing a few birds with one stone.
A very good point Carrie! Thank you!
I promised you I'd do two things after you added me on myspace...tell my friends about your site (which I did). And I also promised that I'd pose a question to the X Chromisontigency. Far be it from me to not do what I said I would do.But I didn't want to send you & the gang a run-o-the-mill question either. So here goes...
There was a discussion had at a place I used to work at that had interesting results. A female manager posed this question to the staff (males & females) to see how they'd answer.
Question: Have you ever peed in the shower?
Keep in mind, the question isn't "Do" you pee in the shower, which may suggest a habitual act, and thereby affect the answer of the question. The question is have you EVER done it. For the record, even though I don't pee in the shower... I have peed in the shower. I guess you could say I was on the dark side of the argument.
If you're interested in how the results of our survey went, I'd be happy to share at your request.
Thanks to all of you for the cool site. And happy holidays (Merry Xmas) to all.
Later,
Jp
LAUREN
Funny enough, I have peed and sort of continue to do so. I try to finish up my business before I scrub my naughty bits, but sometimes, you gotta go.
ASH
Yes. But not since I was a child, because now, being OCD, it would gross me out too much and I wouldn't feel clean all day.
I would like to point out that there is an episode of Seinfeld that deals with this topic. "Different pipes go to different places!"
WHITNEY
Have I ever peed in the shower? Yes, yes I have and I'd do it again. In the words of George Costanza, "It's all pipes!!"
NESSA
That's quite the conversation for a manager to have with her staff. She is lucky she has cool employees. A lame person might make a big deal about it.
Are you peeing because you were warm? This is a common thing children do. Or are you too lazy to step out of the shower and pee the toilet? Or are you just getting off on peeing in the shower?
I have never peed in the shower.
MARY
I think this question is fucking hilarious. It is also fucking hilarious that Whitney, Ashley and myself all immediately started thinking about that Seinfeld episode. Nerds.
My first reaction is "Sure, who hasn't?" Isn't it sort of a rite of passage as a child when no longer forced to be bathed by a parent? "I'm in here all by myself. I could do whatever I want!" Then I received Nessa's response. She not only hasn't peed in the shower, she doesn't understand the urge to do so. Interesting. Everyone is different and has different urges. I think the warm water was definitely a factor when I have peed in the shower. It was also when I was much younger.
I always have to pee right when I wake up. I don't get in the shower immediately in the morning. I go make coffee and play to the interweb first. My tank is empty when I am in the shower so I don't feel the urge.
I also like to take long, relaxing baths. That could be a bit gross if I have been peeing in the tub.
Yes, I have peed in the shower. No, I don't pee in the shower as an adult. Mainly because I am the one that has to clean the bathtub. At least I have a brush to clean the toilet.
I write back to JP aka Jeff and asked him for the results of his survey. I had to know how it all came out. Pun intended. His results have made me suspicious of my male roommate. I am going to stop taking baths.
The results for our survey follows. I'm a little bummed, though. I called Joyce (the manager who posted the poll) & she threw the original poll away a while ago. I had hoped to scan a picture for you to show the validity. You'll just have to take a stranger's word that he's not a pervert I guess. Anyhoo, I had e-mailed the results to a bunch of my friends for a laugh so I still have the results. I've put initials to protect the staff. You can put my name in bright lights for all I care. I'm a pisser & I'm proud of it damn it! Also, i've put the gender in () for statistical purposes.
Have peed in the shower:
JG (F)
TS (M)
JZ (F)
CA (M)
JP (M-this is me)
AR (M)
SG (M-also wrote that he pooped in the shower-hopefully kidding)
DA (F)
EF (M)
AS (M)
JS (M)
MA (F)
Never have peed in the shower:
BG (M)
RB (M)
MA-R (F)
SA (F)
JH (F)
LH (F- wrote that she thinks this poll is gross and now has new opinion for certain co- workers)
AW (M)
JV (F)
LB (F)
Total pee-ers: 12 (8 males, 4 females)
Total wait until I get out-ers: 9 (6 females, 3 males)
This questions has piqued my curiosity. Now I can't stop asking people if they pee in the shower. I may continue to add results from women I ask.
Carrie
Here's my deal with peeing in the shower....it usually happens when I have to shower right away in the morning on a work day. I don't want to pee, flush the toilet and wait for the toilet to run it's course. It's easier to just hop in the shower, pee while I'm washing my hair that way I'm not waiting for the low pressure scalding water from the toilet flush to calm down, and I'm killing a few birds with one stone.
A very good point Carrie! Thank you!
12/21/07
Do The Super-Chicks Represent?
Running short on Interrogators, huh?
Okay, I've got a question for the CNGs:
I hear a lot of talk about strong women in comics, and certainly the Luna Brothers and Dan Clowes and guys like that who do very realistic stuff write very well-rounded female characters...
But what about in the more mainstream books? I personally think that Brian Reed (and Bendis) write Ms. Marvel as a complex, flawed, and ultimately heroic character...but she's still built on the Frank Cho Male Ideal, physically. I also thought Dan Slott did a great job with She-Hulk, particularly in really exploring the dichotomy between the Champion and the Girl...and at least Jen Walters is sort of "average-looking" when she's in her human form....
Or does the "male-centric" physical depiction bother you at all?
(I can't speak to DC characters cuz I don't read that crap.)
Deena Pilgrim, yes. I think we can all agree that she's one of the most interesting and real-world-seeming female characters in graphic adventure fiction...and we can add in Jessica Jones/Alias as well...but aside from the mighty Bendis's ladies, what do you guys really think about how most women are portrayed in mainstream (superhero?) comics?
And if you're largely dissatisfied, what do you think could be done to improve the situation?
Yr Pal,
(who is currently writing a central female character in a comic and who might be asking this for completely selfish reasons)
JB Love
CUTE NERD GIRL SPECIAL COLUMNIST ASHLEY!
This is something that I don't really think about all that much, and after giving it some consideration, I realized why: When I look for characterization, I'm mainly looking for whether the writer can pull off human or not. To look for whether a character is appropriately male or female almost seems sexist to me (though your question seems very considerate); it assumes that all males or all females would think and say and do the same things. But if you can get human down, then everything else should just fall into place. Ideally. Although speaking from experience, I know how difficult it can be to write for a male. Good writers can pull it off, though.
As for Deena, God I love her. Mainly because her spontaneous and quirky personality kind of reminds me of me. I remember a line of hers once--something like, "I always wear these little belly shirts. That's gotta do something for you." Sounded so like something I would say.
Also, I don't read an awful lot of mainstream stuff. But another great female character I enjoy is Tulip from Garth Ennis' Preacher.
LAUREN
Couple of my most recent favorites are Ed Brubaker's Catwoman and Brian K. Vaughn's Agent 355 from Y: The Last Man. Well, any woman from Y is fairly realistic and written brilliantly. I don't think Mr. Vaughn can do any wrong. Although Supergirl from the late 80s always kind of bugged the shit of out me because of her devotion to Lex, and the complete lack of brains that they gave her...I know he made her from protoplasm post-crisis, but still...I will say the Kara Zor-El that Jeph Loeb wrote in the Superman/Batman series is stupendous.
As for Marvel, I have way too much catching up to do, so I can't really say.
MARY
I totally agree with Lauren about 355 & Y. Poor 355! I actually cried out "Fuck no!" when she got shot while sitting by myself in my apartment. I had tears in my eyes at the end of Y #58. 355 bit the dust already. Now Deena from Powers is going to die next....it's a bad time to be one of my favorite kick ass comic chicks.
Also, Ashley? Deena reminds me of me. That Bendis bastard is some kind of writer.
I like pretty much all of the female X-Men (of course the Ultimate X-Men Bendis touched.) I have moved away from X-Men these days though. I will love Phoenix/Jean Grey until the day I die as well as Rogue.
Bendis and B.K.V. are my bests for female portrayals. I love every woman Bendis has ever written, of course. B.K.V.'s Runaways was awesome. That being said, Joss Whedon can write the fuck out of some ladies in everything he does. I like all the female characters in Warren Ellis's Nextwave too.
In the end, the "male-centric" physical depiction doesn't bother me at all. Have you checked out the male superheroes in mainstream books? Do any of you look like them?
Huge C.N.G. thanks to Ashley. She will be chiming in on the site when she has time
I think I am going to cry.
Okay, I've got a question for the CNGs:
I hear a lot of talk about strong women in comics, and certainly the Luna Brothers and Dan Clowes and guys like that who do very realistic stuff write very well-rounded female characters...
But what about in the more mainstream books? I personally think that Brian Reed (and Bendis) write Ms. Marvel as a complex, flawed, and ultimately heroic character...but she's still built on the Frank Cho Male Ideal, physically. I also thought Dan Slott did a great job with She-Hulk, particularly in really exploring the dichotomy between the Champion and the Girl...and at least Jen Walters is sort of "average-looking" when she's in her human form....
Or does the "male-centric" physical depiction bother you at all?
(I can't speak to DC characters cuz I don't read that crap.)
Deena Pilgrim, yes. I think we can all agree that she's one of the most interesting and real-world-seeming female characters in graphic adventure fiction...and we can add in Jessica Jones/Alias as well...but aside from the mighty Bendis's ladies, what do you guys really think about how most women are portrayed in mainstream (superhero?) comics?
And if you're largely dissatisfied, what do you think could be done to improve the situation?
Yr Pal,
(who is currently writing a central female character in a comic and who might be asking this for completely selfish reasons)
JB Love
CUTE NERD GIRL SPECIAL COLUMNIST ASHLEY!
This is something that I don't really think about all that much, and after giving it some consideration, I realized why: When I look for characterization, I'm mainly looking for whether the writer can pull off human or not. To look for whether a character is appropriately male or female almost seems sexist to me (though your question seems very considerate); it assumes that all males or all females would think and say and do the same things. But if you can get human down, then everything else should just fall into place. Ideally. Although speaking from experience, I know how difficult it can be to write for a male. Good writers can pull it off, though.
As for Deena, God I love her. Mainly because her spontaneous and quirky personality kind of reminds me of me. I remember a line of hers once--something like, "I always wear these little belly shirts. That's gotta do something for you." Sounded so like something I would say.
Also, I don't read an awful lot of mainstream stuff. But another great female character I enjoy is Tulip from Garth Ennis' Preacher.
LAUREN
Couple of my most recent favorites are Ed Brubaker's Catwoman and Brian K. Vaughn's Agent 355 from Y: The Last Man. Well, any woman from Y is fairly realistic and written brilliantly. I don't think Mr. Vaughn can do any wrong. Although Supergirl from the late 80s always kind of bugged the shit of out me because of her devotion to Lex, and the complete lack of brains that they gave her...I know he made her from protoplasm post-crisis, but still...I will say the Kara Zor-El that Jeph Loeb wrote in the Superman/Batman series is stupendous.
As for Marvel, I have way too much catching up to do, so I can't really say.
MARY
I totally agree with Lauren about 355 & Y. Poor 355! I actually cried out "Fuck no!" when she got shot while sitting by myself in my apartment. I had tears in my eyes at the end of Y #58. 355 bit the dust already. Now Deena from Powers is going to die next....it's a bad time to be one of my favorite kick ass comic chicks.
Also, Ashley? Deena reminds me of me. That Bendis bastard is some kind of writer.
I like pretty much all of the female X-Men (of course the Ultimate X-Men Bendis touched.) I have moved away from X-Men these days though. I will love Phoenix/Jean Grey until the day I die as well as Rogue.
Bendis and B.K.V. are my bests for female portrayals. I love every woman Bendis has ever written, of course. B.K.V.'s Runaways was awesome. That being said, Joss Whedon can write the fuck out of some ladies in everything he does. I like all the female characters in Warren Ellis's Nextwave too.
In the end, the "male-centric" physical depiction doesn't bother me at all. Have you checked out the male superheroes in mainstream books? Do any of you look like them?
Huge C.N.G. thanks to Ashley. She will be chiming in on the site when she has time
I think I am going to cry.
12/18/07
Comics I forgot!
I am a jerk. I am also a voracious reader that cannot make only a single post about web comics I read.
I love Taki Soma: you'll never die...
She's beautiful, talented and leaving the icy tundra of Minnesota behind. She will be missed!
That is one you all should check out.
I didn't link this last post either. I had the incorrect web address. The fine Cartoonist Conspirators have already fixed that. I recommend starting with the early strips and reading the whole way through. I did it. Now you can too! Here's Schmapples!
His imaginary girlfriend character was part of my inspiration for Ask a Cute Nerd Girl along with the Powers contest, of course.
REST IN PEACE, ERIC. October 22, 1978 - July 23, 2007
I love Taki Soma: you'll never die...
She's beautiful, talented and leaving the icy tundra of Minnesota behind. She will be missed!
That is one you all should check out.
I didn't link this last post either. I had the incorrect web address. The fine Cartoonist Conspirators have already fixed that. I recommend starting with the early strips and reading the whole way through. I did it. Now you can too! Here's Schmapples!
His imaginary girlfriend character was part of my inspiration for Ask a Cute Nerd Girl along with the Powers contest, of course.
REST IN PEACE, ERIC. October 22, 1978 - July 23, 2007
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
