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 Supergirls Gone Wild: Gender Bias In Comics Shortchanges Superwomen Arts: Torture me. Kill me off. My fans shall avenge me. By Charlie Anders July 30, 2007 Batman needed a new Robin. His previous protégé had quit after his dad found out his teenage son was sneaking off to wear green tights. Then, in May 2004, a 16-year-old named Stephanie Brown stepped into comic-book history as Bruce Wayne's first female sidekick. When the caped crusader told her she got the job, she jumped in the air and shouted, "This is so totally cool!"
Stephanie's 71-day tenure as the Girl Wonder started off well. Drawn in a fun, Powerpuff Girls style, she trained hard, and even saved her mentor from a serial killer. But then, in a series of unfortunate events, Batman canned her, she accidentally set off a Gotham City gang war, and finally fell into the hands of a skull-faced villain called Black Mask, who tortured her to death with a power drill.
Her grisly demise hit fans hard, particularly the female readers who'd only just started enjoying the thrill of a Robin they could identify with. After the two previous boy Robins had retired and died, respectively, their uniforms were preserved behind glass inside the Batcave. But Baman never got around to memorializing Stephanie. More than two years later, a grassroots campaign based at the website Girl-Wonder.org is still aggressively lobbying DC Comics to give Stephanie her two-dimensional due. And the flames of discontent only grew higher when DC editor Dan DiDio told female fans at a recent comic convention that in his book, Stephanie "was never really a Robin."
Of course, sudden-death plot twists are nothing new in comic books. (Just ask Captain America, who was whacked earlier this year after an illustrious 60-year crime-fighting career.) Neither are angry readers: Comic-book fans are known for their fanatical love for their favorite characters—and their ferocious scorn for anyone who dares to mess them up. But the new wave of feminist fangirls has taken this obsessiveness even further, geeking out about the ways that superwomen are shortchanged by dumb story lines, flat characterization, and titillating art. They love their comics as much as the sweatiest fanboy—and they hate nothing more than when real-life problems like the glass ceiling intrude on their escapist fantasies.
Ever since the pulpy era of tales like "Lois Lane, Slave Girl," women in comic books have usually been stuck as tagalongs, also-rans, and girlfriends who try to tie down male heroes with marriage. With very few exceptions, comic-book writers and artists have been men, and they've assumed most of their readers were, too. But despite the genre's teenage testosterone appeal, there have always been dedicated fans like Gail Simone, who grew up in the 1970s enjoying the all-American ritual of buying comic books at the convenience store and curling up with four-color fantasies about fellow redhead Batgirl. As she got older, Simone noticed that a dark undercurrent was creeping into her favorite titles as they pushed a new "grim 'n' gritty" aesthetic. Batgirl was shot in the spine by the Joker, who then took obscene photos of her.
In the late '90s, Simone started keeping track of plot twists in which supervillains would rape or brutalize female characters on her website, Women in Refrigerators. (The name refers to one particularly gruesome incident; see "When Bad Things Happen to Superpeople," above.) Now an entire universe of feisty feminist fan sites has appeared, including When Fangirls Attack and online columns such as "Girls Read Comics (And They're Pissed)." They've identified trends such as "porn face," one male artist's habit of drawing every female character with the same faking-an-orgasm expression. And they've added an estrogen-fueled spin to their passion for minutiae: Is the female leader of the Mighty Avengers really in charge, or is she just a figurehead? Why doesn't Wonder Woman know how to pump gas? Did Spider-Man's radioactive sperm really kill his wife?
Lately, they've been focusing their powers of deconstruction on Supergirl, Superman's underage cousin. After spending decades as the Man of Steel's blond, bland counterpart, she was recently recast as jailbait, trading her long-sleeved top and cheerleader skirt for a midriff-baring micro-costume (supposedly designed by Superman's Midwestern stepmom). Bloggers diligently dissected every up-skirt image of the new Supergirl gone wild, who seemed to spend more time flaunting ass than kicking it. In response to the bad buzz, in January Supergirl editor Eddie Berganza issued an open letter to his female readers. "Women," he began, "Who needs them? Well, actually...I do." He begged the "ladies" to "give Supergirl a shot," explaining that he'd gotten a "woman's point of view" on the character from a female assistant editor. He also promised that Supergirl would gain some weight and would date a "mimbo" who was as much of a mindless pinup as she was.
Clearly, Berganza was missing the point. Female fans want the same thing as male readers: well-written stories and believable—okay, sort of believable—characters. "You can't just promise to add some weight to Supergirl's frame and expect women to care about a poorly constructed character," says blogger Rachelle Goguen. DC has since replaced Berganza with Matt Idelson, who had previously revamped Catwoman from a sex kitten to a reasonably dressed badass. Idelson has promised that Supergirl soon will be "more user-friendly."
"The victory with Supergirl was important, and the stakes were high," says Valerie D'Orazio, a former DC Comics editor who blogs as Occasional Superheroine. Though she accepts some of the blame for tarting up Supergirl during her tenure, she believes that comics creators are starting to think twice about indulging the kinds of fantasies that have driven plotlines during the past decade or so. D'Orazio caused a stir a couple of years ago when she wrote about a meeting where male editors told her, "We need a rape." She says such clumsy attempts at edginess are dwindling, not necessarily out of sensitivity but because publishers want to make money. Bad publicity from vocal fans is Kryptonite for business: Supergirl's sales plummeted nearly 50 percent in the past year.
Some of the guys who write comics are listening. "I'm conscious that female characters have been treated poorly for much of comics' history, and I don't want to fall into the same traps," says Superman writer Kurt Busiek. Brian K. Vaughan, who has written The X-Men, says he's developing more interesting female characters "to raise the dialogue about comics beyond, 'Could her boobs be smaller?'"
While fans have long been content to lob criticisms from the safety of their fortresses of solitude, more women are taking the leap from critics to creators. Gail Simone has joined DC Comics and chronicles the adventures of the former Batgirl—now a paraplegic master hacker who sends female agents out to kickbox on the wings of fighter jets. She's won praise for her well-realized female characters and is slated to become the new Wonder Woman scribe. Simone says she is meeting more women who want to break into the field. "The revolution is happening," she says.
But the revolution isn't trying to change comic books' enduring appeal. Boy nerds love stories of outcasts who come into fantastic powers. Simone says that girls love these tales for similar reasons: They allow girls to imagine rescuing themselves instead of waiting for a white knight to show up. Feminists' favorite superheroes still squeeze into spandex and leather, and rely on cartoon violence and outlandish toys to solve their problems—just like the guys do. In one recent episode written by Simone, the fishnet-clad Black Canary is captured by a bunch of thugs, whose leader taunts her, "Shouldn't you be preparing my evening meal...naked?" She proceeds to lay waste to the entire gang, her fists, feet, and elbows soaring in controlled arcs of fury. "I am the Black Canary," she declares. "And I take $%$@ from precisely NO ONE."Charlie Anders is coeditor of She's Such a Geek: Women Write About Science, Technology and Other Nerdy Stuff.
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some RKMB'ers are Obsessed with Black People Hmmm? 5000+ posts
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Excellent essay on the whole "women in refrigerator" syndrome in comics. Good props to Gail Simone in the essay as well.
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living in 1962 15000+ posts
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that was pretty well researched. I was expecting it to be a lot more one sided.
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The conscience of the rkmbs! 15000+ posts
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*yawn*
More Simone worship.
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living in 1962 15000+ posts
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you really hate women, don't you?
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Kneel! 10000+ posts
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its sad... 
big_pimp_tim-made it cool to roll in the first damn place! Mon Jun 11 2007 09:27 PM- harley finally rolled with me "I'm working with him...he's young but, there is much potential. He can apprentice with me and then he's yours for final training. He will remember the face of his father... Some day, Knutreturns just may be the greatest of us all...."-THE bastard
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I walk in eternity 15000+ posts
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Women and girl super heroes often get a raw deal in comics. I hate that and would like it to stop.
I wish they had not killed off Stephanie..
"I offer you a Vulcan prayer, Mr Suder. May your death bring you the peace you never found in life." - Tuvok. 
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The conscience of the rkmbs! 15000+ posts
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you really hate women, don't you? No no no, I don't hate you Grimm. I just hate the idea of you.
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Your death will make me king! 15000+ posts
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I think the killing of Stephanie Brown was one of the biggest mistakes the comics industry ever made.
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you really hate women, don't you? No no no, I don't hate you Grimm. I just hate the idea of you. yes, a man without breasts just defeats all your fantasies, doesn't it?
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Stop kidding around Grimm. Everyone here knows you have breasts.
And as for Stephanie: I could care less about her existence whether she be alive or dead. Although, I will say that it would be infinitely more cool if Barbara were killed off instead.
If they were to kill off Cassandra however, then I would be pissed. Especially after I heard that Chuck Dixon is going to be writing her in The Outsiders.
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living in 1962 15000+ posts
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Stop kidding around Grimm. Everyone here knows you have breasts.
yes, but you'll never get to see them.
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The conscience of the rkmbs! 15000+ posts
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damn grimm. that was kinda harsh...
and a bit defensive...
big_pimp_tim-made it cool to roll in the first damn place! Mon Jun 11 2007 09:27 PM- harley finally rolled with me "I'm working with him...he's young but, there is much potential. He can apprentice with me and then he's yours for final training. He will remember the face of his father... Some day, Knutreturns just may be the greatest of us all...."-THE bastard
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I think the killing of Stephanie Brown was one of the biggest mistakes the comics industry ever made. agreed...
big_pimp_tim-made it cool to roll in the first damn place! Mon Jun 11 2007 09:27 PM- harley finally rolled with me "I'm working with him...he's young but, there is much potential. He can apprentice with me and then he's yours for final training. He will remember the face of his father... Some day, Knutreturns just may be the greatest of us all...."-THE bastard
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living in 1962 15000+ posts
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back off, man. I'm a scientist.
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1. You do not talk about snarf. 7500+ posts
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back off, man. I'm a scientist. and a Futurist!
Me No Rikey Rob, he's a banana queer!
I shit on Hogan!
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living in 1962 15000+ posts
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damn skippy!
we shot Nowhereman into space!
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1. You do not talk about snarf. 7500+ posts
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Me No Rikey Rob, he's a banana queer!
I shit on Hogan!
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living in 1962 15000+ posts
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he landed on his own planet as chronicled in Planet Nowhere!
look for the upcoming return in World War Nowhere!
The Grimmluminnati! Grimm! thedoctor! ROY BATTY! Prometheus! K-nutreturns!
secretly shaping the events behind RKMBS for decades!
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Learn why MisterJLA and Mxy refused to join the Grimmluminnati!
feel the heartbreak of Nowheremans and Kamphausens doomed marriage!
Be bewildered by Nowheremans non-stop bum-sessions in World War Nowhere!
Be there for the Cross-over of the ages - Countdown to Nowhereman!
Me No Rikey Rob, he's a banana queer!
I shit on Hogan!
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Award-Winning Author 10000+ posts
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Also coming soon: Message Board League- The ROY/ Grimm Wedding Special!
Knutreturns said: Spoken like the true Greatest RDCW Champ!
All hail King Snarf!
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Jealous?
I'll always have a special place in my rectum for my Snarfbaby!
Me No Rikey Rob, he's a banana queer!
I shit on Hogan!
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1. You do not talk about snarf. 7500+ posts
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Don't forget the Snarfbaby Hen Night special!
Me No Rikey Rob, he's a banana queer!
I shit on Hogan!
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Jealous?
I'll always have a special place in my rectum for my Snarfbaby! Considering how many folks here have had their way with it, there's room for a Buick in your rectum!
Knutreturns said: Spoken like the true Greatest RDCW Champ!
All hail King Snarf!
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Kneel! 10000+ posts
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Kneel! 10000+ posts
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he landed on his own planet as chronicled in Planet Nowhere!
look for the upcoming return in World War Nowhere!
The Grimmluminnati! Grimm! thedoctor! ROY BATTY! Prometheus! K-nutreturns!
secretly shaping the events behind RKMBS for decades!
 I mean...shhhhhh...
big_pimp_tim-made it cool to roll in the first damn place! Mon Jun 11 2007 09:27 PM- harley finally rolled with me "I'm working with him...he's young but, there is much potential. He can apprentice with me and then he's yours for final training. He will remember the face of his father... Some day, Knutreturns just may be the greatest of us all...."-THE bastard
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Living the dream 15000+ posts
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Living the dream 15000+ posts
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he landed on his own planet as chronicled in Planet Nowhere!
look for the upcoming return in World War Nowhere!
The Grimmluminnati! Grimm! thedoctor! ROY BATTY! Prometheus! K-nutreturns!
secretly shaping the events behind RKMBS for decades!
Secretly? 
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living in 1962 15000+ posts
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stop peeking through my windows!
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But it's so alluring and voyeuristic!
Knutreturns said: Spoken like the true Greatest RDCW Champ!
All hail King Snarf!
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living in 1962 15000+ posts
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you're out there with him?! 
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Ours is a forbidden love.
Knutreturns said: Spoken like the true Greatest RDCW Champ!
All hail King Snarf!
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living in 1962 15000+ posts
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cookie monster 7500+ posts
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cookie monster 7500+ posts
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Excellent essay on the whole "women in refrigerator" syndrome in comics. Good props to Gail Simone in the essay as well.
Great article, whomod - never heard of "Girls Read Comics (and they're pissed)" but went to go check it out - I'm might stop on by there now and again. I can't believe that Dido doesn't consider Stephanie a "real" Robin. As if I didn't have enough reason to think he was a schmuck before... And I agree with Jasonday - killing Steph was one of the dumbest things DC has done. And in a world where Jason Todd has been resurrected; "Hush" had a deus ex machina ending; and Hal wasn't responsible for his actions because of some yellow bug; etc. that is really saying something.
 Dear, sweet Harley Kwink...I'm madly in love with you. Marry me! We can go to Canadia. Or Boston or something. It'll be grand...You know the cookies are a given. They are ALWAYS a given. You could dump me tomorrow and you'd still get the cookies. Boston..shit, wherever dyke weddings were legalized. And where better to rub their little piggie noses in how bad they suck than right on their doorstep? What are they gonna do? Be jealous of you? Stare furiously at your tah-tahs? Not willingly give you cookies, but instead begrudgingly give you their cookies? Woman, time to wake up to the powers you wield - Uschi
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some RKMB'ers are Obsessed with Black People Hmmm? 5000+ posts
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The only bad about the online version of the article is that it forgot to print the "When bad things happen to super people" chart that was part of the article. The article even mentions it at one point.
Unfortunately, I tossed the July issue some time ago so I can't scan it myself. It was a pretty funny lightly written chart that listed the most over the top instances of women in refrigerator syndrome in comics. Reading them all side by side, it really brought the point home at how over the top the misogyny in comics is.
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Or...You know...Maybe, perhaps Simone is just a fucking paranoid crazy insulting bitch.
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that was pretty well researched. No quite, dearboy! Supergirls Gone Wild: Gender Bias In Comics Shortchanges SuperwomenArts: Torture me. Kill me off. My fans shall avenge me. By Charlie Anders July 30, 2007 As she got older, Simone noticed that a dark undercurrent was creeping into her favorite titles as they pushed a new "grim 'n' gritty" aesthetic. Batgirl was shot in the spine by the Joker, who then took obscene photos of her. The Joker also raped the shit out of Baps!
Me No Rikey Rob, he's a banana queer!
I shit on Hogan!
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living in 1962 15000+ posts
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that was pretty well researched. No quite, dearboy! Supergirls Gone Wild: Gender Bias In Comics Shortchanges SuperwomenArts: Torture me. Kill me off. My fans shall avenge me. By Charlie Anders July 30, 2007 As she got older, Simone noticed that a dark undercurrent was creeping into her favorite titles as they pushed a new "grim 'n' gritty" aesthetic. Batgirl was shot in the spine by the Joker, who then took obscene photos of her. The Joker also raped the shit out of Baps! and her father!
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living in 1962 15000+ posts
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Or...You know...Maybe, perhaps Simone is just a fucking paranoid crazy insulting bitch. or. . .you know. . .maybe, perhaps your repressed homosexuality manifests itself in misogynistic tendencies.
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I Feel Pretty, So NeoCon Pretty 500+ posts
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It's true! That's why I dress up like this... 
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or. . .you know. . .maybe, perhaps your repressed homosexuality manifests itself in misogynistic tendencies. I already told you Grimm, I don't hate you. Calm down. I just dislike people who say I get a "boner" from seeing women crippled and having pictures being taken of them while they're naked and bleeding to death. That's basically what she said about Moore and everyone who bothered to buy Killing Joke. The bitch is crazy.
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