Last week, I had the pleasure of appearing on KCUR 89.3 FM’s Up to Date along with Kristy Guevara-Flanagan, the director of Wonder Women! The Untold Story of American Superheroines and Dr. Brenda Bethman, the Director of the Women’s Center at UMKC. Continue reading ‘Listen to ‘Wonder Women: The Strength Of Female Superheroes’’
Archive for the 'Comics' Category
Listen to ‘Wonder Women: The Strength Of Female Superheroes’
Published May 2, 2014 Comics , Gender in Comics , Women in Comics Leave a CommentTags: comic books, DC comics, diversity in comics, female comic book characters, feminism in comics, gender in comics, objectification in comics, superheroines, women in comics, Wonder Woman
Catch Me Discussing Wonder Women on KCUR 89.3 FM’s Up to Date
Published April 21, 2014 Comics , Gender in Comics Leave a CommentTags: comic books, female comic book characters, feminism in comics, gender in comics, women in comics, Wonder Woman
Tomorrow, April 22, 2014, I’ll be a guest on KCUR 89.3 FM’s Up to Date!
I’ll be discussing Wonder Woman and other Golden Age superheroines along with fellow guests Kristy Guevara-Flanagan, director of Wonder Women! The Untold Story of American Superheroines and Dr. Brenda Bethman, Director of the Women’s Center at UMKC.
I’ll be on air from 11am-noon CST. You can catch it on KCUR’s instant stream, available for both Windows and iTunes.
[Update: You can now listen to the recorded episode at Up to Date.]
Jordan’s Human Torch and Representation: Multicultural Casting vs Color-Blind Casting
Published February 25, 2014 Comics , Race in Comics 5 CommentsTags: black superheroes, diversity in comics, Fantastic Four, Marvel heroes, minority superheroes, superheroes of color
A new report that Michael B. Jordan will be playing Johnny Storm, aka the Human Torch, in Fox’s upcoming Fantastic Four reboot has once again sparked heated debate. Many are praising the color-blind casting choice as a sign of progress, while others espouse racism under the guise of upholding the ever-sacred source material (which is itself a product of 1950’s racism).
I’m not going to bother directly addressing all the racist arguments because they’ve already been discussed and discredited ad nauseam. (If you need that discussion, allow me to recommend starting with The 5 Most Insulting Defenses of Nerd Racism.)
However, I would like to take this opportunity to discuss the alleged progressiveness of color-blind casting. Is color-blind casting inherently a form of positive representation?
No, not inherently. Continue reading ‘Jordan’s Human Torch and Representation: Multicultural Casting vs Color-Blind Casting’
Black History Month Giveaway: ‘March: Book One’
Published February 13, 2014 Comics , Race in Comics 1 CommentTags: comic books, race in comics, Top Shelf Productions
In celebration of Black History Month, I’m giving away a brand new copy of March: Book One by civil rights leader John Lewis. Coauthored by Andrew Aydin with art by Nate Powell (Swallow Me Whole), March is the graphic memoir of Rep. Lewis’ life and involvement in the Civil Rights Movement.
Specifically, March: Book One deals with Lewis’ childhood in rural Alabama, his first meeting with Martin Luther King, Jr., and his involvement in the Nashville Student Movement’s nonviolent fight against segregation. (For more on his many achievements, check out my previous post on Rep. John Lewis.) Continue reading ‘Black History Month Giveaway: ‘March: Book One’’
Black History Month Giveaway: ‘Captain America: Truth’
Published February 5, 2014 Comics , Race in Comics Leave a CommentTags: black superheroes, comic books, diversity in comics, Marvel comics, Marvel heroes, minority superheroes, superheroes of color
In celebration of Black History Month, I’m giving away copies of two of my favorite comics on the Journey Into Awesome Facebook page! First up is a new hardcover copy of Captain America: Truth (originally published as Truth: Red, White & Black) by Robert Morales (Captain America) and Kyle Baker (Why I Hate Saturn).
A blatant reference to the horrific real world Tuskegee Study, Truth is the tragic tale of a group of African American soldiers involuntarily subjected to an experimental version of the Super-Soldier Serum by the U.S. government. Continue reading ‘Black History Month Giveaway: ‘Captain America: Truth’’
Sisters in Arms: Examining Azzarello’s ‘Wonder Woman’ Part 5
Published November 22, 2013 Comics , Gender in Comics , Women in Comics 1 CommentTags: DC comics, female comic book characters, feminism in comics, gender in comics, objectification in comics, sexism in comics, superheroines, women in comics, womens studies, Wonder Woman
This is the fifth of a multi-part examination of Brian Azzarello’s current run on “Wonder Woman.” It’s recommended that you go back and read the series from the beginning.
SPOILERS for Wonder Woman #0-20 ahead.
Women’s Solidarity and Camaraderie
Marston’s Wonder Woman champions for a sense of solidarity among women. Diana’s relationship with the Amazons, Etta Candy, and the Holliday Girls all firmly establish the importance of women’s camaraderie as a central theme of Wonder Woman. Continue reading ‘Sisters in Arms: Examining Azzarello’s ‘Wonder Woman’ Part 5′
Rape, Murder, Slavery, and Infanticide: Examining Azzarello’s ‘Wonder Woman’ Part 4
Published November 2, 2013 Comics , Gender in Comics , Women in Comics 4 CommentsTags: DC comics, female comic book characters, feminism in comics, gender in comics, objectification in comics, sexism in comics, superheroines, women in comics, womens studies, Wonder Woman
This is the fourth of a multi-part examination of Brian Azzarello’s current run on “Wonder Woman.” It’s recommended that you go back and read the series from the beginning.
SPOILERS for Wonder Woman #0-20 ahead.
Rape, Murder, Slavery, and Infanticide
Even more controversial than the changes made to Wonder Woman’s origins are these pages from the now infamous Wonder Woman #7. Continue reading ‘Rape, Murder, Slavery, and Infanticide: Examining Azzarello’s ‘Wonder Woman’ Part 4′
Trained in the Ways of War: Examining Azzarello’s ‘Wonder Woman’ Part 3
Published October 25, 2013 Comics , Gender in Comics , Women in Comics Leave a CommentTags: DC comics, female comic book characters, feminism in comics, gender in comics, objectification in comics, sexism in comics, superheroines, women in comics, womens studies, Wonder Woman
This is the third of a multi-part examination of Brian Azzarello’s current run on “Wonder Woman.” It’s recommended that you go back and read the series from the beginning.
SPOILERS for Wonder Woman #0-20 ahead.
Trained in the Ways of War
Wonder Woman #0 introduces another interesting addition to the mythos. In this fun, Silver Age-styled romp set 11 years in the past, War becomes so impressed with the accomplishments of the then 12-year old Diana that he offers to further train her in the art of war. This is presumably to groom her to one day assume his throne. Continue reading ‘Trained in the Ways of War: Examining Azzarello’s ‘Wonder Woman’ Part 3′
From Dirt to Divinity: Examining Azzarello’s ‘Wonder Woman’ Part 2
Published October 18, 2013 Comics , Gender in Comics , Women in Comics 1 CommentTags: DC comics, female comic book characters, feminism in comics, gender in comics, objectification in comics, sexism in comics, superheroines, women in comics, womens studies, Wonder Woman
This is the second of a multi-part examination of Brian Azzarello’s current run on “Wonder Woman.” It’s recommended that you go back and read the series from the beginning.
SPOILERS for Wonder Woman #0-20 ahead.
From Dirt to Divinity
Wonder Woman #3 introduces us to Azzarello’s first major change to the Wonder Woman mythos: the revelation of Zeus as Diana’s father. Continue reading ‘From Dirt to Divinity: Examining Azzarello’s ‘Wonder Woman’ Part 2′
Diana Doesn’t Need a Misogynist Ally : Examining Azzarello’s ‘Wonder Woman’ Part 1
Published October 11, 2013 Comics , Gender in Comics , Women in Comics 7 CommentsTags: DC comics, female comic book characters, feminism in comics, gender in comics, sexism in comics, superheroines, women in comics, womens studies, Wonder Woman
In the comments of my previous post about Wonder Woman’s feminist origins and how changes in the character often resulted from historical changes in the social role of women, several readers expressed an interest in my interpretation of Brian Azzarello’s controversial Wonder Woman series.
Well, I’m glad you asked.
Before I go any further, I should address the giant misogynist elephant in the room.
Journey Into Awesome 