So this cover to Birds of Prey #4 has been making the rounds:
and it’s yet another prime example of how companies like DC and Marvel obviously have no idea what their target demographic is or should be. This is the cover to Birds of Prey, which even in it’s new form since…
OK. I’m tired of staying silent.
FUCK YOU IDIOTS.
First of all, they ‘don’t know their target audience’? HA! Do you have any idea how much a big company will spend on marketing? I assure you, it’s more than you will ever see in your life. They know their target audience, and it isn’t snobbish readers like you. It’s people who appreciate the story no matter the artist, people who will see the cover and say ‘I know those characters! I want to see what they do in this issue!’ or ‘Is that a new character? I wonder what they’re like!’.
In all honesty, I like this cover. It shows a group of women who are CLEARLY powerful. Their poses show no weakness; they show readiness for action, and no fear. Did you expect a picture of a chubby woman standing perfectly still? Because that wouldn’t sell worth shit. Sure, there are people out there who will say that ‘they like that kind of girl’ or ‘More things should show that sort of diversity’, bu the reality is, that sort of thing ISN’T ATTRACTIVE TO MOST OF THE POPULACE.
And guess who has the larger percentage of buying power? NOT YOU.
Are women not allowed to have sexuality? Sure, they don’t NEED to be posed in enticing ways, but why don’t you design a NICE looking cover and get back to me. One that shows the same depth of movement, strength, and power. Sex is a powerful thing, and SEX SELLS. It’s a fact of life.
I know some people will look at that and say, “But that’s the problem! We need to get away from that sort of advertising!” Well, do you have a good alternative? Are you trained in marketing by chance? Do you know what will drive people to buy a product? Please, come up with a marketing scheme for an all-female comic that in no way involves the characters looking enticing. And then see how many people would buy it compared to the existing imagery.
As for the drawing of the male characters.. I’m honestly embarrassed. Do you not know the anatomy of the female body compared to the male body? The men have been drawn with female body types. Of COURSE it looks ridiculous. If they had been drawn appropriately in those poses, then I think it would, in fact, be an entirely appropriate cover.
And a note: A woman who is powerful will pretty much ALWAYS have a sort of sexual aspect to her. There’s no avoiding it. Stop pretending like you can make it all go away by acting righteous and like a bitchy snob.
I was reading this post, and I was so pissed at this moron person (kitanya, obviously) that it just made me want to go see the answers, and I was SO SO happy to see that most of the answers (not to say 99%) were against her and saying why, that it REALLY made me proud of being part of the women that read comics group, the female comics bloggers group, seriously. And I felt so good, that I was just pumped with the energy to read ALL answrs. Really. I did. And some answers were just SO perfect, SO on the spot that I wanted to share them with you, so please read, this will take me a lot of work to compile and I think people should know it’s not a one or two people’s opinion. Reblog it, if you’re kind. It’s a good sum of the things I loved the most that people answered:
Dear Fullmetalblogger said “Yes I’m aware that making women feel like shit and people in generally because they are: not pretty enough or not sexy enough makes them buy shit.
Does that mean we should keep perpetuating that kind of culture? No.
It means we should educate and socialise people so this stuff doesn’t happen.”
Then Cluelessnu said: “Just because DC has a marketing department has a lot of money thrown at it does not mean that they’re infallible. DC has already stated that they’re aiming their comics at males and there’s been a huge outcry from female readers because of this. Hence these types of posts suddenly becoming more common lately. So yes in fact I am not part of their target audience.
That is actually what the problem is.”
One of my favourites, Justmysketches gave EXAMPLES! Way to go grrl! “Women can be posed powerfully and that’s the problem with this Birds of Prey cover. They don’t look powerful but rather unsure. Let’s look at some good examples shall we? [see her images here] Everyone here looks powerful and this is a good example of how to fit everyone on the cover while still looking good. Also, there are more people but none of them are crowded together, sticking out the butts.”
Sanhain has a great point when saying that “Comic publishers need to get out of the dark ages and realize that women read comics too, and we want more than just some flashy artwork of characters in stupid poses. I want covers that have to deal with the story.” [the bold is mine]
Lovely Rachel’s words of gold “if comic artists would just start drawing women with the same respect they do the men, it would be probably the single largest step towards not alienating female readers from comics.” Although all her post is perfect, really.
Althea takes the words out of my mouth, like her, my first impression, being a woman and knowing our bodies “WTF? Seriously, man, who contorts their bodies in such ways? And what are they supposed to be doing? Looks like Batgirl needs to take a leak and something is definitely digestively wrong with green lady on the left.” You don’t have to know much about ANY kind of fighting skills to know that that is most definately NOT a posture of fight or defense or anything! Thanks Althea!
Then a refreshing men’s opinion, yeah DC, your favourite target, says “To put it lightly, the portrayal of women in contemporary comic books is disgusting.” It shows that Vince was clearly annoyed to say no further then just that single line! We’re with you, Vince!
Ruiniscrazy gives another male opinion also noticing the obvious issues with the cover “I have no earthly idea what that person is talking about, but the mere fact that Babsgirl is standing knock kneed kind of defeats the “poses that show no weakness” argument.”
And finally, Kat said what I ALWAYS want to say to people “4) The drawing of the male characters is supposed to be ridiculous. You say that obviously male anatomy doesn’t work like that. Well, newsflash. Female anatomy can’t actually be put into those poses without a lot of effort and really uncomfortable contorting.”
Seriously, woman or men, simply get up right now and try to pose like batgirl, for instance. Do you feel like you could kick some ass? Do you feel dangerous or, hell, even can you stand properly without getting out of balance? I mean REALLY try, not similar, but the EXACT pose.
You do that and I rest my case.
I hope you liked it and reblog this. It compiles lots of reader’s opinions (MEN and woman) and they should be heard!
That being said, Cassandra James, we love oyu for your initiative once again!
signed: Anaclara Pérez, a bitchy snob. ;)
(via purpleprison)
