Hi everyone,

Well I thought I'd kick off this blog with a piece of comic book news, and that is with Marvel Divas.  Here's a sample cover art and the blurb about it from Joe Quesada blog "MYCUP O'JOE" who had guest bloggers Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning write up the following:

[link]


Quote:
"This also seems like the perfect time to announce our Marvel Divas limited series, beginning in July, from Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Tonci Zonjic, featuring some of the Marvel Universe's greatest female heroes in a way you haven't seem them before.  I'll let Roberto explain:

"The idea behind the series was to have some sudsy fun and lift the curtain a bit and take a peep at some of our most fabulous super heroines. In the series, they're an unlikely foursome of friends--Black Cat, Hell Cat, Firestar, and Photon--with TWO things in common: They're all leading double-lives and they're all having romantic trouble. The pitch started as "Sex and the City" in the Marvel Universe, and there's definitely that "naughty" element to it, but I also think the series is doing to a deeper place, asking question about what it means...truly means...to be a woman in an industry dominated by testosterone and guns. (And I mean both the super hero industry and the comic book industry.) But mostly it's just a lot of hot fun." ~~Source: <MYCUP O' JOE VOL 14 - April 9th, 2009

So people on the boards are divided on the project.  Some like the idea citing it as a fun concept that is sure to be comedic and add a lighter dimension to the Marvel universe.  As we all know, both DC and Marvel universes right now are quite bleak and some light fair might be in order.  However, there are several objections and some of them are good, like Jennifer de Guzman's comments of Robot 6 new feed on CBR:

Quote:
" I've been trying for years to get my waist be roughly 2/3 the circumference of my thighs! And to find friends whose measurements are exactly the same as mine so we can share latex costumes! And no matter how many doctors I ask, none will agree to break my feet and realign them so they're perpetually in the much-coveted "wearing stiletto f-me shoes" shape. What is these ladies' secret?!" ~~ Source: Robot 6: Sex and the Single Marvel Super Power Heroine - April 9th, 2009

and another:

Quote:
"...they're like "we're making this for the ladies" and then "these ladies will be really sexy". I'm not sure who that's supposed to appeal to...? As a gay woman, I'm not turned on by those images so it sure as hell isn't me. Then they finish up the description as saying "this'll be a look at what it's like for ladies to be in a male-dominated field" but then just utilize the stereotypes that make women very sad in that male-dominated field. ie: women should be hot with a weird-ass body (see cover), defined by their relationships with men, etc.

and then there's the cover. 1) As a lady of color, I like my minorities to have some indication of ethnicity other than what the colors puts on there. 2) Body types are all exactly the same (more strange because I KNOW that Campbell is capable of drawing different body types on men, he'll draw kids and little people and bony scientists and fat guys). 3) The body type chosen is less than appealing. They are physically impossible.

You might not think the solicit sounds that bad but compare it to the solicit for gotham sirens:
This all-new series features the bad girls of Gotham City! Catwoman, Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn are tired of playing by other people's rules regardless of which side of the law they're on. These tough ladies have a new agenda that's all their own, and they'll use any means necessary to pursue it. But can they get along and work as a team? And who will get hurt along the way?

See, it's more about the actual cool adventure they'll have rather than the fact that they're ladies and they're going to be really, really sexy! Of course they'll be pretty but that shouldn't be your marketing strategy." ~~Source: Adriana Ferguson a.k.a. veryvery on Comicbook Queers Podcast Forum Marvel | Marvel Divas Thread Monday April 13th, 2009



So the question is do you find the idea of Marvel Divas offensive in that it portrays women as materialistic and defining their lives around their relationships with men?  In other words, is the book interested, or is a tool of interest, to perpetuate a patriarchal control over the lives of women even those who are seen and have powers many don't? Or do you find that the book is light fare and its only interest is to entertain.  If so who is it meant to entertain and will it entertain you?



~~~~~~~Disclaimer~~~~~~~

Please post your comments below.  And keep it civil, no trolling no personal attacks.  Talk (or write rather) calmly about this matter.  If you're upset step back and take a moment to think it out.  It took me a while to write this, so your response should be equally crafted.