Layoffs at DC?

[captchuck]

I don't know how it is in different places, but I'm from Eastern Europe and here term "regional" often implies that it is of lower quality than the "real deal". So yeah, just give good Batman comics and I don't care if it happens in Gotham or somewhere else.

Yeah, it does sound like that. It also sounds a little condescending.

[skyvolt2000]

I think the answer for this would be a terrible one, meaning fewer gay characters and minority characters. Also, less violence and no nudity..

Depends on what country you are looking at.

For you minorities-it's not going to be as big of an issue as you can always use characters who are minorities in those countries.

Gay characters. Yeah now that is going to be an issue. I would probably push that content to OGN and Graphic novels. If you are doing a solo title.
I am not verse on all the countries that have issues with it. I know Singapore because one of the artist I follow on Deviant art mentions it and he lives there.

[Ascended]

Yeah, depending on the country in question there might not be any gay characters or minorities getting used there (though what constitutes a minority changes from nation to nation), but that's just more reason for America to give those characters a fair shake in our own locally made products.

I really feel that a "hands off" approach would be best for the international markets; let the local creators make comics for local audiences and just stay out of the way. Though I'd perhaps include a clause in the contracts stating that local creators can't change the sexuality or characters, and racebending might be on a "case by case" basis. Like, if Korean creators want to make Superman or Batman Korean, sure okay. If they want to make Black Lightning white, no.

[Konja7]

Yeah, depending on the country in question there might not be any gay characters or minorities getting used there (though what constitutes a minority changes from nation to nation), but that's just more reason for America to give those characters a fair shake in our own locally made products.

I really feel that a "hands off" approach would be best for the international markets; let the local creators make comics for local audiences and just stay out of the way. Though I'd perhaps include a clause in the contracts stating that local creators can't change the sexuality or characters, and racebending might be on a "case by case" basis. Like, if Korean creators want to make Superman or Batman Korean, sure okay. If they want to make Black Lightning white, no.

Curiously, if Batman or Superman become Koreans, the only thing that will change it is the place where they live, not their appearance.

In USA comics, if you want to show someone is from East Asian characters, they will highlight the "Asian features" because it different Kate from white characters (that are the "norm").

Obviously, this isn't necessary in East Asian. And I think many of the people in these countries don't like the way American comics highlight "Asian features" in East Asian characters.

Of course, the look of Batman and Superman will likely change to appeal the culture. However, the change will probably be the same regardless they are mantained as Americans or become Koreans.


If the country has problems with a minority or gay character, it is more likely the character that representa that minority will just be ignores in that country.

[Restingvoice]

Japan tend to put LGBTQ+ characters for teen and up
Thailand has gay dramas about young adults
Indonesia allows LGBTQ+ for adults but got protested by hardliners anyway
Malaysia... pretty sure you can do that never

[Mr.B]

They will change whoever they want to fit their goals.

[Konja7]

Japan tend to put LGBTQ+ characters for teen and up
Thailand has gay dramas about young adults
Indonesia allows LGBTQ+ for adults but got protested by hardliners anyway
Malaysia... pretty sure you can do that never

I don't know about the other countries, but it is a complicated thing in Japan.

In general, male gay characters are usually show in media directly to female audience (shone-ai or yaoi are mainly directed yo women and could be a kind of fanservice).

Their appearance isn't so common between media directed to male (and they are usually as gag characters).

So, it is unlikely they will appear a lot in Superhero genre in Japan, since the main audience will likely be the man.

Lesbians or bi women are more common (by comparison) in genres directed to men, but many times they also exists for fanservice.

[Aahz]

I don't know about the other countries, but it is a complicated thing in Japan.

In general, male gay characters are usually show in media directly to female audience (shone-ai or yaoi are msinly directed yo women and could be a kind of fanservice).

Their appearance isn't so common between media directed to male (and they are usually as comic characters).

So, it is unlikely they will appear a lot in Superhero genre in Japan, since the main audience will likely be the man.

Lesbians or bi women are more common (by comparison) in genres directed to men, but many times they also exists for fanservice.

Is that really different in the US and Europe?

[Konja7]

Is that really different in the US and Europe?

I don't think it is so different from US (I don't know Europe). I didn't try to imply that.

I just explain that situation.

[Restingvoice]

I don't know about the other countries, but it is a complicated thing in Japan.

In general, male gay characters are usually show in media directly to female audience (shone-ai or yaoi are msinly directed yo women and could be a kind of fanservice).

Their appearance isn't so common between media directed to male (and they are usually as comic characters).

So, it is unlikely they will appear a lot in Superhero genre in Japan, since the main audience will likely be the man.

Lesbians or bi women are more common (by comparison) in genres directed to men, but many times they also exists for fanservice.

Oh, you're talking about the main characters. Yeah. The only main character I know for Shonen is in Devilman and it's the villain. In others, it's mainly subtext and supporting characters.

[skyvolt2000]

Yeah, depending on the country in question there might not be any gay characters or minorities getting used there (though what constitutes a minority changes from nation to nation), but that's just more reason for America to give those characters a fair shake in our own locally made products.

I really feel that a "hands off" approach would be best for the international markets; let the local creators make comics for local audiences and just stay out of the way. Though I'd perhaps include a clause in the contracts stating that local creators can't change the sexuality or characters, and racebending might be on a "case by case" basis. Like, if Korean creators want to make Superman or Batman Korean, sure okay. If they want to make Black Lightning white, no.

I don't know about that because you could see WORST if you left it in their hands.

In the hands of certain ones. I would have to see their body of work first.

Like Fabien Vehlmann-I have read his Along series (Kids in a world without grownups) and he uses a diverse cast and the books are very good if you can find them.

They will change whoever they want to fit their goals.

Goals don't matter if you end up offending folks way too much.
You don't want an offensive New Superman be the reason the rest of your books are not in Japan.

[Ascended]

I don't know about that because you could see WORST if you left it in their hands.

Well, *I* wouldn't see it, because I live in the states. We're talking foreign product for foreign audiences, it doesn't *matter* if I'm offended.

You don't want an offensive New Superman be the reason the rest of your books are not in Japan.

That's why you source local. If you're putting a product out in Japan, get Japanese creators to do it. They know what is considered offensive or not in their own nation and within their own genre. And if something is offensive here in America but isn't offensive in Japan? Well it's a good thing the book isn't being made for Americans.

And sure, you don't want to hire one of the manga people who do the really weird stuff. But that's just the very definition of "hire the right people." DC isn't going to offer a gig like this to, I dunno, some porn manga company or something.

[Somecrazyaussie]

As these are fictional characters, the authors would not have this problem in Japan (I don't know how USA laws will be regarding fictional characters).

I mean, Bulma has 16 when Dragon Ball started and there was a lot of inadequated things for her at the beginning.

Different times. Plus, I think, Dragonball had a later timeslot in Japan (I know Z went out in the evenings on Wednesday over there). It's why, despite Super being graphic in the manga adaptation, the anime was censored as it went out early Sunday mornings.

[Vakanai]

Well, *I* wouldn't see it, because I live in the states. We're talking foreign product for foreign audiences, it doesn't *matter* if I'm offended.



That's why you source local. If you're putting a product out in Japan, get Japanese creators to do it. They know what is considered offensive or not in their own nation and within their own genre. And if something is offensive here in America but isn't offensive in Japan? Well it's a good thing the book isn't being made for Americans.

And sure, you don't want to hire one of the manga people who do the really weird stuff. But that's just the very definition of "hire the right people." DC isn't going to offer a gig like this to, I dunno, some porn manga company or something.

I'd still put in just a few ground rules, like "if homosexuality is considered criminal in your country and beating gay men to death is considered proper, moral, and is encouraged, and is a great way to make our characters popular in your country...you still can't have our heroes beating up gay guys just for being gay!"

Ground rules.

[Ascended]

I'd still put in just a few ground rules, like "if homosexuality is considered criminal in your country and beating gay men to death is considered proper, moral, and is encouraged, and is a great way to make our characters popular in your country...you still can't have our heroes beating up gay guys just for being gay!"

Ground rules.

I'm sure there will be a few ground rules, "No letting Batman eat babies" and whatever. And there *should* be a small handful of ground rules, because DC is hoping to translate and print some of this stuff in the States if it does well overseas. The best case scenario is a book doing well in foreign markets then getting shipped over here so DC can profit off it multiple times.

But generally, and this will piss people off, but generally it'd be in DC's best interests to stay the hell out of the way and let those creators create. It's not the place of business to decide what is morally correct, despite what some people think (I have studied this concept *so* damn much I'm sick of it, CSR is mostly just marketing to make you think a company gives a sh*t so you'll buy their product), so I'd rather not see DC judge these other cultures by our own standards. Outside of a few basic ground rules.

Like, just to get away from using Japan as an example like we keep doing, I've known a ton of folks from Jamaica, and almost every single one of them was super homophobic. That, I guess, is basically the norm there (maybe not, I'm just speaking from my own experience and conversations, so let's pretend its true). And I don't agree with it, at all, on any level. But that's not my culture, and if a Jamaican creator writes a Batwoman story where Kate is straight? I won't like that, but it doesn't matter what I think because I'm not the target audience.