10 Stupid Arguments People Use to Defend Comic Book Sexism (Article)

[FanboyStranger]

Superheroes = comics?

There is much more out there, why is everyone pretending that comics have to be about people in capes. Sometimes they are fun they are not the only game in town for lots of consumers. Also=less spandex would equal less of the comics medium becoming a culture war battleground.

This is my only problem with the article, which I think is well presented and argued. It's all too common to equate comics with superheroes, but the reality is that there are far more genres within the medium that do a much better job with their depiction of women. While there's certainly sexism in those genres as well, those genres aren't built on a foundation of sexist depictions of women. When I see an argument that "all comics are sexist", I immediately think "Love and Rockets? Fun House? Leave it to Chance?" Comics are more than just superheroes.

[Michael P]

Number 11 would be "Sex sells! This is the way the industry is!" and the other variants of the argument to the status quo. Who is my least favorite Roman.

[CSTowle]

This is my only problem with the article, which I think is well presented and argued. It's all too common to equate comics with superheroes, but the reality is that there are far more genres within the medium that do a much better job with their depiction of women. While there's certainly sexism in those genres as well, those genres aren't built on a foundation of sexist depictions of women. When I see an argument that "all comics are sexist", I immediately think "Love and Rockets? Fun House? Leave it to Chance?" Comics are more than just superheroes.

Some of the worst offenders I see come from Zenescope, and about half of what I see coming from the small press section of Previews is barely distinguishable from porn. The very best examples of small press books are probably not going to be guilty of this, but neither would the best examples of mainstream superhero comics.

Trying to blame superhero comics for an industry-wide problem probably has more to do with some reader's preconceived notions of superhero comics and less to do with superhero comics being the root cause of the problem. They are a big target though, being higher profile than indies outside of manga. Now manga/anime, there's a lot that's worse than the worst of mainstream superhero comics (not to mention a lot more pedo creepiness). Seems to get a pass for some reason.

[MOOT]

NO FUN ALLOWED !

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just kidding !

[Michael P]

NO FUN ALLOWED !

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just kidding !

[Pharozonk]

NO FUN ALLOWED !

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just kidding !

The irony of this is that Barry doesn't have a mother anymore either because of Geoff Johns.

[FanboyStranger]

Some of the worst offenders I see come from Zenescope, and about half of what I see coming from the small press section of Previews is barely distinguishable from porn. The very best examples of small press books are probably not going to be guilty of this, but neither would the best examples of mainstream superhero comics.

Trying to blame superhero comics for an industry-wide problem probably has more to do with some reader's preconceived notions of superhero comics and less to do with superhero comics being the root cause of the problem. They are a big target though, being higher profile than indies outside of manga. Now manga/anime, there's a lot that's worse than the worst of mainstream superhero comics (not to mention a lot more pedo creepiness). Seems to get a pass for some reason.

The thing is that I would classify Zenescope as "softcore porn" comics. That's what their mission seems to be. I wouldn't even lump them in with the rest of the fantasy genre. Porn comics have always existed, from the days of tijuana bibles through some of the undergrounds through Eros and Penthouse Comix to Zenescope. Its intent is arousal. A great deal of Avatar's output is geared this way, too. However, they labelled as such, unlike most superhero comics. We know what they are.

Superhero comics are in a weird position because they were orginally intended for children, but the audience aged with them. Unfortunately, the content (with some exceptions) never advanced beyond an adolescent stage. This is very different from something that it is intended to be pornographic and identified as being for mature readers.

[ExcelsiorPrime]

11. Removing attractive ladies from covers will shrink sales. (Covers with a plethora of muscle-bound dudes with no ladies in sight will turn a number of readers off) and most will just leave... and go to video games, or other media where the social pressure is less to conform.

[yet another]

11. Removing attractive ladies from covers will shrink sales. (Covers with a plethora of muscle-bound dudes with no ladies in sight will turn a number of readers off) and most will just leave... and go to video games, or other media where the social pressure is less to conform.

A good thing that no one has advocated for that then.

[ExcelsiorPrime]

A good thing that no one has advocated for that then.

heard it in a comic shop..thought it would fall under stupid argument.

[yet another]

Ah right, that was what the "11." was for.

[Shawn Hopkins]

I like what I like. I won't be ashamed about it.


If there's one thing that riles me, its the assumption among too many t&a critics that readers buy these books to masturbate over. When there's limitless free porn, for every fetish, including superhero cosplay porn, all over the internet, why would anyone buy comics to whack off to? Assuming that's the reason is insanely stupid.

But that is often the reason. Some people like stroking it to comics as much or better than real porn. That's why Eros, Zenescope and various Rule 34 sites exist. There's not really anything wrong with that, though, IMO, and buying erotic comics for the reason they are made shouldn't be stigmatized.

I think one strawman that gets beaten a lot is that the people who are arguing that comics shouldn't be sexist are arguing that they should never be sexy. That's certainly not the case. The two concepts are separate. Small Favors isnt sexist, but it is one of the hottest porn comics I've ever read.

[Michael P]

Frankly, the sexist ones are very rarely sexy. Zenescope is a nice example of this. Sure, lots of skin and almost-boob, but rarely attractive and certainly not erotic.

[Mikekerr3]

Yes many covers are sexist. However, as someone who has worked in libraries for over 20 years, I'm all for people criticizing books and art. However, if or when discussions move towards restricting, censoring banning books & art, that is when I have a problem. Seeing how my LCS had a stack of the CBLDF Banned Books Week Handbook available for all, I would say that one great argument to defend Comic Book Sexism in the United States is Constitutional Rights. I might find it distasteful, offensive, etc. but the artist, authors, publishers, stores and readers have the right to produce, sell & buy it.

Nobody is sayimg they don't have the right to publish some of the silly sec xist BS they do, they are simply saying doing so is wrong, which is also a manifestation of the first amendment

The first says you can say what you want without govement interference, it doesn't say people can't say bad things about you when you do

[ed2962]

The thing is that I would classify Zenescope as "softcore porn" comics. That's what their mission seems to be. I wouldn't even lump them in with the rest of the fantasy genre. Porn comics have always existed, from the days of tijuana bibles through some of the undergrounds through Eros and Penthouse Comix to Zenescope. Its intent is arousal. A great deal of Avatar's output is geared this way, too. However, they labelled as such, unlike most superhero comics. We know what they are.

Superhero comics are in a weird position because they were orginally intended for children, but the audience aged with them. Unfortunately, the content (with some exceptions) never advanced beyond an adolescent stage. This is very different from something that it is intended to be pornographic and identified as being for mature readers.

This is an important point that gets missed a lot when these controversies arise. While some folks might roll their eyes at Zenoscope, Tarot, etc...there's no outrage every month because everyone knows these titles exist to be T+A. It's a different matter when it's mainstream superheroes that appear in kids cartoons.