Sex And Relationships In Comics

[Arvandor]

Alan Moore is a brilliant writer, but he has some damn weird views on sex.

[ed2962]

I believe the Geoff Johns Avengers collection simply cuts out the whole page.

It is a very weird scene for what had previously been basically an all-ages comic. But this was the period when Marvel was obsessed with making its core titles "edgy" and "modern." (You can always spot it in trades because it's the period where Bill Jemas forced all the titles to switch to Ultimate-style upper/lower-case lettering, only for most of them to go back to traditional all-caps after he left.) This issue was otherwise a very traditional, old-school Hank/Jan story with lots of continuity, so it almost feels like the sex scene was inserted so there would be something controversial in there.

I think we can all think of examples of things that seemed out of place or just done for shock. But I don't want to derail my own thread.

I will say there's much that bothers me when I see it in a 616 or main DCU title that wouldn't make blink twice if it were in a say Vertigo or alternative book.

[ed2962]

Batwoman #4 from 2012 has an interesting opening scene. Kate and Cassie make love which is contrasted with Flamebird fighting some bad guys. Kate and Cassie come across as a believable couple and J.H. Williams gives us pretty pictures that don't seem prurient. I can just image how some lesser artists might have portrayed these scenes.

[ed2962]

Defenders #4 (2012)I like for different reasons. When the first issue came out and there was the scene with Dr Strange and the coed, I kinda rolled my eyes thinking it was just there to make make Doc look "kewl." But in this issue we get to see Doc's recent dealing with women in a different light. Doc accidently brings his old college girlfriend back to life and Doc spends several days canoodling with her until he finally admits that she grew up got married and had a family before she died. Of course, she immediately wants to leave (It's probably worth noting that he brings back the college girl, not that middle aged family woman). We also get to see things from Molly the coed's point of view where Stephen comes off as less than all that.



Now personally, I'd rather not have Dr Strange act like a 25 yr old douchebag. But seeing as he kinda did, I appreciate the that fact that the narrative takes the time to point out that Strange's behavior was selfish and immature.

[ed2962]

I'm a little surprised that no one's mentioned 80's Dick Grayson and Starfire. In the early days, the sex had to be left to innuendo, but still it was in the context on a serious and committed relationship. I think Marv Wolfman deserves a lot of credit

[ed2962]

I also stumbled across this column about Dick Grayson as a male sex symbol

http://ozandends.blogspot.com/2012/1...rst-overt.html

[ed2962]

There's an interesting debate going on in the Batman Threads. People are reacting to a preview of the new Batgirl title where I guess there's a page that suggests that Barbara Gordon got drunk and made out with a guy at a party. Even though she didn't have sex with the guy, a lot of people are questioning the scene and whether or not it's appropriate for for a Babs who's seen as a role model. Some folks are throwing around terms like slut and promiscuous. I'm going to wait until I read the story in context, before I make a final judgement. But I think it's an interesting display of how people react to certain forms of female sexuality.

[Paradox]

It's not surprising. There's no trouble finding such childish and misogynistic POVs in comic fandom. It's not everyone, but MAN is there more than an average share.

[Michael P]

She behaved like a single woman in her twenties? HOW DARE DC CREATE SUCH AN AFFRONT?

[Pharozonk]

My main problem with the scene isn't her making out with some guy, but that she's now a reckless party girl, which I think is out of character for her. She always struck me as more mature and in control of her vices than Dick who was, to put it bluntly, a bit of man-whore which isn't really a positive trait. This strikes me as more digression than character progression.

[Michael P]

So because she's not a madonna, she's a whore. Got it.

[Pharozonk]

That's not what I meant at all. I just think it's out of character for her to be a party animal. The pre-Flashpoint Barbara Gordon always seemed much more mature than the new version who seems more like a reckless teenager.

[Michael P]

Well, the universe was rebooted, so stuff like that is fair game.

Also, if you don't want to evoke the Madonna-whore complex, it's probably a good idea not to use the word "whore" in a contrasting manner with how you'd like the character to behave.

[Pharozonk]

Well, the universe was rebooted, so stuff like that is fair game.

Fair enough.

Also, if you don't want to evoke the Madonna-whore complex, it's probably a good idea not to use the word "whore" in a contrasting manner with how you'd like the character to behave.

I meant that to refer to Dick Grayson's promiscuity, not Barbara's. Dick does have a tendency to sleep around to the point of ridiculousness, like when he slept with Barbara right before his wedding with Starfire.

My apologies if that led to any misunderstanding.

[CSTowle]

I think being confined to a wheelchair and having to do everyone's research/coordination left her little time or inclination to go out drinking and partying. She has a better head on her shoulders than most, if she wants to let loose and have a little fun I think that's refreshing.