Is there anything the comics companies can do to attract more female readers?

[Sandy Hausler]

WUT THAT CAN'T BE RIGHT!!!!111 ONLY CAPE COMICS COUNT AS COMICS!

Comics like Persepolis, the AYA series, Sailor Moon, Urusei Yatsura, even Jojo probably make way more money than most of the comics at DC and Marvel.

That would mean moving away from the IP model DC and Marvel have right now though...

That's right. But walking away isn't what they'd have to do. Just add.

Sandy Hausler

[Sandy Hausler]

Heroines do not have teenage sidekicks (a.k.a. the no distaff Batman & Robin rule).

Black Cat and Kit?

Sandy Hausler

[Agent Z]

Black Cat and Kit?

Sandy Hausler

Where was this?

[Danileriver23]

Something worth pointing out is that giving over sexualized female characters modest redesigns seems to have a negative impact on sales. The 2014 Spiderwoman series (with that infamous Milo Manata cover) was very successful. Her most recent series can't even crack 30,000 copies. Sales for Angela dropped a bit after they took away her metal bikini. The de-sexualized Red Sonja and Dejah Thoris books are already selling less than half as many copies as their previous runs, this is inevitable for the new Vampirella series as well. On the flip side, tank top wearing Harley Quinn is one of DCs best selling books.

Hate to say it, but sex sells still applies. Redesigning a hyper sexual female character to appeal to "certain" female readers just isn't worth the sales drop we've seen countless times these past few years. Yes, books with non-sexual female leads can be successful as well, (long live All New Wolverine) but that doesn't change the fact that there will always be a market for the femme fatales and seductresses of the comics world.

Solution: more sexy men in comics. Gender equality through equal opportunity fan service. Everybody's happy.

Spider-Woman's initial numbers were mostly related to her having a series after a long break, being tied to spiderverse, and being a new series. The drop probably occurred due to the short series followed by a re-launch. Same applies to Angela.

I don't know much about Red Sonja or Deja Thoris, butthey look like they were designed for their sex appeal so that would make sense.

Harley isn't really a fair example to compare the rest of those titles too because angela and spider woman could have a series about them sun bathing on a nude beach together and Harley would still sell circles around them because she is DC's DP equivalent.

I don't really mind the revealing costumes in certain contexts. very Example, emma frost makes perfects sense to dress the way she does, and I liked how with black canary they made the fishnets part of a punk rock costume because she was in a punk rock band. But things like power girls boob window and star sapphires costume are just ridiculous.

[Atlanta96]

Spider-Woman's initial numbers were mostly related to her having a series after a long break, being tied to spiderverse, and being a new series. The drop probably occurred due to the short series followed by a re-launch. Same applies to Angela.

I don't know much about Red Sonja or Deja Thoris, butthey look like they were designed for their sex appeal so that would make sense.

Harley isn't really a fair example to compare the rest of those titles too because angela and spider woman could have a series about them sun bathing on a nude beach together and Harley would still sell circles around them because she is DC's DP equivalent.

I don't really mind the revealing costumes in certain contexts. very Example, emma frost makes perfects sense to dress the way she does, and I liked how with black canary they made the fishnets part of a punk rock costume because she was in a punk rock band. But things like power girls boob window and star sapphires costume are just ridiculous.

Pretty fair response. I still feel like some female led books from Marvel or DC could financially benefit from some fan service (like SpiderWoman and Black Widow), but yes, Harley would sell well no matter how much skin she shows, and Angela would still be a failure.

[Ropeburn]

Maybe adding a ton more characters like Zola?

Zola the Sluzz.jpg

Just a great moral compass for today's woman.

[Carabas]

Maybe adding a ton more characters like Zola?

Just a great moral compass for today's woman.

What's wrong with Zola?

[cgh]

Maybe adding a ton more characters like Zola?

Zola the Sluzz.jpg

Just a great moral compass for today's woman.

Are you an authority on the morality of "today's woman"? Please, tell us more.

[BohemiaDrinker]

Maybe adding a ton more characters like Zola?

[snip]

Just a great moral compass for today's woman.

God forbid a woman that enjoys sex the same way most guys do, because morals and stuff.

[Ropeburn]

God forbid a woman that enjoys sex the same way most guys do, because morals and stuff.

Don't be slow guys. Nothing wrong with a woman having protected sex. There's something really wrong with a woman having unprotected sex, getting pregnant and not even bothering looking for the father of her child. It's exceptionally wrong she didn't care who the daddy was. It's not fair for her child. What is momma Zola going to say when the child asked about her daddy? The same thing she said to Hermes? Think about the kid in this situation. If it hadn't been Zeus' kid, then what?

That is not a strong, independent woman. That is an irresponsible adult that made some very bad life choices and her kid will have to suffer for it.

[GlennSimpson]

Don't be slow guys. Nothing wrong with a woman having protected sex. There's something really wrong with a woman having unprotected sex, getting pregnant and not even bothering looking for the father of her child. It's exceptionally wrong she didn't care who the daddy was. It's not fair for her child. What is momma Zola going to say when the child asked about her daddy? The same thing she said to Hermes? Think about the kid in this situation. If it hadn't been Zeus' kid, then what?

That is not a strong, independent woman. That is an irresponsible adult that made some very bad life choices and her kid will have to suffer for it.

Well, the debate over whether a strong independent woman can/should be concerned over something like her child knowing who his father is is a major one, and a delicate one.

That said, I think if we are having a marketing-related discussion, the target audience probably would side with Zola having the right to live her life the way she wants (as opposed to how society/men want her to), and thus would make the comics more desirable to them.

[BohemiaDrinker]

Don't be slow guys. Nothing wrong with a woman having protected sex. There's something really wrong with a woman having unprotected sex, getting pregnant and not even bothering looking for the father of her child. It's exceptionally wrong she didn't care who the daddy was. It's not fair for her child. What is momma Zola going to say when the child asked about her daddy? The same thing she said to Hermes? Think about the kid in this situation. If it hadn't been Zeus' kid, then what?

That is not a strong, independent woman. That is an irresponsible adult that made some very bad life choices and her kid will have to suffer for it.

Maybe she was trying to have a calm, healthy pregnancy (because, you know, it's an important period for the baby) before tracking down truck-drivers, band members and whatnot.

The "unprotected" part of her sex life is an assumption. Specially considering that the guy in question was a god fathering himself - but it would continue to be an assumption if it was a regular guy.

[Tayswift]

Pretty fair response. I still feel like some female led books from Marvel or DC could financially benefit from some fan service (like SpiderWoman and Black Widow), but yes, Harley would sell well no matter how much skin she shows, and Angela would still be a failure.

fan service it would destroy both black widow and spider-woman books.

[Ropeburn]

That said, I think if we are having a marketing-related discussion, the target audience probably would side with Zola having the right to live her life the way she wants (as opposed to how society/men want her to), and thus would make the comics more desirable to them.

So it's not a moral responsibility to find the father of your child? To allow both father and child a chance to be in each other's lives? It's what society wants a woman to do? Had no idea.

Maybe she was trying to have a calm, healthy pregnancy (because, you know, it's an important period for the baby) before tracking down truck-drivers, band members and whatnot.

The "unprotected" part of her sex life is an assumption. Specially considering that the guy in question was a god fathering himself - but it would continue to be an assumption if it was a regular guy.

Zola is pretty defensive on that page. She's satisfied with her actions as is. No mention of a broken rubber or plans to look for the father.

[GlennSimpson]

So it's not a moral responsibility to find the father of your child? To allow both father and child a chance to be in each other's lives? It's what society wants a woman to do? Had no idea.

Given that we live in a society where it is increasingly common for a child to have two fathers and no mother, or two mothers and no father...or simply to have been raised by a single parent, no, that's not a given any more.