It used this one example to provide context for a greater problem. It's a very good example of the problem of objectification and sexulaisation.
Because if you're a woman then you see this everywhere. You don't have this battering oppressiveness hammering you down if you're a bloke because it's something that passes you by. Also, art can be objective and Asselin is being objective in her criticisms, something those having a pop at her are ignoring or missing.
Great, but why can't a comic full of characters marketed at kids be appealing to kids and women as well rather than a small core of male fans?
At what point does Asselin 'force' her opinions upon anyone? At what point does she come round your house and force you to read her opinions? People don't like them then fine, let's her your informed opinions then rather than the strawmen being thrown around to try to exclude women from making their voices heard.
This is what I mean. You'd rather she never had this printed on CBR and vanished into the Blogosphere? You'd rather she never had her voice heard among the hordes of male writers CBR use?
And yes, it's not a new thing. The fact people are still discussing it shows there's still a massive problem.
I'm seeing this word 'force' all the time now not only here, but across social media. Asselin has never forced her views on anyone. She is however commenting on how weird sexualised images of teenaged girls are forced upon women.
You assume and pretend Asselin has the power here. She doesn't. You also assume she's not supporting those superhero comics, and other genres of comics that are providing a bit more equality.
See, here's that word again. It's a dog whistle word like 'whining' or anything else to slur Asselin without making it too obvious.
I have no doubt they were involved but the response to this was widespread across social media and across the internet. This wasn't one wee group, this was a wide spread of people who I assume were mainly or wholly men.