Yeah she is, I believe Marvels top female in terms of solo issues, though Captain Marvel and Spider-Girl are right behind her. Carol is about to pass her. When it comes to women DC edges Marvel out ( 6 vs 4) (Wonder Woman, Catwoman, Supergirl, Harley Quinn, Lois Lane and Barbara Gordon vs Patsy Waller, She Hulk, Captain Marvel and Spider Girl). All over 100 issues
With Vixen's physical manifestations of the animals she mimics, I know some readers are sometimes confused as to whether her opponents see the animal manifestations, or if those manifestations are just for the readers so that we know what she is mimicking. The writers/artists never make it clear either way what the deal with that is. Although I do remember in an episode of her web series where she used the shadow of a bear and a guy she was holding up with both arms looked up at the bear shadow in fear as it rose up. I agree that her opponents should not be able to see what she is mimicking, UNLESS she is using it as a diversion/distraction strategy and is showing them a manifestation of one animal to distract them while mimicking a completely different animal to catch them off guard.
Black Panther - Champion of Bast
Vixen - Champion of Anansi
I feel like it was intended as a special effect purely for artistic representation (like those zip lines indicating movement, or visible thought bubbles that people in the panel can't actually see and read, or the colored energy bubbles surrounding a telekinetic), and not an actual visible manifestation, but, over time, it's been shown on-panel as visible to the onlookers as well, which sort of dragged it into reality. I'm not in love with that inconsistency. Either it's always there, or it's always not. Go or get off the pot, as they say.
It's a neat visual, and I can see the intimidation value of it when she takes on a big tiger or gorilla or rhino aspect and comes at you, but I can also see where it might be cool for her to be able to stealthily use chameleon camouflage or wolf scent-tracking or channel gorilla strength to force a door without a giant animal outline giving away what she's doing.
But, one or the other, IMO. Inconsistency sets off my OCD.
I find that how many issues a character has doesn't really matter outside of fruitless penis measuring. Is it an indicator of their success? *shrug* Maybe for some, like Kyle Rayner, but for many (most), there are so many other factors to consider that it's too imprecise a barometer by itself. Like, who were the creators behind the series (was it THEM drawing the readers or the character?), did the series start right at a relaunch, did it get canceled prematurely BECAUSE of a relaunch, what were the expectations of the editors in terms of sales, what was the reception from readers, and so on.
Speaking from craft and narrative terms, I find it's not how many issues a character has that really counts, it's what is done in the issues that counts. For example, Jessica Cruz and Simon Baz may have 50-something issues, but...do they have any really notable storylines that will l be remembered? Do they have any notable enemies that will be remembered? Do they contribute anything truly worthwhile to Green Lantern that the many other characters don't, besides the somewhat superficial stuff like a race and gender? For example, is there something greatly important to the Green Lantern mythology that their characters and stories opened up? I guess...Phantom Lantern? But do we really want to go there?
Or, for that matter, take John Stewart who has 80 issues according to that list. He's had all those issues and near 50 years of being around, yet you can ask all those same questions. Notable runs? Maybe Mosaic, and his brief stint in the 80s GL title. Notable enemies? Well...no. Contribute anything critical to the mythology? Sadly...no.
Last edited by Hi-Max; 09-27-2020 at 09:38 PM.
On one hand, you are absolutely right.
At the same time, sheer quantity has a quality of its own. It's not necessarily a strict indicator of widespread popularity or of artistic quality, but it can be easily measured, and can be used for comparison purposes. Like checking how much editorial patience (for lack of a better word) there is with different characters, or how much sustained interest there has been in them.
Also, artistic quality in mass-media culture is very much a numbers game. Roll the dices enough time, and you get better chances of getting a great story.
«Speaking generally, it is because of the desire of the tragic poets for the marvellous that so varied and inconsistent an account of Medea has been given out» (Diodorus Siculus, The Library of History [4.56.1])
But you also have too look how there umbers are reached. Getting that many issues in one long lasting run is pretty different then just, getting there with multiple series over several decades that all only lasted for a year.
John Stewart might for example be Nr. 2 on this list but if you look at what the longest runs of consecutive issues for these characters are he would very likely be much lower.
Btw. if you really count Kyle Rayner as minority, you have probably also to count Catwoman, Nightwing, and some other characters that are in a similar Gray Area when it comes to being a minority character.
We are NOT going to play they have to do something significant game. That is gatekeeping 101.I find that how many issues a character has doesn't really matter outside of fruitless penis measuring. Is it an indicator of their success?
Remember you are at the mercy of agenda driven writers and ESPECIALLY editors.
And if we are going to play that game....
What significant thing or MAJOR contributions to DC have the following WHITE guys done in their solo issues?
Blue Devil
Ted Kord
Booster Gold
Peacemaker
Guy Gardner
Nightwing
Jason Todd
Jean Paul Valley
Shazam
Cap Atom
Question
Adam Strange
Warlord
Conner Kent
Impulse
Tim Drake
What was that ground breaking arc??? Anybody? Bueller?? Bueller?
Thought so....
Because WHO gets to say what is significant or not?
Generally, consensus says what is significant and what is not.
But anyway, what do white characters have anything to do with anything that I said? There are tons of white characters that don't play significant roles in comics, or have significant runs. I never said otherwise.
Last edited by Hi-Max; 09-28-2020 at 02:47 PM.
Dc has terrible LGBT representation, the most they give us is bi women who they refuse to show on screen as anything other than straight. Imo Marvel is way better when it comes to diversity, I mean dc has been pushing two relatively new characters down our throats and they’re both straight white men, as if they don’t have enough of those.
We’re probably not going to see characters like Jaime or even Kyle Rayner for a long time because DC generally only allows one Hispanic character at a time to be featured in their main group of heroes. Jessica Cruz will continue to float in the background and fill their quota.
I wouldn't even count them b/c until it's shown through text/the screen or is stated from the character's mouths themselves ...it doesn't count.
It's like when Bruce Timm or whoever waited this long to state that the Harley and Poison Ivy relationship in BTAS being read as romantic was intentional or whatever and it's like ...are you just saying that b/c a cult fandom interpreted the relationship that way or are you being genuine.
I'm not sure who made Catwoman bisexual, but if you can't explore something to the fullest and make it a significant thing, why make it happen at all ...now it's like certain people were baited with no payoff.
Same with Wonder Woman, while I get the logic behind making Wonder Woman bisexual what with Wonder Woman being on an island full of women and not once ever being in a romantically linked relationship, nothing is being done or shown.
So as far as I'm concerned DC only has one bisexual female character in Harley, two if I count Jo Mullein who's in an imprint.