Hey, look, they've finally given Black Canary a scene showing her using her leadership skills as chairperson of the Justice League:
Oh. My. God.I mean, Jesus, Ed Benes, are you really that much of an arrested adolescent? If this were Superman or Batman in charge, you would never draw them like that, and you know it. Great googly moogly, you idiot, Dinah finally gets a good JLA moment and you demean it by turning into a gratuitous ass shot! Really, Benes, what are you, 12 years old or something??
Here's a challenge...before anyone tries to defend this idiot, take a look through his JLA run...can anyone find me a male ass shot like that? I'll be waiting...a long time.
Questions for DC: Dwayne McDuffie--do you feel dirty having your dialogue put on this art? DC editorial--since all this T&A apparently isn't doing much for your sales, what's the point of allowing this?
As my rage dissipates, the are some SPOILER QUESTIONS coming...so bail on the post if you haven't read JLA #22 yet. SPOILERS COMING...
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Ok, #1--so the JLA Chairman has the power to unilaterally kick someone off the team? Really? Just askin'...
#2--Dwayne McD--I know you've been given crappy tie-in duties ever since taking over this mag (really, why did you leave the FF??). But I'm sorry, slack-cutting time is over. We're not even 2 years into this newest JLA incarnation, and we're already recycling stories. Red Tornado & Amazo...didn't we already do this story under Meltzer, less than 2 years ago?? What's the point of redoing it? Have you no fresher ideas?? We've seen the Secret Society of Injustice Gang twice, that damned Vixen's powers story has been going on frankly forever. C'mon, dude...this is the frakking JUSTICE LEAGUE. If we've already run out of story ideas before 2 years is up, well, maybe it's time to give the mag a rest. At this pace, you're making Bendis' Avengers mag seem like zippy serials...
Dammit, I hate hating comics I'm supposed to like...
Well, you could argue that Batman and Superman don't run around in leather bikini bottoms and fishnet tights either (at least not that we're ever shown); if DC aren't interested in redesigning outdated female character costumes then it's just encouragement for artists like Benes (who I can't stand, for the record). And Marvel, with Ms.Marvel and her ever-decreasing gusset among others, isn't any better.
ReplyDeleteIt's embarrassing that things just never seem to improve. Good question about McDuffie, though. Do writers (not to be confused with those who have transcended the common status of writer, obviously, such as Bendis) have any say over their female protagonists being reduced to tiresome T&A poses?
It would have been hard for anyone to follow up Morrison's "JLA" run, but this latest series has been just unbelievable crap. Benes' insulting artwork is bad enough, but what I wouldn't give for some stories where the Justice League saves the world instead of indulging in Teen-Titanesque angst...
ReplyDeleteScott,
ReplyDeletePreach that! Morrison's run was critizised for lack of characterization but this is like watching "Real World" with superheroes. And for the love of god, will somebody turn the Red Tornado into a dvd player or something? Make yourself useful for crying out loud.
"Dammit, I hate hating comics I'm supposed to like.."
ReplyDeleteIt's sad to see a (once) sales powerhouse like JLA reduced to inert filler stories...which just seems one more sign of DC's rudderless drift these days.
All good points on Canary...and it looks like I'm not the only "prude" out here when it comes to the indulgent T & A shots. If anything, it underlines the desperation of DC editoral and their disdain for the fan base ("throw in a butt shot...that'll keep the horndogs happy").
I was thinking the same thing regarding Tornado's story. What, it wasn't boring and whiny enough the first time around? Who's the editor on this thing?...Eddie Berganza? It's got his fingerprints all over it.,
Mark--I'm hardly a "prude," but goddammit, even I have my limits, and there's such a thin g as proper context, and...grrrrr..just look at that panel! It's deliberately designed to draw the eye away from what Dinah is saying to her ass!!
ReplyDeleteI'm certain Dwayne McDuffie cries himself to sleep every night...
I so hate to agree on the sad state of the JLA comic...just to think that I was actually exited that Dinah was going to lead the league.
ReplyDeleteAs for the butt shot, even though we have to consider editorial in general, I blame Benes overall. Just look at the butt shot in this same week's BOP. Sitll an attractive woman in fishnets, but no thong, crack or unanatomically broken waist.
You guys certainly don't encourage me to pick up mainstream titles. But really, nobody should be surpised. Hollywood's writers (and here's why the strike annoys me*) seem to have dropped storytelling in favor of using T&A, vugarity, over the top violence, and whatever other taboos they can to hide the fact that they're not really doing anything new, in hopes of just getting ratings through via Lowest Common Demoninator. Mind you, this is with the blessing of studios, directors, and others in authority that just want cheap ratings without a little things like effort and talent. And since comics seem to be following Hollywood's example over the past few years...maybe the rash of comic movies aren't so beneficial after all.
ReplyDelete(*Do they really deserve more bonuses with the garbage they're writing? Even if the show flops they get financial income. Those that put their money into making it, like the producers and studios..not so much.)
I only checked out this issue because the previous 2 or 3 (Benesless) issues were pretty good. What bugged me:
ReplyDeleteYes the art, Benes focuses only on T&A with the girls, and makes the men look effeminate. That's what happens when you can only draw a single set of facial features.
But the writing was flawed too. It sometimes felt like MacDuffie was still working on undoing some of Meltzer's gaffes (and only really guessing because I didn't really read those).
For example, Canary proposes to have Zatanna fix the Tantu totem, thereby "fixing" Vixen's character concept. But if there was a chance to do so, why kick her out unilaterally?
And I couldn't possible care less about Red Tornemo, especially if he's going to be talking about his sex life for 3 pages.
siskoid--what, robot sex doesn't do it for you??
ReplyDeleteI believe Vixen was kicked out for lying about the "new" nature of her powers, and thus endangering her teammates (she doesn't just copy their powers, but actually drains them).
Or maybe she was kicked out for having bigger bosoms than Black Canary...