It’s very disheartening to see DC Comics perpetuate a regressive view of power and relationships. Now, virtually anyone whose power is inherited from birth - either genetic gifts or inherited wealth - is what exclusively qualifies as powerful. Superman and Lois can’t be considered a power couple because, what? Lois Lane wasn’t born with superpowers like Wonder Woman and Aquaman, or super wealth like Bruce Wayne and Oliver Queen?

So she’s nothing but a peasant who’s unworthy of recognition and love, I suppose. Except that’s not true. It shouldn’t be true. Since when did DC Comics become like the villains of the Harry Potter series (i.e. Voldemort and his Death Eaters) - people obsessed with “pure blood” status who look down on Muggles as inferior because they lack magic. At every turn in the series of novels, making decisions abo…ut life and love on the basis of fear, specifically fear of death and pain, was presented as the epitome of evil and darkness. Of cowardice.

This list, and DC as a whole presently, shows a disturbing and insidious sense of arrogance and cowardice lurking beneath the surface. Superman’s relationship with Lois Lane deserves to be on this list not only because it has outlasted and outshined all these couples for decades, but because it represents the core of great myths both ancient and modern while also making a powerful statement about the nature of true power and beauty which transcends the superficial and faces the fear of pain and the fear of the unknown. As the Bible says, “perfect love casts out fear,” so any relationship like Superman and Wonder Woman’s that is rooted in the selfish avoidance of one’s own potential grief and fear for the lives of who they truly love (Steve, Lois) is already inferior.

What’s worse, is that the relationship, if perpetuated and held up as the gold standard, disgraces Jonathan and Martha Kent who took the raw power their son was born with in a galaxy far away, and nurtured it to become not just raw power, but true power. Power based on love and humility rather than egotism and fear. They were humans who embraced someone different, and loved him despite fears they might have. Their son apparently isn’t courageous enough to do the same; for though he wanted to be with Lois, according to Superman #1 and Action Comics #12 (plus Superman Annual #1), he’s turning to Diana in his self-imposed isolation born out of the arrogant assumption that humans can’t relate to alienation or loss and out of an over-developed and patriarchal sense of overprotectiveness that views humans as zoo animals and superheroes as their handlers.

On Diana

“Diana’s moment of conception is based in a period of feminism that is absurd in 2010. It’s absurd to look at Wonder Woman from 1950 and say, “That’s feminist.” It’s not! Feminism, because of the societal things we’ve talked about, is an evolving concept. Diana’s tied to that, and part of the problem is because that is so knotty a problem, most writers run away from it. They don’t even want to touch it. They say, she’s not political. She’s supposed to be political! She wears thigh-high bondage boots, a bustier, and that’s not a lasso – that’s a whip. It’s not a lasso, guys! And these are called the manacles of submission. Talk about loading a character with as many problematic things as you can. So you either run away from it, or you run towards it. You either acknowledge it, or you don’t. I think that’s number one.

I think number two is that a lot of the guys who have written her don’t like her; they just want to f—k her.”

On Lois

“I’m not in the ‘gold-digger bitch’ camp. I think Lois is amazing and it comes down to portrayal. She’s the woman that Superman falls in love with- think about who that woman has to be. It’s not the most beautiful person in the world, but that’s somebody who can so shake his view and once again - I have to quote Waid - and ‘surprise’ Superman. This is a man who can fly around the planet and for Lois to do or say something that sets him on his ear - this is a guy who’s seen wonders we’ll never see and Lois is to him, one of those wonders. The biggest thing that gets me, and one of the reasons that Lois gets tarred with the ‘bitch’ appellation, is that we assume rightly that Clark would be attracted to a woman who is strong, passionate and capable. But those very positive traits can be portrayed - if you’re not careful - as very negative things, especially when issues of gender get involved. It’s very easy to go from strong and outspoken woman to ‘bitch.’ A lot of that’s societal, there’s a sexism involved that allows that kind of self-confidence can be read as arrogance. Consequently, that’s one of the landmines you have to dodge when you work with Lois, but I don’t mind - she fascinates me. I actually think that one of the reasons that Lois is there, one of the secret brilliances of Siegel & Schuster’s work whether or not it was intentional, is that we see not only as a love interest for Clark, but through Lois we see the wonder of Superman.”

On Wonder Woman and Superman:
“They’re friends. They have the potential to be very close friends given what’s going on at any given moment, but they’re also exceptionally busy people. But the implication that there’s something romantic going on or that something romantic should be going on is something I don’t like. It pisses me off and I think it’s unfair to both characters, particularly Diana…. Number one, I don’t like the fact that there seems to be a need to partner them up. While sexual tension factors into almost every relationship between women and men in some way shape or form, we’re not heroes, we’re not these guys. I think Diana and Kal are buddies, good friends and they’ll be there for each other when they need each other. But it’s not romantically viable and I really don’t like it. I think it says bad things about both the characters and at the end of the day, I don’t think it is wisely done. Look at it this way, it takes killing Lois in ‘Kingdom Come’ for any relationship between them to really blossom. Miller did the same thing [in ‘Dark Knight Strikes Again’]. You really have to get Lois out of the equation in such a way that she’s never coming back, it’s not like ‘we’re having difficulty.’ Neither of them- Diana or Kal- would risk the damage that could be done to their friendship and that’s if we even entertain this idea or the impropriety of it. I honestly don’t think they consider it. I don’t think Superman looks at her and thinks, ‘hey, if I wasn’t hooked up…’ or Diana looks at him, thinking, ‘If only Lois was out of the way…’ That’s not what happens! That’s not how they interact! “

all-about-villains:

Illustrations by Matthew Henry Williams

lilacsinthespring:

you know what? I hope Smallville outsells all other superman titles if it doesn’t already. 

^This.

I hope Smallville Season 11 becomes the #1 selling Superman related title after this. I hope it with all my might. 

"Because they are both heroes and wear red and blue"

therearecertainshadesoflimelight:

dcwomenkickingass:

When my daughter was little,  I made sure that in addition to the Barbies and the Littlest Pet Shops and whatever other crap was popular at the time there were also superhero figures. The JLU figures were easy to pick up and she ended up with Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman and Hawkgirl. I never paid much attention to the various pairings (which were frankly infrequent, the Barbies always had the fun, the Kens were always made to watch the Barbies having fun). One day I saw her with Superman and Wonder Woman and I saw she was holding , well kinda like this:

I asked her why she was marrying Superman and Wonder Woman? Her answer? “Because they are both heroes and they both wear red and blue.”

I can’t help but think the rationale of a 5 year old girl is pretty much a the crux of what DC announced today. Wait I’ll correct myself. The rationale of a 5 year old combined with the wet dreams of a 14 year old boy.

Honestly, I know this may sadden some people but I couldn’t stop giggling at how juvenile today’s announcement was. At least sometimes when DC does stuff it’s subtle. But this wasn’t subtle. It was incredibly unsubtle. DC has now turned to fan fiction for its storylines. Or worse Frank Miller.

Read More

Superman and Wonder Woman Will Be A Couple? Zzzzz…

kryptoswag:

thoughtnami:

dcwomenkickingass:

This is canon. Not an Elseworlds. Not a dream. As of Justice League #12 Superman and Wonder Woman are together. EW has the story:

Writer Geoff Johns hints that some event — possibly tragic — will impact every member of the Justice League, and cause Superman and Wonder Woman to seek solace in each other and move from super-powered colleagues to power couple. This is no one-issue stunt: “This is the new status quo,” says Johns, adding that the relationship will have a seismic impact on all the heroes and villains in the DC universe.

“The new status quo”. Now you know why they ditched the super marriage.

I have some thoughts on this. But they will come later.

They will not be pleasant.

Boring.

Just boring.

And it’s been done.

Yeah, I’m probably saying that because I like the traditional Clark/Lois pairing. And even that’s been done many times over. Loved the fact those two were finally married, and it’s a shame the Geoff and Jim Silver Age Show took over and played Quesada with those two. 

But why Wonder Woman though? I have nothing against her, mind you, but why THAT paring? Is it because she’s the most visible heroine in the DC Universe? Is it because they want to create some kind of triangle between the Trinity (the only thing worse than a Superman/Wonder Woman coupling is a Batman/Wonder Woman coupling)? Or is this proof that they have nothing else to write but romance between those two characters forced by higher powers (and I don’t mean Zeus)?

Who knows? Who cares? 

It’s boring.

You know what would be a more interesting pairing?

Superman and Vixen.

I imagine reaction to those two locking lips on a comic book cover would be on par with Archie and Valerie from Josie and the Pussycats’s similar embrace. “Shocking” to those hellbent on keeping the status quo the way they want THAT to be as well as something people would never see  And hell, Vixen actually has more of connection with Superman than a lot of people even realize (her very first appearance in a comic was Action Comics #521 in a Superman story and fighting alongside him).

I would actually, for once, drive to the comic book store and buy that comic book if it happened.  

You know what? I have to admit - as much as I too am very Clark/Lois forever … I also would totally check out (or at least find it very interesting) if they put Superman with Vixen … or hell with any WOC, superhero or not. It would be new, it would different. And hell, maybe it would make for an actually INTERESTING story for the guy, instead of rehashing this (yes boring) Superman/Wonder Woman BS yet again. 

Just a small town girl: Like seriously DC?! What the heeeck. This is why comic wise I’m...

oppose-the-shield:

Like seriously DC?! What the heeeck.

This is why comic wise I’m starting to read just marvel comics instead of the new shitty DC new 52 comics.

Like seriously DC Marvel is kicking your ass in both movies and Comics. The only thing that DC and Marvel are close to being the same…

*sigh*

I don’t like Diana with Clark OR Bruce. Sorry, I just don’t. I don’t think she’s either one of their perfect matches.

Pairing her with Clark always just comes down to the fact they have equal physical power levels (and of course a mostly male-fantasy sex thing) and that’s it. Other than that, I find the two of them the most boring paring out of the two options. Two God-like being being God-like together? Yawn. Plus, I always feel Clark pretty much has no life as CLARK when he’s with Diana. And Superman without Clark being a prominent part of his life just doesn’t interest me in the slightest. 

As for Diana and Bruce? Eh. I liked it okay when the animated Justice League and Justice League Unlimited kinda went there, but I’m not a big fan of that pairing either. Simply because I don’t think - emotionally - Bruce and Diana really fit. I’ve always preferred Selina for that very reason; I think she gets Bruce on a level that no other would-be love interest of his ever has because (and The Dark Knight Rises showed this IMO) she’s just as broken as he is. But she isn’t looking for him to be her salvation - nor is he looking for her to be his. They can just understand that brokenness in each other. Which, IMO, is what connects them more than anyone.

Eh, whatever. I KNEW DC was going to pull this sooner or later. They are so fucking predictable. So to hell with them. Excepting the Smallville comic, I’ve already given up on this stuff anyway. All I can hope now is that this BS tanks. (Though even if it does, I have my doubts that the idiots in charge would change course on it all). 

I really hope the dick move they pulled when it came to Stephanie being in the SV comic is the only attention they pay to that book from now on, and they leave BQM alone to do his thing.

(Source: consultingwesen)

Of the major comic book publishers, DC Comics has been leading the way in terms of digital-first comics, offering a handful of titles aimed at specific groups of readers. Its most successful digital-first comic is Smallville Season 11, the comic book continuation of the long running CW drama starring a young, pre-Superman Clark Kent. Even though the show concluded in 2010 it still has a loyal following, many of whom may not be regular comic book readers, so DC is reaching them using the digital platform. Currently, 22-page digital chapters of Smallville Season 11 come out weekly at 99 cents each, followed by a print issue made up of three digital installments for $3.99 roughly every three weeks. The formula, though largely untested, seems to be working – Smallville Season 11 has been a consistent top seller digitally since it began, and the print issues broke the top 100 best-selling comics for May and June.

Dead Again! Smallville Season 11 Revamped to Exclude Stephanie Brown

snappily:

brikit:

elfgrove:

gabzilla-z:

“The one conclusion that is certain is that whatever was said publicly, it’s clear DC Editorial in New York simply does not want Stephanie Brown to appear anywhere. Checking around with several sources, I was informed both Steph and former Batgirl Cassandra Cain (now known as Black Bat) were considered “toxic.””

meeya87 said: TOXIC? what the ever loving fuck is that supposed to imply?

loxes said: oh yeah fans really love those characters but a lot of those fans have ovaries so I guess they must be toxic

“Toxic” in the marketing sense is usually used to refer to a property/name/trademark/etc that has gotten such terrible press or reputation in the public that the use of it has become detrimental to the reputation/marketability of anyone involved.

Funny. Steph is announced in Smallville #11, and I see loads of people planning to buy a book they hadn’t been before and they organize the “Waffles for Stephanie” project to try to show their joy and support of this move to corporate. However, following this largely positive reaction, Steph is removed from the book and replaced with Barbara Gordaon for whom Steph and Cass Cain were sidelined in favor of within main continuity.

I don’t know how DC defines toxic, but it’s not Steph for me. I’m starting to see Babs in the Batgirl suit as pretty rage-inducing-won’t-touch-it-with-a-ten-foot-pole though. I didn’t dislike Babs before. In particular, I love Oracle-Babs. But Barbara in the pointy ears is starting become a toxic asset to my eyes ever since the reboot.

I’m seeing this reaction more and more and more, and it’s making me really sad. Because I know that a lot of these people are like me. They don’t want to hate Babs, but DC’s making it really hard not to hate her.

Yeah, same for me. I love Oracle!Babs a lot, but now after the reboot, all I can see when I look at Babs is the specter of Cass and Steph and all the poor treatment they’ve received in the name of keeping things “iconic.” It’s sad, but I don’t think I can really call myself a Babs fan anymore. Not truthfully.

I adore Babs. She’s the Batgirl I grew up with. So I’ll always love her as Batgirl the most, even though I grew to love her as Oracle!Babs.

But this? I’ll just say it: this is a real dick move by DC wrt Stephanie. Plus, logically, it makes ZERO sense to do this. As the original article said, assuming 40% of Smallville Season 11 comic book buyers are first-time comic book buyers/readers, most of them are not going to care WHO first shows up as Nightwing in the book. Hell, I’m willing to bet that this group of people probably don’t even know who Nightwing IS or the original origins of Nightwing. They probably know Robin (who in their mind is Dick Grayson) and Batgirl (who is Barbara Gordon). And that’s IT. They don’t know who Stephanie Brown is. They don’t know who Cassandra Cain is. They don’t know who Damian Wayne is. 

Stephanie Brown showing up in the Smallville comic would have introduced her character to a whole new audience of people. An audience who may have really taken to her character … some so much so that they might had decided to try and seek out other comic books about her character. (And given that the recent-popular Stephanie book was written by the same person who’s now writing the Smallville one well, that just makes it a plus!)

But oh no, we can’t have that now can we DC head honchos? We can’t have Steph possibly growing popular with the comic-book newbie crowed when we’ve been pushing the idea that Babs in the most iconic and will bring in more sales. Steph and Cass are “toxic” … not because there is any really proof of this “fact,” but because we say so. It already sticks in your craw that the Smallville book is doing as well as it is (don’t argue with me DiDio, you and your minions probably can’t stand how well that book is doing given that it goes against the narrative you’ve been trying to push and sell wrt Superman), we can’t have Steph possibly doing the same thing now can we? Plus, Steph appearing in the book might uptick Smallville Season 11 sales a bit more, given the number of displaced Steph fans that were planning to buy it. 

Ugh. Have I mentioned before how much I hate DC management? (Why was BQM not on the Superman panel at Comic-Con again?)  

85-87/100 » Lois Lane

(Source: ruthgilmartin)