Based on my brief review of the TV without Pity boards, GL fans might not find it possible to make it worse.

I do think there’s potential in a crossover between Marvel and a soap opera but it’s got to be bigger than this to lead anywhere. An 8-page story and a single hourlong special episode isn’t going to convert anyone. Still, I think there’s some insight shown, like how the GL comic is featured in titles that sell best outside of the direct market.

Though as a soap opera and superhero fanboy, I have to admit I’m thrilled at the idea of Harley Cooper with superpowers. I’m so glad they picked someone Harely’s age.

Then, make an actual effort to go out and develop female talent so the people telling the stories are a more diverse lot. No Joe, sitting at your desk and waiting for submissions is not an effort.

It’ll be good for everybody, trust me. The more diverse the people telling and drawing the stories, the less tired old clone sagas we’ll have to endure.

This sort of stunt is an INSULT to women. What’s next, “Baking and Being Quiet” written by John Byrne?

Comic shops ARE a boys club. We don’t like them, we don’t like being in them, they are not run the same way that every other store in the world is run. Compare every store in any mall to any comic shop. The only people who shop there know what they’re looking for.

But most importantly, don’t release titles that are “OK” for us to read. It’s demeaning and you’re making bad choices to begin with. The age bracket of women who watch Guiding Light are not going to come to a comic shop to buy the comics. The corresponding age bracket of men who read comics do so because they’ve been reading since they were kids.

Now we’re on to something! Want to get more women reading comics? Make comics that GIRLS want to read. If they grow up reading comics, they will continue to do so. Then, you can publish a guiding light comic in 20 years when there is actually an AUDIENCE for it.

Scholastic is already doing this of course, publishing The Baby-Sitter’s Club series, Goosebumps, etc. etc. (Not to mention publishing awesome female artists and writers in the process.) If you make comics that girls want to read, those girls will grow up into women who still want comics as a source of entertainment. And guess what — they’ll probably even read some super hero comics.

The 50 year old women at my husband’s office talk about Heroes the next morning around the break room coffee maker. The X-men and Spiderman and Superman movies have made many of these characters household names again AND put them into the mouths of children (boys AND girls) who want to know these characters and grow up with them and spend their disposable income doing so.

If you want women to read comics, it’s going to take years to undo what’s been done. Start with the kids. Publish a wider variety of comics but don’t try to dumb them down for us. Publish more women artists and writers and let THEM help make this happen.