Roy Lichenstein is a figure that occasionally pops up in comic book discussion. His paintings, based on reproductions of comic book panels, provide an interesting element to discussions of adapted art, homages and plagiarism.

Point

David Barsalou has created a site called Deconstructing Lichtenstein, which carefully displays reproduced Lichtenstein paintings alongside of the original comic art, it’s based upon.

There isn’t really any text to quote, the images are the basis for the deconstruction.

Counterpoint:

Dan, at Pop Snark Hooligan, discusses the flaws of this deconstruction in his post Deconstructing, Deconstructing Lichtenstein:

Excerpt:

When John Byrne draws his twentieth (or whatever) re-interpretation of the cover to Fantastic Four #1, we call it homage. When Lichtenstein re-interpreted the comics panels for his series of paintings, he called it homage too. It’s one thing to call out a comic book artist for swiping other artist’s works. Peter David has been doing this to Rob Liefeld for years. It’s quite another matter, however, to exhibit drastically altered scans of painted, stylized reproduction art next to comic book art, and call it a critical deconstruction. You might as well vilify a movie for copying the book it was based on.

It’s an interesting, sympathetic look at Lichtenstein’s work, I very much recommend reading it.

For the past month, one of the topics that has been getting attention has been Marvel Team-Up #24. Specifically the death of Freedom Ring.

The catch is that the character was one of Marvel’s very few gay characters and that fact, combined with the manner of his portrayal and death, has been leading to some very piercing questions.

Point:

Over at the Image Comics message board (I’m cheating a little to link this here), Robert Kirkman explains the motivation behind killing Freedom Ring.

The post:

Freedom Ring was always planned as an inexperienced hero who would get beaten up constantly and probably die. I wanted to comment on the fact that most superheroes get thier powers and are okay at it… and that’s not how life works.

During working on the book, I was also noticing that most gay characters… are all about being gay. Straight characters are well-rounded characters who like chicks. So I wanted to do a well-rounded character who just happened to like dudes.

Then I decided to combine the two ideas.

In hindsight, yeah, killing a gay character is no good when there are so few of them… but I really had only the best of intentions in mind.

Counterpoint:

Steven, at the Roar of Comics, adds his own perspective to Kirkman’s mistake in his blog post, Neutral:

Excerpt:

What I started thinking about was how Kirkman could have told the first idea without getting into trouble. (The idea of a superhero actually suffering and sacrificing to do his job, obviously, interests me.) And I realized the only way he could have done it is if Freedom Ring was a straight white male.

If Freedom Ring was black, or Hispanic, or Asian, or if he were a she, then Kirkman might have been accused (rightly accused) of implying that Freedom Ring was incompetent because he was black, because she was a woman.

But no one would reasonably say he would have died because he was male, or white, or straight. For storytelling purposes, a straight white male is neutral, contains no value that informs or overwhelms other, subtler personality traits.

Both Kirkman’s message board post and Steven’s blog entry add new facets to the entire overall discussion.  It’s definitely good reading.

How To Make Money Like a Porn Star is still getting buzz around the Blogosphere. This time, the topic of interest has to do with a particular comparison made between HTMMLaPS and Alan Moore’s Lost Girls.

Is one type of offensive pornography any better or worse than the other?

Point:

In her exclusive with Bernard Chang about How To Make Money Like a Porn Star, QueenEtCetera speaks more about the series and brings up Alan Moore’s Lost Girls:

Excerpt:

(And I would like to know where the angry bloggers were when a teenage Dorothy Gale was graphically depicted masturbating in the critical darling “The Lost Girls.” Because the only people in the comics world who seemed offended by that were me, my friend Erica, and John Byrne.)

Counterpoint:

MsMarvel1 virulently disagrees with this statement in her livejournal post:

Excerpt:

Maybe they didn’t have a problem with it because … oh, there happens to be a BIG WORLD OF DIFFERENCE in a woman masturbating than a woman being RAPED. You know, that whole PERSONAL CHOICE OVER WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR BODY thing tends to be important to people.

There’s a lot of fruit for discussion, comparing both works. What makes something controversial versus just plain offensive? What makes one work better or worse than the other?

It’s something to consider.

The Heroes TV show is still generating a lot of buzz among comic fans. In the most recent episode, an event occurred that’s very much in tune with many of the feminist complaints about comic books themselves.

This, naturally, has provoked a reaction.

(Warning this post contains spoilers)

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“How To Make Money Like A Porn Star” is a comic causing quite a stir of reaction in the blogosphere. Most of it negative.

It has lent itself to a different sort of discussion though, particularly regarding the power of notoriety.

Point:

Kevin Church, of BeaucoupKevin(dot)com, was quite eloquent in his aversion to this book in his review Review: How To Make Money Like A Porn Star:

Excerpt:

This book could have – should have – been very good. A smarter version of Orgazmo3 is just begging to be made, but this nasty piece of work certainly isn’t it. How To Make Money Like A Porn Star plays misogyny for laughs while featuring rape, kidnapping, semen collection, and the same tired jokes about pornography that the masses have been making since the 70s. Most of its threadbare plot works towards a reveal that’s swiped from George Lucas In Love. It’s tiresome, unfunny, and managed to make me feel worse for having finished it.

Counterpoint:

QueenEtCetera from Occasional Superheroine agrees that the comic is bad, but makes a point to consider in her post “Claudia’s Rimshot Rapey-Rapey Revenge”: Bloggers Speak Out On “How To Make Money Like A Porn Star”:

Excerpt:

See, the only problem with reviews such as these is that it gives a book like this the “Golden Crown Of Everything Hateful” and now it’s tops on Amazon.com. Because a lot of people are jaded and want to be shocked. This is sort of why Howard Stern is a millionaire.

It’s definitely something to think about…

An interesting debate has turned up in comics fandom of late, stemming from a certain event in 52 #21.

Does a particular character’s death by decapitation imply a larger, disturbing trend in the DCU?  What does it mean?

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Identity Crisis.  Big mini-series. Many liked it. Many hated it.

A big topic of discussion, though drowned out by discussion of one Ms. Sue Dibny, was on the ultimate fate of one Jean Loring.

Point:

There are quite a few in the blog community who were justifiably dismayed by the development Ms. Loring’s character.

Many of those complaints were summed up far back in February by Avi Green on his post: The Comic Book Discrimination Dossiers: Profile: Jean Loring

Excerpt:

To make matters worse, not only did the miniseries not give any mention of what past storylines Jean had been through, but much of the press coverage of Identity Crisis did not give any clear indication that she’d been a victim of science-fiction brainwashing years before either. In the case of Wizard magazine, they seemed to be trying to perpetuate a lie that she’d suffered numerous mental/nervous breakdowns* years ago, when that was not the case, and even if it was, she’d only been through such circumstances twice. (Wizard wrote a very ambiguous note that she “had a history” of nervous/mental breakdowns, yet made no more attempt to clear things up than the miniseries itself did.) On Newsarama, there was another vicious lie written that she’d been repeatedly played as a villainess in past years. It’s a filthy lie mainly due to the fact that it didn’t even make it clear in just what way she was played as a villainess.

Counterpoint

In a very recent post, H at the Cosmic Treadmill counters the assumption of out-of-character behavior in his post: Jean Loring? Always Has Been An Evil Harpy – Always Will Be

Excerpt:

Ray – you screwed up. If you just picked Enrichetta Negrini, Sue Dibny would still be alive and you’d be the happiest little man on Earth-1. Would it have killed you to have cracked a few relationship and self-esteem books between scientific tomes?

For the record, I don’t actually think one is (or is meant to be) a serious counterargument to the other.  It just made me laugh.  Enjoy

Feminists and comic books, the great mystery. What do they read for? What do they want?

Well, given my leanings, it shouldn’t be surprising that whenever this discussion comes up, I pay close attention.

In this case, I’m cheating a little. These links are not so much in conflict with one another as they are an interesting case study. What do male fans think female fans want and what does one female fan actually want?

Point:

Highlander, over at the Miserable Annals of the Earth, thinks he has the answer at One fanboy’s reaction.

Excerpt:

But if the new Batgirl is what happens to superhuman women in superhero comics when the Revolution comes, well… please God, let me be the first fanboy up against the wall to be shot.

Please GOD.

I mean, suddenly you realize, maybe idealized bodies and sexualized poses ain’t really all that bad.

Counterpoint:

Willow, one of the names mentioned in Highlander’s argument, has since posted an actual feminist critique regarding comics in her post FIGHTING FASHIONS: A What Not To Wear While Superheroing Column

Excerpt:

Drew Johnson Salons do marvelous things with hair, from intricate braiding to sleek, simple power cuts for women. They also get the concept of discretion when it comes to eye-make up. You won’t leave their salon with your eyes looking cat-like, playboy ready and smokey. He also has a distinct line of formal wear that isn’t afraid to admit that women such as yourself spend as much time in the gym as men. But he’s better for those special occasions.

For every day wear, I’d suggest the Darwyn Cook or CSNY (Cameron Stewart NY) lines. Both men know how to be cutting edge and well tailored. You’ll never look more city chic than in Stewart’s comfortable and fashionable jumpsuits. If you give him a bolt of your trade mark fabric, I think he’d do wonders in a tailored special order.

I personally think it’s a very interesting comparison. The comments are worth reading as well.

(If you would by chance like a more direct counter-argument, I might recommend an old blog@ goody from Stephanie Chan: It’s a blast from the past, but also a very good read.)

The new superhero-themed television show Heroes is generating a fair bit of buzz among comic book fans. Some like it, some don’t.

Among the usual complaints though, about the pacing, dialogue and characterization (not to mention a mis-attributed issue number), one particular point stands out for me.

(Links may contain minor spoilers)

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Civil War has been causing a buzz throughout the blogosphere for the past several weeks. Issue #4 seems to have become a real turning point for a lot of people.

But how do they feel about it?

(The following links contain spoilers)

Point:

Most of the very vocal reviews on the blogosphere are negative with regards to Civil War #4, but the most comprehensive one that I’ve read is probably from Jake at Ye Olde Comick Booke Blogge: Has Mark Millar Ever Even Read a Marvel Comic?

Excerpt:

Upon entering the store, I was informed that I must read Mark Millar’s latest edition of the “Marvel Comics event in seven parts” immediately so discussion in the store could recommence. I read it quickly and saw why no one wanted to ruin the three big shocking moments.

It was not because they were so shocking and would have me dropping my jaw at Millar’s finely crafted story, but because if they had told me, I never would have believed anything so stupid would be put in even a fringe, out-of-continuity story, much less “the” Marvel event of the year.

Counterpoint:

However, while the nay-sayers appear to have been the vocal majority thus far, there have actually been some interesting posts speaking out in favor of the series. Katherine, at Whereof One Can Speak, lists her reasons for liking the series in her post Civil War? Bring it On!:

Excerpt:

So it makes sense to me that something like this would happen. In fact, it seems inevitable — the kind of question the Marvel universe was going to have to answer sooner or later. And I’m glad to see it’s being tackled with such gusto. I think this is an aspect of my love of world-building — I will forgive a great deal from an author who creates a compelling and consistent world, or looks at a pre-created world that isn’t very consistent and tries to make it more so. In some respects, Civil War is an exercise in world-building, and to that extent it’s tailored to my taste.

Secondly, I think the crossover has, by the usual standards of crossovers (which are admittedly not high), been coordinated remarkably well. The tie-ins are of variable quality, as one would expect, but the ones I’ve read have struck a fine balance between advancing their own plots and riffing on the main Civil War plot. The nature of the event is such that it’s possible for just about all the Marvel universe titles to have something to do with it without this coming across as contrived, and it gives the writers something to stick their teeth into. Compare it in this respect to the most recent company-wide crossover, House of M, and Civil War comes off much better.

Both arguments are interesting, focusing on plot and characterization from thoughtful, if opposing perspectives. I strongly recommend them.

There’s been a lot of buzz across the blogosphere (and Livejournal-Land) about Civil War #4. Most of it seems to be about the characterizations of the principle characters: Captain America, Iron Man, Reed Richards. However, I actually think the most interesting character discussion resulting from this issue wasn’t about those three at all.

The subject was the Invisible Woman.

(Please be warned, the following links/excerpts contain spoilers)

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