17 more tidbits from the con!
1. The creators of Supergirl: Cosmic Adventures in the 8th Grade and doing a more adult comic for Image called “Danger Club” about superheroes beating the hell out of each other.
2. The protest against the DC reboot garnered an incredibly tiny turnout. Not that it’s super surprising.
3. Avatar: The Last Airbender is getting a sequel called the Legend of Korra, which is getting a ton of buzz. Here’s a link!
4. In the tradition of DC hiring apparently “the best” here’s some of Leifeld’s Hawk and Dove artwork. Feh.
5. Shannon Wheeler won the best humor Eisner for his GN “I thought You Would be Funnier.”
6. Gail Simone, through the magic of the internet, got to meet up with the woman who was asking DC all of those awkward questions about female characters and the percentage of women who are creators in the New 52.
7. Marvel introduces their Spider Island story which gives the other Spider-Man cast Peter’s powers. Including Mary Jane.
8. The Dark Phoenix Tonner doll is over priced, but fabulous.
9. It’s being rumored that the real break out hit of the New 52 is going to Justice League: Dark, which features Zatanna, John Constantine, and awesome magic.
10. Kevin Kellar, Archie’s first ever openly gay character, is getting his own series.
11. The bottom half of Supergirl’s new costume looks psychotically uncomfortable.
12. There’s going to be a Fables spin-off entitled “Fairest” that follows the adventures of some of that series’ princesses.
13. The Supernatural panel garnered the usual levels of internet hate toward show runner Sera Gamble. Tumblr is full of people asking her to step down, and joking about going to San Diego to slip something in her drink. HOW FUNNY! Keep in mind most of the Supernatural fandom are women, but I can’t help but think if she was a dude like former show runner Eric Kripke, they wouldn’t say these things.
14. IO9 has the comic con scoop on the new Snow White and the Huntsmen movie that’s going to start filming, plus pretty photos! Despite my loathing of Kristen Stewart’s work (Thanks, Twilight!) this looks pretty fun.
15. Check out some fabulous Marvel cosplay, guys!
16. The big Avengers movie poster is boy heavy, but cool-looking.
17. Dan Didio dodged more questions about equality today. I know we’re all so surprised. But at least Gail Simone seems to be treating Barbara Gordon with some respect, and she hinted that two very cool, underrated female characters might show up.
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Ebb,
What a great interview! I think I have a crush on her now. *grin* Didio does not come off well in this. He sounds actually hostile to the idea of women in comics.
She also mentions how Didio’s response of “Send in your stuff” was deceitful.
What also impressed me about that interview was her bewilderment at all the hostility she received. She had no idea she was in among people who would boo her for asking simple questions. She chalks it up to being a recent convert, which is almost certainly a factor. However, I’ve never read a comic book (I much prefer webcomics and manga) and I’m well aware of the misogyny in the fandom. So maybe she’s been insulated by having some really awesome comics friends?
Sylvia Sybil(Quote) (Reply)
Sylvia Sybil,
It is, indeed, a great interview. On tumblr there are a few campaigns going on today, including a writing campaign to write to DC calling for Didio’s head on a platter, and a petition, with a long list of women who create comics that DC should be hiring.
Audio of Didio getting verbally abusive to a fan can be found here: http://omgitsaraptor.tumblr.com/post/8135376019/havecrayonswilltravel-twbasketcase
and DC’s contact info can be found here: http://omgitsaraptor.tumblr.com/post/8136643477/dc-comics-contact-information-tell-them-how-you-feel
The petition is here: http://www.change.org/petitions/dc-comics-hire-more-women-heres-a-few-to-get-you-started?utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition&utm_term=own_wall
Leigh(Quote) (Reply)
Sylvia Sybil,
Didio has a long record of being basically just an idiot. To claim that Barbara is the most recognizeable Batgirl is absurd in the current era, both because she was far more known as Oracle, and because Cass Cain did a pretty good job of taking that role on for herself before she, too, stepped beyond it. The decision is just terrible on many different levels–and yes, it is not equally applied since certainly they couldn’t take Dick’s achievements away, that would be emasculating!
Lindsey(Quote) (Reply)
Ebb,
This is silly, but until I saw that picture of “Batgirl” with Gail Simone I honestly didn’t know what she looked like…for some reason I thought she’d look like Birds of Prey-era!Barbara Gordon/Oracle. ^_^V
Casey(Quote) (Reply)
Hey everyone!
I just got a response (pretty sure it’s automated0 from DC Entertainment.. I signed the petition and had listened to the audio of Didio. Wow, just… wow.
Here’s the letter in all it’s oh-so-unassuming ‘We’re not sexist, really!’ glory :eyeroll:
Actually to clarify, it’s two letters. The first one is from Courtney Simmons of SVP Publicity
‘Thank you for your email, I am responding on behalf of Diane Nelson, Dan DiDio, Jim Lee, Geoff Johns, John Rood, Bob Harras and all the execs at DC Entertainment.
DC Entertainment takes your comments very seriously and wants you to know that we are listening to the feedback.
However, we also want you to know that not all of the facts are being presented by petition organizers or the press. DC Entertainment is proud that 25 percent of its Editorial team is comprised of wonderfully talented women. We also have women in other key roles within the organization including Digital, Marketing, Sales and Publicity. In addition, we are proud of our female President Diane Nelson and both our female heads of the Legal and Finance departments.
With that said, we realize that not only DCE, but the entire comic book industry, can and should do a better job of sourcing women for creative roles. As demonstrated by the wealth of characters and super heroes featured in our comics, many of whom are women, exploring different points of views is a key facet to our storytelling and we will work harder to ensure the creative forces behind our comics reflect that diversity.
This is a very important topic and we’re actively working on this issue. Just as diversity is important to you, it’s important to DC Entertainment.
Our Co-Publishers Dan DiDio and Jim Lee have posted a statement on the topic on THE SOURCE blog which I’m sharing with you below.
Sincerely,
Courtney Simmons
SVP Publicity
DC Entertainment’
Here’s the second letter from Jim Lee and :GAG!: Dan DiDio
We hear you
Over the past week we’ve heard from fans about a need for more women writers, artists and characters. We want you to know, first and foremost, that we hear you and take your concerns very seriously.
We’ve been very fortunate in recent years to have fan favorite creators like Gail Simone, Amy Reeder, Felicia Henderson, Fiona Staples, Amanda Connor, G. Willow Wilson and Nicola Scott write and draw the adventures of the World’s Greatest Super Heroes.
DC Comics is the home of a pantheon of remarkable, iconic women characters like Wonder Woman, Lois Lane, Batgirl, Batwoman, Catwoman and Supergirl as well as fan favorite characters like Black Canary, Katana, Mera and Starfire. We’re committed to telling diverse stories with a diverse point of view. We want these adventures to resonate in the real world, reflecting the experiences of our diverse readership. Can we improve on that? We always can—and aim to.
We’ll have exciting news about new projects with women creators in the coming months and will be making those announcements closer to publication. Many of the above creators will be working on new projects, as we continue to tell the ongoing adventures of our characters. We know there are dozens of other women creators and we welcome the opportunity to work with them.
Our recent announcements have generated much attention and discussion and we welcome that dialogue.
Best-
Jim Lee & Dan DiDio
DC Entertainment Co-Publishers’
Oh, where to BEGIN?
Apparently none of these fools realize that this whole thing really got started when Didio all but blasted that one poor guy for his question.
Here’s a tip, DC; never, EVER address or dismiss the fans the way Didio did at the panel. It was not only unprofessional, it was flat-out rude and unacceptable behavior. The LAST people you want to upset are the very people who purchase your comic. And if sales take a dive… we’ll that’s you’re own fault.
And not even so much as an APOLOGY for that kind of behavior? And I don’t mean ‘We’re so sorry people are upset, blah, blah, blah…’ to be followed by a weak as water excuse. One were you take responsibility for such behavior and language and say you expect BETTER out of the people who represent your company.
Anybody else wanna dissect this letter and point out all the glaringly obvious gaffes? Because I just don’t have the energy to do it and i doubt I have the finesse of any of you blog writers her e on the subject.
I could say a few things, but they wouldn’t be polite, to say the least.
Red(Quote) (Reply)
Red,
Because women are only 1/4 of the population, right?
Skemono(Quote) (Reply)
I am again reminded of Chris Rock’s “What do you want, a cookie?” routine.
Patrick McGraw(Quote) (Reply)
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