Gail Simone's Blog, page 1182

(◡‿◡✿): The thread about Gail Simone/DCnU/Batgirl is so interesting.

(◡‿◡✿): The thread about Gail Simone/DCnU/Batgirl is so interesting.:

wundy:

Again, when did I say this? When did the ally issue ever come up?

I've tried to answer every question asked of me on that thread as honestly as I could.

I didn't say you directly brought up allyship, but that's what you sound like to me. "Well it's problematic (that I posted in this thread/that Cass and Steph aren't Batgirl anymore/that Barbara is being put back in the Batgirl role at the cost of visibility for disabled people) but here are reasons why it's not my fault! I've done my best!"

I think what I, and other fans, really want from you is simple.

"Yes, that was a fuck up, sorry."

No "I didn't make the rules" or "I'm trying!" or "I didn't know!" or "I don't remember that" because those things are excuses. What we're reacting to, why we're frustrated, is the way we perceive you trying to avoid blame and responsibility.

You sound like you want to be congratulated for your achievements, but only take accountability for your mistakes with lots of qualifiers, which isn't really taking accountability at all.

I don't really know what to say to this because some of it just has no resemblance to how I think.  I was posting in a thread, they moved it, it had new rules, I said I didn't think they were necessary, and I've been talking about Steph and Cass endlessly to everyone who brought it up, including several long threads on that same message board. I think those rules are a bit draconian and unnecessary and said so. The OP implied, and I have said over and over that it was probably an error, that I happily supported these rules when I expressly said the opposite.

I'm excited about the book, that's all. If I wanted to hang out all night and be told how wonderful I am, does Tumblr sound like the place I would go?  ;)

Seriously, I understand I've acted like a jackass in the past. I have a lot of regrets about being defensive here and at Scans Daily. But you can go RIGHT to that message board and see me answer endless questions about Cass and Steph right there, same place, same posters, often just seconds apart.  The idea that I'm dodging it or setting rules doesn't even make any sense, does it?

I don't get the derailing charge, I tried to answer every single post as best I could, including the ones about Steph and Cass.

I appreciate the reminder to be cautious about this stuff, sometimes when you're talking on multiple boards, you can end up not completely following the situation.

Fair?

If it's not too much of a bother to ask, do you happen to know if Pantha is around in the NuDCU? Is she back alive (hopefully as a result of her godawful death erased in the reboot) or is erased from existence? The Teen Titans might be shrouded in secrecy

That's a good question. I'm sorry,  I suspect that she isn't at this point, but I will send a note to suggest her to Scott Lobdell, as Titans is the most likely place where she would show up. I'll do that right now.

If it's not too much of a bother to ask, do you happen to know if Pantha is around in the NuDCU? Is she back alive (hopefully as a result of her godawful death erased in the reboot) or is erased from existence? The Teen Titans might be shrouded in secrecy

That's a good question. I'm sorry,  I suspect that she isn't at this point, but I will send a note to suggest her to Scott Lobdell, as Titans is the most likely place where she would show up. I'll do that right now.

If it's not too much of a bother to ask, do you happen to know if Pantha is around in the NuDCU? Is she back alive (hopefully as a result of her godawful death erased in the reboot) or is erased from existence? The Teen Titans might be shrouded in secrecy

That's a good question. I'm sorry,  I suspect that she isn't at this point, but I will send a note to suggest her to Scott Lobdell, as Titans is the most likely place where she would show up. I'll do that right now.

I like how Gail Simone keeps living down to my expectations

I like how Gail Simone keeps living down to my expectations:

masteradept:

Well I wonder who those people are? Are they they the straight, males, between 15 and 30 or the rest that DC really does not care about? Frankly this whole reboot has just made me give DC the total "Sideeye". Maybe in another 20 years, when Oracle is back, Lois is Ms. Lane-Kent and Steph & Cass have been Batgirl I will not feel so…aggravated.

I believe the first quote is from a lesbian Tumblr, if I'm not mistaken, but yeah, Trees made that same point and I admit it may be possible that these are Vic fans and not REALLY Renee fans. I guess I just took them at their word. But I think you guys might well be right.

As for the side-eye, I think that's actually a good thing at this point. Like Batgirl at San Diego, it's not a bad thing to hold DC and the other publishers to their word (writers, too).

I like how Gail Simone keeps living down to my expectations

I like how Gail Simone keeps living down to my expectations:

itsinthetrees:

I mean, I'm not hugely surprised that many comics fans are happy at the idea that the white straight dude from their childhood might be back in the iconic role while "Rucka's pet character" (gross) gets shuffled back off to supporting cast.  This is a pretty straight white dude-filled fanbase, and it is often predictable in that respect.

I am dubious as to most of these people's claims to be fans of Renee Montoya, though.  Not all!  But most.  I know a few Renee fans who think that post-Final Crisis she's been a little blah, but it's not a common POV in my experience.

You know, you're right. I started to think that exact thought when I was compiling just the few posts I found in that brief search, maybe they really AREN'T Renee fans, so her as a cop just means getting her out of the way for Vic.

Point taken, I think you are on to something there. I admit I was surprised because I hadn't heard ANY Renee fans say they wanted her back as a cop until today and suddenly posts like these are all over the place. Now I wonder…

I like how Gail Simone keeps living down to my expectations

I like how Gail Simone keeps living down to my expectations:

idginator:

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Uh.

Last time I checked computer hacking abilities weren't controlled by paralysis in the legs. 

and

People had no problem when Batman was brought back from the dead, I don't understand why everyone is in an uproar about Babs walking again.

That was… Wow.

With the way the post was strung together, it's hard to tell who said that bit, but… Wow.

The lack of Oracle has nothing to do with her computer hacking skills. Yes, Babs could still do tall of that. Yes, she could still take up that name. It is what Oracle, meaning Barbara in the wheelchair, and her journey therein, represents, and losing that, that has everyone so upset.

Comparing Barbara's time in the chair to Bruce's being brought back to life is not fair in the least. Pretty much you're implying that her being in the wheelchair is comparable to his being dead, and so his being brought back to life and her regaining the ability to walk is even stevens.

And, ya know what, yes, it is that argument (that such things as the ability to be brought back to life, etc) that supports bringing back the use of Barbara's legs. Still, that does not discount what Barbara has meant over the years to people with disabilities, people like myself, when it comes to having someone like them in comics.

I see both sides of the argument. I get that keeping Babs in the chair is something that is easily seen as problematic, from a logical, in the DCU point of view. Out of that world, taking in the progress she made as Oracle (which she still holds on to, yay!!), taking in the significance she gained as a role model for a so often neglected minority, that is why people, myself included, have been so upset.

And this is not even touching the aspect of Stephanie and/or Cass, since either of them could have been made Batgirl in this, and I don't know that it's known for certain what's become of them in the DCnU as of yet.

And, hey, this is coming from someone who has read Batgirl #1, and loved it! I have no problem with people wanting Babs back in the cape and cowl, but DAMN that response up there just blew my mind!

Thank you as always for your input. 

I get confused with Tumblr formatting, too.

If I missed somebody's question or point, I'm sorry, I tried to keep up as best I could.  Thanks to everyone, but this flu is kicking my ass and I have to go snooze for a bit before getting some work done. If I missed a question or response, I'm sorry, I promise I tried to get to everyone.

And as I said, I'm pretty sure the original post was a misunderstanding, no big deal, no hard feelings.

Good night everyone.

PS. Pick up Animal Man.

PPS. And Swamp Thing.

I like how Gail Simone keeps living down to my expectations

I like how Gail Simone keeps living down to my expectations:

masteradept:

Wait, really?  I haven't met a single Renee fan who wants her back as a cop.  Everyone is all about her as The Question.

I sometimes wonder if DC has not put a boot on her neck and said, tow the line or else.

Me?  Really?

Look, I've said a lot of stuff I'm sure DC would rather I didn't lately. But you don't have to take my word for it on this Renee stuff, just doing a ten second websearch, I found this:

"I don't give a flying fig about Vic at all.

But I am so squeeful about Renee Montoya being back in the role she was meant for, and the one that was actually interesting, that I could burst.

Renee as Question was a demotion. This? Is a promotion back to her original and far more awesome role."

"I would be happy for Renee to go back being a cop and a return of Vic Sage as Question. I hope that's the direction DC is going."

"Im with Captain Jim here. She went from being a fantastic supporting character to just another superhero. She has brief glimpses of goodness like Final Crisis, but I've never been a big fan of this move since 52, and Greg Rucka has done little to make me believe in it. I used to be a big fan of Renee Montoya, now…I really don't give a damn, and that kinda saddens me. This is a move I can get behind."

"Sorry to the haters, but this is great news. Renee was a great character in GCPD but absolute crap as the Question. Vic Sage should be back and taking on the role as he was intended. To kill a character off after having him break out, first in a cartoon then a widely read comic book, was stupid on DC's part and I'm hopeful they're making up for their mistake, especially since Rucka's not around to placate by keeping his pet character relevant anymore.

Besides, the Question mask always looked ridiculous on her."

I mean, that was in the first page and a half I looked at, there's a ton more.

I swear, I'm as surprised as you are. I thought most people would be peeved to see her go back to being a cop. I certainly wouldn't want to see it happen.

I like how Gail Simone keeps living down to my expectations

I like how Gail Simone keeps living down to my expectations:

ablipintime:

I would just love to have Renee somewhere written by someone who would do her the justice she deserves.

I'm not sure if I'm alone in saying this, or even if DC TPTB understand, but she made a huge impact on my life. I know I only just started reading her stuff far more recently than most, but Gotham Central had a huge impact on me as a closeted individual. I'm upset over Ted Kord, too, but as a character he never had the same emotional and philosophical impact on me as Renee ever did. Renee gives me strength and hope and without her in a reasonable capacity in the DCnU, I don't have even more stories to share her with other people.

Greg made her feel like a real person to me. Without him and without her, I feel like I was robbed from getting a funeral for a friend.

Yeah. I do understand what you're saying. I don't know what I can say, except that I can hassle Greg twice as hard. I just yelled at him on the AfterEllen board for this exact thing, we need him back to write Q and some NEW stuff.

I like how Gail Simone keeps living down to my expectations

I like how Gail Simone keeps living down to my expectations:

itsinthetrees:

Do you prefer her as a cop, or as the Question? I was surprised by how many serious Renee fans want her back as a cop. I really love her as Q.

Wait, really?  I haven't met a single Renee fan who wants her back as a cop.  Everyone is all about her as The Question.

THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I THOUGHT, TOO!  But I've been hearing the 'liked her better in Gotham Central' all day long.

I love Vic. But I'm gonna be really bummed if we lose Renee as Q. :(