Gail Simone's Blog, page 362

superheroresin:DC Comics has a long standing history of doing...

superheroresin:

DC Comics has a long standing history of doing stupid (and sexist) stuff. Hey look, there’s a counter for it!

However, one quote that my friend Abby Dark-Star likes to share is “be the change you want to see.” That can mean different things of course—be a force for good, share your good fortune with others, etc.

Today I want it to mean: I think there should be a POSITIVE counter for stuff DC Comics (and heck, Marvel too) did. I think it’s important to celebrate the victories. I think it’s important to have a moment where we don’t ruin our own enjoyment of things just because a few people in the industry have made some bad choices.

Comic books can be crazy amazing. Inspiring. creative. life-affirming! Let’s celebrate when our favorite companies do something right. Positive reinforcement of what we like to see can only mean that we get to see more of it, right? 

Gail Simone and Babs Tarr in one panel? I wish I had been able to go and see it in person! (though I would have gone completely bananas trying to figure out which Batgirl cosplay to wear.) 

These women have come together to share the beauty and wonder of comic books. I think that’s great.

So there. DC Comics did something right. Something AWESOME. I’m celebrating. 

I might have gotten a little emotional. 

glitterpill:Had a wedding to go to this weekend. Realized the only coat or jacket I had that was...

glitterpill:

Had a wedding to go to this weekend. Realized the only coat or jacket I had that was dressy enough was from my cosplay wardrobe.

So. Yeah. Totally wore my Jeannette coat to a wedding.

(Luckily it was a nerd wedding)

I bet you were stunning!

ibarelyknow:Just finished secret six and I’m very unhappy. I hate the new 52 even more for taking...

ibarelyknow:

Just finished secret six and I’m very unhappy. I hate the new 52 even more for taking this book away from me.

BUT IT’S COMING BACK!

goldenplant:what the actual fuckBlake walks around with no...

goldenplant:

what the actual fuck

Blake walks around with no trousers and Floyd is not very accepting about it, somehow.

What do you make of the trailer for age of ultron?

I love it!

But I hope Black Widow doesn’t get killed!

I just heard about you leaving Tomb Raider with issue #12!! ;( I'm gonna miss your writing A LOT!! I mean, Rhianna Pratchett's co-writing of the last few issues has been OUTSTANDING, and she did write the original game & the impending sequel, so I KNOW the

My run on Tomb Raider was always meant to be just 12 issues, but the comics have been very popular in different formats, so they are continuing it. Unfortunately, I am not able to stay on the book as I had prior commitments, even though I love Lara. 

FORTUNATELY, the best possible choice is taking over the book, the game’s writer, Rhianna Pratchett, who is also writing the sequel, and has done a FANTASTIC job of bringing Lara’s voice to the book as the co-writer of the comic for issues 7-12. She was the only writer I wanted, and she did an amazing job. Lara could not be in better hands, honestly. 

But thanks!

theimancameron:Just picked these two up tonight! HIGHLY...

theimancameron:

Just picked these two up tonight! HIGHLY recommend them both, as they contain some of the most fun reading I’ve had all year!

Red Sonja vol 2 The Art of Blood & Fire by gailsimone & Walter Geovani

Tomb Raider vol 1 Season of the Witch by gailsimone & Nicolás Daniel Selma

These are two of my favorites, thank you for buying them!

I credit you with single-handedly saving the character Bane from the scrap heap -nobody knew what to do with him after Knightfall. But that said, comparing Secret Six Bane to his first appearance it's almost hard to recognize him. Where did the respect for

You know, respectfully, I don’t agree with this, completely. I’ve heard it a lot, and I am glad you liked him in Secret Six.

But I expanded on things I felt were already there…Bane tried to romance Black Canary, and showed a real affection and kindness towards her. And he showed respect for Batman more than once before I ever wrote him. If you read that story with Bane and Black Canary, written by Bane’s co-creator, you can see a seed planted there that I watered some time later. 

That’s part of the fun of shared characters, you find a germ, and expand it, rather than invent things from whole cloth that don’t match the character’s past.

Also, Chuck Dixon, Bane’s co-creator, listed me as one of only two writers he felt wrote a good Bane, besides himself, so that counts! :)

I credit you with single-handedly saving the character Bane from the scrap heap -nobody knew what to do with him after Knightfall. But that said, comparing Secret Six Bane to his first appearance it's almost hard to recognize him. Where did the respect for

You know, respectfully, I don’t agree with this, completely. I’ve heard it a lot, and I am glad you liked him in Secret Six.

But I expanded on things I felt were already there…Bane tried to romance Black Canary, and showed a real affection and kindness towards her. And he showed respect for Batman more than once before I ever wrote him. If you read that story with Bane and Black Canary, written by Bane’s co-creator, you can see a seed planted there that I watered some time later. 

That’s part of the fun of shared characters, you find a germ, and expand it, rather than invent things from whole cloth that don’t match the character’s past.

Also, Chuck Dixon, Bane’s co-creator, listed me as one of only two writers he felt wrote a good Bane, besides himself, so that counts! :)

My Philosophy

My Philosophy:

gailsimone:

I kid about this a lot, but people do get confused, so I thought I would say it straight out.

I do not care if some comics and media are aimed at straight guys. I don’t. That’s fine. I don’t care if some comics and media have cheesecake or stuff that appeals mainly to guys….

I agree with all of those points, which is why I don’t do interviews and stuff about new characters that are from a marginalized group anymore. It is way, way too easy for it to start being, “rah rah look at my own wonderfulness” from creators AND publishers and that is just purely obnoxious. All the wrong effort for all the wrong point. 

It’s a catch-22, because visibility comes from interviews and press, not just word of mouth. But interviews that are essentially, “LOOK! We have a black guy now!” are just self-serving and gross.

I’ve made that mistake in the past, no more.