Gail Simone's Blog, page 763

Crooks and Nannies!

My wonderful SECRET SIX and LEAVING MEGALOPOLIS collaborator and dear friend Jim Calafiore has put together a book of his hilarious (and often biting!) CROOKS AND NANNIES cartoons, collected from the past couple years. His Kickstarter for this delightful book is almost over, please please please go take a quick peak and spread the word, if you can! I love this guy and I want this book!

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/292610292/crooks-and-nannies

I have a friend who isn't really a superhero comics reader, but has shown an interest in Birds of Prey. And so of course I want to introduce her to one of my favorite comics writers. Which of your volumes would be the best one to get her to start with?

I would say OF LIKE MINDS, that’s the first of my tpb collections and sets up the scenario pretty clearly. My favorite two are SENSEI AND STUDENT and THE BATTLE WITHIN, but OF LIKE MINDS requires virtually no dc knowledge. Thanks!

I have a friend who isn't really a superhero comics reader, but has shown an interest in Birds of Prey. And so of course I want to introduce her to one of my favorite comics writers. Which of your volumes would be the best one to get her to start with?

I would say OF LIKE MINDS, that’s the first of my tpb collections and sets up the scenario pretty clearly. My favorite two are SENSEI AND STUDENT and THE BATTLE WITHIN, but OF LIKE MINDS requires virtually no dc knowledge. Thanks!

I have a friend who isn't really a superhero comics reader, but has shown an interest in Birds of Prey. And so of course I want to introduce her to one of my favorite comics writers. Which of your volumes would be the best one to get her to start with?

I would say OF LIKE MINDS, that’s the first of my tpb collections and sets up the scenario pretty clearly. My favorite two are SENSEI AND STUDENT and THE BATTLE WITHIN, but OF LIKE MINDS requires virtually no dc knowledge. Thanks!

Transgender character in Batgirl comic book

Transgender character in Batgirl comic book:

joehumphrey:

thelastpen:

gailsimone:

thegrimsqueaker:

gailsimone:

rugbylovesnerds:

gailsimone:

butlertotheprotomen:

gailsimone:

sam-saturday:

I think it’s great that DC is revealing this character to be transgender. But I find it curious that they also decided to make her bisexual. I can’t help having cynical thoughts like “they want to have a pretty lady kiss another pretty lady,” or “they didn’t want to commit to saying her sexual orientation is straight.” Hopefully I’m wrong. I’d love to hear from the writer as to why they chose to do it this way. 

Thank you for this note!

Okay, I think I understand your concern, unless there’s an element I am missing by being on the outside, so to speak. And I understand the concern about having women kiss for the (straight) male gaze, certainly.

But so far, we have only seen Alysia date a boy.

And I think I’m missing some context on the last bit, why would we be afraid to commit to having her be straight?

I am sure there’s an element here I don’t understand and I hope you don”t mind elaborating a bit further?

It would be much appreciated!

LOVE SEEING SOME BIPHOBIA ON MY DASH

I honestly thought I was missing something. I read the note a bunch of times.

Alysia is bi because the rest of the cast has long been established as straight and in the year 2013 I don’t want to write any more books where the entire cast is straight.

I think the first commenter’s concern (and someone please correct me if I’m wrong) is that by not making this particular character straight, there is some level of discomfort with her gender?

None whatsoever.

I’m so confused now. How would being bisexual have any impact at all on someone’s gender identity?

Or are we confusing sexuality and gender identity again? Because that really isn’t cool, guys.

That is why I don’t understand the OP’s comment. I don’t get it.

It’s an example of the annoyingly prevalent attitude that bi or pansexuality is not an actual orientation but rather an “excuse” to “not pick” one. A lot of people in this world seem to think that orientation is binary. You either are one thing or you’re another. If you’re not male, you’re female. If you’re not straight, you’re gay. They reject the concept that a person could exist within a grey area between the two poles - bi/pansexuals or gender queer for example - or exist outside of the scope of the poles altogether - asexuality for example.

While they’re busy ignoring that gender and sexuality are far from binary, they’re also conflating sexuality with romantic inclinations. A person could be heterosexual - sexually or physically attracted to the opposite gender - and homoromantic - romantically or emotionally attracted to the same gender. Or visa versa. Or someone could be aromantic - not having an emotional attraction to anyone, even if there is a sexual attraction - just as they could be asexual - not having a sexual or physical attraction to anyone.

Basically what it boils down to is you’ve got a bunch of people out there who claim they’re allies or support something, when what they’re really doing is insisting on everyone fitting into neat little boxes of conformity where they are comfortable and understand everything.

I think people need to step back and look at how they’re reacting to this situation. There was no representation for transgendered people in mainstream comics. Now there is. 

When someone helps you with something (especially when it’s someone who has no vested interest in helping you, and doesn’t owe you anything) the proper response is to say “thank you” and appreciate the effort. How you should not respond is be shoving your middle fingers in their face and yelling “FUCK YOU FOR NOT DOING IT EXACTLY THE WAY I WANTED IT DONE! You’re a biggot!”

I appreciate the sentiment but no, no, I am happy to hear from people who are more knowledgeable and I don’t need to be thanked, and I am far, far, far from above criticism. Please don’t feel anyone has to walk on eggshells on my account.

It’s fine. The truth is, I’m very interested in hearing everyone’s opinion and I thought some of the comments here were very illuminating and it’s clear that even people in similar situations can disagree strongly. I am still not 100% positive I understand the exact intention of the OP.  I honestly am glad to hear from the people in this thread. Please carry on, honest.

The Finger Fucking Female Fury: thewolverina: thefingerfuckingfemalefury: Scandal’s little face here...

The Finger Fucking Female Fury: thewolverina: thefingerfuckingfemalefury: Scandal’s little face here...:

thewolverina:

thefingerfuckingfemalefury:

Scandal’s little face here though

Artemis basically checks ALL the boxes on her list of turn ons

Tall?

Gorgeous?

Red hair?

Fierce as hell and kicking all kinds of ass?

YEP

I think Scandal wants her to come home with her right now :D

Hahahahaha!

I don’t really think Scandal had a redhead fetish, to be honest…she was in love with Knockout, who happened to have red hair, then, she was attracted to another woman who was specifically chosen (by Scandal’s teammates) BECAUSE she looked like Knockout. And she ended up falling in love with her, as well.

So it could just be happenstance.

OR WE COULD JUST GO WITH YOUR THEORY AND SCANDAL IS HAVING A PERSONAL MOMENT WHEN SHE SEES ARTEMIS!

tumbln' around: omg going to see gail simone tomorrow at supanova. SO EXCITED. A...

tumbln' around: omg going to see gail simone tomorrow at supanova. SO EXCITED. A...:

parrythemoon:

omg going to see gail simone tomorrow at supanova. SO EXCITED.

A stream of thought ramble to tell tumblr how excited I am: when I was a kid, I used to be crap at those assignments where you had to have a role model, I always just went with my mum, because she’s pretty awesome and stuff. But Ms…

I am excited to meet YOU. I insist you come say hello.

It’s kind of an order. :)

I really want to thank you for Batgirl #19. I know that sounds cheesy, but seriously thank you. I am a biological male who identifies as a woman, and I have been looking for the courage to tell those closest to me for a long time. Batgirl #19 means resonat

I PROMISED I WASN’T GOING TO CRY.

Thank you, truly. But I am convinced that courage and self-esteem came 100% from yourself.

I hope those closest to you realize what they have in you when you do decide to tell them.

I really want to thank you for Batgirl #19. I know that sounds cheesy, but seriously thank you. I am a biological male who identifies as a woman, and I have been looking for the courage to tell those closest to me for a long time. Batgirl #19 means resonat

I PROMISED I WASN’T GOING TO CRY.

Thank you, truly. But I am convinced that courage and self-esteem came 100% from yourself.

I hope those closest to you realize what they have in you when you do decide to tell them.

Guys

River Song is at this con.

RIVER.

SONG.