Gail Simone's Blog, page 765
April 10, 2013
Trans and Trans-proximity Characters In Comics
Recent comics news that I won’t spoil here (although it may be hard to NOT be spoiled at this point) has shown a new trans character in a mainstream superhero comic.
Due to some unfortunate links and headlines, the impression was given in some cases that this is the first ever trans character not just in superhero comics, but even in any ongoing title, which is of course not accurate.
So I thought it’d be nice to remember some trailblazing portrayals here.
What characters, whether in mainstream superhero titles or not, have been trans, or have been considered trans due to some sort of paranormal gender fluidity? Characters that have been adopted by the trans community as representing them even if they have not expressly been states as trans are also very welcome.
If you have some thoughts you can share after naming a character, that would be lovely.
Hey Miss Simone, have you had time to play more of Tomb Raider? If so, what are your thoughts?
I got to play it a little more…I am a sucker for those kind of survival games and the humanity of the character in the section I played was amazing.
But I still haven’t played very far, as I’m in Australia with no ps3 at this point. So I am a little nervous they might mess it up!
The White Hole: ...Aaaaaaaaand...
A sudden huge leap in the number of insulting anonymous private messages to my inbox here.
Hmmm!
Think it’s a coincidence? :)
Keep trying, guys, I could not possibly be bothered less.
:)
You created a secondary character who admits to be transsexual. A character whose…
Hmm.
Well, respectfully, I can’t speak to your feelings about the portrayal, of course, but after reading this several times, I do feel there are a couple misconceptions.
First, every interview I did, I mentioned that there had been other characters before Alysia. But to our knowledge, not as ongoing characters in a mainstream superhero series. People bringing up Sandman or Doom Patrol are absolutely correct, but those were both series for mature readers, a little different from a Gotham character in a batbook in the mainstream DCU. That’s all. It may seem a fine distinction to some, but in publishing, they are worlds apart.
The idea of being ‘first’ is not very important to me. I don’t like the idea that these characters are in competition. Once an interview leaves my keyboard, I can’t really control how it’s edited. Some of the things that have been added, like, “first self-identifying trans” were never said by me at all.
In particular, I don’t even place myself on the same PLANET as Rachel Pollack, a hero of mine who was a pioneer on this topic in comics ages ago and who is more brilliant than I’ll ever be if I live to be a million.
Second, I’m not sure how this is about me me me. I have barely even mentioned it here, I did the two interviews (I think it was two, it might be three), all at DC’s request, and I’ve done a few tweets about it. I don’t expect to change your mind about my motives. I’m sorry you feel that way. When I get excited, I ramble on some.
The thing I take a bit of exception to is the idea that Alysia’s “only trait is transsexualism.” I just don’t think that’s the case. If it were, then she would have had no traits at all up until the reveal, and readers wouldn’t have embraced her. I hope that, being fair, you might reconsider that.
Anyway, happy to talk to your further if you like. I’ve read what you wrote several times through. All I can say is I will try my best not to live down to those expectations. Fair?
Oh, and I forgot…the negative anonymous comments in my various social media that I was referring to seem to be from people mad that there’s a trans character in a bat book. They cover everything from my appearance to my imagined sexual history.
They are not angry notes about the topic you mention (previous trans characters being ignored to promote my character), in case that was unclear. I’ve read several notes like that and I agree with them, it’s as simple as that. Erasing previous trans and trans-proximity characters is a bad, bad thing.
I am not aware of responding to ANY such comment in negative way, so I’m not sure what you mean by that. Am I missing something?
thefingerfuckingfemalefury:
fyeahlilbit2point0:
Fearless...
Fearless Defenders #6 cover
^ Black Cat is going to be joining the team and so is Black Widow! :D
Let us celebrate the fact that this fabulous bisexual bad ass and this kick ass spy lady are going to be part of the cast of this book
This seriously literally just keeps on getting better and better…Marvel, THIS is the kind of superhero book the world needs more of :D
That is one kickass cover!
vikingwithasuit:
All of my yes. Deadpool and Rule 63...
All of my yes. Deadpool and Rule 63 Nightwing.
Deadpool makes a sensible reaction for once!
...Aaaaaaaaand...
A sudden huge leap in the number of insulting anonymous private messages to my inbox here.
Hmmm!
Think it’s a coincidence? :)
Keep trying, guys, I could not possibly be bothered less.
:)
"HUGE SPOILER ALERT:
“”Of course, while Yeoh is the first trans character for a..."
HUGE SPOILER ALERT:
“”Of course, while Yeoh is the first trans character for a capes-and-tights book, she’s not strictly the first trans character in the mainstream or at DC. In the ’90s, both Lord Fanny from Grant Morrison’s “The Invisibles” and Wanda Mann from Neil Gaiman’s “Sandman” are both easily identified as transgender, though their debuts didn’t garner the attention this one has due to their removal from big time movie and toy franchise characters.
”-
-www.comicbookresources.com/?page=arti...
EXCEPT FOR SIR YSTIN IN DEMON KNIGHTS WHO HAS LITERALLY BEEN AN OPEN TRANSSEXUAL SINCE THE REBOOT BEGAN.
LOOK AT THIS SUAVE BADASS.
SIR YSTIN HAS BEEN SLAYING MONSTERS AND STEALING THE HEARTS OF AMAZONS SINCE ISSUE ONE.
ISSUE FUCKING ONE.
YES, YEOH’S INCLUSION AS A TRANSSEXUAL IS IMPORTANT.
WE NEED MORE INCLUSION IN COMICS.
BUT DON’T FORGET/IGNORE THE GROUNDBREAKING, TABOO-SHATTERING CHARACTERS ALREADY IN CONTINUITY JUST BECAUSE THEY AREN’T IN THE BAT-FAMILY OR WRITTEN BY GAIL SIMONE!
(No offense to Mrs. Simone, of course)
EDIT
And now it looks like DC Women Kicking Ass has conveniently forgotten about Sir Ystin, too.
I just…I need a minute….
(via filmsfoodandfandom)
Erasing other characters like this does no one any good, I agree.
In all the interviews I did, I specifically mentioned that Alysia would be the first non-fantasy-based, non-mature title trans character in a mainstream superhero book that we were aware of.
But by the time things get edited and sound-bited (bitten?), they get narrowed down to “FIRST FIRST FIRST” and that’s all, which erases previous characters. Which I am dead set against. I don’t care who is first. It’s not important.
The same thing happened when I worked on Wonder Woman, I would say I was the first long-term ongoing female writer on the book, and it INEVITABLY would say, “FIRST FEMALE WONDER WOMAN WRITER,” ignoring Mindy Newell who came first.
It’s a little frustrating.
April 9, 2013
superheroes-or-whatever:
CATMAN penciled by Brett Booth by...
CATMAN penciled by Brett Booth by ~Nezotholem
I really do like this design. If Catman were to be reinvented, this isn’t a bad way to go.
April 8, 2013
All Right, You Guys Guessed It
Ricky is a white Martian.
DAMN YOU ALL FOR YOUR DETECTING SKILLS!
If someone wanted to write an 'advneture picto book' of their own (not taking place in DC/Marvel's worlds) is there any advice you could give on getting started, things to look out for/avoid doing or anything at all that could help get the idea off the gro
Everything looks easy if the person doing it knows what they’re doing.
But you build a believable world from a blank page, that’s a skill not to be trifled with, frankly.
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