Gail Simone's Blog, page 890

Hi Gail, what did you think of Mike Grell's Longbow Hunters? I liked it alot but to me the Black Canary as victim just felt wrong.

Okay, HERE we have something very different, I think. Longbow Hunters ITSELF presents what appears to be a WiR moment (Grell has repeatedly said Dinah is NOT raped, but she’s clearly at least been tortured).

Now, if that had been the end of it, it would be a classic WiR, end of story.

However, that wasn’t the end of it at all. Mike Grell actually wrote Dinah as a human being, and not a victim. In the ongoing Green Arrow story that spun off from Longbow Hunters, he went out of his way to present Dinah as a survivor, as someone who struggled, but persevered.

In short, he focused very much on her humanity. The OPPOSITE of what most WiR scenarios do.

Now, I haven’t read these stories in years. But I was doing volunteer work at crisis centers at the time and I remember being struck by the honesty and compassion that was shown in Dinah’s portrayal. It was, and again, my memory might be embellishing, but it was ahead of its time for comics. Female survivor as hero, a trope that was very meaningful to me, something I use all the time.

It was Grell’s portrayal of Black Canary that made me realize she could have a spine of steel.

I don’t know how those stories have aged. But at the time, I don’t remember a female character in comics ever having been portrayed that way.

So, Longbow Hunters, pretty dark, verging on WiR, totally vindicated by the follow-up stories, which makes me think that was Grell’s plan all along.

I’m a Mike Grell fan because of this, and having met him several times, I have to say he’s absolutely as gracious and smart as you could hope.

This is the anon who asked about the Dibnys. Personally, if I were to choose anyone to write a story involving the two of them it would be you, because you seem to be one of the few writers in the industry who understands how a woman should be written. Rel

I think Identity Crisis has a lot to recommend it. I’m a fan of Brad’s.

But that rape of Sue Dibney is a classic WiR moment, and so wrongly handled that I haven’t reread the book since. Sue ceases to be a person at all after her rape, nothing is about her anymore, it’s all about Ralph and how this affects everyone BUT the victim. It bugs me a great deal, and it irks me that no one paused to think about it.

I’ve spoken with Brad about it. He very respectfully disagrees, he feels that with Zatanna being the most powerful character in the book, and the villain so clearly being the worst person ever, that the message isn’t anti-female, and I get his point. I don’t believe he intended an anti-female message.  But what could have been a very brave and unique exploration of survival instead focused on everyone but the victim, and that is a trope I am well full of already.

I admire the craft, but I haven’t read it since it came out. Maybe a second read will change my opinion.

Urgh.

daniellelavigne:

gailsimone:

Depressing day.  A cosplayer I really like being hassled by jerks on Twitter, a trans creator being insulted repeatedly, everywhere I look today someone’s being mean to someone else for no good goddamn reason.

Normally I am an optimist to the point of ridiculousness. But this is a bad day, I guess.

If it helps to have some good news, my partner, who has been losing her ability to walk, was able to walk again today for a bit. She felt her legs again. It was pain, but she felt it and she was happy.

What? Wow!

That’s fantastic!

My good wishes and hopes to you both!

Pool-o-View: This Week In Fuckery:

Pool-o-View: This Week In Fuckery::

brashblacknonbeliever:

Welcome to another depressing edition of This Week In Fuckery. Today we will be examining the week of October 12th through the 18th. Trigger warnings for racism, black-face, suicide, harassment, and racial slurs.

Someone fired a shot into an Obama campaign field…

Well, this is a list guaranteed to make you feel depressed forever.

jjbarrett:Okay not going to throw this up on my main account...

jjbarrett:

Okay not going to throw this up on my main account either because it was just up around the Con. But I loved this costume and had to share it.

Okay, whoa.

That is almost beyond belief.

crockadialtears:gailsimone:crockadialtears:lalibertarienne:...

crockadialtears:

gailsimone:

crockadialtears:

lalibertarienne:

That is so fucking dumb and a prejudiced

The last two may be considered rude. The rest are not rude or prejudice at all. They are innocent questions. If you wear your stupid, tumblr feelings on your shoulders all the time, you’re bound to be offended by anything. I will not correct everything in my life or every word I may potentially use just to keep you from feeling offended.

Thank god we have Mr. Doofus to explain this to everyone.

THANKS, MR. DOOFUS!

No, thank you for reminding me of a word I haven’t heard since 1991. That’s so tubular and rad. Excuse me while I whip out my slap bracelet. 

Are you doing a bit?  This isn’t your “A” material, is it?

Also, please quit wearing your stupid, tumblr feelings on your shoulders all the time or whatever the fuck people say to crybabies like yourself.

Thanks!

Mitt Logic

incense-princess:

So if planned parenthood shuts down, then I can’t get birth control. If I can’t get birth control, I could become pregnant. If I become pregnant, my partner will probably leave me. If he leaves me, I will be a single parent family. If I’m a single parent with a child, violence will rise. Because single parent families cause crimes. Nice logic Romney

Beauty and truth.

crockadialtears:lalibertarienne:That is so fucking dumb and...

crockadialtears:

lalibertarienne:

That is so fucking dumb and a prejudiced

The last two may be considered rude. The rest are not rude or prejudice at all. They are innocent questions. If you wear your stupid, tumblr feelings on your shoulders all the time, you’re bound to be offended by anything. I will not correct everything in my life or every word I may potentially use just to keep you from feeling offended.

Thank god we have Mr. Doofus to explain this to everyone.

THANKS, MR. DOOFUS!

Urgh.

Depressing day.  A cosplayer I really like being hassled by jerks on Twitter, a trans creator being insulted repeatedly, everywhere I look today someone’s being mean to someone else for no good goddamn reason.

Normally I am an optimist to the point of ridiculousness. But this is a bad day, I guess.

gabzilla-z:birdstump:Nightwing, by Brian Stelfreezei’ll be...

gabzilla-z:

birdstump:

Nightwing, by Brian Stelfreeze

i’ll be in my bunk

Um…uh, what was I going to say?

Oh, yeah, penis.

No, WAIT.

I mean, the erection is…ELECTION. I meant election.

It’s a serious problem, because Romney is such a…um.

I can’t remember what we were talking about.

Was it penis?