In Defense Of Fantasy

Every few years, comics gets a new set of buzzwords that are meant to sort of self-immolate anything that has the appearance of being silly or childish or even whimsical.

Warren Ellis, who is one of my great writing heroes, is a master at this, he came up with ‘pervert suits’ for superheroes (never mind that there have been hundreds of brilliant superhero stories, many written by Warren himself). 

Since graphic novels are SO SO literary in comparison to individual issues (never mind that individual issues often make up some of the best comics ever made), we deride them as floppies.

Other words that started as complimentary because somewhat derogatory in common usage, “iconic,” and “widescreen,” for example. 

I understand, there’s a real desire in fandoms to establish status levels, you see it constantly. “Oh, I like comics, but not THOSE comics,” is a pretty common attitude. It’s fine, I get it.

But one I find kind of disheartening is the notion that everything should be ‘realistic’ or ‘practical.’

I think that’s really the death of whimsy. I think it’s trying to put an anchor on flights of fancy.

First, many readers don’t READ genre material for realism or practicality. That’s not why they buy Spider-man, that’s not why they read Lord of the Rings.

Second, who actually wants to BE the realism police? What a dreary, wasted effort. Who defines this?  Look at the ridiculous things people have worn (all the way from nothing at all, as some Irish warriors chose, to incredibly elaborate formal armor), and the huge variety of weapons people have designed in our own real history and ‘practical’ is not always a consideration. 

When I look at some of the costumes in anime, or in video games, I freaking LOVE that those designers just went wild, they created something beautiful to LOOK at, but impossible to wear. And who is damaged by this, what is lessened? It’s a fantasy. 

I get that there are issues of exploitation and racism and sexism and homophobia that have to be considered.  That’s just being humane and responsible. 

But when I read, say, Green Lantern, I want my mind to be blown, I don’t necessarily need a consistent set of rules to make the book comply with my concepts of reality and decorum.

By the way, I am not speaking of how much flesh is exposed on a costume, entirely, that’s a subject unto itself, on which I am still a bit divided. I think it works for some characters, and is often a bit ridiculous for others. But I feel that’s a separate issue somewhat from ‘practicality.’

Comics need LESS manners and fewer limitations, not more. 

When I see a creator really build a world or a character, and they are criticized on the basis of ‘not being realistic,’ I find that a poor excuse for analysis. What if realism was never the goal? Is that really our primary concern?

I can love a costume design because it looks gorgeous, because it’s striking. There are complaints for these designs that do have valid reasoning, but is ‘practicality’ really the horse we want to ride on? 

I want creators to create, I want them to unleash the dragons of their imaginations. Some of it might not be to my taste. 

But it IS possible to have a fantasy setting, whether its superhero stories, SF, high adventure, whatever, that is perhaps not strictly practical, yet altogether wonderful. Because the reality that is far more important is emotional reality. Does the story tell a human truth?

That’s what matters most. 

Also, I’m a complete hypocrite because when I see Black Canary in high heels I just want to scream. :)

And I still think Bayonetta looks cool.