Holy Crap, It's The Question

According to the Daily Mail, "faceless aliens" are showing up at public events in the UK:


Are they really aliens? Those characters from that Doctor Who episode, perhaps?

(either political protest or viral marketing campaign. probably the latter. trust me.)

More on Rucka, Montoya, and Gay Characters in Comics

Eric Newsom's excellent Question site is hosting a multi-part in-depth interview with writer Greg Rucka. In the latest installment, Eric took the time to as Greg about statements I made regarding the lack of open gay male romance/sexual scenes in mainstream comics on the level of what he was doing with Renee Montoya.

My original quote:

"You know, aside from the question of whether this level of nudity and sex is appropriate for a non-’mature readers’ book, I wouldn’t mind it — if gay male characters in mainstream comics were afforded the same level of frankness and depiction of sensuality."

Rucka's response:

"No, I think it’s a very fair, and very valid point. The fact is, lesbianism is considered more commercially palatable. Having gay male couples seen “coupling” is a much harder sell. I’m not sure it’s something I would argue with, frankly."

Then he elaborates:

"Look, I think comics need to be more representative across the board. I think we need to see more ethnicity, more diversity, more cultural differences. The way we do that is by forging ahead, and taking the small victories where we can. There are people who think this “agenda” is a bad thing. I don’t. Literature is supposed to reflect our world, even if it’s literature that deals with men from Krypton or small furry blue creatures from Alpha Centauri."

Then Eric asks:

"Do you remember what the initial reaction was, both from editorial and the readership, on Montoya’s forced coming out?"

Rucka responds:

"Yeah. [In editorial] there was almost none. They only cared that the story was done well. There was no resistance at all to revealing that Montoya was a lesbian. Or to showing Montoya kissing Daria. I’m sure, in large part, it was because we were doing it in a book that was selling, charitably, 25K an issue, and we were outing a character that was barely on Burbank’s radar, if at all. But there was no difficulty in getting any of those issues approved."

Actually, when Burbank found out, things did get a little tense for a while in the offices. At issue was that Renee was technically considered a "WB cartoons" character -- much like Harley Quinn was. There was the issue of a character from the cartoon being gay. And there was the issue of the WB not initially being in on the "loop" regarding this character's development.

So you had this couple of days in the office where that old familar dread of "ohhhhh, there was a f**k-up, I wonder if somebody's gettin' fired" in relation to that "Gotham Central" issue where she comes out. But in the end, DC upper management stood by editorial. If they had not, somebody probably would have gotten fired. They've gotten fired for less.

Anyway, the interview in its entirety makes for excellent reading, and was a pretty excellent achievement on Eric's part.

The Uncensored Renee Montoya Pages

From the "Who Is The Question?" blog, part of a long interview with Mr. Gregory Rucka.

There is one completely censored page of Renee doing the schnookies (<----serious journalist), and then another page that was seriously edited to, among other things, perhaps erase the dildo the artist drew in:

"This one went to press, they added more clothes to both Renee and the woman she was with. Which led to people wondering why there was a second set of undies on the floor. I think the penciller actually snuck a dildo into one of the panels, I’m not sure."

You know, aside from the question of whether this level of nudity and sex is appropriate for a non-"mature readers" book, I wouldn't mind it -- if gay male characters in mainstream comics were afforded the same level of frankness and depiction of sensuality.

But, as we have witnessed from male reader "outrage" at the Citizen Steel "boner" controversy, I doubt that's going to happen any time soon.

"Converting People To The Religion Of Crime Through The Lesson Of Lust"

You know, God bless this new "Crime Bible: The Five Lessons Of Blood" miniseries starring Question & Batwoman, but read this blurb:

"The Dark Faith spreads throughout the DCU as the Daughters of Lilith take the forefront in a recruitment drive to convert people to the Religion of Crime through the Lesson of Lust."

and look at this cover:
This is extremely steamy stuff.

Which is absolutely fine, unless this ends up reading like a pulp fiction throwback "lipstick lesbian" adventure with more to titilate the boys in the audience than anything else. I have faith in Greg Rucka that this probably will not be the case. But...

I think it's the combo of the cover -- which is tastefully done but with a heavy sexual vibe -- and the unfortunate blurb which sounds overtly sexual & sleazy.

See, combine the image with the words:


Symbolically, who are the "Daughters of Lilith?"

Lilith is a demonic figure from Babylonian times who was considered evil because she couldn't bear children, couldn't "copulate normally," and brought disease, infertility, and unhappiness wherever she went. (there is debate whether she was originally considered a positive goddess-figure before the "patriarchy" got their hands on her, but that's a debate for another day).

In folk-tradition she is the first wife of Adam who had the audacity to claim they were equal; when he balks, she dumps him and goes away to live on her own. Which of course makes her an evil baby-killing demon, which is largely how she was perceived.

In modern times, feminists have attempted to "take back" Lilith by naming magazines & music fairs after her.

Lilith, with her shunning of Adam, her unwillingness to accept her dictated societal role as babymaker and passive helpmeet, and her association with radical feminism, has been associated with, among other things, lesbianism.

Now, does the "Dark Faith" & "Religion of Crime" of the "Daughters Of Lilith" put them symbolically at odds with organized religion? Why would they be at odds?

What is the symbolism of "recruitment drive" and "convert people" in relation to stereotypes and slander against homosexuals?

So the "Daughters of Lilith" are of the "Religion of Crime" and are actively trying to "convert people" and get "recruits" to their "Dark Faith" through the "Lessons of Lust."

Again, this is not to say that this is what "Crime Bible" is all about. But as I said, this ad copy does a disservice to the book. And associating the figure of Lilith with evil has a little bit of societal baggage attached to it.

"The Question Should Be A Mans"

Here is an actual conversation I just had 15 minutes ago with a friend:

ringringring

Me: Hello?

Friend: I know I just called you 5 minutes ago, but I have just come across late breaking news that I think is relevant to your blog.

Me: Okay.

Friend: The Question is now Renee Montoya! And she's having a lesbian affair with Batwoman!

Me: As a long-time Ditko fan, that must really frost your s**t.

Friend: This is blasphemy!

Me: Now, is it blasphemy simply because you're a Ditko purist, or is the fact that it's a woman -- a lesbian, no less -- that really upsets you?

PAUSE!

Friend: No, no, no, it's nothing like that.

Me: You paused before you answered my question. That was a significant pause.

Friend: It's just that: The Question should be a mans!

Me: Wait, did you just say "mans?"

Friend: But it's also like a big conspiracy against Charlton Comics! DC is taking over the Charlton heroes one-by-one and changing them!

Me: Well, DC owns those characters. They can do whatever the hell they want with them.

Friend: It's just...too pat, that's all. It's too pat. The Question should be a mans.

***

You heard it here first: "The Question Should Be A Mans"

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Postscript:
I personally have no problem if The Question is a womans. Is making Montoya The Question a bit too "pat," a bit too convenient, for my taste? On that point, I would have to agree with my friend. On the other hand, rebooting established superheroes using brand new characters that nobody has heard of is very risky -- whereas Montoya has a following. In the end, it all depends on how the book is written. But consider my friend's s**t frosted.