Vindicare Posted March 17, 2015 Posted March 17, 2015 I'm sure most of you all are aware of the hubbub going around about Batgirl 41's variant cover, paying homage to "The Killing Joke". I never did read it, but doing a little Internetting, I have an idea of what happened. Going off that(I'm not on Twitter nor Facebook) but it sounds like the feminazis have struck again. For those who've actually read the graphic novel, what's your take on this whole thing? Quote
K-Nut Posted March 18, 2015 Posted March 18, 2015 I haven't read the novel, but I really never saw an issue with the cover. The Joker is supposed to be a huge, haunting presence in Barbara's life, and that's what the cover is really showing. There's nothing on the cover that is in need of being censored; not like the Catwoman #0 Issue with showing her full cleavage. It might not be the fun spirit the comic has, but it delves deep into the character of Barbara Gordon, plus the fact that it's a variant! I must say that the cover itself looks really cool to me, so its a shame that it won't be printed. Quote
Vindicare Posted March 18, 2015 Posted March 18, 2015 I haven't read the novel, but I really never saw an issue with the cover. The Joker is supposed to be a huge, haunting presence in Barbara's life, and that's what the cover is really showing. There's nothing on the cover that is in need of being censored; not like the Catwoman #0 Issue with showing her full cleavage. It might not be the fun spirit the comic has, but it delves deep into the character of Barbara Gordon, plus the fact that it's a variant! I must say that the cover itself looks really cool to me, so its a shame that it won't be printed. That was a complaint I saw also that doesn't make much sense, that the cover didn't along with what goes on inside. That's rarely the case with variants-let alone the usual covers. Another was that it has "sexual abuse" connotations, which is a stretch in my eyes. I read one article where the author said he was pointing the gun down at her crotch. Which, is not true. His hand is simply hanging slack with his arm around her shoulders. That's it. Something I find funny, which makes me think this is a feminazi thing(I'm not on tumblr or Twitter so I can't say for sure) but the fact that there was no uproar about Batman 37's variant where Jason Todd is getting beat with a crowbar by The Joker. Quote
K-Nut Posted March 18, 2015 Posted March 18, 2015 That was a complaint I saw also that doesn't make much sense, that the cover didn't along with what goes on inside. That's rarely the case with variants-let alone the usual covers. Another was that it has "sexual abuse" connotations, which is a stretch in my eyes. I read one article where the author said he was pointing the gun down at her crotch. Which, is not true. His hand is simply hanging slack with his arm around her shoulders. That's it. Something I find funny, which makes me think this is a feminazi thing(I'm not on tumblr or Twitter so I can't say for sure) but the fact that there was no uproar about Batman 37's variant where Jason Todd is getting beat with a crowbar by The Joker. Because the selfie variants totally related to the contents of the book. Variant covers are just meant to be a bit of artwork that doesn't have to go along with the contents of the book. Seems like some people are looking for excuses to tear something apart... The thing with Jason Todd is that there aren't themes of sexual abuse with his beating, though I didn't think there were with Barbara either until now. Still, I haven't read the book yet, though it's on my reading list. Quote
Vindicare Posted March 18, 2015 Posted March 18, 2015 Because the selfie variants totally related to the contents of the book. Variant covers are just meant to be a bit of artwork that doesn't have to go along with the contents of the book. Seems like some people are looking for excuses to tear something apart... The thing with Jason Todd is that there aren't themes of sexual abuse with his beating, though I didn't think there were with Barbara either until now. Still, I haven't read the book yet, though it's on my reading list. I haven't read it either, may pick it up today at the shop. Reading comments on articles about the variant, plus the Wiki about The Killing Joke, it seems a lot of people implied that the Joker raped Barbara, after he stripped her nude & took photos & used them against Gordon in an attempt to make him crazy. All of which I didn't know, I just know of KJ that he shot/paralyzed her and she became the Oracle afterwards. Quote
K-Nut Posted March 18, 2015 Posted March 18, 2015 I haven't read it either, may pick it up today at the shop. Reading comments on articles about the variant, plus the Wiki about The Killing Joke, it seems a lot of people implied that the Joker raped Barbara, after he stripped her nude & took photos & used them against Gordon in an attempt to make him crazy. All of which I didn't know, I just know of KJ that he shot/paralyzed her and she became the Oracle afterwards. I thought Gordon was just in the other room when this happened, so that didn't seem plausible. From a little bit of research, it looks like Joker stripped her and put her on display to make Gordon insane. All this adds up, at least to me, not being a problem about the cover itself, but being a problem about what it references? Doesn't really make sense to me. It's a shame that the poor guy has to suffer for what I think is a perfectly appropriate, great piece of artwork. Quote
Virani Posted March 18, 2015 Posted March 18, 2015 I don't get what the real problem is.. If the problem is that it references to a scene where she might have been raped, which never occurred to me while or after reading it so to me it seems a bit far fetched, then why not publish it now and not refuse the subject earlier. I really don't understand why the publisher needs to withdraw a variant(!) cover, because some people don't like it. If you don't like it, just don't buy it. Quote
SomeAssemblyRequired Posted March 19, 2015 Posted March 19, 2015 I don't get what the real problem is.. If the problem is that it references to a scene where she might have been raped, which never occurred to me while or after reading it so to me it seems a bit far fetched, then why not publish it now and not refuse the subject earlier. I really don't understand why the publisher needs to withdraw a variant(!) cover, because some people don't like it. If you don't like it, just don't buy it. This ^^ I personally think the cover is fantastical-y smart. I'd also like to add that this only promotes people to buy the comic - brilliant marketing tactic by DC. Quote
Peppermint_M Posted March 19, 2015 Author Posted March 19, 2015 It looks dreadful. But that is opinion isn't it? Alan Moore wrote The Killing Joke in the 80s, just about anything you could imply probably was intended to have happened. It is Alan Moore, subtle but also subtle like a hammer. I started this thread to talk about comics and I guess that is what we're talking about right? But it is things like this cover and the last few years of editorial ideas and decisions that have turned me right off DC comics. I stick to my old TPBs and trying to collect the older books I want these days. Heck, I'm not sure if I am jaded or have simply matured as a reader, but some of the books I loved as a teenager just seem a poor showing now. Ho hum. Quote
Vindicare Posted March 21, 2015 Posted March 21, 2015 It looks dreadful. But that is opinion isn't it? Alan Moore wrote The Killing Joke in the 80s, just about anything you could imply probably was intended to have happened. It is Alan Moore, subtle but also subtle like a hammer. I started this thread to talk about comics and I guess that is what we're talking about right? But it is things like this cover and the last few years of editorial ideas and decisions that have turned me right off DC comics. I stick to my old TPBs and trying to collect the older books I want these days. Heck, I'm not sure if I am jaded or have simply matured as a reader, but some of the books I loved as a teenager just seem a poor showing now. Ho hum. I'm curious what you found so dreadful about it? I see it as being Jokers month-celebrating 75 years of his acts. This homage is one of, if not the, most memorable stories of his. Quote
Virani Posted March 21, 2015 Posted March 21, 2015 Just finished volume 1 of Lazarus after reading issue 1 the day it came out. I loved the first issue but never read the rest. Now I can't wait to read more. Quote
Peppermint_M Posted March 21, 2015 Author Posted March 21, 2015 I'm curious what you found so dreadful about it? I see it as being Jokers month-celebrating 75 years of his acts. This homage is one of, if not the, most memorable stories of his. Memorable Joker story it may be, but to harken back to one of the worst Woman as a Plot Device not a Character (Women in Refrigerators) stories on the cover of a comic with a strong and tonally more cheerful Batgirl leaves a bad taste in my brain. Let's take this character that is actually quite readable, truss her up as a victim and make everyone think of a story that was violent and stood out as such in the 80s (Decade of the Dark Age of comics). Great idea guys! In my opinion, the Joker story that is the most memorable and hits all the right notes on his character was Emperor Joker. He was indeed violent and terrible, there were some terrifying implications in the shadows but at the same time he was the Clown Emperor of Crime and what a clown he was. It encompassed everything the Joker should be and everything that the Nolan interpretation seemed to miss. If you've not read the book then try and find it! Hunt out the back-issues or torrent the scans, it is a must read for Joker and Batman fans. (Also Superman, but hey, we're talking about the Joker in this post). Quote
Sam892 Posted March 23, 2015 Posted March 23, 2015 (edited) Did anyone pick up Chrononauts #1 this week? If not then I highly recommend it. Edited March 23, 2015 by Sam892 Quote
Ultron Posted December 4, 2015 Posted December 4, 2015 I'm reading The Walking Dead right now. It's really good. I've always been a fan of the show, but damn is it disappointing how some of those characters were handled in the adaptation! *cough* Andrea *cough* I actually like the comics better than the show. They're way more dark but I think overall the characters are better developed (as was to be expected from a written series, but I digress). I will definitely say Carol on the show is WAY more awesome than comic Carol though. I just love show Carol Quote
Junior Shark Posted December 4, 2015 Posted December 4, 2015 Reading Universal War One. Pick it up in your local bookstore or comic shop. If you're a fan of unique sci-fi or sci-fi in general, this has got it. One of the more original comics I've read in a long time. Quote
Ceroknight Posted December 5, 2015 Posted December 5, 2015 I'm currently reading Marvel's Oz Omnibus. I bought it for the beautiful artwork and the extended stories are wonderful and faithful If anyone knows anything similar for Alice in Wonderland, please let me know! Quote
Freddy Bricker Posted December 19, 2015 Posted December 19, 2015 Finished reading the Phoenix rising series by Chris Claremont from the 90's, and bought Days of Future past recently after what one could consider a dark age for comics. I don't know why I stopped collecting for over a year, maybe it was the money, maybe it was the time, but I sure am glad I got back into it, and I'm also watching the 90's X-Men cartoon online, I guess I'm just in an X-Men mood Quote
Kalhiki Posted December 20, 2015 Posted December 20, 2015 Well... I've read Transformers RID and MTMTE and things after that. I still have a stack to read of everything post-Dark Cybertron. Just haven't gotten around to starting on it. For the past while now, Lumberjanes keeps catching my interest. If anyone's read it, is it good? I've head good things about it, so I may just go for it. Seems like something I'd be interested in. Quote
Bricky Dee Williams Posted January 2, 2016 Posted January 2, 2016 Marvel, mainly Deadpool comics or full Universe events. I just finished reading the 2013 series "Infinity." I love Thanos, so I've read a lot of the Inifnity stuff, such as Infinity Gauntlet, Infinity Wars, and now this. Quote
Im a brickmaster. Posted January 3, 2016 Posted January 3, 2016 Aegis2000, infinity gauntlet is one of my favorites too. Defiantly one of the best big "events" Marvel has ever done. Some of the stuff I've been reading regularly are The walking dead, Flight and I just started Brody's Ghost. Other then that I mainly stick to Marvel, I can't leave my local BAM with getting somthing so I typically have a different assortment of things to read every week Quote
rob-ot5000 Posted January 4, 2016 Posted January 4, 2016 Holy cow, I read too many comics to list, but I just found this thread. Cool! Tons of Marvel, DC, and Image, as well as some other stuff here and there. My computer lock screen is the cover art for Sandman: Overture #1. JH Williams III rocks the house. Grant Morrison rocks my brain. So do Soule and Hickman. Can we hurry up and finish Secret Wars already, though? The momentum on that was absolutely destroyed about halfway through. I hate the New 52/ DCYou for the most part, though I still catch up every now and then. My fondness for DC's heroes will live forever, despite whatever nonsense is happening in today's pages. All-Star Superman is one of my favorite books of all time, and I'm looking forward to All-Star Wonder Woman, despite the controversy. I'm a Morrison fan, but we'll see how he handles these particular themes on this particular outing once the context of the whole work is available. What was the last thing I read and liked? Hmm. Oh! The new Vision series from Marvel is surprisingly wonderful. Thoughtful and beautifully illustrated. It was nothing like I expected, though the cover gives a better indication than you might imagine. Saga rocks the casbah! I <3 BKV+Fiona Staples. And Squirrel Girl! Ryan North makes me laugh fit to split. His Adventure Time issues were great, too! And Dinosaur Comics! COMIIIIIIIIIIICS!! Phew, okay, I'm okay now. Quote
CyborgSuperman Posted January 5, 2016 Posted January 5, 2016 I've been following Justice League 3001, Justice League Darkseid War as well as some of the Star Wars comics lately. ...and of course I collect anything I see with Hank Henshaw! Quote
LEGODalekbuster523 Posted January 7, 2016 Posted January 7, 2016 (edited) I read Doctor Who Comic, Tales From The TARDIS and Doctor Who Magazine. I also have graphic novel volumes featuring IDW's Doctor Who Prisoners of Time series and the first six issues of S.H.I.E.L.D. (The one inspired by Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.). Also: The Only Good Dalek graphic novel. Edited January 7, 2016 by LEGODalekbuster523 Quote
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