Elizabeth Barrette (ysabetwordsmith) wrote,
Elizabeth Barrette
ysabetwordsmith
  • Mood: busy

Why the Starfire Reboot Is a Fizzle

Previously we discussed "The Comics Women Don't Buy."  There's another aspect to this debate, concerning DC's reboot.  The first couple of essays I read about the reboot of the Starfire character were ... accurate, but not fun to read, and couched in whiny feminist terms.  (I'm a feminist, but I'm not keen on all flavors of feminist writing.)  I prefer to point to things that people may actually read all the way through. 

Here, in much clearer and more charming terms, are the same arguments made by a seven-year-old girl who loves comics.  She explains that being a hero means fighting things, being strong, and helping people -- not wearing a tiny bikini to get attention.  This spans a thoughtful comparison of the Starfire character across several incarnations.

Now, if a little girl can figure that out, you'd think grown men would be able to, but they seem to have confused "hero" with another word that's missing the "er" in the middle.  That's not the kind of thing likely to attract more female readers to comics, and the men who like it are probably buying a different kind of periodical that's mostly pictures.

If you're a writer or an artist, I highly recommend reading this perspective on plot and characterization.  It really cuts to the heart of storytelling.
Tags: activism, art, entertainment, gender studies, news, writing
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  • 5 comments
lilfluff

lilfluff

September 28 2011, 05:06:01 UTC 9 years ago

As a man, who quite liked the version of Starfire on the Teen Titans animated series back when it was on the air, this version seems a betrayal of the character.

I was already not feeling any love for the DC reboot. Finding out about this tips me directly into the anti-new-DC Comics camp. I was someone that in theory they wanted. A comics buyer who wasn't too big on superheroes who could have become a new reader. It isn't even like I'm opposed to crass titles, I find Deadpool hilarious. But I think even Deadpool would be asking what was wrong with the DC Comics bosses for letting this happen (and considering Deadpool is one of I believe only two Marvel characters allowed to break the fourth wall, it wouldn't even be breaking character to do so).
ysabetwordsmith

Thoughts

ysabetwordsmith

September 28 2011, 05:32:43 UTC 9 years ago

>>As a man, who quite liked the version of Starfire on the Teen Titans animated series back when it was on the air, this version seems a betrayal of the character.<<

It's encouraging to hear that they misread their target audience as well as potential audience.