Some of these will be political, US-centric, and contain profanity.
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Thirteen Things That Greatly Annoy Me 1) Being treated like I'm stupid. 2) Oversimplifying a complicated argument so that everyone gets classified in extremes, with one position being "good" and the other "evil." 3) Barney Fife jokes about the police. 4) People who argue the meaning of "freedom of religion" without ever having read the Consitution. 5) People who argue what ideals the United States was founded upon without ever having read the Declaration of Independance. 6) Micromanagement. 7) Using the phrase "politically correct" to complain about being asked not to be a dick. You are not being a rebel with racist and sexist jokes. You are being a dick. 8) Nationalists who claim to be Patriots. 9) Calling any character trait I display "masculine" "manly" or "male." I'm a woman, dammit. Everything I am and do is feminine. The problems are your narrow definitions. 10) Characterizing the entire military as conservative hawks. Just because they're volunteers doesn't mean they're disposable OR that they have a particular political philosophy. Some people need money, some people need training, and some people actually do love the Constitution and the freedoms outlined. 11) And while I'm at it, the "she killed, isn't she a villain now?" meme that pops up occasionally in the comics community (usually whenever a hero kills somebody.) In actual life, policemen and military members are taught that killing is possible while in training, and take the job fully knowledgable that its necessary in some scenarios. Preparing to accept that does not automatically mean a person doesn't respect life, or that they look forward to the option, or even that they'll bring themselves to do it when the time comes. That "killing automatically makes you a bad guy" argument basically argues that the policemen and veterans who've killed during their duty are bad guys and no "But superheroes are different because of x" argument has ever or will ever lessen that. 12) Aircrew. By the very nature of your job, if you fly in an airplane for a living and break the shit I or my counterpart works on, I hate you. Nothing personal. I just hate you. 13) Perky, rebellious, blonde teenaged girl superheroes. There were been too damned many of them at DC (Arrowette, Wonder Girl, Spoiler, Secret, Supergirl, Stargirl, Speedy -- you couldn't fit a redhead or a brunette in there?) and with a bad artist you couldn't tell them apart in civvies. We need a moratorium on creating new ones for at least a decade. Try someone who's not white instead. If she must be white for being a blood relative of another character, try a redhead or a brunette instead. Really, its like there's a factory for superheroes and someone left the setting on "Blonde" "Teenaged" "Female" "Perky" and "Rebellious." Even when later writers flesh them out, they all start out the freaking same. They all look the fucking same. It must be stopped! I demand diversity, if only to be able to follow the fucking story without wondering who the hell's talking! Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!) |
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7 - I want the term to just die out. I also hate when people try to come up with the most outlandish mash-ups of types to be represented, when someone dares ask if there could be more diversity.
ReplyDelete11 - I think that "no killing" attitude comes from the leftover idealism when comics were still geared towards a general audience or kids. And nostalgia is keeping it around when it clashes with the grim 'n' gritty stuff and doesn't make sense. When the Joker qualifies as a consistent serial killer or mass murderer who can't be contained, it's hard to justify holding back on killing him off. You end up jumping through hoops to keep that nostalgic idealism - a vague justice system that villains always escape, or the ending of Infinite Crisis where Batman is bailed out of letting Alex Luthor get away by Lex and the Joker. And what's worse is now it's fashionable to wallow in all the angst of heroes trying and failing to keep the ideal, but not actually deciding to do anything about it either way. "Trigun" at least challenged the pacifistic policy of the hero, and had him make a full commitment to his choice after being tried.
13 - Agreed. Rose's white hair isn't a valid exception. I suppose Miss Martian will have to do for now. :P
See, I lurk around here for like forever, and the first time I say anything its to be contrary. Superheroes are diffrent cause unlike the police and army, they are not sanctioned by their society and they have nobody to oversee and review their actions. They are not trained nor given rules of engagement.
ReplyDeleteThe reason Superheroes as a rule don't kill is the same reason they don't pummel fifteen year old shoplifters. Those actions wouldn't be as widely condoned as puching the Joker in the face or bataranging a mob enforcer. The lines between heroes and villians must be clearly drawn or the audience will take a hard look at heroes. And heroes are at their core are the current incarnation of that old romantic notion that the people need rightous warriors who will protect us from ourselves. And its a fantasy we only tolerate until they annoy us or make a mess. "Throw my brand new car at a bank robber, who do I talk to?" And few things are messier then dead people.
Admittingly this is a external reason for heroes not to kill, not an internal to the story reason. So your orginal premise is accurate "Killing someone doesn't automatically make you a bad guy"
I do apolgize for going on, I am apparently chatty tonight.
Using the phrase "politically correct" to complain about being asked not to be a dick. You are not being a rebel with racist and sexist jokes. You are being a dick.
ReplyDeleteAmen. This goes double for Disney fans who decry that "politically correct" thinking has "ruined" rides and jump on those who point out that you just can't show Native Americans as a bunch of bloodthirsty savages anymore as being the bad guys. Step bravely into the modern world and out of Nostalgiaville, please.
That "killing automatically makes you a bad guy" argument basically argues that the policemen and veterans who've killed during their duty are bad guys and no "But superheroes are different because of x" argument has ever or will ever lessen that.
Wholeheartedly agreed here, too. By that logic, Superman would be a killer & bad guy, and no amount of weaselling or excusing will change the printed events. There are cases where it's justified, and if you can't understand that, then you scare me.
And all of thirteen - so agreed, especially about when you get them together with a bad artist. About the only redheads that fit into that mold are Misfit and the new Beetle's sidekick Brenda. We need more variety with the names - back away from the 'C' names for a bit and try another letter.
# 4 and 5 just made the history major in my heart happy,
ReplyDeleteFor non-blonde young superheroines, don't forget Maxine Hunkel.
ReplyDeleteHear, hear! And I think #9 relates to #11--how the young superheroines have to embrace the conventional ideals of feminity while they kick ass because they can't seem masculine in the least, lest they alienate.
ReplyDeleteAnd to go with blonde--I'm tired of "perky" and I'm pissed that because I'm a young woman that people always seem to expect that I be bubbly, or perky.
All very good points. The incredible resistance of some people to any change in the world is mindboggling.
ReplyDeleteOn the last point, with all of the pert young blondes, a lot of this had (I think) to do with the "coding" used way back when. Blondes were the "good girls", and brunettes were the villainesses. Redheads were "saucy". Kind of sickening really.
Crap! Damn you, Ragnell...MUST DO MEME. AM COMPELLED THROUGH SOME KIND OF MAGIC!
ReplyDeleteI'll have to do this later...
MICROMANAGEMENT indeed! :)
Nothing personal against blondes, but yeah there are too damn many of them in comics. Even Black Canary had gone and dyed her hair. Maxine Hunkel's red hair (and freckles!) is a welcome sight.
ReplyDeleteMany good points ...
ReplyDeleteesp. the masculine/feminine argument and the "politically correct" one as well
::making a mental note to never piss you off::
Blessings
Mama Kelly