It's very simple, SallyP. Well-defined muscles = manly. And that square jaw! Why, she almost looks powerful. We can't have that. It's not delicate or demure at all.
That seems to be the standard rap against Ross' women: that they appear too manly. Since Ross lives in the Chicago area, I would assume most of his female models do, too. (One of them was Jill Thompson.) Are they saying that Chicago women are too manly? As a fellow Chicago area resident (albeit a man), I take offense!
Hey, wait, isn't the argument that men are just as unrealistic in comics because they have more muscles than a regular guy? So Power Girl is... too muscley?
She looks absolutely right to me, especially with the big, powerful legs that so many female athletes get. Her arms are emphasized because of how she's crossing them - they're pushed up against her body, so the muscles are pushed out the other way.
I think some people have been spending too much time looking at drawings and not enough looking at humans. Alex Ross's people look like people, not the bizarre cartoon things in most comics.
But the author is also showing a lack of understanding of transpeople, in that he assumes if one is pre-op they still have full male testosterone running thru their body when in fact they'd have the same (due to anti-androgens that they'd be taking) regardless of if they've had their testicles removed. >.>;;
And I think she looks more like Katee Sackhoff than a transwoman. >.>
If Jake was talking about Power Girls physique or muscles making her look un-feminine then I would have to say that ummm its Power Girl! of course she's buff, but that doesn't make her any less of a woman.
However, when I first read that post I tended to agree with him - because of the face.
The physique, pose, all the rest of that cover I think works well, but the face Ross gave her, I think looks like a guy with a wig on. She just doesn't look like Kara to me.
Maybe that wasn't what Jake was talking about, but that's how I read it, and I would tend to agree.
Whenever a male comics fan asks 'Why on Earth does DC let people like Michael Turner draw Power Girl?' the correct reply is 'Because every time she's drawn realisticly, YOU whine that she's being drawn as a man in drag, idiot.' (see also: reaction to Phil Jimenez's depiction in Infinite Crisis.)
Darren -- That face isn't masculine, though. She could be his superman model's cousin, but that's a feminine face.
RD -- See, now I didn't hear drag comments about Jimenez's Power Girl (though would it have killed him to draw her wearing a bra?!), rather fat comments.
But I hear it all the time about his Wonder Woman.
I hadn't thought about that, but maybe that did affect my reaction.
Normally I like Ross's art for the realistic take on superheroes (pudgy Batman and G.L. are great, and I love his Stargirl and Wonder Woman) but maybe her features do look a little too much like his Supes (something about the chin maybe?) for my liking, and not enough like she is normally depicted by others.
I do think that regardless of my personal reaction to the way he's drawn her face, that artists should be applauded when eschewing the beefcake for a more realistic look (Yay for the new Supergirl!). It's might be easier for Ross given his style, but hey he could easily do a Greg Land if he wanted to, so he does deserve some credit.
What the...?
ReplyDeleteIt's very simple, SallyP. Well-defined muscles = manly. And that square jaw! Why, she almost looks powerful. We can't have that. It's not delicate or demure at all.
ReplyDeleteQuick! Somebody call Michael Turner to slut her up a bit!
ReplyDeleteThat seems to be the standard rap against Ross' women: that they appear too manly. Since Ross lives in the Chicago area, I would assume most of his female models do, too. (One of them was Jill Thompson.) Are they saying that Chicago women are too manly? As a fellow Chicago area resident (albeit a man), I take offense!
ReplyDeleteHeh.
ReplyDeleteSee, I thought this was one of the most feminine women I've ever seen Alex Ross do, apart from his Supergirl and Batgirl paintings.
Mind you, I still think his Black Canary solo portrait looks like Batman is going undercover in the Village of Gotham.
Hey, wait, isn't the argument that men are just as unrealistic in comics because they have more muscles than a regular guy? So Power Girl is... too muscley?
ReplyDeleteShe looks absolutely right to me, especially with the big, powerful legs that so many female athletes get. Her arms are emphasized because of how she's crossing them - they're pushed up against her body, so the muscles are pushed out the other way.
I think some people have been spending too much time looking at drawings and not enough looking at humans. Alex Ross's people look like people, not the bizarre cartoon things in most comics.
ReplyDeleteI - I just don't get it. I'm not seeing a 'masculinity problem', I'm just seeing a well-defined woman there. :/
ReplyDeleteI'm offended by that... for personal reasons. >:|
ReplyDeleteBut the author is also showing a lack of understanding of transpeople, in that he assumes if one is pre-op they still have full male testosterone running thru their body when in fact they'd have the same (due to anti-androgens that they'd be taking) regardless of if they've had their testicles removed. >.>;;
And I think she looks more like Katee Sackhoff than a transwoman. >.>
Ignorant, sexist and transphobic. What a trifecta.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I think she looks hot. Not even in an androgynous way, although that's also nice.
If Jake was talking about Power Girls physique or muscles making her look un-feminine then I would have to say that ummm its Power Girl! of course she's buff, but that doesn't make her any less of a woman.
ReplyDeleteHowever, when I first read that post I tended to agree with him - because of the face.
The physique, pose, all the rest of that cover I think works well, but the face Ross gave her, I think looks like a guy with a wig on. She just doesn't look like Kara to me.
Maybe that wasn't what Jake was talking about, but that's how I read it, and I would tend to agree.
Whenever a male comics fan asks 'Why on Earth does DC let people like Michael Turner draw Power Girl?' the correct reply is 'Because every time she's drawn realisticly, YOU whine that she's being drawn as a man in drag, idiot.' (see also: reaction to Phil Jimenez's depiction in Infinite Crisis.)
ReplyDeleteDarren -- That face isn't masculine, though. She could be his superman model's cousin, but that's a feminine face.
ReplyDeleteRD -- See, now I didn't hear drag comments about Jimenez's Power Girl (though would it have killed him to draw her wearing a bra?!), rather fat comments.
But I hear it all the time about his Wonder Woman.
I hadn't thought about that, but maybe that did affect my reaction.
ReplyDeleteNormally I like Ross's art for the realistic take on superheroes (pudgy Batman and G.L. are great, and I love his Stargirl and Wonder Woman) but maybe her features do look a little too much like his Supes (something about the chin maybe?) for my liking, and not enough like she is normally depicted by others.
I do think that regardless of my personal reaction to the way he's drawn her face, that artists should be applauded when eschewing the beefcake for a more realistic look (Yay for the new Supergirl!). It's might be easier for Ross given his style, but hey he could easily do a Greg Land if he wanted to, so he does deserve some credit.
Is Ross a big fan of the TV show "Cold Case"? Because from the neck up she looks a lot like the lead actress Kathryn Morris ("Lilly Rush").
ReplyDelete