Supergirl Vs. Jenny Craig
August 7, 2007 by The Fortress Keeper
Occasional Superheroine has posted a rundown of online reactions to Renato Guedes’ art on Supergirl #20.
While the new look has its share of adherents, many fanboys are complaining that Kara looks fat and ugly.
One even opined that “Supergirl and her fans are being punished.”
The Keeper is not one to indulge in nerd stereotypes - given that many probably apply to your humble host himself - but have these naysayers ever seen an actual, live teenage girl?
Most - heck, let’s say ALL - of them don’t look like Maxim pin-ups. They come in various shapes and sizes and most likely wear underpants underneath their biker shorts.
Some sport piercings, short T-shirts or - *gasp* - even dress conservatively.
Guides’ art reflects these simple facts, so we don’t quite understand what all the hullabaloo is about. His Kara is neither fat nor ugly. Nor is she an exaggerated sexpot.
Guess this means the fanboy demand for “realistic” super-heroes doesn’t apply to the artistic portrayal of women.
(Or men, for that matter … )
I’d agree for the most part. But expectations are coloring fanboy views. If all you knew was where you hung out where I work in San Diego, you’d assume that most women are hot and wealthy and the occasional unattractive female is the Nottie pity-pal of the Hottie.
In my personal opinon, the story still sucks. Sorry.
Sleestak -
But is Southern California reality?
Sorry. As a native San Franciscan, I couldn’t resist taking a little shot!
Universalperson -
That’s OK.
Most crossover issues are less than stellar, unless it’s Hitman #1,000,000.
That said, the post only focused on the art (which is a HUGE part of a comic book’s success or failure, even though most blogs only focus on writing).
Although I didn’t mind Churchill as much as some (his version was a darn sight better than Turner’s, although that may be damning with faint praise), I still found Guedes’ approach refreshing.
As far as Bedard goes, lets see how he does with a story that doesn’t tie into 50 other comic book events.
Will he get the chance?
If I were a Supergirl fan I’d be insulted by this unsolicited intrusion of reality into my reading.
Of course, I’m quite happy not being completely maladjusted. Yuk-yuk.
Actually, it’s not until now that it’s occurred to me that the artwork is in part responsible for my flagrant dismissal and disinterest of/in the Supergirl character.
It’s not enough to get me to read, but that’s a nice effort from Guedes!
Hey, let’s not lump all fanboys in with the morons objecting to Supergirl’s new look. Just as various fangirls keep saying they’re not a “hive vagina”, too often it’s forgotten that that all male comic fans are not a “hive penis”.
Of course comics fans dont want to see realistic artwork.
Otherwise
The Flash would look like this.
http://slapnose.com/images/blog/0605/0605_marathon_350×497.jpg
Superman would look like this
http://www.stawniak.com/pics/Washington%20wheat%20farmer.jpg
And Wonder Woman would look like this.
http://i.imdb.com/Photos/Events/0477-evi/jonesgra.ce_
Is that what you want?
Is that what you want?
Because, of course, it’s either overweight, freakish, and ugly, or Bobbie McBeanpole.
Nothing in between. No siree.