On Wednesday night, as shops surrounding Gosh!
Comics on Soho's Berwick Street started to close, a queue was forming outside
this unassuming, yet highly popular comic book store. Having gained an insight
into the world of comics and graphic novels (though the debate to whether there is a
difference between the two rages on) through a university module, I was invited
here by a friend.
The queue continued to grow, and as the online list of those
showing interest in attending had exploded so greatly in number, this was not a surprise. In fact,
the organisers had been forced to ticket the event to keep numbers safe, though
it was still a free evening.
We filed
in, and perused the shelves, Prosecco in hand, taken aback by the sheer amount
of offerings, ranging from the old masters of the Marvel genre, such as
Superman, Thor, Batman and the ilk, to the more modern superheroes of Ms Marvel
(more of her later) and the almost unending diversity of this burgeoning
literary format.
The event
began officially with an introduction by Lisa Woynarski of "Let's Talk
Intersectionality", a London-based feminist reading group centred around
the idea of Intersectional Feminism. Those in attendance all seemed quite
nonplussed by the explanations of feminist issues. However, if there were any worries about not
understanding terms or ideas, this concise and pertinent introduction seemed to
do a good job of creating a level playing field of understanding.
Lauren L
Murphy then continued the introduction with a setting of the scene in comic
book culture, and made clear the raison d'être for this evening through both the popular images of female
characters in the genre, and popularised images of comic book readers in wider
culture (Cue an image of the 'Big Bang Theory' cast, and raucous laughter from
the heavily female and not often bespectacled
crowd). Why, for example, was Spider-Woman drawn in such ludicrous, and
well, bulbous style until so recently? "This is why we need the conversations
like we're having tonight", Murphy ended.
After
splitting to smaller groups, the discussion of feminism in the genre took
several different directions. One of the most pertinent of these was the access
to and availability, not only of the comics themselves, but to knowledge
surrounding the genre. Indeed, the fact that a night like this could be
possible in London is due to the resources this city has. Without a space like
Gosh!, or a dedicated (though
struggling) resource in
The Feminist Library, last night could not have happened.
However, these
resources are limited. Many attendees talked about their disappointment when
they had asked for help in finding female authors, or feminist comics, even in
well known comic bookshops. Indeed, it seems that outside of the framework of
the specifically feminist, knowledge of this area is often lacking. The search therefore spreads
to the online arena.
After half
an hour or so of fruitful conversation, and sharing of titles (a list of which
can be found below) the groups returned to a large discussion. Again, the
sub-genre of Superheroes became the focus. And rightly so. Not only is it the
largest, and definitely the most well known form of comics, but it is where
arguably the largest problems
of female representation and sexism occur. However, it is also where the bright
lights of feminism in the comic culture are shining. 'Ms Marvel', the female
head of the Marvel Universe has been recently reinvented, and not only is she
fully clothed and set in Jersey City, she is Kamala Khan. A Muslim,
Pakistani-American 16yr old. Oh, also she can shapeshift.
It's the Economy, Stupid
Importantly,
this character has also been fantastically well received. The first volume won a
Hugo Award, but more importantly than the
critical view... She sells. Volume 1 was the best selling graphic novel of
October 2014, and all the first three volumes have been featured on the New
York Times Best Seller list.
This, then,
is the crux of the issue. Sales are what drives the comic industry, from
paperback volumes from the shelves we searched in Gosh!, to the big screen and
even bigger money Hollywood creations. The view, at least at Gosh!, was that
these sales of Ms Marvel and her contemporaries can only lead to one thing:
even more success for female and therefore feminist comics.
The conversation
was not driven wholly by hope, though. The lack of a 'Black Widow' movie,
despite the popularity of 'The Avengers' franchise is worrying, and still
suggests that the problems of sexism in the industry is not a fight easily won.
In addition to this, the lack of people of colour in the genre is a problem
that nearly all of the small group discussions identified. Yes, Kamala Khan is
one, but the mainstream is hugely lacking otherwise.
Indeed,
when Michael B. Jordan was cast as of the four leads in the latest 'Fantastic
Four' iteration, there was a huge uproar almost solely from within the comic
community. Why was the actor who had given such a brilliant performance in
'Fruitvale Station' as protagonist Oscar Grant, so disliked for this role?
Well, Johnny Storm, the "Human Torch", has never been portrayed as
anything but a European American before Jordan took up the role (Chris
Evans, now the franchise's Captain America, played the "Torch" in the
2005 version). The explanation?
One woman in attendance pointed
out, "comic book fans don't like change".
But perhaps that is not the whole story. Yes, there is a
history of sexism, racism and homophobia in comic book culture, just as there
is in many cultures with deep roots in the mid-Twentieth century. However,
there are signs that this is changing. For one, the evening hosted by Gosh!,
another in the acceptance of Ms Marvel's new alter ego. Perhaps we are moving
away from the idea that "sex sells" and towards the idea that
"she sells". Watch this space.
