Fantastic Fangirls: Comics and Culture

In lieu of my regular column I’d like to share a correspondence between two friends of mine.

I’m a Marvel
Hi there! I am a Marvel girl. I’m not a Marvel Girl the way Jean or Rachel are. I mean I am Marvel, not DC or one of the smaller comic book companies. This is significant only because of a battle I was involved in – though no one ever asked if I wanted to be – with Power Girl of DC.

See, in the nineties, comic books became wildly popular and they attracted the attention of those parental watch dog groups that spend all their time, energy and money trying to blame all of society’s problems on anything other than society. In this case, the over-sexualization of women in comic books. Now, I’m not going to say comics don’t over-sexualize women ’cause they do. But they also present strong female role models if you can look beyond the surface images. However, this is all beside the point. It’s what Marvel and DC decided to do that I want to address.

Marvel and DC are the two most popular and prolific comic book companies and their characters and plot lines often mirror each other, fighting to be the most admired version. Sometimes their rivalry is taken to a new level, as in the case of Power Girl versus Polaris (that’s me, of course). The watch dog groups I mentioned earlier? They called for strict guidelines about just what comics could present and one of these was the scantily-cladness and size differentiation of female characters’ breasts. In other words, they wanted to censor comic book heroine’s boob size. Well, Marvel and DC decided to try and make a point by being as ridiculous as possible while still maintaining their ‘integrity’ to the character. The characters chosen – likely because they weren’t part of the main titles, but were recognizable – were Power Girl and Polaris. And the ensuing contest went on for some time. Each new issue would feature the girls in increasingly ridiculous poses created solely to win “Biggest Boobs Snuck Past the Censors” for that month.

I’m sure some of my fanboys remember this time period fondly. Luckily for me, the censorship fervor died down and when I reappeared I was returned to my standard comic book heroine measurements (which is to say, absurd, but not overtly absurd). However, I think it is clear, looking back on that time and all my subsequent appearances, that I won. Despite never having been drawn by the likes of Greg Horn or Greg Land, my breast size continues to trump all the other Marvel girls. As for Power Girl, I think my case could be made there, too. So, here I am to accept my award for Biggest – and Best – Boobs on a Comic Book Heroine.

Thanks very much, I feel special.

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I’m a DC! (RE: I’m a Marvel)

Oh, isn’t she cute? Little Miss Magnetism. Emphasis on Little. There is no contest, not then, not now. Oh, I don’t mean that there wasn’t a contest. That’s totally one hundred percent truth. Got it from the Powers That Be (I AM Power Girl. TPTB got me on speed dial — who else is gonna take out the guy dressed up in the ape suit? JSA represent.) Yes, I’m Power Girl. Pleased to meet you! But there is no contest between ME and Little Miss Magnetism for boob size. No contest meaning I win hands down. I was practically created to win!

I mean Biggest and Best? Hello! Nobody’s bust size outshines mine and have you ever even SEEN my under-bust? You may have magnetic posture but I have an innate Kryptonian anti-gravity-ness. I win.

Also, little Miss Marvel Girl, DC’s got more than just me:

and

and

and

What about you? Can’t rest the busty laurels of the whole company on the breasts of Emma Frost and She-Hulk.

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Bring it! (RE: I’m a DC)
Oh please. Yes, we have Emma:

and Jen:

But what about:

or:

and nobody’s got nothing on:

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Consider it brung. (RE: Bring it)

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RE: (RE: Consider it brung.)

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RE: RE: (RE: Consider it brung.)

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RE: RE: RE: (RE: Consider it brung.)

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I had a thought.
…I feel really objectified.

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Point. (RE: I had a thought.)
I feel hypersexualized.

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We shouldn’t be fighting. (RE: Point.)
Truce?
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Be my BFF? (RE: We shouldn’t be fighting.)
Totally. We gotta team up and demand respect.
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GIRL POWER. (RE: Be my BFF?)
Deal.
–
I don’t know why someone would complain about that. I think all women in Hollywood are known as sex symbols. That’s what our purpose is in this business. You’re merchandised, you’re a product. You’re sold and it’s based on sex. But that’s okay. I think women should be empowered by that, not degraded. – Megan Fox (Entertainment Weekly)

Posted by Anika
email: anika@fantasticfangirls.org
twitter: magnetgirl