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I had to wait in line at the DMV yesterday to get a new ID card (my third trip, as I didn't realize getting a new ID card when your old one is from another state would necessitate birth cert, soc.sec. card, old ID, AND utility bill. I thought 3 and 4 would cut it.
So, I read a new teen book called Jason & Kyra, and another called Who am I without Him?
Both were current young adult hardcovers about (mostly) african american youth in urban areas, centered around dating. The characters in "Who am I without him?" were almost all poor. The characters in "Jason & Kyra" were almost all very rich. The drama in Jason & Kyra centered around Kyra's choice of abstinence, and at least one of the short stories in "Who am I without him?" did as well.
And I realize that these books have a certain intended audience or whatever, but I do think it sets back feminism a lot when it's portrayed in stories that it's the woman's job to say "no" to sexual advances etc. etc. It was wonderful that Jason was so supportive of Kyra, and that she was so accomplished, but still. How about a love story where the girl is all like "let's make fabulous love" and the boy is "no, sorry, love you but I'm saving myself for marriage." This definitely happens in some relationships, so where's that book?
Then I read Superman/Batman Public Enemies and realized why so many people have a low opinion of the literary value of comics. It wasn't a bad story, I suppose, and the art was great. But it was all square jawed heroes speaking in short sentences and then going "Wham" as they blow stuff up or punch people. I'm so used to reading Frank Miller/Alan Moore/Neil Gaiman/Los Bros. Hernandez/Terry Moore etc. comics that I'd forgotten what straight superhero comics read like. Helps explain the popularity of manga, I think, since most kids can't really get their hands on the good american stuff, and most of the really good american stuff these days is being written for a very adult (and geeky) audience. I like Daniel Clowes, but I don't think his stuff is going to appeal to the average 8 or 9 year old, f'r'instance.
Do any other comic geeks out there miss the DC scripting goodness of George Perez? His Wonder Woman was a thing of beauty. It was where I first learned the word "dichotomy", among others.
So, I read a new teen book called Jason & Kyra, and another called Who am I without Him?
Both were current young adult hardcovers about (mostly) african american youth in urban areas, centered around dating. The characters in "Who am I without him?" were almost all poor. The characters in "Jason & Kyra" were almost all very rich. The drama in Jason & Kyra centered around Kyra's choice of abstinence, and at least one of the short stories in "Who am I without him?" did as well.
And I realize that these books have a certain intended audience or whatever, but I do think it sets back feminism a lot when it's portrayed in stories that it's the woman's job to say "no" to sexual advances etc. etc. It was wonderful that Jason was so supportive of Kyra, and that she was so accomplished, but still. How about a love story where the girl is all like "let's make fabulous love" and the boy is "no, sorry, love you but I'm saving myself for marriage." This definitely happens in some relationships, so where's that book?
Then I read Superman/Batman Public Enemies and realized why so many people have a low opinion of the literary value of comics. It wasn't a bad story, I suppose, and the art was great. But it was all square jawed heroes speaking in short sentences and then going "Wham" as they blow stuff up or punch people. I'm so used to reading Frank Miller/Alan Moore/Neil Gaiman/Los Bros. Hernandez/Terry Moore etc. comics that I'd forgotten what straight superhero comics read like. Helps explain the popularity of manga, I think, since most kids can't really get their hands on the good american stuff, and most of the really good american stuff these days is being written for a very adult (and geeky) audience. I like Daniel Clowes, but I don't think his stuff is going to appeal to the average 8 or 9 year old, f'r'instance.
Do any other comic geeks out there miss the DC scripting goodness of George Perez? His Wonder Woman was a thing of beauty. It was where I first learned the word "dichotomy", among others.
