While attending the Dallas Comic Con, I happened to notice the abundances of female visitors. It’s one thing to hear that women are just as into comics as men, but another to actually see it. Moreover, where the guys will talk shop about their favorites; the girls are more prone to dress up.
The stereotype of the unwashed comic con fanboy is also coming to a close. The guys are starting to realize that girls are there, and they don’t want to be caught blowing one off for a ‘fake geek girl’.
And who started that insane slight on the girl nerd? I need not point any fingers. We all know where it started. That’s unimportant. The part that should be paid attention to is a that a mob of high school girls are showing up at the convention dresses up, and not just to get attention. I’m not sure how sexy a red-head dressed like she’s homeless with a mock busted lip and a sign “The end is nigh” alongside a female, cigar chomping, armored up Comedian is.
Here is the reality of it: like games, girls are not afraid to love comics; I suppose much in the same way Bronies exist.
This is not what we are seeing in the comic book world though. In DC Comic’s new line-up, we find noble she-warrior turn into a nymphomaniac with the memory of a gnat (Starfire), transitions from sex-symbol-to-woman-breaking-the-mold with empowerment get demoted to a second (or third) stringer girlfriend (Power Girl), and the culling of the female creative staff at DC from 12% to 1%. It’s time for comics to reflect the audience better.
But maybe Amanada Conner (former artist for Power Girl) had pointed out at the Dallas Comic Con: “I think in 10 years, you’re going to see way, WAY more female comic creators”
My mind goes back to the group of 16 year-old girls dressed like prominent DC characters, whom collectively named “Nightwing’s ass” as one of their favorite characters and “just died!” when they saw Neil Patrick Harris voicing Nightwing in “Under the Red Hood”. These are the girls that will make their way into the industry in the next decade.
Are we ready for this? I sure am. I’m mildly humored at the notion of the sexism boot being tried on a different foot. I am hopeful that once the girls try it on, we can all meet in the middle for a deeper level of mindless entertainment, fantastic adventure, new twists on old noir storytelling, and most of all: diversity.
Welcome to the club, ladies!
