Martha Thomases: Judi Dench Is Not A Bond Girl

Martha Thomases

Martha Thomases brought more comics to the attention of more people than anyone else in the industry. Her work promoting The Death of Superman made an entire nation share in the tragedy of one of our most iconic American heroes. As a freelance journalist, she has been published in the Village Voice, High Times, Spy, the National Lampoon, Metropolitan Home, and more. For Marvel comics she created the series Dakota North. Martha worked as a researcher and assistant for the author Norman Mailer on several of his books, including the Pulitzer-Prize-winning Executioner's Song, On Women and Their Elegance, Ancient Evenings, and Harlot's Ghost.

You may also like...

6 Responses

  1. John Ostrander says:

    Martha

    Great column. I also saw SKYFALL and loved it. I’ve avoided commenting on the new Suicide Squad thus far because I feel that the new creators should get the same opportunities that i had — to create their own vision. That said, I must agree with your observations about Amanda Waller. They took what was visually unique to her and made it like everyone else. I don’t think they understand her core. I think that’s a loss for the DCU. However, that’s just my opinion.

    — John

  2. Martha,

    Have you seen that some feminists are calling Skyfall sexist? Apparently, in their view, M’s arc is anti-women as is Bond’s comments to Eve after she shoots him by mistake. They’ve interpreted what I felt was advise to a character that she cared about collateral damage to last in the field long term and turned it into “women should be behind a desk”. Do you think that there might be something to it, or was the review I read written by someone with an axe to grind?

    • Martha Thomases says:

      Doug, I haven’t seen the comments, so I can’t really respond. I don’t think every female character has to represent all women, but I understand the feeling when there are so few examples.

  3. Mindy Newell says:

    No, she’s a Bond WOMAN!!!!! Dench puts the Magnificient in M! Absolutely adore her!

  4. mike weber says:

    Sorry to de-rail your comment thread, but i have to test something.

  1. November 16, 2012

    […] Martha Thomases: Judi Dench Is Not A Bond GirlComicmix.comI suppose it's possible this re-design was planned in advance of the Green Lantern movie, in which Angela Bassett played Waller in a role that was clearly supposed to mimic Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury. However, Angela Bassett is in her mid-50s … […]