MICHAEL DAVIS Is Bringing Sexy Back

Michael Davis

Master Of The Universe, Lord Of All Media, Most Interesting Black Man In the World, Sexiest Man on Earth, Mentor, Writer, Artist, Producer & Uppity.

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33 Responses

  1. Jarrod Buttery says:

    Of course, devoted followers of Michael’s column know that Sexy never left….

  2. Jeremiah Avery says:

    When I was reading X-Men and such as a kid, my mother would jokingly ask if one of the powers of the women was to be able to fit into those tight outfits. I used to reply how it’s just a bonus (when I read the “Calvin&Hobbes” strip which made the same claims, I laughed).

    Though I certainly admire the female form, I wouldn’t feel comfortable reading certain comics on the train to/from work nor really broadcast that I read comics. I don’t have anything to hide, except that based on the output nowadays most civilians would think I’m some sort of perv.

    Also, this is bad business. Some commentators made a valid point how when the “Teen Titans” cartoon was on, it drew several million viewers (quite a few were young girls) and Starfire was a very popular character. Now that the years have passed and the girls are grown up; there isn’t much of a reason to read a comic featuring their once-favorite character who is pretty much now the opposite of how she was portrayed in the series. A lot of comics today are lucky to have sales numbers in the 5-figures. So much for latching on to the potentially wider market.

    • Jeremiah,

      For the most part regarding superhero comics at least that “potentially wider market” train has left the station it seems. Pity.

      • Jeremiah Avery says:

        Very true. When I see the publishers making attempts at trying to get readers outside the typical demographic, I get a bit cynical and think it’s nothing more than just lip service; especially when one higher-up at one the Big Two makes statements like “kids never read comics”.

      • Jeremiah Avery says:

        Very true. When I see the publishers making attempts at trying to get readers outside the typical demographic, I get a bit cynical and think it’s nothing more than just lip service; especially when one higher-up at one of
        the Big Two makes statements like “kids never read comics”.

  3. George Haberberger says:

    Artist should take a cue from Will Eisner. His female characters were never outrageously proportioned but still sexy as hell.

  4. George Haberberger says:

    Artists should take a cue from Will Eisner. His female characters were never outrageously proportioned but still sexy as hell.

  5. Doug Abramson says:

    The Starfire thing isn’t a clear cut example. While I don’t like the book, the Kory in Red Hood and the Outlaws isn’t that different from the one in The New Teen Titans. She’s a character without any human hang ups about sexuality. She likes sex and doesn’t hide it. The big difference is in the old days, she had an emotional connection to Dic…er, Nightwing and tried to conform to his sexual standards. Now, she lives her life the way she sees fit. In the abstract, she’s a healthier character now. The Starfire in Teen Titans Go! was a lovely and popular character, but she was not the one from the main DCU. While it would have been interesting to put that version in a book with Jason and Roy, it wouldn’t have made the book sell any better. Most of this legion of young, female fans that people say Kory has, never picked up the Teen Titans Go! comic book; why would they buy Red Hood and the Outlaws?

  6. Sean D. Martin says:

    Interesting that in your BOTH of your “follow these steps” examples, the woman is the passive one. Even in your example for women.

    And even after your “kidding aside” dismissal you refer to Gwen Stacy as “a piece of ass.”

  7. Martha Thomases says:

    If you’re going to write about sexism in your column (and, really, rock on!), I’m writing about racism in mine.

  8. Sean D. Martin says:

    Doug Abramson: She’s a character without any human hang ups about sexuality. She likes sex and doesn’t hide it. … Now, she lives her life the way she sees fit. In the abstract, she’s a healthier character now.

    Healthier? She’s depicted as a plaything that the guys get to high five over.

    • Doug Abramson says:

      From what I’ve seen, she is portrayed as a willing and equal participant when it comes to having sex; and she’s fine with having multiple partners. Roy and Jason acting like adolescents over the situation shows that their characterizations are developmentally stunted, when it comes to sexuality, not Kory’s. Personally, I find the “frat boy jock” attitudes in the book more disturbing than turning up the volume on the portrayal of Starfire’s sexuality.

      • Sean D. Martin says:

        Turning up the volume on Starfire’s sexuality isn’t to develop her as a character or show her as a strong woman. It’s to present her as a sexy pinup that exists solely to fulfill male fantasies. It’s to appeal to the adolescent in the male readers. It’s to validate folks acting like Roy and Jason and tell them that’s OK.

  9. Mike Gold says:

    So she likes sex. Big deal. It’s what you do with the character and, thus far, not much has been done. And while her appearance has always been in keeping with the exaggerated style used in comics for male and female heroes since, well, at least the 80s, it seems to have taken another step towards Hustler in this current incarnation.

  10. Damon1212 says:

    I suspect the large breasted women has more to do with the wants/desires of the artist than the wants and desires of the 15 year old target audience . . .

    • Damon,

      I’m with you on that 100%

      • mike weber says:

        My wife has looked at some comics (she isn’t really interested, and had never really looked at any before we met) and says that the average young male would be embarrassed to admit he’d never seen an actual nekkid gurl.

        But comic artists seem to like to brag that they haven’t.

        • Mike Gold says:

          Mike, check out how a lot of artists — and I mean a lot — simply get various bits of female anatomy wrong. Ankles and feet, necks and backs. This isn’t for sexual exaggeration — this is either lack of observation, or lack of somebody to observe.

          • Sean D. Martin says:

            Now, now, Mike. Ankles necks aren’t the important parts. Why should artists spend any time developing their craft working on those? As long as they get the tits and ass right, right?

        • To be fair tare are a great many artist who don’t play the T & A game. Most likely because they have some T&A at home to play with. NO-I’m NOT saying that women are playthings but I do like playing with them…a lot.

  11. Mike Gold says:

    Michael! Better quit while you can.