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Fans Turn The Tables On Sexism In Comic Books

Comic books aren't just for boys—and they haven't been for quite a while. Currently, 47% of comic-book readers are female, so it's disappointing that the industry is still so far behind when it comes to respecting women in comic books.

[caption id="attachment_167015" align="alignright" width="364"]Spider-Woman by Milo Manara, and one of his original drawings Spider-Woman by Milo Manara, and one of his original drawings[/caption]

Recently, a variant cover planned for Spider-Woman #1 depicted the arachnid heroine with her butt thrust so far in the air it defied anatomy—if not gravity. "What... IS... this?" asked Glamour's Megan Angelo. "I'm not even sure this is physically possible, and I'm very sure it's not advisable in intense superheroine situations... Is she trying to distract her enemies using her behind?"

Other critics blasted the drawing as pornographic. (It doesn't help that the artist, Milo Manara, is best known for his erotic drawings.)

Marvel eventually apologized for and yanked Manara's Spider-Woman cover, but it's hardly the first time mainstream comics have depicted women in ridiculous, back-breaking poses that are more "sex kitten" than "Strong Female Character."

In fact artist Greg Land, who's illustration will appear on the cover of  Spider-Woman #1, is often criticized for tracing porn screencaps to create images of female crime fighters.

With no real-world caped crusaders to right this wrong, ticked-off fans have taken to social media to combat sexism in comic books. The Hawkeye Initiative tumblr, for example, has a clear-cut mission: "How to fix every Strong Female Character pose in superhero comics: replace the character with Hawkeye doing the same thing." When you see how ridiculous the Avengers' archer looks in a skimpy thong with his tuchus above his head, it's hard not to see why people have a problem with the usual depictions of so-called "Strong Female Characters" in comics.

Ultimately, of course, the goal is to elevate depictions of women in comics, not bring men down to their level. But when you're dealing with a visual medium like comics, sometimes you have lay it out in black-and-white.

Or color, as the case may be.


Below, check out some submissions to The Hawkeye Initiative tumblr

catwoman

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