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Mediawatch
By Christopher Butcher.
Someone is Watching the Watchmen...
. . . Sexy Comics on TV . . .
I've long said that Canadian TV is the best TV in the world.
Now I can back that up.
Toronto Canada's CityTV (www.citytv.com)
produces numerous half-hour info/journal shows on various subjects
including Music (MusicTelevision), Fashion (FT- Fashion Television),
Multimedia (MediaTelevision) and Gay Culture (QT- Queer Television).
In the world of television, CityTV are considered world leaders
in style, content and innovation. Last year they hit the airwaves
with SexTV, a half hour show about the wide ranging world of sex.
Well, last week they turned the spotlight onto sex… and comic
books!
It was a generally accurate, mostly informative look about sex
and how's it's portrayed in comics. It seemed a little sparse
overall, but only because it was so ambitious in it's coverage.
Looking at the origins of sex in comics, the enactment of the
Comics Code Authority, the development of erotic comics for women,
and where the form is at today. It featured interviews with industry
notables Gary (Fantagraphics) Groth, Trina (From Girls to Grrrlz)
Robbins, and many more.
You can view the SexTV site at www.sextelevision.com.
And hey, ask your local network affiliate why they aren't showing
you erotic comics on television…
. . . Marvel Comics, c/o Stan the Man! . . .
In a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, Stan Lee "..
mused openly about buying the comic-book company where he worked
for 50 years." You guessed it, Stan is thinking about buying Marvel
Comics.
The article mentioned some pretty interesting figures to boot.
Stan's newly created web-media company, Stan Lee Media, is worth
an estimated $224 million, while Marvel Comics is only estimated
to be work $193 million or so (and hey, let's not forget about
the debt!). Stan's stock is trading at around 16 dollars, whilst
Marvel's stock is hovering around the 6 dollar mark.
Not sure how I feel about this myself. On the one hand, it'd
be good to see a creator of the Marvel Universe back in control
of the Marvel Universe. On the other hand, this comment by Peter
Paul, one of the money men at Stan Lee Media worries me…
"Look at it this way. You have a creator who created the most
popular universe of super-heroes in the world, who never had an
equity interest in his creations. It's natural for him to fantasize
about what it would be like if someday he could own his creations."
Another suit that doesn't know that Stan only co-created the
Marvel Universe, along with a guy named Jack Kirby and a lot of
talented people that were there at the beginning (Steve Ditko
for example). Real change? Doubtful, no matter who's in charge...
. . . Devin Grayson, The New Comics 'It' Girl . . .
She's turning up everywhere these days. She's writing some of
the most high-profile books at DC Comics. CNN reprinted an interview
she did. And now USA TODAY is talking about comics writer Devin
Grayson.
In an article that starts off with the typical comics-related
headline "BAM! ZAP! Comics…" but ends with a serious message about
the changing nature and face of comics, Devin Grayson is held
up as a shining example of the changes. A young, female writer
with very modern sensibilities takes over the reigns of Batman,
of all things. And a black penciller! I dunno, it all sounds a
bit gee-gosh-wow for my tastes, but I was shocked after reading
it to realize just what a positive compliment it was on the creative
side of the comics industry.
Web-zine Sequential Tart (www.sequentialtart.com)
also got a nice nod in the article, and Tart Editor Karon Flage
got in a nice quote about the new types of stories being told
(and also, the nature of reporting on comics by the media): "Writers
and artists are always going to bring their own experiences to
the table. Different ideas are going to occur to you if you are
a woman or a man or a black man. There are many different ways
to tell a story. 'Pow!' and 'Bang!' aren't always the point."
You can check out the article at http://www.usatoday.com/life/dcovmon.htm.
. . . PopImage In The News . . .
I take a small amount of pleasure in the fact that PopImage originally
broke the story of Apollo and Midnighter's homosexuality, lo those
many months ago. I mean, we didn't write the issues, and it took
Warren Ellis actually confirming it on his forum for anything
to really come of it. But, PopImage's short-lived news section
(which incidentally MediaWatch replaces…) was the first place
to accurately and completely report it. To further involve PopImage,
editorial consultant Andrew Wheeler wrote one of the more stirring
and passionate short essay's on the subject, both on Warren Ellis'
forum and a separate one here at PopImage.
Well, the story ain't over yet.
As reported in Mediawatch last month, the London Times recently
did a human-interest story on these two star-crossed lovers and
new series writer Mark Millar. Well, it turns out that story was
picked up and distributed internationally with various touches
and spins being put on it. Norwegian daily newspaper Dagbladet
picked up the story and put it online. But more interesting to
PopImage readers, the article also quotes… PopImage Editorial
Consultant Andrew Wheeler. For those of you that can't read Norwegian,
the article is translated below. We'd like to thank Gaute Remman Gunleiksrud for translating the article for us. Thanks Gaute!
"Superhomoheroes
There has always been something special about spandex-clad
musclemen. Now two of them have a relationship.
They are called Apollo and the Midnighter. Two stalwart men with
bodies that would make the Phantom, Superman and Batman moan in
a mix of admiration and envy. Both Apollo and the Midnighter have
superpowers, are 100% willing to risk life and limbs to save the
earth, and dress in cape and tights. In other words they have
a lot in common with other superheroes. But while the Phantom
has his Diana, Superman his Lois Lane, Apollo and the Midnighter
have… each other.
"Yes, that's right. Apollo and the Midnighter have a relationship.
And so what?"
That was the comment of Warren Ellis, the man who until now has
written the script for the comic book THE AUTHORITY. So
what? In a universe where the inhabitants hardly have a sex life
it is rather radical to present two male heroes who obviously
feel something for each other. And it isn't some obscure underground
comic, but a big comic published by DC Comics, who also publishes
stories about Superman, Batman and Wonder woman.
"A gay superhero has never been made before. It is looked upon
as one of the last taboos. The whole idea about superheroes is
that they shall fight for the weak and oppressed, so I can't understand
why we shouldn't have gay superheroes," said Mark Millar who takes
over the writing task after Ellis, to the [London] Sunday Times.
Much of THE AUTHORITY takes place on spaceship in orbit
around the earth. This is the headquarters of the Authority, a
group of superheroes who watch over and look after the earth.
The Midnighter and Apollo are two of the members, who all have
different powers. While the Midnighter is super-strong and extremely
intelligent - before getting into a fight he envisions the fight
thousand of times - Apollo gets his powers from the sun and can
fly and breath in outer space.
Another thing that separates the Authority from other comics,
is that their enemies will be of the more real kind. In the next
issue Apollo throws Indonesian president to the masses in East-Timor
and later the whole supergroup will go to Tsjetsjenia to throw
out the Russians. But all the talk about the series is caused
by the relationship between Apollo and the Midnighter.
So far it's been limited to a kiss on the cheek or a hug now
and then. In the next issue Miller will throw the closet doors
wide open and let the boys make out in public at a party. But
still he says that their sexual preferences are of minor importance.
"It's in the background. Apollo and the Midnighter are just like
other superheroes, the fight crime and save the world. The difference
is that when their adventures are over they crawl into bed together,
kiss each other or give each other a hug. We have gay characters
in TV series and movies, so why not in comics?"
The response from the audience has been overwhelming. And most
fans regard the gay issue as anything but unimportant. In a comment
to Ellis' "So what?" statement fan Andrew Wheeler answers:
"What do you mean by 'So what?" Have you any idea what it would
have meant to me when I was 15 years old? Do you understand in
what way this might influence gay teenagers who read the comic?
Young gay kids today can look at them and say 'Hey! I can be Batman!
I can be Superman!'. How fucking cool is that?"
So far the Authority is only available in special shops here,
but Knut Sverre Røang, leader of LLH (Norwegian organization for
Gay liberation) thinks that a translation would have a positive
effect in Norway.
"Anything that can help change the attitude is good. I think
a comic like this would have a positive effect among young people,
where the attitude towards gay people has become worse the last
ten years. By showing the problem one creates a change in attitude,
says Røang."
Dagbladet 10/3-00
Erik W. Alver"
Christopher Butcher is Columns Editor for PopImage.
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