Unbound Edition - X-Women? Spiderwoman? She-Hulk?

Comic industry heavyweights, such as DC Comics and Marvel, are now targeting women. I say let men have their comics.

Once again, Japan is ahead of the curve. New U.S. comics targeting women are inspired by manga, translated Japanese comics. The female characters in manga are often understated, don’t have supernatural powers and are struggling with life’s problems. To me, this approach just sounds like “chick lit” in comic form.

Will it stick? The manga category in 2006 accounted for roughly two-thirds of all graphic novels sold in U.S. So, it might stick, but that doesn’t mean I agree with the approach. book stores resulting in an increase of nearly 15% from 2004. So, it might stick, but that doesn’t mean I agree with the approach.

I, on the other hand, stand behind “unisex” comics that aim to reach a smarter crowd, male and female, including Get Fuzzy and my personal favorite, Non-Sequitur.

Why do companies feel that in order to attract women they have to talk about “girl stuff?” Speak to me like an intelligent adult, and I will listen.

Dilbert
written by AMN, June 19, 2007 02:53 PM

Or Dilbert - where we realize that sometimes a dog (aka Dogbert) is more intelligent than us, men or women.

Back to Mars and Venus
written by Pat, June 19, 2007 03:38 PM

Men and women are again retreating to Mars and Venus respectively. Gone are the days of GI Jane, Transamerica, Boys Don't Cry and any other pop culture piece promoting an exploration of personal gender rather than conventional gender.

Maybe RuPaul and SNL's Pat scared everyone away.

Check out Sony's Bravia TV, marketed as the first television for men AND women. It's bullshit. The ads manipulate the different parts of their TV (which doesn't seem radically different from any other) and points out the parts appealing to men and the parts appealing to women, based very strictly on gender stereotypes. It's sick.