I just read the whole archive today. I am very excited to see a new comic! Wonderful comic work, I completely get it. Your style has improved so much as well over the last few years, your current linework is so crisp.
Once again you’ve nailed the facial expressions, Ms Rebecca.
Also, I am reminded of something I came across yesterday–the Hawkeye Initiative (http://thehawkeyeinitiative.com/). I think you (collectively–Rebecca & readers) might be amused by it.
I caught up… Nooo… This is so funny and now I’m addicted. I like how you make Gyno-Star and Sappho flawed, and not only just from evildoers’ contraptions. 😀
In my experience, people usually look at their best when they are not posing. There’s an attraction in natural truth that’s very hard to fake. Asking permission ha to be done after the fact if you are to get the best shots. And, of course, you’d have to act on a refusal by deleting the picture from the camera.
I dunno if this is a bad thing to say or not, but this kind of thing in a feminist web comic strikes me as very strange. Most feminists I know are constantly throwing a fit about judging people by appearance (unless it’s odd looking guys, in which case, it’s often OK as long as you can point to some minor thing and claim he’s a sexist asshole, even though your present boyfriend is twice as bad in that regard… *smirk smirk*), but this comic jokes about it very other stripe.
On the other hand, it seems to be a sort of “ironic” satire of how many feminists do exactly that: “Appearances shouldn’t matter! Now gimmie a minute, I have to figure out what to wear and put on my make-up.” This is good to my mind, since it is more realistic than just trying to bludgeon it into people that appearances don’t matter while ignoring the fact that they do and the person doing the bludgeoning is frequently as guilty as anyone else.
Am I making sense or am I coming across as an asshole?
I’m not sure why it strikes you as strange. Women face a lot of pressure to meet an arguably impossible beauty ideal. They’re also valued by society based on how close they can get to that ideal. It’s important for feminists to point out how women are often only valued for their looks. To be honest, I don’t appreciate the way you say that feminists are “throwing a fit” about it. Maybe they’re just tired of having their whole worth determined by their appearance? Maybe they’re tired of having their natural bodies judged as deficient? Those are valid concerns and I don’t think speaking up about them constitutes “throwing a fit.”
My apologies, I did not intend to belittle speaking up against society’s conceptions, it was simply a phrase that rolls off the tongue well so to speak.
It occurs to me now that I think I saw something (referred to me by a feminist if that matters any) that “throwing a fit” is a stereotypical phrase used in reference to women, so I perhaps I should have thought of that before using it. Though in my defense I use the phrase willy-nilly in reference to both sexes, animals such as my cat this very minute yelling their heads off because it’s feeding time, computers having errors, my car when it makes a noise, etc. Doesn’t mean I don’t take it seriously.
I guess what I am saying is that my primary feminist contact is usually to the effect of “society is wrong to judge people by appearances, period”, not the approach you have shown of “society is wrong to judge people by appearances, but here is my main character showing that even she cannot stop fretting about her hair.” To me that sort of thing shows a human aspect, that we know this is what we want and how we want it, but we cannot simply flip a switch and say “I don’t care what anyone else thinks, I’m going to do what I think is right”, but I imagine some would not view that sort of thing favorably and would prefer more of a “strong female character” who doesn’t bow to society’s pressures. (Whatever the hell a arbitrary and subjective term like “strong female character” is supposed to mean to individual people.)
In conclusion, please understand that I realize that society places great pressure on women to be a certain way (yay media) and I do not argue against speaking out against it. I am just surprised to see your take on it given my experience with feminists thus far.
Though I do not expect much of a response, I will try to see if some of the feminists I know can be persuaded to read your work.
Those of whom I speak somewhat humorously consider comics to be something for men, along with video games and sports, so I do not expect much results. On the other hand, I do think at least one who does not actually label herself feminist but is effectively in that category might enjoy it though.
Sorry for the wall of text here. I tend to go on and on online, in an attempt to make sure people understand my view, but it frequently seems to just provide extra opportunities for misunderstandings, so I should probably stop and just agree with you. ;D
It occurred to me yesterday after writing the above that a feminist character who walks around in skin-tight spandex, high heels, and worries about her hair, pokes fun at feminists kind of the same way as the characters in the Big Bang Theory poke fun at nerds and dweebs.
In retrospect this kind of strikes me as obvious, and asks the question of why I would consider it any stranger than other forms of comedy, and then it occurred to me why: This is effectively the first overtly feminist form of comedy I have really come across.
So, thank you for that. You have provoked some actual thought in me, which many argue doesn’t happen often. I’m going to shut up now.
Yeah. I just figured that if he thought she wasn’t the real Gynostar, then he shouldn’t have had the same standards for her. Sort of like Raj’s story about a 200lb “Sailor Moon” at Comic-Con.
… I think I know that guy.
“Your boobs are freakin’ tiny! Wanna go out with me?” Fool! Everyone knows it’s supposed to be phrased as if it were a compliment to confuse and mesmerise the females!
Discussion (44) ¬
I just read the whole archive today. I am very excited to see a new comic! Wonderful comic work, I completely get it. Your style has improved so much as well over the last few years, your current linework is so crisp.
Once again you’ve nailed the facial expressions, Ms Rebecca.
Also, I am reminded of something I came across yesterday–the Hawkeye Initiative (http://thehawkeyeinitiative.com/). I think you (collectively–Rebecca & readers) might be amused by it.
Thanks, Mara! I love the Hawkeye Initiative. Everybody should check it out for some lulz.
Thank you so much, Bettina! I’m glad you like it and I hope you’ll keep reading!
You have earned a long term fan, Rebecca. 🙂
Is Sam cosplaying Feminist Hulk behind her? Because that’s appropriately awesome. 😀
Yes, she is! I was going to have her wear a wig and be She-Hulk, but that didn’t seem like Sam.
Aaaaaand…that guy probably hasn’t had a girlfriend in a while if he says stuff like that on a regular basis.
Or does he say stuff like that because he can’t get a girlfriend?
It’s a vicious cycle!
Great! Loved it!
I caught up… Nooo… This is so funny and now I’m addicted. I like how you make Gyno-Star and Sappho flawed, and not only just from evildoers’ contraptions. 😀
Thanks, Shinashi! I hope you keep reading!
…
…
Does this call for violence…
I don’t know. But he might have trouble cleaning his camera until he gets to A & E…
So…does she ever actually take that costume off? Or at least, have a few copies?
Please let that guy be a supervillain so that Gyno-Star can kick the crap out of him!!!
At least the [can’t think of a good adjective] had the decency to ask permission. Cosplay creepshots aren’t cool.
If in doubt, the correct term is, has always been, and shall always be…. Dard-narbler.
In my experience, people usually look at their best when they are not posing. There’s an attraction in natural truth that’s very hard to fake. Asking permission ha to be done after the fact if you are to get the best shots. And, of course, you’d have to act on a refusal by deleting the picture from the camera.
I dunno if this is a bad thing to say or not, but this kind of thing in a feminist web comic strikes me as very strange. Most feminists I know are constantly throwing a fit about judging people by appearance (unless it’s odd looking guys, in which case, it’s often OK as long as you can point to some minor thing and claim he’s a sexist asshole, even though your present boyfriend is twice as bad in that regard… *smirk smirk*), but this comic jokes about it very other stripe.
On the other hand, it seems to be a sort of “ironic” satire of how many feminists do exactly that: “Appearances shouldn’t matter! Now gimmie a minute, I have to figure out what to wear and put on my make-up.” This is good to my mind, since it is more realistic than just trying to bludgeon it into people that appearances don’t matter while ignoring the fact that they do and the person doing the bludgeoning is frequently as guilty as anyone else.
Am I making sense or am I coming across as an asshole?
I’m not sure why it strikes you as strange. Women face a lot of pressure to meet an arguably impossible beauty ideal. They’re also valued by society based on how close they can get to that ideal. It’s important for feminists to point out how women are often only valued for their looks. To be honest, I don’t appreciate the way you say that feminists are “throwing a fit” about it. Maybe they’re just tired of having their whole worth determined by their appearance? Maybe they’re tired of having their natural bodies judged as deficient? Those are valid concerns and I don’t think speaking up about them constitutes “throwing a fit.”
My apologies, I did not intend to belittle speaking up against society’s conceptions, it was simply a phrase that rolls off the tongue well so to speak.
It occurs to me now that I think I saw something (referred to me by a feminist if that matters any) that “throwing a fit” is a stereotypical phrase used in reference to women, so I perhaps I should have thought of that before using it. Though in my defense I use the phrase willy-nilly in reference to both sexes, animals such as my cat this very minute yelling their heads off because it’s feeding time, computers having errors, my car when it makes a noise, etc. Doesn’t mean I don’t take it seriously.
I guess what I am saying is that my primary feminist contact is usually to the effect of “society is wrong to judge people by appearances, period”, not the approach you have shown of “society is wrong to judge people by appearances, but here is my main character showing that even she cannot stop fretting about her hair.” To me that sort of thing shows a human aspect, that we know this is what we want and how we want it, but we cannot simply flip a switch and say “I don’t care what anyone else thinks, I’m going to do what I think is right”, but I imagine some would not view that sort of thing favorably and would prefer more of a “strong female character” who doesn’t bow to society’s pressures. (Whatever the hell a arbitrary and subjective term like “strong female character” is supposed to mean to individual people.)
In conclusion, please understand that I realize that society places great pressure on women to be a certain way (yay media) and I do not argue against speaking out against it. I am just surprised to see your take on it given my experience with feminists thus far.
Though I do not expect much of a response, I will try to see if some of the feminists I know can be persuaded to read your work.
Those of whom I speak somewhat humorously consider comics to be something for men, along with video games and sports, so I do not expect much results. On the other hand, I do think at least one who does not actually label herself feminist but is effectively in that category might enjoy it though.
Sorry for the wall of text here. I tend to go on and on online, in an attempt to make sure people understand my view, but it frequently seems to just provide extra opportunities for misunderstandings, so I should probably stop and just agree with you. ;D
Hey, Bob. I apologize if I misunderstood your comment. I appreciate your sharing your thoughts!
Here’s some food for thought:
It occurred to me yesterday after writing the above that a feminist character who walks around in skin-tight spandex, high heels, and worries about her hair, pokes fun at feminists kind of the same way as the characters in the Big Bang Theory poke fun at nerds and dweebs.
In retrospect this kind of strikes me as obvious, and asks the question of why I would consider it any stranger than other forms of comedy, and then it occurred to me why: This is effectively the first overtly feminist form of comedy I have really come across.
So, thank you for that. You have provoked some actual thought in me, which many argue doesn’t happen often. I’m going to shut up now.
Man! That’s some tough standards for a guy who couldn’t get the She-Hulk standing behind her.
Internet/TV/Celebrity standards are different than everyday standards….
Yeah. I just figured that if he thought she wasn’t the real Gynostar, then he shouldn’t have had the same standards for her. Sort of like Raj’s story about a 200lb “Sailor Moon” at Comic-Con.
Oops, forgot to site my reference to “The Big Bang Theory” for an example. Just in case people read this who don’t watch that show.
It won’t be an authentic comic con experience until some dumbass dudebro accuses her of being a “fake geek girl”…
That always my fav joke, you can’t be who your really are 😀
… I think I know that guy.
“Your boobs are freakin’ tiny! Wanna go out with me?” Fool! Everyone knows it’s supposed to be phrased as if it were a compliment to confuse and mesmerise the females!
I see you are a skilled and experienced PUA.
Why does he want to take a picture of her in her costume? Why not just wear the clothes he already has on? =OP
Badum-tss! 😀
Honestly, is she ever going to run into a guy who *doesn’t* think that he’s lived long enough? The amount of rudeness she deals with is INSANE.