DC Comics – Andi Marquette

UPDATE: Card and DC Comics

As some of you know, I blogged about DC Comics hiring openly anti-LGBT writer Orson Scott Card to write for its digital Superman series the other day. You can see that HERE.

Well, DC Comics has responded to the controversy over hiring Card to write on the digital Superman series. Here’s the gist, via The Advocate (link above):

. . .a company spokesman said, “As content creators we steadfastly support freedom of expression, however the personal views of individuals associated with DC Comics are just that — personal views — and not those of the company itself.

The spokesman also mentioned the new digital Adventures of Superman comic is an anthology series and would feature an ever-changing group of guest writers, of which Card would be one, and should not be confused with the long-running flagship titles Superman or Action Comics.

HMMMM.

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February 15, 2013February 15, 2013 by Andi Marquette Categories: Comics, Things that might make you thinkTags: DC Comics, Orson Scott Card 2 Comments

When the personal is political: DC Comics and Orson Scott Card

I was a comics freak back in the day. And then I kind of stopped reading/buying them during a long stretch of grad school and whatever else, but I followed comics news peripherally because I love superhero stuff and all the attendant angst they go through. Plus, I’ve developed an affinity for particular artists and writers.

A couple years ago, I started reading/collecting again. Most of my stable is DC-related, though I do have a Marvel series I’m following. That’s why when this particular bit of news hit, I was interested. And as expected, it has generated a lot of controversy.

The news: DC Comics has hired award-winning sci fi writer Orson Scott Card to write the latest Superman digital series. His book Ender’s Game has also been turned into a movie, starring Harrison Ford, which is forthcoming.

The issue: I have long since stopped supporting Card or his work because of his public anti-gay stances, and apparently, a lot of people have taken exception to DC’s hiring of him to write the storylines for Superman. A larger issue here, of course, is whether or not to take the personal beliefs of people into consideration when we purchase their books or go to their movies. We all make choices about those things, which is a wonderful thing. But I want to address this specific incident, since that’s the one in the news.

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February 12, 2013February 12, 2013 by Andi Marquette Categories: Comics, Things that might make you thinkTags: DC Comics, Orson Scott Card 15 Comments

FANGIRL! Birds of Prey

Hi, kids–

Quick Friday note. I’ve rediscovered comics, and I’ve been following DC’s Birds of Prey (one of a few series I follow).

Under the guidance of writer Duane Swierczynski, the Birds are kicking butt and taking names. Barbara Gordon, who some of you probably know as Oracle in earlier incarnations of the Birds is busy as Batgirl under Gail Simone’s writing chops. So Swierczynski paired Black Canary with a BRAND NEW character (is my understanding), and she had me at “hello” in the New 52’s version of Birds.

Starling (AKA Ev Crawford) is a mixture of streetwise and world-weary; cocky, assured, fun-loving and brash. From my reading of her, she’s got some issues under the surface (an ex-girlfriend [????] who makes an appearance in #5), but it’s still too soon to tell. She’s the hellraiser of the Birds bunch, balanced by Black Canary’s more pragmatic and steely side, along with the enigmatic Katana and the unpredictable Poison Ivy (who Starling refers to as “crazy plant lady” or “crazy salad lady”). I’m really digging Swierczynski’s work on this, creating a team of unlike but wholy likable characters (even crazy plant lady has some cool aspects) who manage to work together to kick some serious ass.

Starling already has a cult following. You can find her on Tumblr like here, here, here, and here and she gets lots of luuuv from fangirls and fanboys over there.

At any rate, I’m totally enjoying this series and it’s pretty much because of the Starling character. So if you like kick-ass women like that and you’re a comic geek, maybe give Birds a try.

source (re-sized here)