P.O.W.E.R. In Comics Call To Action

[lisaatneptune]

I'm glad you are here and I hope you invite some of your like-minded friends.

Now that we have a good start at growing our network, it's time to take some action. In order to get ourselves noticed we need to do more than just join an on-line network -- otherwise we're not much different than MySpace. This is a call for action! I'm looking for ideas that will grab attention and show the comic book industry that we're serious. Maybe a letter writing campaign where everyone sends in the letter along with a bra, or an offensive comic book cover that publisher released. Maybe a HUGE book drive that we all work on together and send the books to an inner city library somewhere. What do you think? Any ideas/suggestions? It's time to act!

[Ragnell the Foul]

I like the bra idea, actually. I was thinking of buying a sports bra last week and taking it to Wizardworld so I could give it to one of the panels as an example of what women's activewear actually looks like. I was going to hold it up and say "Gentlemen! Since its clear from your art that you've never seen one, this is what a sports bra looks like and there are several reasons it is built in this manner..." then run down the reasons.

[Tamora Pierce]

::whimper:: I'm sorry--I just don't have the, um, balls for this one.

I'm so ashamed . . .

[kalinara]

Hah. I like this one. A lot.

[Ginger Mayerson]

Yes, but darling, how would we ever top it? I mean, If POWER is gong to have impact then I think we need to do some image and community building. Something a little more boring like a book drive or letters to the Marvel board of directors or a comic shop action, where on one day we ask all women to go into a comic shop and by something. We could even pick a title to support on that day. Bras optional, of course.

[Ragnell the Foul]

Good point. I'm saving my convention idea though :)

[Ginger Mayerson]

And if it's a con I can get to, I'll be in your audience, cheering you on.

[Tamora Pierce]

I have been sending comics to a library program that supplies juvenile halls in Alameda County, California, and most recently, a medium security men's correctional facility here in Central New York, and they are a MAJOR hit at both locations, with the librarians begging for more. They are a big help with kids who are reluctant readers and inmates who are having difficulty reading, and there is less of a content issue with both facilities (though I do still take some care with the juvenile program). If you like, I can post addresses and directions here, or I can reach out to my contacts at both and see if they can recommend other such programs. The juvenile program is a national award-winner for its efforts to reach incarcerated youth, by the way!

[Ginger Mayerson]

I like the book drive idea. That'd make a good summer action and I have a few review copies around the house that could use better home.

[Ragnell the Foul]

Okay, I've got a real one. How about each month we vote on a piece of art or writing that is particularly praiseworthy. It can be anything from small stuff (like Tom Derenick putting Nightshade in a loose-fitting dress over in Shadowpact or someone managing to get Misty Knight's hair right) to huge stuff (like making the lineup on JLA or Avengers more racially diverse, or bringing a much-missed minority or female character back to life) and have everyone write a letter to the company in praise of that single good thing.

The big effect here is that we would ALL be praising the same thing, to let the company know that there is something to it.

Its easy, its inexpensive, its unusual in that its praising something, it keeps this community active (with nominations and voting) and with enough bulk it sends a strong message.

[Hazel]

This is an excellent idea. I've been thinking, ever since the recent controversies caused some readers to call for a boicott on Marvel, that we should channel all that blogosphere energy in both directions. At the same time, we need to be criticising the bad and praising the good. WFA is turning out to be something of a de facto barometer for the feminist comics blogosphere, and if we could get a week or even a couple of days when everyone is buzzing about how great the latest issue of Runaways or Fallen Angel is, that would be awesome.

Discussing a cover is also a good idea -- we should give more attention to that great Alex Ross cover of Power Girl that came out a while ago, in contrast with the truly awful JLA cover with the terrible anatomy and no facial expression. I recently did a post to similar effect here.

Recs lists are also great, and they could fuel more active interaction with the market. I don't think having an endorsed comic each month is a good idea -- we shouldn't be telling people what to like. However, if we have a list that covers a broad spectrum so everyone can find something to their taste, then each person can be telling her comic book store, or writing to the publisher, about how great these comics are. Not only are they getting positive feedback for good books, not only do they get a better and broader idea of what the female market is actually interested in, but the efforts are spread out over several books,not just one. A lot of people praise Birds of Prey, but sometimes I get the feeling that it's DC's token feminist title, a sort of "Read this and leave the rest of 'em alone" book.

I'm thinking of a carrot-and-stick approach, can you tell?

[Ragnell the Foul]

*Nod* WFA can be fun and interesting, and I've found new books that I like through it, but lately its been a bit overwhelming. The FCB (I'm tired of typing out Feminist Comics Blogosphere) has been more active than ever since the unbelievable backlash to the MJ complaints, and the Anti-FCB has been quick to freak out over the slightest analysis.

I was thinking we could have a round of nominations on the Forums, then vote on them. We can solicit nominations through our blogs, and get new members that way to vote. Once we've voted in the community, we write our letters and take the project to the blogs, encouraging other people to write letters on the event too. Repeat next month. This would be a fun way to balance the criticism without dismissing it.

Ideally, it would compliment the letter campaigns of organizations like Girl-Wonder.org by pointing out the right way to do things just as strongly. That way they have a better example of what path to go, and they aren't just tossing pleading editorials, romance writers, and wedding specials in the hopes of capturing the female audience.

[Ginger Mayerson]

A blogswarm, yes, and hopefully women will buy the title(s) because Marvel and DC only really respond to money.