see kyle draw

May 19, 2005

[homo superiour] ^{1:26 AM}

My post about E3 will have to wait (it's tentatively titled Boys Boys Boys or When do we eat?), as I've become momentarily enraged.

I read Young Avengers, and actually kinda love it. This is startling because I've never really cared for the Avengers in any incarnation before, and the idea of "Young Avengers" seems pretty idiotic. A lot of people apparently shared my feelings on the latter part, and everyone has been presently surprised at how fucking cool the book is. Alan Heinberg (and OC writer) has basically made a fanboy frolic and Jim Cheung's art is just amazing.

The Young Avengers are made up of 4 mysterious teenagers who emerge in New York with ties to previously existing heroes: Patriot ties into Captain America, Hulking and Iron Lad don't need much explanation and Asgardian is like Thor. We're in issue 4 now, and my gaydar (which doesn't exist in real life at all, but excells in print media) has been going crazy over Hulkling and Asgardian.

The letters page informs me I'm not alone in thinking this. The letters page also had this tidbit:

"[this book should not] explore the kids' identities — sexual or otherwise ... a superhero comic is not the platform to explore 'sexual identities,' especially for characters that are teenages. Comics were never meant to be an outlet for changing society's views of forcing sensative issues to be discussed among the readership. They are meant, first and foremost, to entertain in an all-ages type of manner." — James Meeley

First of all, big immature FUCK YOU to James Meeley.

Since when have comics been "all-ages?" The haven't been "all-ages" for at least 12 years, so that's some proof right there this guy is living under a rock. Also, "Comics were never meant to be an outlet for changing society's views," is a pretty sure-fire sign the man has no idea about comic book history, or any subtext existing in the genre. What is X-Men if not a tale of tolerance, one that can be extended beyond race, religion and sexuality? Am I wrong when I recall two poor immagrant Jews conjuring up Superman in the 1930's?

Comic books are basically the tales of odd-men out, and I'm sorry, but being a gay male teenager in America is about as "odd-man-out" as you can get.

I'm getting so much joy out of seeing this "relationship" in YA that I have no idea how some scared 14 year old in Wyoming is relishing it.

A while back Northstar, formerly of Alpha Flight joined the X-Men and came out of the closet. Now, I love Canadian men, but Northstar is retarded. Yet I'm still excited when he appears, and I was giddy reading the new Wolverine where he's a featured player.

It's hard enough getting a decent gay character in major label comics, so the prospect of getting a couple, a cute, powerful couple is ... small bits of me adore Heinberg. It almost makes up for The OC's crappy gay dealings (a closeted cheating father and temporary lesbian Marissa? Please).

Regardless of my age, I still want role models, and I'd like them to kick-ass, please.

Now, thankfully, Meeley's letter was printed in issue 3, and issue 4's letter column was everyone taking him to task, which was nice. Then I hopped onto google and searched more on the subject and got fucking freaked out by what I read. My favorite one began, "I disagree with homosexuality..."

While comic book nerds are indeed a divided clan (Superman vs. Wolverine. Discuss), we're a kinda-sorta family of misfits. Apparently I get to read all about earth shattering trysts (Jean Grey's dead! Scott's with Emma! and love affairs (Sexual tension between Diana and Kal El continues!) all over the place, but a functioning not in-your-face gay couple is shaking the walls?

Comic books. All-ages entertainment. Hey, remember back in '91 when Todd McFarlane's Spawn was the number one seller and launched a media empire? That book about that asassin who goes to Hell and has some battles with angels? Boy, 6 year olds LOVE them some Spawn.

There was an entire panel at Small Press last year about the need for all-ages comics. Comics FOR kids. My friend Scott runs a blog about it. Even the industry knows it's slim pickings out there.

Argh. Anger. Clouding. Ability. To. Write.

Just because there's a romance doesn't mean we're going to see torrid bedroom affairs.

People love saying things like "If you don't like what's on TV, change the channel," but does anyone actually DO it? If gay romance is part of a book you read, and you don't dig that, then shouldn't you just go "guess I'm not going to be reading this?"

Bah. So much in this world is completely fucked up and retarded, but Young Avengers is pretty damn rad.

I really enjoyed your post, Kyle. The truth be told I’ve been enamored with your blog for some time now. After stumbling upon some of your art pieces on the net I couldn’t help but fall utterly in love with them. I’ve been reading ever since. As for James Meeley, as you’ve pointed out, he’s ever so conveniently blinded himself to comic history with a bandana of ignorance. I hear that’s the style right now in homophobe circles.

Mr. Meeley’s first comment reveals how clueless he is. "[This book should not] explore the kids' identities — sexual or otherwise ...” um, what!? Isn’t the entire point of a story is to take a character, who admittedly is one dimensional upon introduction and by slowly kneading various aspects their personality such as fears, desires and interest and create a delicacy of a dynamic character? Superheroes are drama queens. Any writer and artist can make a battle scene or story, but it’s those bigger than life identities that draw us back month after month. Now, there are people who might point out that a sexual identity is different from other aspects of a characters personality and should be left out. Except that, comics have never done this. A love interest, or lack thereof, is a major part of a character. Imagine Superman without Louis Lane, Cyclops and Phoenix, Peter Parker and Mary Jane, Storm and Forge, Bishop, Khan…etc. All of these characters had their sexuality and love interest explored. It’s funny how things suddenly don’t transfer over when the character might be gay. Oh, and remember that Peter Parker was also a teenager when he started out. That didn’t stop Stan Lee and Jack Kirby from bringing in Gwen Stacy.

Jame Meeley wants us to believe he’s the prophet of comicdom. “Comics were never meant to be an outlet for changing society's views of forcing sensitive issues to be discussed among the readership.” He knows what comics were meant for, since of course, he was there at there founding. How can we argue with one of the great fathers of the graphic novel? Oh wait…he wasn’t there at their creation nor is he a founder. The charlatan! I agree that comics are meant to entertain. Except that, it is their subject matter that’s entertaining. Captain America’s patriotism, the X-Men and racial oppression, Wonder Woman and feminism, Batman and insanity, the Inhumans and isolationism, all of these are controversial issues. To take these out is to rip the heart and soul of some of our beloved characters. We love these stories because they entertain; they do this by amazing us, by leaving lingering thoughts of lives we could only dream of. By making us think.

Kyle, you captured it perfectly when you said, “First of all, big immature FUCK YOU to James Meeley.” That’s all he really deserves for the sheer stupidity of his comment. Anyway, I’ll keep reading every day. From a fellow video-game-loving-comic-book-reading-sci fi-watching gay geek, bye! Oh, btw, you’re cute.

*poof*
-Fabian

Posted by: Fabian at May 19, 2005 3:34 AM

Well, first off, I want to thank you for bringing this topic up. The worst that that can happen for anyone putting out a viewpoint is indifference. So, I thank you for briing it up.

Secondly, as my wife noted my original letter was cut short for space. Thus, it seems more focused on the gay aspect than the original really was. Actually, the full version about about how ANY form of sexual exploration (Hetro, Homo, whatever) doesn't bvelong in comics aimed at kids (which YA surely is). That why I actually wrote a follow-up letter to those who commented in YA #4 (hopefully that one won't get edited as badly as my first one).

And, you might find this funny, but I agree with you, that all-ages comics HAVE been moving away from the type of content they should address for a while now. But that only speaks directly to my issue. It's a war of inches. You let the content of Spawn slip by, then you get all-ages books slowly inject more of that content in. Then, before you know it, the book is no longer for all ages.

I have no problem with wanting to explore sexuality or any kind, or other more sensitive and mature topics. Comics are an artform and allow for that. But to package that kind of stuff in a kid's wrapper isn't right. And that's what I'm taking issue with.

Posted by: James Meeley at May 19, 2005 5:30 PM

Now, if you are a parent and have no problem allowing your kids to view that type of material, that's fine and completely your call as the parent. But not everyone will feel that way. Are they to be ignored and have their own choice as the parent taken away by comic creators and publishers, or liberal-minded fans, like yourself, who thinkn they know so much better? I don't think so.

If you want to write all-ages type of comics (such as the superheroes of Marvel and DC are meant to be), then you have to know as a writer the constraints of doing that. If you can't or won't tailor your writing to fit that, then don't wok on those types of books. Seems really easy. It's a great big comic industry out there, where you can write about anything you want. There's tons of indy titles and smaller publishers who would love ofr people to check out what they do. Why should Spider-Man or the Justice League be molded into less all-ages than they were meant to be?

And what's really sad, is that by squeezing out the younger fans with material that is inappropropriate for them, they make being able to reach that audience all the more difficult. Maybe if older fans who have outgrown the heroes of their youth moved on to other series that will suit their changing tastes, instead of expecting the all-ages heroes to "mature" along with them, that wouldn't be happening.

I don't think I'm the "prophet of comicdom". I'm just someone who's noticed a trend in comic that used to be able to be enjoyed by the youngest of readers suddenly no longer being so. I let my feeling be know to someone who I saw stating something that would further push suh comics away from younger readers. If someone doesn't agree with me, that's fine. Not everyone agrees with everyone else. But to resort to childiness, such as you displayed really doesn't do anything, save to make you look like a petty-minded person and make comic fans look like the stereotypical "smelly fanboys" so many non-readers think they are.

Posted by: James Meeley at May 19, 2005 5:42 PM

As fo me, I refuse to stoop to the level you did here. It serves no purpose to do so. And notice, that no where in my letter (edited as it was) did I insult of degrade anyone who didn't agree wih me. That wasn't by accident. You see, I can have respect for those who don't agree with me. I'm just sorry you aren't so inclined that way yourself.

And that's one of the funniest things I have noticed about all of this. In the rush to show how "open-minded" they are, folks like yourself are the ones who are truly showing themselves as the intolerant ones. Because I'm willing to accept that my view won't be "the right one" for everyone and allow people to feel however they want, without the seeming need to insult them for it.

In the end, I've gotten what I wanted. I made my viewpoint know to those who I thought needed to hear it (that being Marvel and Heinberg). Anything that comes after that is simply gravy for me. Heck, I've even had some folks tell me that my points are "well taken" (including Heinberg himself). If ranting and insulting someone you don't even know helps you work through your inability to discuss the topic like a rational-minded person, then I wish you the best with that. I hope that it helps you feel better. Just remember, just because you might side with the "popular opinion" doesn't make you right, nor does it make you "open-minded". How you conduct yourself with those you don't agree with does that.

Thanks again, for the exposure and chance for me to further explain my viewpoint.

Best,

James Meeley

Posted by: James Meeley at May 19, 2005 5:52 PM

May 19, 2005

[homo superiour] 1:26 AM

[homo superiour] ^{1:26 AM}