This is unsettling and upsetting for pretty much all the normal reasons. But it's also hard to stomach because in Rat Queens, Roc Upchurch and Kurtis J. Wiebe created a cast of strong, no bulls*it women who approach life with a take no prisoners attitude. So how can a man who seems to enjoy writing and drawing such amazing women also be one who seems to like to put them in their place? It's very difficult to reconcile.
I read Rat Queens because Sharon and Andi both loved it. And it IS a lot of fun. It's full of swashbuckling heroines, swords for hire, lots of bar fights, and a very random cast of characters. It's also the first comic I think I've read that probably fits most people's perception of comics (except that it features women in the main roles, so maybe not). I admit that at first I was a little overwhelmed by all the bad language and the rest. (To be clear, this didn't upset me because it was women swearing and doing all the rest - just because I don't usually read books that have so much of that going on.) But the characters are so fun and the jokes so good, I got over that fast.
These four ladies are mercenaries, though. Swords for hire. And while fighting, they dress like this:
I mean, come on. The only one who looks remotely ready for a fight is Violet, second from the left. And she is probably wearing knee-high stiletto boots.
Honestly, I don't know what else to say about this series. I think it's fun to read, but I also feel like it's a lie, and that it was maybe just created because girl power is "on-trend" and that at least one of the creators doesn't really believe the message he's sending. But maybe the other people involved really do care and want to bring great stories to life. Should I continue reading a series written by someone who can do such horrible things and then justify them with a "she deserved it" bravado? I don't know! What do you do in situations like this?
Update: Writer Kurtis Wiebe made a statement on the news and said that the series will continue on, without Roc Upchurch as illustrator. He specifically said, "I want to write stories about women that I see in my everyday life, about friendship and to make comics that include and embrace diversity." Sounds like a plan. I'm on-board.
Well, #$%@.
ReplyDeleteI don't want to curse in your comics, so that's about all I have to say for right now.
@#$%ing *&$!
I meant comments, not comics. I'm sorry, I'm pretty upset.
DeleteUnderstood. I am pretty upset, too.
Delete"In his response to the allegations, he said that his attack was justified." Argh, argh, argh. I added this to my wishlist recently and now I don't know if I can read it without being too suspicious of the narrative. Normally if something like this surfaces about someone whose work I already love, I can sort of separate my love for the thing they made from them and carry on finding it personally meaningful despite its creator (even if I may then decided not to support them with purchases anymore). But if I'm coming to a work for the first time, it colours how I see it. I've seen this series compared to Lumberjanes, so I think I'll just read that instead.
ReplyDeleteYes, that's so true! I assume that's how a lot of people feel about Orson Scott Card, whom I cannot bring myself to read because of things he's said.
DeleteAlso, edited to add that he said it was justified because he said she hit him first to present a clearer picture of the situation. But he hit her a whole lot more. It's about who has the power and the means, not who started it.
DeleteI hadn't heard of this series before reading this post and even while reading I'm intrigued by the idea but I feel like I shouldn't read it now as I think it will colour my experience a lot and I'm not sure I want that. I might just go for Lumberjanes instead like Ana said. Reading would be so much easier if people could just not do stuff like this! If only the world were so simple. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteI definitely plan to read Lumberjanes, too, if I can find it! The title alone sounds promising.
DeleteAnd I agree - we really need to teach boys from an early age to respect women.
Okay, I'm back, and this breaks my freaking heart because it's so good. These characters are all human and different--it IS very comic booky, but that's what's great about it--it's good all the stuff to love about classic, magic-and-battle comics, only with girls. I won't argue about the hot chick costuming, although I'll point out that there are a bunch of women of different looks and sizes, and even the not-convenionally-hot ones get lucky. It treats all these women like PEOPLE, which is amazing.
ReplyDeleteAnd then there's this. And my first thought is "well, he's not the writer!" But he's the co-creator--he gets fully half credit. And from there I can't. I mean, his statement--his version of "damage control"--is just so much worse. It isn't even canned or him mouthing platitudes--it's so much worse than that. It reminds me of Gary Oldman saying "everybody thinks those things but doesn't say them," as though his only failing is letting his ugliness slip out where people could see it.
I have no idea what I'm going to do about this. I've been recommending this to everyone whose paths I've crossed, and I still feel like, standing alone, it's a valuable (and fun! so fun) piece of art. I have no idea how to reconcile that with my feelings abbout him. I have no idea what to do. I'm seriously bereft right now.
You're right - at least half the women in the foursome are not overly buxom and they seem to get along just fine. And in this one, the jail-KEEPER is a black guy, and he is awesome and also a primary romantic interest for one of the rat queens. That is all very positive stuff.
DeleteSituations like this are hard! And they happen a lot. For example, the NFL, which doesn't appear to care at all about men who beat their girlfriends. And who knows what is going on with Bill Cosby?! If those allegations are true, that would seriously shatter me. And so many more of our favorite authors and artists and musicians through history all had feet of clay. I think if you love the series so much, then maybe you try to separate the art from its (co-) creator. I don't know if that's possible now, but maybe the good that comes from this is that he helps raise a great, strong population of women who are strong enough and confident enough and value themselves enough not to stand for that behavior.
I guess if I was in this situation, it would really come down to what you mentioned at the end. Does the work seem authentic or does it seem like it was made because this is what is "in" right now? If it seems authentic, I would credit all of that to the other guy, check these out from the library so that the abuser doesn't get my money, and try to not obsess while I'm reading. Maybe it would help to imagine all of these women hitting him first? :P
ReplyDeleteIt DID feel authentic when I read it. But now, it just feels so different! I mean, how can you create a series that features women who LITERALLY FIGHT BACK (and often hit first) and then turn around and beat your ex-wife? I just can't reconcile those two.
DeleteWell, I just found Wiebe's statement (http://kurtiswiebe.com/2014/11/21/my-statement-on-the-rat-queens-news/) and it sounds like it was authentic for him and that he wants to regain that for the fans with a new artist.
DeleteOk if it continues without him, then the better
ReplyDeleteEven if, like Ana said, you can still find personal meaning in the book, I'm sure you won't be able to discard a nagging doubt. Still, I think it'll be interesting to know how this "external" event will affect the story and characters - for that alone I'm tempted to start reading it the series!
ReplyDelete