“Heroes, Villains, and Me” is a periodic article on Geeky KOOL by Larry Litle about the world of comic books and my reaction to it. “Heroes, Villains, and Me” is not a comic book review article. I will write about current events, speculation and rumors, or my own wacky thoughts about the world of comic books.
Last week news sweep over Geekdom about Frank Cho leaving his new job creating the variant cover art for Wonder Woman. According to Bleeding Cool, Cho was hired to draw the Wonder Woman variant covers for the first year of DC’s Rebirth. Because Wonder Woman is a twice a month comic, he was scheduled for 24 covers. He quit after only six issues. Cho claimed that Wonder Woman writer, Greg Rucka, pushed for the editing and censorship of his art. He believes Rucka had DC change the alternative covers to censor him.
This caused people to pick sides in this battle. Many in the Comic Industry joined in with their voices. Twitter became overburden with comments supporting #TeamCho and #TeamRucka.
As a red blood America straight male, I have an appreciation for Frank Cho’s art. He draws beautiful and sexy female characters. His heroines and female villains are gorgeous.
I am also a father of children. I have a seven year old son and a Fifteen year old daughter. How I view comic book art is filtered through my lenses as a father.
When my daughter was much younger, she loved Supergirl. Supergirl was the KOOLest and awesome heroine. I started my daughter with a subscription to the Pre-New 52 Supergirl. But things became a bit more complex that I had imagined.
There was a problem with that version of Supergirl. DC Comic had made her costume more sexy that it was when I was a kid. She was no longer the handband wearing pre-Crisis Supergirl. She was a different character with sex appeal. She had a mid-drift on this costume. It depended on who was drawing Supergirl and writing her stories on how appropriate it was for an eight year old girl. My wife and I would examine each comic to ensure it was safe for my daughter.
I have an appreciation for DC Comics desiring to make their comics appropriate for all ages. You can write interesting stories with beautiful looking characters like Wonder Woman while still making them appropriate for all ages. But if DC decided they loved the sexy art, then it would be their choice. After all, they own the company and they can determine what they desire for their art in their books.
For me, I make choices. I chose to buy comics based on the story and art. If the comics are too sexy, then I make a choice not to buy it. I don’t want to buy something I don’t want my kids to see.
I don’t need to decide what others chose to buy. If they want to buy comics that are sexy or adult oriented, that is their choice. I have no problems with Frank Cho art or any other sexy art. My friend, David Faught, is a wonderful artist who draws very sexy ladies.
I have no issue with DC editing art that will go on and in their comics. If Greg Rucka desires to change how their comics look, then that is his prerogative. If Frank Cho feels slighted by the editing and censorship of his art, and he did, then he has the right to no longer work for them. It is all about choice and what works better for that person.
I wish both Frank Cho and Greg Rucka well. They are both very talented individuals. It is too bad this arrangement didn’t work better for the both of them.
Stay Geeky My Friends!
