If not DC’s exact demographic, I probably come close: a guy in his early 40s with a job and a family, both amused and grateful that comics — basically, a happy childhood pastime — have grown up enough to keep my interest all these years later. I see guys like myself every time I shop at Midtown Comics in Manhattan, in far larger numbers than the adolescent fanboy set (or any women at all).

But think about what my demographic means. To keep my interest, the comics that I read (and I read a lot of them) need to meet some basic criteria. They need to preserve the childhood joys while simultaneously offering adult pleasures — better plots, dialogue and characterization than the Silver Age was capable of. Childlike and grownup at the same time — it must be a challenge for writers, which is why so many of them fail at it.

Michelle’s post, though, helps me understand the problem in more detail. After all, an industry (or company) that deliberately targets adolescent boys is going to miss me as much as it misses her. Sure, I share their Mittyesque fantasies of power; but it has been a long time since I shared their perverse objectification of women, as scary fetish objects or whatever else. It just isn’t enough to have show me a pretty girl in a tight outfit, and occasionally have her either in chains or bursting out of them. I’m looking for stories about credible people, with credible motives and relationships. (“Credible” apart from, y’know, the flying and heat vision….).

In other words, the same kind of writing that ticks off thoughtful women is going to tick off (or at least bore) thoughtful men, at least once we get out of our teens and start earning enough money to buy comics.

Mark: Thanks for dropping by. You’ve been busy! I’ve seen your name just about everywhere, and I’ve got to admire your courage in braving all these blogs and boards where emotions are running pretty high. It’s both reassuring to know that our concerns are reaching someone, and disconcerting to know that creators are listening in on our conversations ;-) Oh, and I’ve bought comics specifically because I enjoyed the creator’s online participation (White Tiger, most recently), so hanging out with us does pay off =)

Ami: that was my impression too. Thank you for coming by just to hear me *smiles* I’m really flattered, and more encouraged than ever to keep posting my own peculiar impressions on things. I would have posted sooner, but I only stumbled upon it by accident the day before. And that’s when my head exploded…!

Still, I guess we’ll see. I DO like the new artist tho IF he keeps drawing her like he drew her for the Holiday Special :) However, the writing has to match up. :|

Great post tho! I kept checking to see if you had written nething about this cuz I like your opinions and writing :D

That said, I do hope, regardless of your gender, you’ll check out issue 16 though. I think it’s a good story, and as Michelle pointed out, what I’ve seen of Ale Garza’s was encouraging both from a standpoint of quality and in terms of portraying Supergirl in a non-sexist way.

I’ve said this elsewhere, but at the very least the process of engaging in fans over the DC Nation column has been an extremely positive one for me, because I’ve been opened up to an entire world of message boards, blogs etc. (like this one) that I might not have been otherwise. As a writer, I’m glad to have that perspective, and also hopeful that when my next Image comic (HAZED, a dark comedy abour sororities and eating disorders, think Heathers or Mean Girls set in college) comes out, I’ll have an audience receptive to a book that I am very much hoping will appeal to women. (sorry for the self promotion…but it’s hard to get interest in a book that doesn’t have Marvel or DC on the cover).

Anyway, although I feel for Eddie because his heart is in the right place, I think the discussion here and elsewhere is an important one to have.

If I were Sable I’d be doing the same thing… but also alternately cursing and blessing Eddie Berganza. They’ve got their publicity out of Berganza’s amazingly clueless letter but most of it’s been negative. So Sable will be under extra scrutiny even while people anticipate what he’ll do. Living far away from a comic store guarantees I won’t be reading his first issue, but I’m looking forward to the results.

I think Michelle’s comments ably sum up a lot of that, too. And yeah, a couple of those Garza sketches are great. A big improvement over both Churchill and Turner’s versions.