In my weekly column on Newsarama, Hey, That’s My Cape!,  I talk about pretty much anything having to do with comics. This week I had to start my column with the words, “It’s a tough time to be a woman who likes superhero comics.”

I’m fortunate to know a diverse group of people whose eyes are open to what’s going on in the world around us. Sexism, not just in comic books, but in the media at large. Of course comics are my main focus and something that has been in the news even more as of late.

People wonder why women like myself get so angry when we see things like this happen. I have a good guy friend who listens to his geeky girl friends when they tell him all the terrible things that are spewed at them on a daily basis (usually anonymously online). I will have to remind myself to think about what he just said to me, “You can’t fix stupid.” 

But it’s difficult.

It’s difficult when someone says, “Who cares?” about something you care a great deal about. If they don’t care at all, why are they bothering to fruitlessly add to the discussion? They say, “Go read something else.” But I *like* these characters. I want to read about *them*. “Males are demeaned just as much as females in comics.” If you really thought that, you wouldn’t be reading them or you’d be online complaining about it like we are. How about, “Comics will never be for women?”

Hello, my name is Jill. I like comics. I like them so much I made a career out of them. Are they perfect? No, but I can certainly do my part to help make them better or more accessible for other women to read.

I don’t necessarily think people who don’t see sexism in comics at all or that don’t see it as a problem are stupid or neanderthals that need a few more centuries to evolve. Ok, maybe I do think that but I also like to give those people the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps they just need to hear or see it in a certain way and then it will finally click? Or maybe their minds will never see it the way we do. It’s a hard thing to accept when you are so strongly in the opposite corner of the ring.

But then you run into someone (of any gender) online who does get it and who is or has become enlightened and it gives you hope. Yes, we’re not just spinning our wheels here, we’re not making things up and we’re not the only ones who want change. When the naysayers are calling you names or saying what you’re doing doesn’t count for anything, try and remember that.

(x-posted on TheNerdyBird.com)

The CW’s Arrow will have the Royal Flush gang:

The character Derek Reston will be The King instead of Ace:

It’s the little things, people. 

dcwomenkickingass:

I woke up this morning to find many messages from readers telling me to check out the Gutters. Today’s comic, written by the always amazing Jill Pantozzi with art by Amy Mebberson, addresses an issue pretty near to my heart. And, of course, the comments have the usual cast of idiots.

So…I wrote this.

I just want to thank everyone for the amazing outpouring of love for the strip. When I was writing it, I was worried it was far too cheesy for what I was trying to go for but it turns out it was just right.

First off, my utmost gratitude to Amy Mebberson for making my vision become a reality. I gave Amy a LOT to work with and she made my dreams come true. 

Thanks to Ryan, Jeff, and Rich of the Gutters crew who got this whole thing happening in the first place.

Thanks to my pals Chris, Susana, and Alan who gave me input on the script while I was stressing over it. And thanks to DC Women Kicking Ass for tumblring it. :)

A few things regarding some of the comments I’m seeing: 

• No, the Jill in the strip is not meant to be me but another curly-haired redhead, Jill Thompson (Scary Godmother, Beasts of Burden, Sandman). I swore we had a picture together, and I wanted to post it, but I can’t find it. 
• Some are worried about the fans being fought off in one panel - these are meant to be seriously crazed fans, the kind that actually scare creators. They’re few and far between but they exist. This was not a dig at the usual, enthusiastic fans, which these ladies love.
• Yes, the dialogue for Kelly/Amanda got accidentally swapped in that panel.
• I’ve seen a few folks say they might start reading Gutters again because of this. First of all, wow, and thank you. But second, I feel people sometimes forget endeavors like this are a group effort. It’s like when someone comments that “The Mary Sue” doesn’t like something or other, as if we’re a hive mind. We have three staff writers and a group of lovely contributors who have differing opinions. Gutters is kind of the same thing. So I guess my point is, don’t rule it out because of one strip.
• Without knowing it, Amy wound up making the girl in the last panel look JUST like my niece.
• Some people said the strip made them tear up or all-out cry. Thanks. Now you’ve made me cry. :)

Lastly, thank you to Gail Simone, Kelly Sue DeConnick, Louise Simonson, Amanda Conner, and Jill Thompson - true powerhouses of the comic industry who inspire me daily. I could not think of a better superhero team to kick ass.