Minxing It Up

So I know I talk a lot about working at a comic shop, about how much fun it is, how I really dig it and so on, but I do have another job. I work a video store. Not that much different if you think about it. Anyway, I’ve been at the video store for about seven years now (on and off) and the other day I was talking this mother. She was lamenting over how hard it was to find videos to show her daughters that had positive messages. She stopped showing Disney films after the Little Mermaid said it was o.k. to run off with the first guy you meet and marry them when you’re only a teenager. The Mary Kate and Ashley line, not the most progressive in message to begin with, became taboo when starting at the age of twelve the girls started pursuing boys for 80 minutes. So I did what I always do, recommended Princess Bride and the films of Miyazaki.


Well, it’s not a movie but if I see that mother again I’ll tell her to purchase the comics going out under the Minx line, DC comic’s newest imprint aimed at young women. I must admit that at first I was a little concerned about the line. With their digest format, it seemed the DC was simply trying to market towards a fan base that purchases more manga in America than almost everyone else. In my experience, which is limited, the only thing that manga teaches a young woman is that a mini-skirt is the best outfit for demon fighting. However, the graphic novels coming out from Minx are about as far from manga as possible and nowhere do you see a panty shot.

With two titles out, P.L.A.I.N Janes and Re-Gifters, the line succeeds in getting across messages of self-reliance, maturity, finding purpose, and friendship. Yes, relationships and crushes do figure into the equation, but these are stories aimed at teenagers and teenagers think do think about that topic a lot. What’s nice about the message in this regards is when the puppy love feelings are not reciprocated the young women are not crushed, are not devastated, they move on with their lives.


What’s even better about the line is that just because it’s aimed at females between the ages of 8 and 14 doesn’t mean it misses the mark with other audiences. I’m a twenty-six year old male and I’ve really enjoyed both books. They are thoughtful and honestly written by A-list talent like Cecil Castellucci and Mike Carey. Unless you’re only reading comics to see some gianormous breasts held in place by a push-up bra and some spandex, you will able to appreciate the graphic novels as solid storytelling. I know this blog doesn’t exactly hit tons of readers or anything like that, but for those few who take the time out of their day to read it, support the Minx line so that DC will continue producing it.

I Love Rivalries

Stay with me for just a minute.

When I was young, my father and I went up to Philadelphia to watch the Phillies play the Dodgers. Now, I don’t know how much about baseball everyone knows, but the Phillies have the greatest mascot ever: The Philly Fanatic. He’s kind of like this annoying, spastic, bird muppet on a four-wheeler. Now, in this particular game the Fanatic took a bunch of canisters of Ultra Slim-Fast, featuring Dodger coach Tommy Lasorda, and smashed them with a giant mallet. I don’t think anyone cheered louder than me that day.
I love rivalries, the taunts, teases, and jibes.

Fast forward to today and the rivalry between DC and Marvel. It’s fun to watch the two companies poke at each other. Loeb has Superman and Batman take on a version of the Marvel heroes and so on. It’s Marvel Zombies vs. the DC Nation. Most recently in Superman we had this panel.


A bunch of teenage New Gods building headquarters on top of Metropolis skyscrapers. You know who else built a base on top of a tower?


The Sentry. Ah, Marvel’s resident superpower compared to a bunch of petulant, childish cosmic beings. Zing!

A Couple Links

Say hey folks-

Just thought I would throw out a couple places you should be checking out there in the Internetland.

First, the second Big Monkey Podcast is up. This time we spend our hour jibber-jabbering about Countdown, the Ultimates Line and the sad fact that comics aren't for kids.

Just click here and you will get all the wonder, all the joy, all the tears.

Or you can just head over to iTunes and download it directly to you computer.

Second, I have added another link to the sidebar. If you got a moment, jump over to Are You Feelin Big Mike? He's got some good things to say about Joe Kelly's Supergirl, Civil War and Comic Feminism. Totally good stuff.

Remind You of Someone

So I was thinking. Have you ever noticed how the Green Arrow/Black Canary relationship is very similar to a real life high-powered couple? I mean you have an intense liberal with some past womanizing issues, a man who used to be a member of the elite group of powerful people. However, he has lost some of that responsibility and now he pursues humanitarian goals on a smaller level. Then you have his significant other, a woman who climbed the ladder with him. Yes, she had a keen intellect, powers and leadership abilities, but for years she was considered a second stringer. In recent years, though, she has come into her own and now leads the same organization that he was once a part of. Does this sound like anyone to you? That’s right…


Black Canary and Green Arrow


Are the Hillary and Bill Clinton of the DCU.