Cheryl Lynn isn't quite sure who she is, but she's pretty sure of what she wants to be. A warrior woman. A bad-ass mamajama. Perhaps an earth goddess extraordinaire. She spends her days abusing keyboards and screaming at computer screens while she waits for her cult following to finally show up.

She changes her mind more often than extras in rap videos change thongs.

Remember: save to your own server, sweets!

Reading SELF Magazine.

Writing To-Do lists.

Hearing Thunder.

Watching General Hospital.

Building Nothing.

Eating Vitamins.

Drinking Iced Tea.

Buying Comic books.

Thinking "It is HOT!"

Playing Episodes from Liberty City.

Adoring Cold water.

Saying Very little.

Abhorring Bigotry.

Feeling Calm.

Hoping To get in gear.

SEARCH RESULTS

Thursday May 14 2009

That silver lining.

Okay, so after all the gloom and doom of my first Trinity post, I thought it would be a good idea to let you know about some fantastic black female characters appearing in recent or upcoming comics. Honestly, I think there are more successes than problems when it comes to black female characters in comics. It's just that the problems seem to get the most coverage because they almost always show up in high profile books that sell in much greater numbers than the ones that contain successes.

Aya.

Oh. My. Goodness. A story about a young, smart and witty black woman growing up in Yop City? Written by a black female author from Abidjan? No way! The Aya series of books is simply fabulous. And you know something that I find a bit weird and wonderful? Visually, the characters do not reflect the diversity found in my own home or the neighborhood where I grew up. All of the characters have fairly dark skin. However, Oubrerie was skilled enough to provide a variety in tones even with a more limited range of hues than those found in mainstream American comics. That's pretty damn refreshing, actually. Most comics usually depict black characters by making everyone of the same race the same exact color or by taking only the female characters and making them really light to provide contrast. The fact that the artist took a third route artistically is pretty neat.

The Perhapanauts.

Aya a bit too low key for you? Are you the kind of reader who wants to see monsters and ghoulies and all kinds of craziness? And you want to see a black woman kicking ass, taking names and running ish on top of that? And not just any ol' black woman, but one with a supernatural power that will make the baddies run for cover? I got you, baby. I got you. Arisa Hines. Team leader and telepath. God, they have a character that looks like people related to me and has the same last name as people related to me? Now, that's just blatant pandering.

Hooray for blatant pandering! Is it wrong? Yes. Do I care? No, not really.

Adrenaline.

Okay, so you like the whole action dealie, and a black woman running ish and taking charge is great, but you want things to be grounded in reality? But you still really need to see some bad guys getting kicked in the nuts? I still got you. Like a magician, she draws a rabbit out a hat, son. Bam! Dr. Saida Nri: Action Hero. Get in on the action by checking out previews of the series for free over at Wowio. Like what you see? Buy it. Single issues not your thing? Don't worry, the trade will be out later this year!

The Many Adventures of Miranda Mercury.

You're still not happy are you? I've given you a slice-of-life story set in the Ivory Coast, a world class telepath and a doctor who kicks people in the nuts and sees more action-packed adventures than James Bond. What more do you want from me? Oh? An exciting saga involving space exploration? Hmmm. Okay, if you're patient and can wait a few months, I can get that for you. Actually, I won't be getting that for you. Creator Brandon Thomas will be getting that for you this fall. Can't wait? Get the back issues or check out the free preview available at the Miranda Mercury website.

Fungus Grotto.

I see some of you out there still have screwfaces firmly in place. And I know why. You want something manga influenced, right? But yet you still desire a story featuring a black female character. And not Bugnug, either. Well, I'm sorry, baby. I don't have anything like—

SIKE!

No, I am not going to spell it the proper way. The third grader in me just won't allow that to happen. But I do have a comic for you. Fungus Grotto. Gah! Ms,Shatia Hamilton's art is just lovely. Lovely! I'm kind of stunned that a mainstream company hasn't snatched her up yet. Anyway, the main character of Fungus Grotto, Vielle, is awesome. How awesome? So awesome that the character has been nominated for a Glyphs Comics Award for Best Female Character! I strongly urge you to check Fungus Grotto out. The series is available online for free. All you have to invest is a few moments of your time. And it is so worth it.

Bayou.

Yes, I pimp this webcomic all over the web and I'm doing it again. Too bad. Lee Wagstaff is amazing and I'm going to let you guys know that. Repeatedly. She may be a great deal younger and smaller than the rest of the characters listed here, but I don't think it would be a stretch to say that she might be the toughest out of all of them. I like the character and the series because both are simply quite good. However, it's the bond between Lee and her father that really hits home for me. You don't see too many bonds between black men and their daughters like that in the media. And to see it here means a lot to me. I'd do whatever it takes to keep my father safe too. Luckily, watching CNN all day and eating bacon sandwiches doesn't require him to need much protection.

Okay, that's it for this round, folks. There are other fantastic characters out there (Martha Washington, Destiny Ajaye, Rocket, etc.) but I wanted you to have a nice little selection of things that you can check out for free right now and then buy at your local book or comic shop. I'll do a round up of older stuff you can find in back issue bins or hunt down over at Amazon a bit later.

Cheryl Lynn @ 12:59 PM EST Link

Sunday October 21 2007

Books from the Big Two.

Immortal Iron Fist

I bought this book, got three other people hooked on it, and then dropped it. I am notorious for doing that! I'm like a drug dealer who only tests his supply, but never uses it. But since I love Danny Rand and the sight of bad guys getting kicked in the face, this is going back in the read pile. Plus, I'm getting tired of people telling me how good it is. I know it's good! I used to read it!

I'd just like to add that when it comes to comics, absence does not make the heart grow fonder. I stopped buying Immortal Iron Fist when I went to Georgia to visit my parents. Being away from a comic shop and digital cable caused me to drastically reduce the number of books I bought and read each month. And once I came back home, I didn't resume buying most of those books or reading them. Look, I have people offering to give me comics or e-mail me zipped scans of the books I used to read for free and I'm telling them not to bother. I am turning down free comics that would be delivered right to my actual or virtual mailbox. This is like Barney turning down free beer.

What lesson should comic companies take from this? Get your books out on time. Fans aren't going to wait around forever for that next issue. Also, make sure you get those issues bundled in a nice trade and sent off to Borders or Amazon with the quickness. Once a newbie gets hooked on a comic he's going to want the back issues. And new fans don't give a rat's ass about looking for back issues in a comic shop anymore. Comic shops are too hard to find. It's either Amazon, Borders or BitTorrent. And BitTorrent isn't making any comic book company any money.

Checkmate

Screw you, Scans Daily. You are about to cost me money unless I can get one of my friends hooked on this book. Now, I started reading Checkmate because PWCW receives complimentary issues of the series. And I have to admit that I enjoyed reading the book a great deal. However, I'm not really a DCU girl, so I stopped reading the book once I no longer had free access to new issues. And Checkmate was soon forgotten. Because as we now know, absence does not make the heart grow fonder.

And along comes Scans Daily to remind me of all the reasons why I liked the book in the first place. Intrigue. Action. An ethnically and racially diverse cast of characters. And each time someone would post Checkmate scans, I would wonder about the characters that made up the Checkmate cast. And now I am long past the point where my curiosity has gotten the better of me. I want to read this book again. So Checkmate goes into the buy pile.

What lesson should comic companies take from this? Continue sending preview pages to sites like PWCW and Newsarama. Bolster books that you feel could use some good press by asking an intern to post scans from that book at online communities like Scans Daily. Release exclusive preview packs of next month's books on sites like BitTorrent. What's a preview pack? Glad you asked because I just made it up. Collect the first three pages of every comic and trade that's up for release next month. Bundle those pages up in a RAR file and upload the file to download sites all over the Internet. Add a couple of exclusive items like silly interviews with creators, quirky sketches or goofy photos of the office—stuff fans can't get from the news sites. Give potential readers a reason to download the pack and be sure to include a list of comic shops where they can buy your items legally. Putting a preview pack together shouldn't take long and any intern can do it.

Also, DC should totally send me Checkmate comps.

New Avengers

I'm reading this book for the worst fangirlesque reason ever. I don't care about the quality of the writing. I don't care about the quality of the art. I simply need to know what is going on with Luke Cage every month. Luckily, this isn't costing me any money since I have more than enough friends willing to support my Luke Cage habit. However, while reading this book I find that I've become interested in the potential romance between Clint and Maya. Man, I am a complete sucker for a good superhero romance!

What lesson should comic companies take from this? When it comes to certain popular characters, some fans can be complete addicts. Don't be afraid to pull a popular character away from the status quo if you feel that you can take the character in a plausible, profitable and interesting direction long term. Fans may complain, but they'll keep buying. Fans may even say they'll stop buying, but they'll keep buying. After all, somebody out there is buying Countdown. A whole lot of somebodies.

Justice League of America

Dwayne McDuffie. John Stewart. End of story.

What lesson should comic companies take from this? Steal popular creators from your competition as often as you can. Also, try to stretch slightly outside of your normal talent pool when it comes to hiring writers. Doing so might result in new fans.

All in all, I am down to four superhero books a month. And two of them are from DC. This astounds me! Taking a look at the books that I am no longer buying, I've noticed that I stop collecting a series when I can't obtain issues easily or there is a change in creative teams. I'll also drop a book if I feel that it is redundant. If I can get non-stop action from Immortal Iron Fist, then why should I buy Daredevil? If I can get diversity and intrigue from Checkmate, then there's no reason to buy—

Well, I actually didn't have any superhero comic that was giving me diversity and intrigue. But you know what I mean. And, it's not always a superhero book that winds up filling a slot a superhero book has vacated. Empowered gave me what I wanted from Heroes for Hire—and no, it wasn't T&A. The Goon and Hellboy brought me everything I was looking for in Wolverine. But that's a post for another day. We're talkin' 'bout Marvel and DC superhero books here!

Cheryl Lynn @ 11:17 PM EST Link

Thursday October 05 2006

The hate. Oh, the hate.

First up? Republicans. Why do they want me to hate them so? This commercial makes me want to vomit. I'm so mad I can't even comment without shaking with rage.

Second up to bat? Spammers. I just had to go back through my entire journal and lock over ninety percent of my posts because the spam has gotten that far out of hand. So from now on, only posts on the first page can be commented on.

Third? Celebrities who treat Africa/Africans like a fashion accessory. This needs to stop immediately, folks.

Hmmm, this was a surprisingly short list. I guess I don't hate as many people as I originally thought.

Cheryl Lynn @ 02:38 AM EST Link

Sunday February 26 2006

Toe Update:

I don't think my toe is broken. However, it is swollen and discolored. Plus, I can only wear my canvas sneakers for the time being. Anything else results in agonizing pain. I am horrified by the fact that I can't wear heels. I have also come to the realization that all of my pants need to be hemmed. I'm too short for my clothes.

It's 4:53! What in the world am I doing up at this hour?

Cheryl Lynn @ 04:54 AM EST Link

Wednesday June 14 2006

Hairs to you.

If you knew how much I had to do, you'd wonder why I am sitting here typing up a journal entry when I could be getting important things done. That's because some of the important things I have to do are rather unpleasant and nerve-racking, so I'd like to stall for time as long as possible. Plus, I've been neglecting my blog.

Sadly, I no longer have the Afro made of awesome because I have discovered that hair weaves are made of stuff that is decidedly not awesome. I will never get another weave again. Ever. It felt like I was wearing a hat that I couldn't take off. I don't know how other women can deal with such an uncomfortable and unpleasant hairstyle. So, I basically wasted two hundred dollars on a hairstyle that lasted me less than a week. I get upset just thinking about what a waste of money that was.

And yet now there is a very important question that needs to be asked. What am I going to do with my hair? Why does this question need to be asked? Because America is a fucked up place that cannot accept naturally kinky black hair as-is, so something must be "done" with it in order for a black woman to be an acceptable member of American society. Luckily, I have a couple more options than my mother had at my age. Unfortunately, I don't like any of those options.

Option One: After washing my hair, I blow dry it and then straighten my hair with a pressing comb. I don't like this option because it takes me several hours to do my hair this way. Plus, the minute water touches my hair? My hairstyle is destroyed. On the plus side, it is a cheap hairstyle and rather cute (see picture). It costs nothing but time.

Option Two: I get dreadlocks. This is not an option, because there is no way I will get any hairstyle that requires me to shave my head when I no longer want wear the hairstyle in question. To hell with that! Of course, this is also a really cheap style. I could do it myself for free.

Option Three: I get cornrows. This is not an option since I look really bad in this hairstyle. Sadly, cornrows are not for people with gigantic lion heads. Still, it is a very cheap and efficient hairstyle to have. It costs about 60 dollars. I only wish it made me look good.

Option Four: I get a relaxer. Not a good option. I'm not really enthused about putting Sodium Hydroxide or Guanidine Hydroxide on my head and leaving it there long enough for it to permanently break the cohesive disulfide bonds in my hair in order to loosen the hair's kinky texture. Plus, once my hair starts to grow, I will have to continue to get relaxers to straighten the new kinky growth or my hair will break off where the kinky growth stops because my relaxed hair is so weak in comparison.

Option Five: I get a really short Afro or buzz cut. Did I mention my big lion head? I look terrible with short hair. Not an option.

Option Six: I get box braids. Actually, there are two options here. One, I can spend three hundred dollars and sixteen hours in a beauty salon to get this hairstyle. Two, I can spend ten dollars and spend every night for about a week doing this hairstyle myself. It takes longer, but I keep two hundred and ninety dollars in my bank account.

To sum it all up, I am tired and angry and frustrated. And the next person who is not a black woman who feels the need to comment on a black woman's hair without taking into account the obscene amount of exploitation we must endure, time we must expend, and money we must spend on our hair just to prevent ourselves from facing ridicule when we walk down the street will get cursed the fuck out.

Speaking of hair, I just watched the following documentary on the black hair care industry (part 1, 2, 3, 4). Fascinating stuff!

Cheryl Lynn @ 11:37 AM EST Link

Wednesday July 12 2006

Sexual Chocolate.

I watched the World Series of Pop Culture on VH1 tonight. Man, I ripped that ish, son! I had questions answered before the contestants even opened their mouths. I so need to go on that show.

The craziest thing happened to me on the train today. I locked eyes with a man and noticed that he was picking his nose. That's not the strange part. The strange part is that he continued to pick his nose after I had caught him picking his nose. I'm still stunned by that. I come across the looniest people on the train. I think I'm going to start acting nuts so people won't sit by me anymore. I always get stuck next to that one guy that wants to use every iota of available space and press his thigh right up against mine. Thighs of strangers should not touch! That's basic train etiquette!

Cheryl Lynn @ 12:37 AM EST Link

Monday January 25 2010

Chromatic static.

I have to apologize for neglecting this blog, folks. It seems like it's a lot easier to dish about the latest events in little 140 character segments than it is to flesh out a full blog post. As least, that's what happened today when I came across the latest edition of the Chromatic Comics meme that's been making the rounds...

Via Twitter:

"This whole Chromatic Comics ish irritates me. Y'know, Marvel does have a whole boatload of POC characters. Stuff like that makes it seem like only the white ones are important and deserve focus. Y'know what would be nice? For POC characters to get the same promotion and devotion that white characters get so people don't have to think of POC actors they'd like in the "important" (white) characters' roles.

In other words, screw Batgirl and Jessica Jones. How about making Aquagirl and Misty Knight not suck? How about Jubilee getting some time to shine instead of shoving Emma Frost down my throat? It's not just about seeing POC faces. There are histories and myths that come along with POC characters that deserve to be heard. And it treats whiteness as some kind of blank slate that you can just pour color on. It's not. Daredevil was a working class Irish kid for a reason. And even though Marvel doesn't say it, we all know Castle is a poor Italian kid from Brooklyn. I'm not just a color. I have a history. Tell it. I don't want cinematic Photoshop."

And just like I'm not just a color, that white kid isn't just a blank slate. He isn't the default. And acting like he is the default hurts both him and me. My stories get shunted to the side because they aren't considered the norm and his stories are considered meaningless. Something that can be easily divorced from his culture and handed to someone of another background for cheap grab at diversity. An empty canvas to hang someone else's image on. I get to be seen and not heard. He gets to be heard and not seen. And neither of us is honored that way.

No matter who you are, it hurts to have your stories stolen. And if you think whiteness doesn't provide a character with color, you're wrong. Because growing up Italian-American in Bensonhurst during the 80s and 90s is a hell of a lot different than growing up African-American in Harlem during the 80s and 90s. A white actor could not tell Luke Cage's story. A story that involved anti-black racism and being railroaded into the system for a crime you didn't commit. A story that involved being viewed as nothing more than an animal by prison guards. A story that involved growing up and becoming a man and realizing that your community has been damn near decimated by the same drugs you pushed for the Mob in exchange for a pair of new Nikes and a knot of twenties—and deciding to finally make things right.

And just like a white actor could not tell Cage's story, a black actor could not tell Castle's. A story that involved watching your neighbors hail common criminals as protectors and patrons. A story that involved watching the man who had Mr. Ancelotti's leg broken treated like a king because he popped for fireworks for the neighborhood every year and made sure that he and his boys kept the Blacks and Hispanics down in Sunset Park and Bed Stuy where they belonged. A story that involved finally realizing that those guys weren't keeping the monsters at bay—they were the monsters. A story that involved realizing that tribalism is meaningless when your own family is lying in a pool of blood. Spilled by people that you were raised to consider your own. And then you finally figure it out. It's not us versus them. It's you versus everyone.

And when you change the background, you change the story. Static and Blue Beetle are amazing and I want to see more of them. But neither character is Spider-Man. Each has his own story. Wonderful stories. Stories that should not be separated from who they are and where they come from. And they can't be.

So what do I want? I want to see POC characters getting more devotion from creators and more promotion from comic companies. I want to see fans supporting characters of color instead of just dreaming about what actors of color could be hired to portray the "important" white icons. Demand to be more than just window dressing. Our stories are phenomenal.

Let's get them told.

Cheryl Lynn @ 11:36 PM EST Link

Tuesday October 24 2006

Just stop.

I had pizza and hot chocolate for breakfast this morning because I'm sick and now I have my period and I just don't care anymore. This is not the day to mess with me. Actually, that's not true. Today is not the day to mess with me if you are a stranger.

The geek squad came in and fixed my computer. Turns out all I needed was a new power supply. However, my monitor is shot. I'll need to by a new one. I am so pissed about that.

Anyway, all I'm really good for is severe amounts of bitching, so I'm going to isolate myself from the rest of the world before I become a royal pain in everyone's ass.

Back with tons of reviews later.

Cheryl Lynn @ 10:19 AM EST Link

Saturday December 12 2009

On the daily.

Recently, Marvel issued take down notices to the online comic scans and discussion site Scans Daily. This was both an unbelievably smart and unbelievably stupid thing to do. Let me explain.

This week, I watched the soap opera One Life To Live for the first time in years. Why? Because I found out that my favorite character, Evangeline Williamson, had been mentioned. The character had been written out of the show years ago, and I hadn't watched since that character's last appearance. And yet I've kept up with the show on a fairly regular basis without having to spend a minute in front of my television screen. All I have to do is spend three minutes sitting in front of my computer each week.

You see, there are various soap opera message boards that will not only give you the complete rundown on what happened on a show each week, but they are also kind enough to upload clips featuring each character. If I wanted to, I could download and watch each scene that Evangeline's old boyfriend Cris appeared in for the week. All while the ratings for One Life To Live circle the drain. Currently, the show is desperate for viewers.

And so, the message boards become the best and worst thing for soaps. The boards were able to hold my interest in OLTL for years even though I wasn't watching the show. And it was even able to bring me back for a couple of episodes just by letting me know that my favorite character had been mentioned. And every viewer is a boon when you're in danger of cancellation. Had it not been for the boards, I would have never considered watching this show again. I would have never even given the show a second thought once Williamson had been written off.

But the boards are a problem as well. There are many fans that will happily watch the show and not actually contribute to the ratings. They download clips every single day. And then will post on message boards to complain about how much the show sucks—sometimes driving away what few viewers the show still has left. On the message boards, I learned that the show has no plans on bringing back my favorite character and that mentioning Evangeline was just a ploy to get viewers interested in a terribly written story. And so I've tuned back out just as easily as I tuned in.

Scans Daily? Is very much like those message boards. I'm able to keep up with Luke Cage and Batman without having to actually purchase or download any comics.

On one hand, those sites do garner sales. I plan to purchase Luke Cage Noir and Batman: Earth One due to what I've seen posted. Both books seem to be right up my alley. On the other hand...

Look, I love Scans Daily. I'm a member of Scans Daily. And I've happily used Scans Daily as a tool to get people interested in books and creators that would normally be overlooked. I was the first person to post Empowered scans back when Scans Daily was on LiveJournal. And I recently posted scans to remind people that Warren had a new Empowered one-shot coming out. And I've always added links to my posts so that people could go right to Amazon or Dark Horse and purchase Warren's work. I adore the man. And I am delighted when I see comments from people stating that they started buying Empowered because of Scans Daily.

I'm a little less happy about this comment though.

In fact, I'm pretty damn upset about that one. It makes me not want to post Empowered scans anymore. And yet, I want to get Warren's name out there as much as possible. I want him to get more work. So, what do I do? Scans Daily is the problem and the solution all in one. It sucks.

So, I completely understand why Marvel issued those take down notices. On the other hand, I think it's a bad idea. For me, Scans Daily is Newsarama or CBR for the lazy. The previews are right there with all the other blogs I read. I'm not going to Newsarama or CBR to look at scans! There are too many extra clicks involved! The interface annoys me! And I'm not going to download the books either. That takes even more effort!

Without Scans Daily, I'd lose interest in Luke Cage and Batman. I'd stop buying books featuring those characters. Why? Because I wouldn't know when there were books featuring Cage or Batman on the shelf. Marvel and DC get $25 to $40 dollars a year out of me because of Scans Daily. But who knows what they've lost to people inspired to download comics because of Scans Daily? Damned if you do. And damned if you don't.

Cheryl Lynn @ 02:33 PM EST Link

Sunday January 14 2007

In the pink.

I wanted to blog about J (the female one), but I also wanted to blog about holidays that celebrate black people and the historical events they participated in. Since these topics have nothing to do with each other, I've decided not to try to mush them together with a weird segue.

I'm up with the sun this morning because I went to bed ridiculously early last night. And that's because I came back from J's house dead tired. She lives all the way out in the boonies of White Plains, but living in New Jersey has taught me never to make fun of how out of the way a place is. After all, New Jersey is nothing more than New York's boonies.

But our boonies has better Thai food and a better basketball team. So there.

Anyway, J is pink and cute and sarcastic, much like Jigglypuff with a hot body. And I love her. J (the male one) and I left her house loaded with awesome presents. Sadly, we can't return the favor until after she moves, because she'd just throw anything we gave her out to save space at the moment. I'll have to think of a cool house-warming gift. Luckily, she's weird like me. That leaves my options wide open.

The bad news? J (the male one) took her boyfriend's wallet last night! Who does that? Yes, both guys have the same wallet, but any person with one iota of common sense will look at a wallet before stuffing it into his coat. So now we have to go all the way back to the boonies to return the wallet.

I want to jump up and down on his head. Seriously.

Yknow, I should just get permission to use people's names on this blog. Because I have about a half-dozen people I'm close to who have first names beginning with J. I can see this getting complicated later.

I also refer to a good 70% of my friends by the names of the Pokémon they resemble, but I can see that getting rather complicated later as well. Nobody wants to read my blog and find out that he looks like a Bulbasaur.

Cheryl Lynn @ 08:49 AM EST Link

Tuesday January 23 2007

OMGWTFMBQ.

Yes, I am determined to send you all over the web today. Hop on over to NPR to listen to an interesting selection of soundbites from Andy Helfer, Felipe Smith and Calvin Reid. The three men discuss the rise of graphic non-fiction, graphic novels intended for adult audiences and the impact increasing diversity will have on the comics industry and on minority creators.

Cheryl Lynn @ 11:13 AM EST Link

Spark mad ism.

Racism in the comics industry? I'm out to attack it like a rabid pit bull. Homophobia in comics? I've got a rake and some piping hot coals at the ready. Religious persecution in comics? I've got my Docs laced up to stamp it out. Sexism in comics?

There's sexism in comics?

I can identify sexism in comics about as well as a man with cataracts can identify a needle in a haystack. Yes, it's easy for me to locate it when I come across something that is blatantly unfair or offensive to women (ex: the horrific ads that once graced Comicon.com or the glass ceiling that still remains intact at certain comic companies), but I am often blind to subtle forms of sexism. How can I easily spot other forms of subtle bigotry and yet be so blind to sexist incidents in comics?

I just don't see it.

And that's where the problem lies. As my fellow fans protest what they see as offensive images, I'm often left scratching my head. However, I'm more than willing to give my fellow fans the benefit of the doubt. And so I carefully pour over images and reread stories, searching desperately to find what they find. And yet I come up empty. I can't help but feel frustrated.

[Read More]

Cheryl Lynn @ 05:59 PM EST Link

Sunday February 04 2007

Warning.

There's going to be some cursing. Yeah, definitely some cursing. And some yelling too. And incomplete sentences. Because I'm mad. Just a warning.

[Read More]

Cheryl Lynn @ 12:03 PM EST Link

Thursday February 08 2007

. . .

J: Let's go, little Mugwah.
Me: What did you just call me?
J: Little Mugwah.
Me: What does that mean?
J: It doesn't mean anything. Let's go.
Me: No, seriously. What does that mean?
J: It doesn't mean anything!
Me: What does it mean?
J: Oh my God! It doesn't mean anything!
Me: I'm calling your mother.
J: Okay, you really want to know what it means?
Me: Yes.
J: It's the bad guy from Last of the Mohicans.
Me: I'm calling your mother.
J: That's what it means!
Me: I'm calling your mother.
J: It's not a Filipino word!
Me: I'm calling your mother.
J: So she can tell you it's the villain from Last of the Mohicans?
Me: I'm calling her!
J: You're so stupid!
Me: No, you're stupid!
J: No, really. You're stupid.
Me: Well...you're a mugwah.

50% of the Simulated Life strips are real life conversations.

Cheryl Lynn @ 06:46 PM EST Link

Monday February 26 2007

I love New York.

There will be no rhyme or reason to this post. I'm just trying to gather my thoughts on the NYCC.

[Read More]

Cheryl Lynn @ 12:43 AM EST Link

Tuesday March 20 2007

Dear Comics,

It's not you. It's me. I still love you, you know? Yeah, we fight almost all the damn time, but you know I'm down for you, right? I'd slap the taste out of a dude's mouth in a heartbeat should he try to look down his nose at you. I believe in what you're trying to do here, baby. I always have. I always will. You've got plans, and I want those plans to come through for you. You deserve that spotlight. You can do things that nobody else can do. I just wish you believed in yourself as much as I believe in you. You always seem so surprised by the success. Even now, when it's happening all the time. I never questioned it. You shine.

[Read More]

Cheryl Lynn @ 11:10 AM EST Link

Thursday March 22 2007

My neck. My back.

The very important lesson that I learned this week is that trying to get back in shape by attempting the exact same fitness routine that I had back when I was in the best shape of my life is a good way to smell like Bengay for an entire week.

My back is killing me. I've really grown to love the smell of Bengay though. It's like peppermint mixed with cinnamon.

Cheryl Lynn @ 08:12 PM EST Link

Sunday March 25 2007

Back in black.

First off, kudos to the wonderful Loren of One Diverse Comic Book Nation for sharing Brad Mackay's article on the dearth of black heroes within mainstream comics. I don't know if I agree with the sentiment that there is a dearth of black heroes, but there is a great deal of information contained in the article that may make those involved with the comics industry as readers and as employees think a bit differently about how minority characters are portrayed and presented to the public.

[Read More]

Cheryl Lynn @ 10:14 AM EST Link

Thursday May 03 2007

Boy, I wonder!

I've been mulling over a blog entry at Alex in Wonder Land concerning the lack of a Wonder Boy in the DC universe. There are no males in Wonder Woman's clan of characters, and I think that is something that should be rectified. After all, both Batman and Superman have pupils of the opposite gender, so why not Wonder Woman?

But how would one go about establishing such a character? I'm certainly not an expert on Wonder Woman's history, but here's my idea...

[Read More]

Cheryl Lynn @ 02:39 PM EST Link

Friday May 11 2007

Strangers in the Knight...

So, Immortal Iron Fist #5. Lots of action! And Luke, Misty, and Colleen! Yay! But tell me, does Luke still look like this?



So why does Misty still look like this?



Why is no one following the updated design Evans gave her? Why is she still wearing a hairstyle that I haven't seen except when looking at pictures taken of my aunt on the day of my parents' wedding? Can someone explain this to me? Because I've only come up with two answers:

1) No one knows what a modern natural hairstyle for a black woman should look like because who the fuck pays attention to what black women look like when there are actual desirable women who matter to be paid attention to?

2) Everyone knows what a modern natural hairstyle for a black woman should look like, but who wants to use that when old school hairstyles are just sooooo kitschy and hilarious? But we're going to give Luke and everyone else modern hairstyles, okay? Because they need to be taken seriously. Because they're actually important enough to have an updated look. Unlike Misty.

If there's a third option I'm just not noticing, then please let me know. Because options one and two make me feel pretty crappy, so I'd love for there to be a third one to choose from.

Y'know, I started this blog so I could have a place to vent and feel better about things when the world dragged me down, but I find myself getting more and more frustrated when I notice that I'm making the same statements over and over and nothing is fucking changing.

I get it. I finally get it. No more nagging. You don't want us here. We're not important to you. Not as characters, consumers or employees. I get it. Listen, we'll be over there doing our own thing, okay? Sorry about the confusion.

Cheryl Lynn @ 10:05 AM EST Link

Saturday May 26 2007

Feminism for all?

I know. I know! I need to stop discussing the Heroes For Hire cover. But I wanted to mention that when I saw that cover, I quickly thought of the following two images.

[Read More]

Cheryl Lynn @ 01:32 AM EST Link

Wednesday December 09 2009

Earth One to DC.

Okay, I can't go to bed just yet.

Hey, remember way back when I said that DC couldn't give me the Wonder Woman that I wanted because Wonder Woman had to remain "safe" enough to be an icon that could sell t-shirts to little girls? That she couldn't do things like have sex or play around in the gray areas of humanity?

That's not the case anymore, ladies and gentlemen.

Booyah.

Oh, look! Batman and Superman are getting all new origins in an all new universe free from decades of continuity and fanboy expectations. That's awesome! Uh, someone seems to be missing though. Black hair? Blue eyes? Greco-Roman armor? Sound familiar?

Earth One is the absolute perfect opportunity for DC to give me the Diana that I want. One that is all warrior, baby! Picture it! Diana, tired of Amazons being reduced to playthings for an unscrupulous pantheon of decaying gods, demands to know why the goddess for whom she was named has refused to protect her followers from the sinful whims of Zeus and Ares. The goddess Diana, as prideful as her underling, is horrified to have her motives questioned by one she deems to be beneath her. It is decided. The Amazon must pay for her hubris. And so, Diana of Themyscira, the product of countless unions between god and mortal, is cast down to Earth with nothing more than a skirt and a spear.

She lands in the middle of a war zone and quickly becomes an urban legend in various continents. In Europe, Asia and Africa men are found slain--men who considered themselves to be freedom fighters but used their victories to inflict horrible crimes upon women and were foolish enough to lay hands upon Diana. Reports begin to trickle in. Mass graves are found containing the bodies of terrorists and insurgents. Hands and penises have been removed from each corpse. Various governments send agents to make inquiries, but each time the grateful local populace remains silent and Diana remains hidden.

Until Lyta Prince.

After all, Diana was not the only Amazon to be cast from the immortal realm. Many of her sisters in exile had made their mark upon the earth. Lyta, a gruff old physician working with Doctors Without Borders, was once queen of the Amazons and a renowned warrior eons ago.

Lyta recognizes Diana while treating young women in Pakistan and quickly becomes the Alfred to Diana's Bruce. Using her connections, she provides Diana with papers and a proper history. And so Diana of Themyscira becomes Diana Prince, philanthropist and long-lost heir to the Prince shipping empire. With the blessing of her "mother" Lyta, Diana joins the Peace Corps hoping to fight injustice, but also hoping to gather allies for the ensuing war.

You see, Diana refuses to accept living in exile. Her goal is to locate the remaining Amazons in exile, open a portal to the immortal realm and wage war against the denizens of Olympus. After all, she is a warrior.

The gods, of course, attempt to thwart her efforts each step of the way. And while the gods are incorporeal in the mortal realm, they are still able to make their presence known in unique ways that cause Diana all sorts of trouble.

So, um, make it happen, DC. It's not like you don't have a bunch of great artists and writers at your disposal. And if Wonder Woman is really important to DC, shouldn't the character be a part of the new Earth One venture?

And now, I'm going to bed.

Cheryl Lynn @ 12:23 AM EST Link

Wednesday June 13 2007

Question of the day.

Are you currently promoting (writing fanfiction, posting scans, creating fan art) or financially supporting (purchasing comics, apparel and figurines) comic companies that you feel disrespect you? If so, why? What are these companies providing for you that you cannot receive elsewhere?

Cheryl Lynn @ 11:12 AM EST Link

Saturday June 16 2007

Black hair, comics and you.

If you have been sent here, the likelihood is that someone asked you to draw a black woman at one point and you completely screwed it up. I kid! I kid! Seriously though, I'm here to help. Together, you and I will go through some of the most popular hairstyles for black women. Never again will you have leagues of black women giving you the side-eye and bitching you out in blogs. Ready? Let's go!

[Read More]

Cheryl Lynn @ 01:39 AM EST Link

Monday June 25 2007

Convention-A-Go-Go!

MoCCA first, y'all. Let me first start by saying that the Puck Building is perfectly located. Jumped off the F at Broadway and walked right across the street to the main entrance. Perfect. Barely waited in line for five minutes before I was stamped, given an information packet and allowed access inside.

Let me get my one and only complaint about the show out of the way right now. There is no decent area to sit in! There was more than enough room on the second floor to provide a small row of seats so that weary customers could take a moment or two to rest their feet and sort through their purchases. Almost all conventions have a seating area provided for visitors. I'm surprised that the MoCCA Art Festival had no such area available. Yes, there were a couple of chairs in the small room where food and drinks were available for attendees, but that room was (1) tiny, (2) lit like a prison cell and (3) contained a large open container of garbage. Wait, I have two complaints. Three dollars and seventy-five cents for a small bottle of club soda and mango juice is in-fucking-sane.

Now for the awesome. Usually I do a full circle of the entire con before buying anything, but I couldn't pass up a slick-looking twenty-five cent preview of the upcoming Comic Foundry magazine. I can see why Wizard is staring to branch out. New magazines like Comic Foundry and Urban Voice in Comics are set to snatch up all the potential customers they ignored over the years. I'm really digging CF's look. If Wizard is Maxim, then Comic Foundry is Details or Esquire. It's a bit more upscale and there's no tinge of embarrassment when reading it.

Wizard doesn't seem as if it's going to be content letting another magazine snatch up all the customers they now realize exist, however. Wizard also had a table at MoCCA facing the steady stream of hipsters floating up from the first floor, and representatives were on hand to gather information about projects by independent creators. Three cheers for broadening horizons. Let's hope they really follow through. Comic Foundry and UVC are on my reading list. Wizard still has some more persuading to do.

Okay, rapid-fire name time! Here are the awesome people I got to talk to. Go see how awesome they are.

Mikhaela Reid.
Masheka Wood.
Elayne Riggs.
Carol Burrell.
Heidi MacDonald.
Ivan Brandon.
Andy MacDonald. (Where's your site?)
Brian Wood.
Kevin Tinsley.
Tyler Chin-Tanner.

I won't go into detail concerning each person I talked to. Y'know why? Because everyone was nice. And everyone seemed to just love comics. And that felt good. I expected an air of pretentiousness when I walked in. Not from the people I encountered, but just in general. There was none of that. Of course, this still wasn't the sort of convention where you could have a deep discussion about race and representation in comics and then talk about how World War Hulk is the shit. The convention was lacking an element of "fanboy euphoria". I do think a wee bit of "fanboy euphoria" is a good thing. But, this isn't the convention for that. And that's okay. NYCC will likely grow into the perfect blend of the mainstream and the art crowd. MoCCA is doing just fine as is.

The crowd was happily diverse. There seemed to be just as many women present at the convention as there were men. There was also a wide range of people from different ages attending. I can't recall seeing any children, but I did see older people, which was just as encouraging. Besides, it's not like any one there was selling Naruto. I didn't expect to see little kids swarming through the aisles.

There were also people of different races and ethnicities there as well. There were black women! More than I could count on one hand even! Sweet! And a few cute guys! And aside from one dude in the elevator with me, everyone bathed for the occasion! Thank you.

The products being sold? Fantastic. And don't think there wasn't a diverse selection of books to read just because the superheroes weren't invited to the party. Romance, action-adventure, crime...it was all there. It just wasn't wearing spandex. And there was material there for readers ranging from teen to elder.

I can see why the convention organizers are so determined to keep the festival at the Puck. The building is gorgeous. High-ceilings. Brightly-lit rooms. Natural sunlight. Moderate temperatures. The atmosphere is perfect. And kudos to the staff, who were very kind and patient in answering my dopey questions when I was attempting to find the free shuttle the organizers provided to take visitors to the Big Apple comic convention on 32nd street.

Anyway, that's all for MoCCA, y'all. If I remember anything else, I'll add it here. Next up? The Big Apple.

Cheryl Lynn @ 09:37 AM EST Link

Saturday June 30 2007

3 Improvements I'd Like To See In Comics:

1) Characters who have different faces and body types.

There is an unbelievable amount of variety in the human population. An artist's work should reflect that. Artists who have difficulty rendering unique faces should study the photos of a particular model or actress (one who is not prone to extensive plastic surgery) in order to learn how to render a particular feature from many different angles. Do you think Superdude X should have large, expressive eyes? Pull out a dozen photos of an actor you think has that feature and study the way his eyes look at different angles. Using photos taken at live events will probably yield the best and most realistic results. You can't hide anything from a good digital camera. Do you think Indie-Girl Y should have a lithe frame? Rent a movie featuring an actress you think possesses the same body type. Study the way her body looks as she moves. Take screencaps from the movie to use as references. Studying magazine covers might result in unrealistic body types due to the large amount of airbrushing that occurs.

2) Characters wearing realistic modern hairstyles and clothing.

I'll be honest and say that this is a difficult request to make in some cases. I understand that companies would like to make sure their most marketable characters keep a uniform look throughout the ages. It's easier to sell a TPB featuring work from 1993 that way. However, you can keep your characters looking current without piling on the latest trend in every issue. You can give your flagship character a hairstyle that has lasted throughout many fashion upheavals. Bald heads have looked great on Yul, Telly, Avery and Vin. That's a hairstyle that has looked current for 50 years! Cornrows have barely changed since they've arrived on the scene and buzzcuts always come back in style (and stick around for years once they do). When you've selected a style, see if you can think of celebrities throughout the decades who have worn it successfully. The same goes for clothing. Gigantic bellbottoms come around every twenty years, but the boot cut is forever. T-shirts, tank tops and V-neck sweaters have been hanging around for decades too.

Of course, if your character isn't an icon that will be plastered on everything from juice cups to underwear, you can have some fun with his or her look. But remember, some looks go through changes over time. That bad-ass babe you created in 1977 is going to look a little strange in 2007 if you don't crack open a hair care or fashion magazine once in a while. Take Misty Knight for example:



She's wearing the same hairstyle (Afro) in all three pictures. But the way women wear that style has changed over the years.

3) A variety of genres achieving a decent level of promotion and popularity.

I'm already seeing creators and companies take tentative steps towards making this happen. There are romance comics being released at Oni. There are crime comics being published at Image. There are manga trade paperbacks available for every genre one could conceive of. I just wish the expansion of these genres would happen at a faster pace and include a more ethnically and racially diverse selection of characters--and creators.

Cheryl Lynn @ 02:28 PM EST Link

Wednesday July 04 2007

Aw, man.

I hate making a "This is screwed up!" post without offering a solution on how to fix things. And I hate it even more now because the post has been linked to. So I'm going to sit here until I hammer this out.

There are issues pertaining to female characters of color and female fans and creators of color that are being ignored. And those issues usually remain ignored until a woman who is a minority brings it up. Misty Knight's lightened skin and bizarre hair on the cover of Heroes For Hire #13 would not have been an issue had black women not called attention to it during the controversy over the preview. Many people would have simply ignored it. And as fans complain about the way Wonder Woman, Supergirl and other white female heroines are depicted in their many ongoing series, they fail to notice the miniscule and rapidly dwindling number of ongoing series for female characters of color. As fans point out that many artists give female characters the same face, they do not seem to observe that the face depicted is decidedly Caucasian. There are instances of cultural appropriation in order to suit feminist concerns. Many fail to mention the lack of female creators of color listed as guests for events focused on women in comics. These things are not mentioned because most people do not think about them. When you're white, you have the luxury of not having to think about issues regarding race until someone who isn't white brings it up.

So how can this be changed, you ask? How can one learn to be more observant? Hell, I wish I knew! I try to be observant of issues pertaining to people who are not straight or Christian, but is that only because I have people in my life whom I love that are gay and Muslim? If those people had never become a part of my life or confided in me, would I be as concerned about the issues that pertain to them? Would I even be aware of those issues? Privilege can blind easily.

So why single out members of the feminist fan movement? They aren't mind readers! How can they speak up about problems that many of them aren't even aware of?

They can't. And I do mention the lack of concern from other groups too. However, there's no given name for an established movement for minorities in comics yet so I really can't mention one when I talk about how frustrating it is to deal with sexist notions and dismissive behavior from some male fans of color. And what would name would I give to the group of reactionary fans angered by any of the comic industry's small steps towards diversity and equality? Who knows?

Well, none of that was a help at all, was it?

Arrgh, I suck. Okay, maybe this will help. If someone brings up a concern that affects that individual personally, the best tactic is to simply listen if that person has approached you in a polite and respectful manner. And when it is time to respond (and you should respond when a person addresses you), do not be dismissive of that person's concern if you happen to disagree. Because of that individual's experience, the issue is important to him (or her). And you don't have to understand that experience to respect the person giving his or her viewpoint. After all, if the person is giving respect, shouldn't he or she get it in return?

For example, I certainly didn't agree with Joe Quesada's response to those concerned with the recent deaths of gay and minority characters in comics, but I could not find fault at all with the manner in which he delivered his response. He actually seemed to listen and understand why those concerns were important to the people voicing them. He didn't share those concerns, but he doesn't have to. Unfortunately, his responses to those voicing concerns about the Heroes For Hire #13 cover were either dismissive or nonexistent (there was no response to readers' issues with Felicia and Colleen's unzipped costumes, Misty's lightened skin or Misty's bizarre hair). That's not the best way to interact with customers. Or people in general.

Well, that was a very roundabout way of advising people to acknowledge the concerns that are brought to them by others and not be dismissive when discussing those concerns! Giving voice to those concerns? Well, I guess that's up to the people that have them. So speak up!

Cheryl Lynn @ 11:20 AM EST Link

Tuesday July 10 2007

Reading Rainbow Part 1:

I'm black. African-American. And I'm lucky in that my family is extremely diverse. We have members of many different economic classes. We have members of different sexual orientations. We have members that can "pass" and members who most certainly cannot. I'm privy to a ridiculously wide range of African-American experiences. But that's not where it ends.

I was raised in a neighborhood where most of the residents were Latino or Caribbean-American. I would hear Spanish more often than English. And when I heard English, it certainly wasn't in an accent that I was used to. My best friends were Puerto Rican, Dominican and Trinidadian. And though I was ethnically an outsider, I blended in physically, which made others more open to sharing their cultures with me.

And then I was sent off to private school. It was a place where a majority of the children were white and certainly not part of my social class. I began to see how the "other half" lived. And once again I was immersed in different cultures that were not my own. Anglo-Saxon. Italian. Jewish. Irish. And so I observed everything that my peers did closely, and then I immediately copied it. Why? Because I did not want to stand out any more than I already did. I wanted to be "normal". Sadly, it was at the expense of myself. However, it did teach me to navigate a world that is a requirement for my livelihood.

Luckily, returning to my old middle-class neighborhood was able to undo much of the damage I had done while keeping all of the benefits I had gained firmly within my grasp. And after some gentle ribbing from friends of all backgrounds, I learned to switch dialects depending on the individual I was speaking to. Though I can't say I've studied how to do this, because I don't even think about doing it. It's effortless. Instantaneous. Though with friends I've had for a long time, I tend to forget and speak to them as if I am speaking to family. Still, I was finally able to swim the cultural pathways of my life and not feel out of place or uncomfortable.

And then I fell in love. With an Asian man. Who brought a whole heap of cultures and experiences with him that I knew nothing of. But I was more than willing to learn. Why? Because I cared for him and I wanted to know about the things that had shaped him and the things that he enjoyed. And I'm glad I did. Because even though the status of our current relationship is murky at best, he brought new and wonderful things into my life. Because there's no way in hell I would have willingly put squid in my mouth if not for him and that is like the best food ever. Ever.

So why am I telling you this? Because if I sit down to write, I don't have to think about diversity. I don't have to go back over my work to see if I've added the right number of minority characters. If I have a question about a particular American subculture, I can usually pick up my phone or photo album before I have to pick up a reference book.

I don't have to think about diversity because my life is filled to the brim with it.

And because of that, I didn't realize how difficult reader demands for true diversity would be for individuals who only had intimate knowledge of the culture they were born into to fulfill. So, I finally understand that it is a formidable task. Of course, that still doesn't mean that you should shirk your responsibilities and not do right by the individuals who are different from you. What the hell are you getting a check for if you can't even get up off your behind and do some research?

I suppose the answer to that question would be half-assed work, wouldn't it?

Cheryl Lynn @ 11:27 AM EST Link

Brought to you by the letter N.

Why do people use the phrase the N-Word? If you don't want to say the word, why not just call it what it is? A racial slur.

Cheryl Lynn @ 11:23 PM EST Link

Tuesday July 31 2007

What?

Oh no. I do not have time to break this down today.

To make a long story short, I'm calling bullshit. Why? Because I haven't been shunned by any group because of my nerdiness. In fact, I've been embraced because of it. And maybe the reason for that is because I don't feel that my nerdiness has made me any better (or any whiter) than anyone else. Nerds aren't being shunned. Elitist snobs are being shunned. As they should be. After all, anyone with two eyeballs can see that nerdiness is firmly rooted in African American culture (ETA: as it is in almost all cultures*) anyway. Just because that term is not used does not mean all of the elements needed to identify it are not firmly in place. Hell, my cousin takes his fucking stage name from a Marvel Comics character. Nerdiness is not in opposition to African American culture. It is an accessory to it. Just as it is to many other cultures. And every culture expresses it differently.

What kind of view does one have of black people if an individual cannot see that?

* Just wanted to edit this for clarity before I got a bunch of "How dare you say black people invented nerdiness?" emails.

Cheryl Lynn @ 10:18 AM EST Link

Thursday August 02 2007

Re: Resident Evil 5 Kerfluffle...

Y'know, I have no problem with the zombies being black. After all, the new Resident Evil game is set in Africa. What do you expect? But why are the heroes, no matter what the setting, always white?

That's the real problem, if you ask me. Perpetual Sidekick Syndrome. Let me guess what the plot will be. White hero travels to African village to study and hopefully halt the spread of a virus that turns people into zombies. White hero loses sole method of efficient transportation. White hero must kill massive waves of zombies to survive. White hero finds beautiful white female missionary that needs protecting. White hero finds sage black man with weapons cache leading small band of uninfected villagers. Sage black man informs white hero of the history of the village and how the virus has spread. Sage black man dies brutally from giant monster attack. White hero valiantly kills giant monster. White hero finds new method of efficient transportation. White hero and beautiful missionary escape village. White hero and beautiful missionary stare at vanishing compound sadly as they remember their fallen Magical Negro.

The End.

ETA (10:45): I haven't even seen the trailer yet (dial up) and I am fairly certain that will be the game's plot.

ETA (11:11): I've now seen the trailer and would bet money on that being the game's plot. Same story, different day. Y'know, it'd just be nice to be the hero once in a while. Not a thug. Not a sports star. Not a sidekick. Not a zombie. A real, honest-to-God, saving-the-day hero.

Is that so wrong?

ETA (12:10): The hateful comments on these two pages have pummeled my brain until it threatens to ooze from my ears. Gaming fandoms really seem to have a monopoly on the knuckle-draggers, I swear.

ETA (12:24): There needs to be a greater variety of skin tones in this game for better realism. Okay, I'm done talking about this. Finally. Yes, really.

Cheryl Lynn @ 11:39 PM EST Link

Tuesday August 07 2007

Dixie diet.

I am probably the only person I know to go down south and lose weight. My old face has come back. I feel like I'm de-aging.

Cheryl Lynn @ 02:28 PM EST Link

Monday August 13 2007

K-I-S-S-I-N-G!

So, Kadymae was kind enough to answer my question. And the answer was no.

Y'know, I really think that comic companies need to just "man up" and drag comic fans kicking and screaming into the modern age. Yes, Jimmy...men kiss each other! And there are minorities in the workplace! And women want equal rights! Yes, it's a scary, scary world...but the fans will just have to get used to it.

Comic companies seem to dance around the edges of diversity and never really make a true commitment to it. I don't think the higher ups working at comic companies understand one very important thing.

The fans aren't going anywhere. Anyone who was going to leave has already left.

Seriously, fans may whine and complain about the inclusion of ethnic, sexual and racial minorities, they may threaten to leave comics forever, but they are four-color addicts and their words don't mean a damn. You know how many weak-ass racist little bitches posted on video game message boards about how they weren't going to buy Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas because the protagonist of the game was African-American? There were endless mounds of those fuckers wailing like babies on forums throughout the Internerd. And was the GTA franchise even remotely affected by that racist bullshit? Not at all. GTA fanboys are addicted to that ish. They are long term users. They're like Bubble and Johnny from The Wire, man. They ain't goin' anywhere. The culture is a part of them.

And I do believe the same goes for comic fans. Sure they might leave a certain book, but they'll simply drift over to a similar book in order to satisfy their superhero (or bad girl, or yaoi...) craving. Hell, I'm a perfect example. I like books featuring superheroines. And I like those books to have a heavy dose of comedy and romance. And so I've bounced from Daughters of the Dragon to Claws to Empowered. And right now I'm looking for another comic to fill that need. Sure there are many books featuring superheroines that contain content which has ticked me off and caused me to stop buying certain books, but I haven't stopped buying comics. Hell, I haven't even stopped buying comics in that specific genre. The ish is in my veins.

So, just let Hulkling and Wiccan have a cute little chaste kiss already! Nothing hot and heavy since they're just teens. Yes, you'll get some bigots bitching, but who cares? And even if a couple leave, they'll just drift over to New Warriors or Runaways, anyway. The money will still be yours, baby.

And isn't that what it's all about?

Cheryl Lynn @ 01:44 PM EST Link

Sunday August 19 2007

Why?

Why did I watch Blade Runner yet again, when I know damn well that movie depresses me?

Stupid.

ETA: I think the relationship between Deckard and Rachael is horrifying when you take into account the fact that Deckard comes close to raping her earlier in the film. And the fact that he could even consider forcing himself on her clearly shows that Deckard did not consider Rachael to be his equal. And they weren't equal. And romantic love cannot exist without equality. Did Rachael finally consent to Deckard's advances due to her desire or her fear? Because it seemed a hell of a lot like fear to me.

Not. Romantic. At. All.

And yet I still love the movie. There should be a new Blade Runner comic series.

ETA 2: Oh, now this is interesting...

Cheryl Lynn @ 12:01 AM EST Link

Sunday August 26 2007

Feel the surge!

Now would be an extremely good time to take your tushie over to wowio.com and read Adrenaline #1-5 for free. Because I said so. And it's good. Then go hound the creator about why he doesn't have a TPB out in order to make my life more convenient.

I'm just kidding about the second part.

Cheryl Lynn @ 08:47 PM EST Link

Preserve the sexy.

Female comic fans aren't trying to steal your sexy, you know. I know that a lifetime of bias and a couple of generations of fear have caused you to think that way, but it is simply not true. These women, who are ardent readers just like yourself, simply want to see heroines who are shown to be physically and mentally strong, intelligent, capable and enthusiastic. They want to see heroines who are true equals to the heroes they fight beside. In action. In appearance. At work. At play. You can have sexiness without being demeaning to women. You can have sexiness without alienating female readers. Contrary to popular belief, sexiness is not at odds with equality.

Sexiness is not at odds with strength.

Sexiness is not at odds with practicality.

Sexiness is not at odds with determination.

Sexiness is not at odds with capability.

Sexiness is not at odds with bravery.

Do you know what is at odds with sexiness for many female comic fans? Hell, for many comic fans of both genders?

Inequality.

Fear.

Hatred.

Distortion.

Is it too much to ask not to see any of those four mixed with an attempt at conjuring up sexual arousal in a mainstream comic geared towards a wide range of ages and all genders? Are you so disturbed by such a mild request from female readers? Must you respond with a barrage of personal insults because of it? Really? Are we that threatening?

Cheryl Lynn @ 11:36 PM EST Link

Monday August 27 2007

So stupid I had to post it.

"There was a stage in my life where I went crazy with dating white women. I have nothing against black women, but they're raised differently. White women are raised to respect and serve their men. Black women are taught to question [their men]. Black women look at submission as being weak. White women look at submission as being a woman. And anyone who has a problem with this statement is ignorant. Just look at the divine order; it goes man, woman, child."

--Polow Da Don

Cheryl Lynn @ 01:36 PM EST Link

Thursday August 30 2007

Walk away.

Walk away from comics.

Walk away from fandom.

Walk away from the mainstream

If I had a quarter for every person who has told me to walk away in some form or another, I'd have an extra ten bucks in my pocket right now! And these aren't people who are being snide or bitchy either. These are people who are actually interested in my welfare. Fellow fans. Hell, even professionals.

Maybe I need to back up a bit before I veer off in the wrong direction? Something to think about.

Cheryl Lynn @ 11:26 PM EST Link

Friday September 14 2007

"Are you still upset about what happened to that lady?"

Hell fucking yes. I'm still upset about the Megan Williams case. I'm upset over even being asked that question. And I'm upset that the rest of America feels that Britney Spears is a more important topic of conversation. I've had nightmares because of what has happened to that woman. I feel completely impotent and it is infuriating. I understand why people just go batshit and riot now. Because you can only take so much of America screaming "You ain't shit!" before you finally just snap. We're not as important as some monster's sexual fantasy. We're not as important as the performance of a drug-addled singer. We're not as important as the activities of a spoiled heiress. We're being exploited, abused and murdered and America does not care.

And I'm fucking tired of it.

Cheryl Lynn @ 11:22 AM EST Link

Saturday September 15 2007

About Zoroastrianism.

How come there are so few Zoroastrians? I really like that religion. I would totally be a Zoroastrian if I weren't Christian.

Cheryl Lynn @ 06:23 PM EST Link

More about Zoroastrianism.

So, I've read a bit more on Zoroastrianism and it has honestly made me feel a bit better about the world. I suppose I like the fact that the religion provides a reason for the existence of evil. There's no questioning how an all-powerful God can allow the existence of hate, pain and suffering. I'm also fond of the idea that the best way to combat evil is to simply avoid it so that evil has nothing to corrupt. Unfortunately, there are times when evil is unavoidable, such as when one is the victim of a violent attack or injustice. However, when the option to simply walk away from hate is available, it makes sense to take it.

It really is such a neat religion. I just wanted to look up a few basic tenets to use as research material, but I'm definitely interested in digging deeper.

Cheryl Lynn @ 08:34 PM EST Link

Oooooookay.

I just checked my site stats. Uh, welcome to my online living room massive amounts of strangers. Please, read this disclaimer before you go any further.

ETA: I added a link to the disclaimer in my contact information, so we're good to go from now on!

Cheryl Lynn @ 04:44 AM EST Link

Wednesday September 26 2007

Let's make Ragnell spend money!

Green Lantern Baby Tees.

ETA: Let's take a moment to look at the number of tees featuring female characters at DC and the number of tees featuring female characters at Marvel.

Marvel? We've talked about this. Step it up. Get your money, baby.

ETA 2: That's funny that there's one tee for each current Lantern. A big portrait of Hal for Hal. Camo for Guy. Rhinestones for Kyle. And basic black for John. I wonder if that fits the characters' personalities too.

ETA 3: One? This hoodie is awesome. Two? That is the most amusing typo I've seen in a very long time. Only $39.99? Quite a deal.

Cheryl Lynn @ 11:37 AM EST Link

Friday September 28 2007

Hail Mary. Part two.

Someone uploaded the whole song. THANK GOD!

I swear, I can't listen to this in public because I wouldn't know how to act yet. We'll just put this on the MP3 player for later. Man, I can't wait for her album to come out!

Cheryl Lynn @ 11:46 AM EST Link

Saturday October 13 2007

Fur flying.

   

   

Tigra's beatdown was brutal. Beatdowns should be brutal. That's what happens when you mess with villains who roll deep. But in my opinion the incident wasn't depicted as sexy. Yes, there were one or two panels where there was entirely too much exposed cleavage (side-eye for Yu), but it was a straightforward ass kicking for the most part. Nasty. Ugly. Clinical.

I suppose the scene doesn't upset me because I am thoroughly convinced that Tigra is going to heal and wreck shop for weeks because of this. I can't imagine that any writer currently at Marvel would let Tigra weep in a hospital bed while someone else fought her battles. The character has superpowers. And someone just threatened her mother. Do you know how many people would straight up disappear if my mother had been hurt? I'm sure there's a Tigra miniseries already lined up. And many, many characters will be cursing the fact that they do not have medical plans when it hits the shelves.

Man, it's gonna be awesome. Tony's gonna be all "Chill, fam'! We got this!" and then Tigra's gonna be like "What you got, bitch? You couldn't even keep Cap from bein' shot! I'm handlin' this right here!" and then Tony's gonna be all "You watch your mouth, trick! Let me hear that you're out there actin' like a villain and best believe I'll treat you like one!" and then Tigra's gonna be like "They shot my momma's church crown, Tony! They gots to go!"

And then Tigra will hurt lots and lots of people. And then Tony will put Tigra's mother in Witness Protection and try to force Tigra to turn herself in by offering the location of her mother's whereabouts as a trade. And then Tigra will be like "Eat a dick, Tony. You just told me that my moms is safe. I don't need to know where she at. I'm straight rogue, bitch. You need me? Call my lawyer. Here's a dial tone to get you started."

And Tigra will be tougher than ever. I'm sure of it. And if I'm wrong? Feel free to curse the hell out of me or everyone seated at the next Marvel panel in your area!

Cheryl Lynn @ 01:17 PM EST Link

Wednesday October 31 2007

Wizards and witches.

You know what annoys me about the whole Wizard thing? It's not the Match the Rack segment. It's not the fact that Wizard identifies itself as the #1 men's pop culture magazine.

It's the fact that Wizard fronted all convention season!

Look, if you want to be a sanitized stroke magazine for white frat boys, be that! Be proud of that! Who cares if people are ridiculing you? Besides, you don't have time to listen to them anyway! You're too busy stuffing all that cash from emotionally stunted fanboys and company reps into your pockets. The L.C.D. always brings the big money, baby.

But don't let me see your reporters at MoCCA (which at this point has evolved into the best damn place to meet cute, smart hipster girls) pretending they're legitimate comics journalists. What the hell did Wizard have a booth there for if they were only going to bring us gems like Match the Rack? That's very desirable booth space that could have gone to an independent artist or a news organization that actually gives a damn about something that isn't WWH, Countdown or tits! And why the hell did Wizard reps approach female fans and ask them to fill out surveys at conventions this summer? Why ask us to participate and then slam the door in our faces? That is so damn irritating. No point in reaching out to women if you don't have anything to offer. That's just a waste of time that winds up making everyone cranky. Just stick to making your existing audience happy and the rest of us will go buy Comic Foundry and UVC.

Everybody wins!

Cheryl Lynn @ 10:05 AM EST Link

Thursday November 01 2007

Meh.

I think I have comics fatigue. I don't know. I just don't think there's anything else I can do to help improve diversity in comics. Except school you on some up and coming creators you should totally be paying attention to. Which I promise I will get to in a wee bit. Other than that? Man, I'm just tired.

Cheryl Lynn @ 09:49 PM EST Link

Tuesday November 06 2007

Racism as sport.

"After 62-year-old Du Doan’s murder (he was shoved into the water by a self-professed skinhead), reports began to surface in Canada of a sport known as 'n*ppertipping.' It apparently involves shoving people of Asian descent into the water."

[read more]

Cheryl Lynn @ 10:34 AM EST Link

Wednesday November 07 2007

Women of Color in Comics and Manga.

This November 12, I will be moderating a fantastic panel attended by three wonderful women cartoonists that you should know about.

Alitha E. Martinez, who has worked on Marvel's Thor and Iron Man, will be on hand to discuss her time at Marvel and her latest independent project Yume and Ever.



Jenny Gonzalez, indie and 'zine maven and all-around arbitrator of awesome, will be present to talk about her series Too Negative and her work on the House of 12 anthologies.



Rashida Lewis, creator of the comic Sand Storm and artist of the upcoming School Bell series, will discuss her work in the independent comics arena and her experiences moving into the realm of animation.



The panel will take place on November 12 at 7:00pm at the renowned Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art, which is located at 594 Broadway (Suite 401). Admission? Pay what you wish! Hope to see NYC/NJ come out and represent!

Cheryl Lynn @ 11:50 AM EST Link

Tuesday November 20 2007

Snaps for the kids.

I can't even express how delighted I was seeing that Wonder Woman t-shirt. You are looking upon straight joy, people!

Also, J-Setting

Cheryl Lynn @ 02:05 PM EST Link