Monday, November 21, 2016

Week 12: Women in comics

This week I read the comic She Hulk. I’d have to say this is one of those comics you read on a Saturday afternoon as a treat. The style of this comic was very unique than the usual Marvel feature. The she Hulk comics give off a comedic mood in opposed to the obscene superheroes that we usually read about. The only thing that was different in the narrative was Jennifer’s [She Hulk’s] green skin. Everything else around her came off as things and situations we see and go through on a day-to-day basis.

I am really impressed how Marvel interpreted Jennifer as a common realistic superhero when she transformed into She Hulk, than sexualizing her to fit into the male gaze. Many companies, writers, and illustrators try to sexualize female characters in a way to where particularly the male audience is more focused on the body, than the women’s actual purpose of the story. When Jennifer transformed into She Hulk I clearly saw that this is a realistic accurate depiction of how a female hulk should look and that this is a powerful superhero that could strike down any male or female antagonist.

What I loved most about She Hulk was that she was a strong independent female character that sent a influential message to female readers. Jenifer in She Hulk did not need a man to take care of her and made a way to have her own and become a successful women. We all can see ourselves in herself and as she transitions into She Hulk. Jennifer takes no shit from anyone and dares to be crossed or disrespected.
I have mixed feelings about the mood of the comic. Some parts were comedic; others were either suspenseful or dramatic. I personally would have liked to see a darker side to the She Hulk comics in comparison to all the other Marvel comics. It would make me take a majority of subtext much more seriously, but overall I still enjoyed seeing Marvel expand into more feminist comics.

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