In an effort to turn the sexist tables, a website covering all things comic books has created a batch of mock covers objectifying male characters. And, well, let’s just say we would be much more inclined to get into comics if this style was adopted more in the art form.
The comic book industry has a reputation of being largely controlled by straight, nerdy men. Without raising a finger to actually substantiate the stereotype, it sounds true.
That has a pretty direct and obvious impact on the way artists draw female characters.
And while the creator of the below faux covers doesn’t have a problem with sexiness per se, it’s more of an inequality issue. Female characters seem to always get the pinup treatment, and male characters never do.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Check out the scintillating covers below:
What’s even crazier is that the images were all pulled from a ’90’s Super Hero Swimsuit Edition, which we had no idea existed.
Here are some more images that weren’t used for the above batch of covers (yes please!):
Dan Duprey
Speaking on behalf of all men, everywhere, we desperately want to be objectified.
Joseph Lease
John Edward Greer
John Edward Greer
Yum
Richard Holaday
Except none of these are “Super-Sexy” ð??
Xzamilio
Okay, there is a lot to unpack with this “feminist” nonsense. First of all, the reason the female characters are sexualized more is because the audience is predominantly male, ergo, give the viewers what they want. Second, this mack daddy of first world problems seems to be ignoring the fact that the male comic book characters are drawn as these overly muscular virile hunks with tree trunk legs, bazooka arms, and impossibly defined washboard abs… I mean, if my rolly polly ass can deal, then so should the rest of the “real” people. Third… Who. The. Hell. Cares? It’s comic books… the poses are exaggerated, the bodies are exaggerated… they shoot plasma from their fingers, teleport, control minds, shapeshift… and the gripe is that the women are posed provocatively?
But, oh no… with Wolverine’s cover, the women are still posed provocatively… and longing after a man as if they cannot live without some macho hero. That’s sexist!!! Everything’s sexist!!!
And fourth… the men are already objectified in comic books… mainly by gay men. And these aren’t even hot. All my opinion, but please feel free to come for me.
Nathan Brandon Lee Kennedy
Needs more Batman, Superman and Nightwing for my liking.
barkomatic
@Xzamilio: You need to calm down and actually read the post. The author doesn’t have a problem with female characters in sexy poses, but is only pointing out that men don’t get the same treatment.
It’s almost as if a male characters that is hardly dressed and posed provocatively threatens you to the point where you are breathing fire.
Xzamilio
@barkomatic:This is fake. These are comic book characters. No one’s pressed, or “breathing fire” so ease up on the dramatics there, drama queen.
Aromaeus
Women read comic books too. The idea that “women are sexualized in comics because it’s largely consumed by men” is silly, sexist, and heterocentric. There are plenty of gay men and women and straight women who enjoy comics. It also doesn’t make sense within the comic book universes for a super powered human who spends a great deal of time fighting often super powered villains to have almost all of their body exposed. Not every super hero has extreme durability like Superman.
Also comics and thinks of that ilk are a part of media and because of that do have an influence on people. It’s the same argument for more diverse representation in media because we live in a diverse world and study after study shows that when people are exposed to more diversity they don’t internalize harmful beliefs about minority groups. I can’t believe this has to be explained to people in the age of information. Pick up a book or develop those critical thinking skills you should have honed in school for goodness sake.
Xzamilio
@Aromaeus: Yeah, you used a bunch of big buzzwords like “sexist” and “heterocentric”, but you didn’t use the one word that is pertinent here: true
I’m sorry if facts don’t support your moral high ground, but comic books by and large cater to heterosexual men — mainly young boys — just like romance novels cater to heterosexual women, barbies to girls, and transformers/action figures for boys. Yeah, there are plenty of women and gay men who enjoy comics with women becoming almost completely equal to men consumer wise, but comic book art is the example of an “if it’s not broke, we ain’t fixing it” model of consumerism that has a target demographic.
Hit the bottom line. If “sexual objectification” of female comic book characters is as prevalent as claimed, a simple act of recourse? Not buying the comics. It sounds juvenile but it is true. If enough people state a problem and their sales suffer, you better damn believe they will change course. What is wrong with creating something that caters to your own demographic instead of trying to make someone else see your vision of an “inclusive nonoffensive society” come to fruition? I see it all too often with people trying so hard to appease perpetual victims that the core concept gets lost and we get overly PC garbage that no one will watch.
Sorry ’bout it.
And what kind of influence do comic books have? That’s a broad assertion that you didn’t qualify.
Derek Perron
Christian Santiago
Christian Santiago
So hot
Steve Proo
Patrick Perez
Patrick Perez
Yes ma’am
Richard Rachman
Gavin Heller
Darson
These are from a series of Marvel Comics magazines called MARVEL SWIMSUIT ISSUE, a take on SPORTS ILLUSTRATED SWIMSUIT ISSUE. They were printed in the early 90’s.
Mikah92
Too focused on the typical “muscle macho man”look.Change it up and give us some athletic,smooth,toned,curvy without the excessive buff.LOL
Billy Budd
I would like to fuck or get fucked by the Wolverine, but I wish he had less muscle.
David Harlem
I’m sorry, what’s wrong with objectification? Isn’t that just a term used by people who are jealous of the people being objectified?
Chris
I like them!