My Thoughts on Minx

[taniadelrio]

Last night, at about 4am I woke up and wasn't able to get back to sleep. And for some reason I kept thinking about DC's Minx line and why it's failed and how much I dread the assumptions that people will make that comics for girls are destined to fail or, worse yet, that girls don't read comics - which I know is untrue, and many other people know

Comments

[nervousystem]

Not too long ago, I was reading something about men's tendency to "teach" women. It seems to be a very subtle tendency, but troubling nonetheless.

[taniadelrio]

Hmm, that would be troubling. But I do wonder if most artists/writers have a subconscious desire to teach their audience something, regardless of gender.

[jonnerbloo]

No one is totally free of their "inner editorialist."

In fact, those who proclaim the loudest that they have no message are often so deeply enthralled with their own personal inner code that they don't even realize it.

Only the so-called "Outsider Artist" (and they don't even call themselves that) don't spare a thought as to what they want or at least WISH an audience will get out of their work.

[tiredfairy]

You and Dave Roman have both touched on areas of this that most other people seem to have missed. Namely what it is that "girl" readers are looking, and why certain things are more popular.

And I agree wholeheartedly. When I was the age these books were being targeted at, I was reading a lot of fantasy that was of the YA kind (The Dark is Rising, The Secret of the Unicorn Queen)...or reading "up", things like Stephen King or Death: The High Cost of Living. I didn't go for the gossipy books, but I understand why they're appealing. Same thing with Twilight...I have the same issues with it that you do, but I completely understand why girls of a certain age are eating it up.

I think Minx missed out on a lot of that by not looking at different genre's or avoiding some. But anyone saying this is an indication that girls don't read comics or don't read isn't paying attention. They didn't read -these- comics...and for a lot of reasons.

[taniadelrio]

"I think Minx missed out on a lot of that by not looking at different genre's or avoiding some"

-Good point! I agree.

[sparkmatter]

I had enjoyed most of the Minx line, but not all of it lived up to its promise. PLAIN Janes was ok I guess, Re-Gifters was mildly entertaining if nothing else. Clubbing started out decent enough but took such a total left turn at albuquerque near the end that the change in suspension of belief nearly made me soil my unmentionables

[taniadelrio]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts - I think your reviews of the various titles was interesting to read.

[solipherus]

They did seem all over the map. We girls are more diverse than an all encompassing "girls line"... I really had high hopes for Minx though. I wanted it to do well on principle.

On a side note, my family, friends and I have been known to say "Oh Em Gee" in real life. (But usually with a tongue in cheek attitude)

[ciaranbenson]

Thank you so much for writing this. Losing any kind of manga publisher always feels a little bit like some sort of "end of the world", but this really helped me get this back into perspective.

Girls do want to be entertained, and someone else will try again, and hopefully next time we'll see a more appropriate commercial response.

For now, another avenue for publishing manga bites the dust, and I think I feel better about it now having read your thoughts.

I hope your cold gets better ^_^

[taniadelrio]

Thanks for your optimism! I didn't actually have that much "hope" when I wrote the entry, but you're right. Something else will come up, and eventually someone will get it right!

[jonnerbloo]

The thing about "Twilight" is, the girls who've embraced Bella aren't looking for a role model, they're looking for someone they can commiserate with.

Like you say, it's escapist fluff.

I recall that when Bill Willingham had Snow White marry Bigby in the series "Fables" in what was a very traditional, old-fashioned wedding ceremony, some in the blog-o-sphere took it as a sign that Willingham was against feminism and wanted all women to get married and "obey" men.

Willingham's rather sarcastic response was "Well, in future versions of the story we'll remove the panel where Snow White turns and states that all female readers are expected to do exactly as she's doing now."

Many times a story is just a story. It -can- mean more than it means on the surface, it can even be an intentional lesson or (more strongly) an allegory...but many times it's just meant to tell a story.

Personally, I prefer characters who do try to change, but it is just as realistic to have ones who never do.

[taniadelrio]

Hehe, that's funny about Fables. You're right: just because a character acts a certain way doesn't mean the audience is expected to do the same. And like you said, Many times a story is just a story. I think it would be good if more people could remember that.