He said

"There, see that star way up there, the third star to the right? That star is my heart. It burns for you.'


"That's a white dwarf star. It's virtually dead," he said.


"Ok, then not that one. Look to the left, count ten stars back.  That one. That's my heart."


"That's a supergiant.  Probably about to die. When it does it will most likely become a black hole."


"Forget it.  My heart is my heart.  And it beats faster, into a frenzy, when you come near."


"Umm....that's nice," he said.

A visit to a comic shop (part 4: Ms. Marvel)

part 1, part 2, part 3 if you missed them.


When I arrived home after visiting the comic shop in part 2, after I had let the dog out and then fed him, I eagerly opened the bag of comics, right there in my kitchen.


First of all, Ms. Marvel appears to be a well-written comic, in the opinion of someone who doesn't know comics. The teenage drama is spot on, as is the cultural aspects. She deals with a traditional (at least I think so) family, sneaks out to attend a party, and is cruelly teased because of her religion and her skin color. Some sort of weird fog obscures everything, and she has a vision of Captain Marvel and her fellow superheroes. She tells Captain Marvel that she wants to be just like her. Captain Marvel, with a few words of warning, agrees.


The next frame shows a White, blonde Ms. Marvel.


I literally cringed.


Obviously, as demonstrated by the first 3 parts of this series of posts, I am not looking at this from a comic based knowledge. Instead, I am looking at this from the perspective of someone who has had multicultural awareness (and hopefully, some sensitivity) pounded into her. In my most recent multicultural class we watched videos of African-American teenage girls discussing the discrimination against those with darker skin and the desirability of lighter skin, and the things they do to appear more "White": bleaching and straightening their hair, for example.  A book that I read years ago, about passing as white (and other issues), The House Behind the Cedars, by Charles W. Chestnutt, left a lifelong impact. Amy Tan's books also tend to deal with the conflict between the traditional and the younger generation, who are often in the process of acclimating to the dominant culture. The list could keep going for several posts. It's a thing. Unfortunately.


As I stood there leaning against my kitchen counter, with the dog munching contentedly at my feet, staring at a teenage girl dealing with family conflict and being made fun of by other kids because of her religion and the color of her skin, who had asked to be someone else, who then changes into a superhero who is blonde and White and who presumably meets societal expectations of "pretty":


My heart hurt.


With the information I have so far about Kamala Khan, (although before making an actual determination, we would need to question her further and obtain more pertinent information) she would most likely fall within an assimilation or conformity stage of a racial identity model, in that she is struggling with her race/religion/family and wants to fit in with the dominant culture.


I knew that the professor who had taught my most recent multicultural class actually is a comic book aficionado. I brought my Ms. Marvel comic books to campus to let him look at them.  I told him that they were really well written, and the cultural aspects were spot on, but that he would know the moment in the first book which caused me to cringe.


We flipped through the pages, and I pointed out her conflict with her family, the moment where she gets teased and made fun of at the party, and where she tells Captain Marvel she wants to be like her.


Then we turn the page, and I show him how she looks as Ms. Marvel, and wait for it.


He looked up, shocked.  "She's White?" he said.   "Why?"


"I've been thinking about it," I replied.


"First, she asks Captain Marvel if she can look like her, and this is what Captain Marvel looked like when she was younger, presumably. Plus, they're rebooting Ms. Marvel, and therefore, she needs to look like Ms. Marvel has looked in previous versions. I think." I said.


"I guess," he said.  "But it still sends a message."


I nodded.


"They're going to have to resolve that at some point in the series," he said.


We'll see.

A visit to a comic shop (part 3)

Read part 1 and part 2 if you missed them.


A few days after the visit to the last comic store, I started wondering what I would do when the third issue of Ms. Marvel shapeshifts into the world. Should I just download it? Should I give that store a second chance? Should I find a store that would require a special out of the way trip to get there?


I remembered a store from my search for local comic shops that was closer to me than the last store, so I found the name again and googled it. Clicking on the link for the website brought up a message that the store was currently closed. So much for that.


But then I clicked a different link and discovered that someone had posted information about new store stock and free comics day. So I went back to the store's website and clicked on the twitter symbol. The last tweet had been posted 24 minutes before. Slightly confused, I realized that I was going to physically drive to the store's location to see if the store was open for business.


It didn't bode well.


After my experience in the last store, I decided to find some other titles so I would have something to ask for help with if anybody actually offered to help me. After digging through several (I admit) Wikipedia articles, reading a review commenting on the propensity for Power Girl's costume to be torn to shreds in every New 52 issue (here), and finding out the 10 longest running female solo series (there), I chose two series in which I was possibly interested.


The next day after work, I ventured forward on the second part of my quest. I started at one end of the shopping center and just as I was getting frustrated at the numbering system in the center (which didn't seem to match the posted address for the store), I saw "Comics" above a storefront. I took a deep breath and opened the door.


It was like night and day. Literally. The other store had been a dark cave worthy of Batman. This store was bright. I'm not sure if it was because there were more windows, they weren't completely covered with posters, the lights were brighter, or the towering collectibles case in the middle was glass and allowed the light to pass through.


The GuyBehindTheRegister paused in the middle of helping the people in front him to say "hi" to me before the door had even closed behind me.


This store did appear to have less stock than the last store, although since I hadn't felt comfortable browsing in the last one I couldn't really compare the two. There were definitely fewer display shelves in this store.


I paused inside the door, with the register on the right, and the shelves on the left. Whether it was my bad experience waiting at the register for help in the other store, the brighter feel to this store, or that the amount of stock didn't appear so daunting, I turned left and started browsing. I quickly found my first title, though since I only found one issue it may have been in the wrong place. I kept going.


I wondered if the GuyBehindTheRegister would offer to help after he was done helping the people in the store before me (which evidently required a long conversation about collectibles). It didn't happen, but it was fine with me because the longer I browsed the more comfortable I became doing so.


While I browsed I found that:
a. The shelves were not too tall, so that I could see and flip through the items on the top shelf without too much difficulty.
b. Each stack had different issues in it, some more than one title, which might mean that the difference between the stock in this store and the other store was not as great as it appeared


I also found:
Amanda Waller-
I was REALLY tempted by this title, but I ended up not getting it. At home, I looked it up and found out that in the current New 52 universe she is younger and skinnier than the original. No thanks, I've had enough of that message. Come on, DC.
Huntress/Power Girl-
I didn't see any torn costumes in the issue I flipped through, but I did see a lot of teenage angst about boys.  Completely valid, but thankfully something I've mostly outgrown.
Wonder Woman-
Enough said in part 1.
She-Hulk-
I was also tempted by this series. Looks like she's an attorney and goes out for lunch with friends and all that regular life stuff even though she's green.  But I wasn't feeling the artwork.
The Illegitimates-
What? Still haven't figured this one out.


Random Inserted Note:
One of the people the GuyBehindTheRegister was helping when I walked in was a woman, one member of the couple he was helping with the collectibles was a woman, a woman walked in while I was browsing and plunked down on the couch  in front of a television (obviously a regular), and another woman walked in with food as I was walking up to the register. In other words, the GuyBehindTheRegister was vastly outnumbered by the number of women, including me, coming in and out of this store while I was there.
End Random Inserted Note!


I finally located my second series as I was almost done browsing through all the shelves. Close by, I also found another series to which I kept returning. I'd pick an issue up, flip through it, put it down. I'd look at something else, go back and pick up another issue, flip through it, put it back. Finally, I thought, "at least I can ask him about something now and see what happens," and brought it up to the register along with my other selections.


"Can you tell me her backstory?  I mean, who is she?" I asked.


(Of course, after I hunted down information about her online at home, I found out that she's been around for decades. This question clearly marked me as a newbie, which was pretty much the point, so hey! mission accomplished.)


He told me that she is a famous warrior, gave me some background about her existence in the current universe, and kept stressing that the series is really violent.


And as I stood there wrapped in indecision (and counting the dollar signs if I ended up liking it enough to keep buying future issues),
he said it:


"She's a really strong female character."


Sold.






Next (and the last) time: I discuss Ms. Marvel, the reason I started this quest in the first place

A visit to a comic shop (part 2)

To find out what happened last time in part 1, click here


I had just walked in the door of a comic shop for the first time.


The pictures I had found online showed a bright store with turquoise paint on the walls. Instead, I had entered what resembled a dark cave. Batman would have been comfortable there. They actually might have preferred Batman, since he probably has far more money. And cooler gadgets.


The store looked busy. The register, immediately inside the store, had a couple of people waiting in line to check out. A group of 3 or so guys were chatting a few steps further into the store. One, in a white buttoned shirt and jeans, said hi. I figured the next statement was going to be "can I help you?" so I said hi back. Nothing. Then I'm pretty sure he scanned me from head to toe because his gaze slid down to my shoes before he looked away. I guess he didn't like the shoes I was wearing.


I was there to pick up a comic book, not a guy.


I can't be sure I was paying enough attention to know exactly why he needed to look me over, or if he even did. If he did and he wasn't an employee, then it was only slightly creepy to have to deal with that after I had just entered a store. If he did and he was an employee, then it was definitely over the creepy line. I will therefore call him MayOrMayNotBeSlightlyCreepyGuy.


Because I was looked for a name tag or a lanyard or something to signify that he was an employee. I didn't find it. By the end of my visit there, after looking for some symbol of employment on any of the employees who did actually help me, I realized that no one wore anything to single them out of the people milling around the store, so that I could know to ask them for help instead of sending out a bat signal.


I decided to wait in line at the register at the front, to see if the GuyBehindTheRegister could help or point me in the direction of someone who could. The male in front of me finished buying his items and turned to leave. I was next. Another male customer promptly walked up to the front of the store, completely around me, and up to the register to pay for his items. Normally I would say something, and have before in other stores. For some reason, I didn't speak up, maybe because I was out of my element, and maybe because I wanted to see how long it would take an employee (a legitimate one) to actually notice that I was there.


Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw it: the first issue of Ms. Marvel, and right next to it, Captain Marvel #1.


I immediately sent out a silent thank you to all the goddesses of all the universes and pantheons in every comic in the store. Not that I knew who or what they were, which is one of the reasons I never got into comic books in the first place- who can keep track of all the universes, incarnations, and reboots?


I didn't find the second issue of Ms. Marvel, however, and I still had no clue how to find it. I decided I might as well try to venture further into the store. I quickly realized that I had no idea how anything was organized. I did find Batgirl and Catwoman, but I didn't know the backstory or anything about these characters. I really wasn't feeling it, plus I needed to go home and let the dog out.


So I took my Ms. Marvel and Captain Marvel up to the registers, where I asked for the second Ms. Marvel. GuyBehindTheRegister yelled out to see if they had it. Turns out when I called ahead I should have checked on the second issue instead of the first. They were out.


MayOrMayNotBeSlightlyCreepyGuy just happened to be leaning against the desk to my right, and he asked if Ms. Marvel was the same as Captain Marvel. I held up both books, at which point AnsweredTheMs.MarvelQuestionGuy responded directly to MayOrMayNotBeSlightlyCreepyGuy that she was modeled after a (presumably male) superhero named after salad greens. I was pretty sure that I didn't give a fig for the salad greens guy.


Thankfully, the GuyBehindTheRegister pulled a copy that was being saved by another (female) employee for me. I did briefly feel bad for the employee, but AnsweredTheMs.MarvelQuestionGuy assured me that it was standard practice if they didn't pick up their subscriptions right away. So I bought it.


I wondered if I would have felt more comfortable in the store if AbsentWoman was there, but then I might not have scored her copy of Ms. Marvel #2.  Quite the ethical dilemma.


I can't say that I would view this comic shop as a place I would go to browse. Instead, I would have to figure out what I wanted beforehand, including the appropriate back stories, so that I could walk in and buy only what I already knew I wanted. I'm not sure that it's the best approach to running a business: although I try to get an idea beforehand on what I want to purchase before I go into, say, Ulta or Barnes & Noble, I inevitably find other items to buy because I am comfortable browsing (unfortunately for my bank account, but better for the business).


The saving grace in this store was the GuyBehindTheRegister. Although he let someone cut in line, he was really friendly when I did get to the register. He also made the effort to solve the problem of finding a copy of the comic book that I wanted.


I took my bag, got back in my car, drove home, and let the dog out. He didn't mind my shoes.


So there's that.



Next time: I visit a different comic shop

A visit to a comic shop (part 1)

Recently I bought a comic book for the first time.  To do so, of course, I also made my first visit to a comic book shop.


Considering how much I love Wonder Woman, you might think that I own an entire collection of her comic books. I don't. I own exactly two graphic novels: one is a Wonder Woman tome penned by Jodi Picoult (only the second female Wonder Woman writer), and The Crow by James O'Barr. I almost bought a graphic novel version of Pride and Prejudice, but by the time I went back to buy it, it was gone. I have yet to go online to get it, although I'm not sure why.


But I had also been hearing (and reading) about the new Ms. Marvel, one of the few females with her own solo series, and who happens to be a Muslim teenager. I briefly considered digitally downloading an issue, but then I thought I might as well try to get the actual book.


I admit that I was a bit trepidatious.

After seeing twitter conversations in my feed about whether comic book shops are comfortable for women (one women tweeted that she drives miles out of her way to go to a store ran by a woman who is friendly to her and will answer all her questions), contributing to the Kickstarter campaign for She Makes Comics (quote coming up), and reading A.K. Anderson's review of the New 52 Wonder Woman, in which she points out that the (male) authors have removed her from her Amazonian roots (thereby depriving her of the support of her mother and other female family members), have made her emotionally shallow, and do not seem to have basic knowledge of the mythology of Hades, Demeter, and Persephone, I was a little leery about going to a comic book shop.


--------
She Makes Comics will be a documentary about the history of women in comics, highlighting the contributions they have made to the business and the difficulties they face. The Kickstarter site for this project states:

"While women have made significant strides in the medium over the past several decades, it's still not easy to be a woman in comics. Female readers fight to be recognized as legitimate fans in an insular and sometimes sexist community. In mainstream comics, there remains an unequal balance of women in creative and business roles, and some publishers have been criticized for misogynistic portrayals of women in their titles. The pessimistic question is often asked: is there a place for women in comics?"
-----------


So I emailed a female friend who most likely would know more about local comic book shops than I do, and chose a store on her recommendation list that was on my way home. I called ahead to make sure that they had the first Ms. Marvel issue.  The guy on the phone was really friendly, so once I was in the car driving home, I thought "why not?" and found the place.

I mean, it's shopping. I could do that. And I don't actually mind looking like a little bit of an idiot in new places.  Just this morning in a new Ractrac I stood for who knows how long contemplating the multitude of ice teas available, all of which were in both Southern Sweet style and regular. Oh, the choices.

Anyway...


I pulled into the parking lot, parked, took a deep breath, and got out of the car. I noticed a man and a woman version of a couple also walking toward the shop, and thought, "See? Women shop here too."

So I walked through the door.




to be continued.....






The link for A.K. Anderson's review is HERE
The link for the She Makes Comics Kickstarter project: click here