apparently linkage is a thing I do now

Strange Horizons has a this fairly depressing essay by Renay about how cold and misogynist she found mainstream SFF fannish spaces after growing up as a fan in online, female-centric spaces.

Obviously this is anecdata, but still damning anecdata it is, especially alongside all the discussion we've had recently of sexual harassment at cons.

--

From my previous comics exposure of "movies plus what my friend TheRazor told me," I've never managed to get even mildly interested in any DC characters, but nonetheless this costume design for the new Batgirl pleases me very much. Here are artist Annie Wu's considerations for the costume:

Well, when it came to addressing the needs of the story, I spent a lot of time considering each element with the lens of “If this is true, what else is true?" Okay, so, you’re a teenage girl AND a costumed vigilante so you need to design your costume to look extra-intimidating. All right, you know the legendary bat symbol carries tremendous weight with it so you make that as prominent and strong as possible. You need a silhouette more menacing than your natural teen build will allow, so you find ways to exaggerate that (hence the wider shoulder armor and cape). You’re doing this on your own, unlike Terry McGinnis who has Wayne money and support, so you would carry yourself as such (put your best mean-face on, adjust posture accordingly). Things like that.

I mean, how sensible is that? And then you get this result, which tickles me to no end.

I suppose it says something uncomplimentary about me that so far the element that excites me most about superhero comics is the costumes. (But only certain costumes, mind.)

Crossposted from Dreamwidth. Comment here or there. ( DW replies)