She-Geeks discussion

Our novel for this month's themed superhero/heroine read is:

Empowered, Vol 1 by Adam Warren.

Please be sure to tag all spoilers!

SO HAPPY

I'm having a really hard time getting into this... it seems so... gratuitous?

That's kind of the point. It's a commentary/deconstruction of superhero tropes.

Here's an article from Bleeding Cool on Empowered's oddly subversive style, if anyone's interested.

I'll admit, when I first saw Empowered in a stack of library books my boyfriend had grabbed, I was prepared to judge him. Then I read it and was like, "Oh, wait a second. This... This is actually more aware of sexist tropes and more willing to call them out than anything Marvel or DC has put out." Also, it has one of the healthier relationships in comics (and it's an interracial couple no less. Huzzah! As a comics fan in an interracial relationship, finding couples we can cosplay as is a nightmare.).

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2013/06/0...

OK, fine. I've been super wary of this book for a long time, but after reading the last comment by Shannon, I'm getting it now and will hopefully read it in time to chime in on this month's manga discussion.

Yay! Glad my comment helped. Admittedly it doesn't handle everything as well as it could, but I've read the first four and it just keeps getting better.

Yeah, this one left a bad taste in my mouth. I didn't hate it, I just never want to read it again. Ever. Nor do I want to see this in the hands of a little lady who is new to comics or is searching for a comic that doesn't make females look like back up dancers to the real superheroes (men). Just: NO.
I'll admit it, I don't get the point. I made it to the end of the first volume and I don't see the genius. I don't see any thing here besides endless ripped suits and ball gag scenes. Maybe (and I'm stretching here) there is an idea that bad guys are not all bad.
I'm off to erase this one from my mind and cheerfully never look back.

So, I picked this up from the library completely clueless about the story line--purposely chose to do it this way so I could read it with an open mind. It was slightly entertaining, even funny in a few places like when she realizes the author is into bondage and interjects her opinion. My guess is this is supposed to poke fun at the more sexist comics? Other than that, I don't really want to complete the series.

I was actually really excited to pick this up after reading the blurb. She's got serious body issues and is forced to wear a skin tight suit? Brilliant! So much excellent potential to be had. And then all I got was a totally gorgeous (why does she have so many body issues when she is clearly hot?) 20 something (who often felt like she was 16) who was just tied up alot and always with a ball gag. So disappointing.

I actually borrowed this from a friend who lent me the first 4 volumes and I ended up reading all of them because I didn't have much else to do. As it went on there was a definite improvement, what with her being tied up much less and actually kicking butt, but I don't think I'll read any further because it isn't improving enough for me.

I think her having body issues while being attractive was the point. All of the people I've thought super attractive and model-esque all have serious body issues. This is highlighted by the fact that Spooky puts all of her high school insecurities on Emp, thinking she represents all the attractive girls that made her feel bad about herself when Emp doesn't think she's anymore attractive and hates her own body. That idea really struck a cord with me as I've been on both sides of that debacle.

Hmmm yes I see your point Shannon and the body issues did decrease as the series progressed and Emp started getting support and positive reinforcement from the Minion and Ninjette.

Also, if I'm not mistaken it's only ever Emp who says she's fat. She's an unreliable narrator.

I do enjoy superhero stories that have a different take on superheroes.

But I just couldn't figure out if this was gratuitous or ironic in pointing out how gratuitous superhero comics tend to be.

It was interesting but I don't think I'll pick up her other volumes.