Megazine, a girlie mag?

[Proudhuff]

discussed else where in drips and drabs but...

I would be interested to hear a female perspective/opinions on the gender balance in the Meg given the three to two ratio just now, does it make a difference to female readers?

[Emperor]

And from Tharg in prog 1703:

So I mentioned a couple of progs ago that there's been talk of a pair of titles hitting the shelves alongside this pulse-pounding publication, and while perusing your Terran broadcasts the other week I caught a discussion led by the Kirsty Wark humanoid about the first of these to be launched, Clint. Now, by this point I had already had the opportunity to cast an emerald eye over this particular organ as PR droid Charl-E had come scurrying into the Nerve Centre brandishing a copy, but it was interesting to hear on the TV programme the female reaction to a comics mag aimed specifically at young male Earthlets, and whether they felt alienated by its high testosterone superhero content and baffling lists of hot mums.

I'd hope that anything from the House of Tharg was never so exclusive as to make a portion of the readership feel sidelined. The Meg, for example, is currently featuring three stories with female leads, while this week's cover star is Age of the Wolf's Rowan Morrigan. I like to think that I'm an equal opportunities Thrill-creator, crafting tales for all to enjoy, but let me know if you feel there's something missing. One planet, one 2000 AD!

As I mentioned in another thread Col of TRMoT has been examining the issue of gender (and race) representation in Tharg's output and gives the current Meg a hearty thumbs up.

http://thatremindsmeofthis.blogspot.com/2010/09/quiet-revolution-matter-of-gender-in.html

See also the comments on CLiNT from static-girl and Em-bot:

http://www.2000adonline.com/forum/index.php/topic,28428.msg543438.html#msg543438
http://www.2000adonline.com/forum/index.php/topic,28428.msg545660.html#msg545660

[Grant Goggans]

I actually wrote Tharg about this t'other week.

Rowan seems to be a pretty good character, but is she the star of a thrilling new series of adventures that will run for many years and collected editions, or is she, as she appears, the star of a one-off serial?

I'd like Samantha back, of course, but what I'd like most is a lead character who's neither a long-legged sexpot like Durham Red nor a female version of an established male character, like Samantha, Rafe, Inaba, Anderson, Venus Bluegenes, etc.  Lilly Mackenzie certainly fits the bill, but as she's creator-owned, it limits what Tharg can do with her, I think.

[Emperor]

I'd like Samantha back, of course, but what I'd like most is a lead character who's neither a long-legged sexpot like Durham Red nor a female version of an established male character, like Samantha, Rafe, Inaba, Anderson, Venus Bluegenes, etc.  Lilly Mackenzie certainly fits the bill, but as she's creator-owned, it limits what Tharg can do with her, I think.

I made a bit of a list of female characters somewhere in the comments at TRMoT and I'll see if I can find it. The female character with a tonne of potential is Captain Sarita, when she turned up she was more than a match for the rather inept Jack Dancer and has been off on a solo mission with Omar to rescue Newton and the Chevalier. However, jammed into a large cast, as she has been in recent instalments, she ended mainly standing around in the back looking concerned at suitable points and worried when Jack was in danger. Bit of a waste of a fine character - cut her loose for her own adventure (possibly with a different artist so as not to disrupt the main ongoing Red Seas story - which is building momentum towards... something).

[dweezil2]

I'm in touch with my feminine side, so I certainly don't object to more female characters.
Especially when they're of the quality of Lilly Mackenzie.

[Grant Goggans]

Oh, and no spinoffs.  Sarita's not a bad character, and Hannah Chapter's a great one, but I'd like somebody brand new - a new headliner.  Original character, original series.

I do like the idea of Red Seas-verse tales drawn by other artists, though.  Huge universe, ripe for exploration.

[Emperor]

Oh, and no spinoffs.  Sarita's not a bad character, and Hannah Chapter's a great one, but I'd like somebody brand new - a new headliner.  Original character, original series.

You're doing this on purpose Although I do agree.

I'd also like to see the return of Tyranny Rex (or at least a trade of the older stories, Dillon's art stands up very nicely) or Rose O'Rion (soon to reappear in Zarjaz I believe), although not Synnamon (or the Spacegirls or Valkyries, if it needed saying). Although do they count as long-legged sexpots? *

I do like the idea of Red Seas-verse tales drawn by other artists, though.  Huge universe, ripe for exploration.

Indeed, especially as it seems to connect with the wider Edgiverse, throwing the

* If we are making that restriction could we turn it around and asking for a few male characters who aren't tough-as-nails, hardmen who are quick with a bullet and a quip, and also happen to be built like athletes with the unkillability of Superman?** It can't hurt to have more of a range of characters - Mr Ewing, in particular, is doing a fine job on this front.

** Hell if we are going down that road then let's not be speciesist - we seem to be lacking main characters who are weird aliens (Nemesis, Skizz, DR & Quinch, and Ace Trucking) and I wouldn't object to sentient animals either if we are really mixing it up. Variety is not just the spice of life but the path to more varied story-telling opportunities.

[Grant Goggans]

Synnamon's main problem was that they created a character who was practically perfect in every way - utterly without visible flaws - and then put her in a sexpot body.  She didn't feel like a 2000 AD character.  That nonsense in her first series where she was doing some video-game physics and super-gymnast athleticism while simultaneously being a crack shot hitting every target was ridiculous.  That commander-type from the strip who was missing his back and had to wear that bizarre suit was a more proper 2000 AD character than her.

Rose O'Rion screwed up and trusted the wrong people.  She was a much better character.

Ewing, apart from Tempest, seems to get it right.  Tempest himself is like a parody of a '90s Mark Millar character.  What was his body count in the last story?

That said, there have been far more successful character launches in the last ten years than bad ones to my mind.  Lobster Random, Harry Kipling, Holt from Asylum, Gene from Kingdom, Stickleback, Jack Dancer, Defoe, Ampney Crucis, Dandridge (based on his one-off), Zombo, Ichabod Azrael, plus all the Dreddworld supporting characters (and there we do have a couple of interesting female co-leads, like Aimee and Domino).   Tharg should solicit some specific pitches from the droids for female-led strips which will pass the Bechdel Test and give us some memorable leads.

[BPP]

basically what we're all saying is bring back Ian Gibson, right? You're all with me on this gang?

[George Dread]

I still think Aimee gets a hard deal. She's flawed in so many ways, I see her as an exceptional anti-hero. Right now she's some Yakuza's biatch, and we all know how that feels. Right, fellas?

[Dark Jimbo]

I still think Aimee gets a hard deal. She's flawed in so many ways, I see her as an exceptional anti-hero.

Yeah, you're right there Krom. The first series of Low Life, with Aimee centre stage and the comedy kept to a minimum, was phenomenal (and still ranks as one of the best, IMO).

[Steve Green]

Funny how this topic comes up after Tank Girl was pretty much hounded out of the Meg.

[SmallBlueThing]

I dont think Tank Girl was 'hounded' out, Steve. It just came to its natural end... and then continued, postmortem, for about 24 episodes, until even people who you'd meet in the street would roll their eyes and bemoan its continued presence.
That, and the fact that it was always badly-written, unfunny bollocks right from its start in Deadline, and should never have seen the light of day again.
SBT

[House of Usher]

From that other thread:

I meant it when I said they could lose nothing by shelving it between HEAT and FHM. Spread the appeal and hit 3 birds with one mag.

Oh dear. They're called women, and you're not allowed to hit them.

[Emperor]

Tharg should solicit some specific pitches from the droids for female-led strips which will pass the Bechdel Test and give us some memorable leads.

I'm not necessarily sure we need any affirmative action - it can just be a blind spot for creators and drawing it to their attention might be sufficient to ensure the situation is properly addressed.

Equally, just having female characters needn't mean it is any more inclusive (although having an eye on things like the Bechdel test helps) and you can also have female-friendly comics with male leads, although perhaps not your stereotypical hardman leads (although tastes vary, of course).

Also having more varied characters (and I mention above alien leads as well as female one) isn't just good for ladies, as it can open up new ways to tell stories and new angles on existing themes, which has to be good for most readers (well for me). Just look at Damnation Station - the "lead" is a incompetent fop, everyone is fundamentally flawed and the hardman character is a nutjob who only causes problems and gets himself and others killed. Its interesting and engaging and, more importantly, has a different feel to it than other stories - you could argue it needed a stronger (or possibly just more sympathetic) lead to help hook people into the story but even then that would have defeated one of the points of the series: you never know who is going to die next.