For those who don't read comics or didn't catch this issue in the DC relaunch, Red Hood and the Outlaws is new book from DC, written by Scot Lobdell and drawn by Kenneth Rocafort. The book follows the failed Robin Jason Todd, now calling himself Red Hood, ex-Green Arrow sidekick Roy Harper, and alien princess Koriand'r, known as Starfire. In the debut issue, among many other things, it is established that Starfire has no memories of the Teen Titans, though in this continuity she was apart of them, has little regard for humans in general, and has had sex with Red Hood. She then goes on to have sex with Red Arrow. I'll refer you to other's takes on this controversy, as I do not feel I can discuss it here impartially.
Here is one article where the author is clearly offended:
http://www.comicsalliance.com/2011/09/22/starfire-catwoman-sex-superheroine/
Here is another, where the author's protrayal is defended:
http://panelsonpages.com/?p=43603&cpage=1
Here is some behind the scenes information from DC, where Lobdell talks about his decision to write this way:
http://www.bleedingcool.com/2011/09/22/behind-the-scenes-on-starfire-and-red-hood-and-the-outlaws-1/
The Pro and Con articles also make reference to Catwoman #1, but I want to limit the conversation here to Starfire, as I believe the Catwoman issue to be an entirely different discussion. I have included these articles because I believe they best articulate both sides of the issue, but if anyone else would like to recommend another article that is more focused or you believe makes a better argument, I will edit this post so that other readers are directed to it.
The last article seems to make it clear that the author intended this portrayal to be positive, and show how free she has become after being raised in slavery, discrediting the theories that the author is setting up an arc for the character where she comes to terms with her imprisonment the torture she endured.
So, the question is: are you offended or not? As this question centers so closely on gender politics, I have broken down the debate between males and females, so hopefully we'll get a good representation of the different perspectives gender carries to this matter.
For full disclosure, I do find the portrayal offensive, although I enjoyed everything else in the book. I remain open those who disagree, and am interested to hear what they have to say.
Here is one article where the author is clearly offended:
http://www.comicsalliance.com/2011/09/22/starfire-catwoman-sex-superheroine/
Here is another, where the author's protrayal is defended:
http://panelsonpages.com/?p=43603&cpage=1
Here is some behind the scenes information from DC, where Lobdell talks about his decision to write this way:
http://www.bleedingcool.com/2011/09/22/behind-the-scenes-on-starfire-and-red-hood-and-the-outlaws-1/
The Pro and Con articles also make reference to Catwoman #1, but I want to limit the conversation here to Starfire, as I believe the Catwoman issue to be an entirely different discussion. I have included these articles because I believe they best articulate both sides of the issue, but if anyone else would like to recommend another article that is more focused or you believe makes a better argument, I will edit this post so that other readers are directed to it.
The last article seems to make it clear that the author intended this portrayal to be positive, and show how free she has become after being raised in slavery, discrediting the theories that the author is setting up an arc for the character where she comes to terms with her imprisonment the torture she endured.
So, the question is: are you offended or not? As this question centers so closely on gender politics, I have broken down the debate between males and females, so hopefully we'll get a good representation of the different perspectives gender carries to this matter.
For full disclosure, I do find the portrayal offensive, although I enjoyed everything else in the book. I remain open those who disagree, and am interested to hear what they have to say.
