âThe best thing we can do with power is give it awayâ - On the leftist critique of superhero narratives as authoritarian power fantasies:
The ongoing âJason Todd is a copâ debate has reminded me of a brilliant brief image essay by Joey deVilla. So here it is, images first and the full essay text below:
âA common leftist critique of superhero comics is that they are inherently anti-collectivist, being about small groups of individuals who hold all the power, and the wisdom to wield that power.
I donât disagree with this reading. I donât think itâs inaccurate. Superheroes are their own ruling class, the concept of the Ăźbermensch writ large.
But itâs a sterile reading. It examines superhero comics as a cold text, and ignores something that I believe in fundamental, especially to superhero storytelling: the way people engage with text. Not what it says, but how it is read.
The average comic reader doesnât fantasize about being a civilian in a world of superheroes, they fantasize about being a superhero. One could charitably chalk this up to a lust for power, except for one factâŚ
The fantasy is almost always the act of helping people. Helping the vulnerable, with no reward promised in return.
Being a century into the genre, weâve seen countless subversions and deconstructions of the story.
But at its core, the superhero myth is about using the gifts youâve been given to enrich the people around you, never asking for payment, never advancing an ulterior motive.
We should (and do) spend time nitpicking these fantasies, examining their unintended consequences, their hypocrisies.
But itâs worth acknowledging that the most eduring childhood fantasy of the last hundred years hasnât been to become rich. Superheroes come from every class (donât let the MCU fool you).
The most enduring fantasy is to become powerful enough to take the weak under your own wing. To give, without needing to take.
So yes, the superhero myth, as a text, isnât collectivist. But thatâs not why we keep coming back to it. Thatâs not why children read it. We keep coming back to it to learn one simple lessonâŚ
The best thing we can do with power IS GIVE IT AWAY.â
I had never heard of this character before, but it really was published over a hundred years ago. Hereâs a comics blog talking about her, and a couple more gems:
From George to his fans, friends and extended family, please read below. This page will serve as a place to connect with George as well as receive updates. Please, respect the privacy of George and his family at this difficult time and reach out ONLY through this avenue. Thank you and please see below:
To all my fans, friends and extended family,
Itâs rather hard to believe that itâs been almost three years since I formally announced my retirement from producing comics due to my failing vision and other infirmities brought on primarily by my diabetes. At the time I was flattered and humbled by the number of tributes and testimonials given me by my fans and peers. The kind words spoken on those occasions were so heartwarming that I used to quip that âthe only thing missing from those events was me lying in a box.â
It was amusing at the time, I thought.
Now, not so much. On November 29th I received confirmation that, after undergoing surgery for a blockage in my liver, I have Stage 3 Pancreatic Cancer. It is surgically inoperable and my estimated life expectancy is between 6 months to a year. I have been given the option of chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy, but after weighing all the variables and assessing just how much of my remaining days would be eaten up by doctor visits, treatments, hospital stays and dealing with the often stressful and frustrating bureaucracy of the medical system, Iâve opted to just let nature take its course and I will enjoy whatever time I have left as fully as possible with my beautiful wife of over 40 years, my family, friends and my fans.
Since I received my diagnosis and prognosis, those in my inner circle have given me so much love, support and help, both practical and emotional. Theyâve given me peace.
There will be some business matters to take care of before I go. I am already arranging with my art agent to refund the money paid for sketches that I can no longer finish. And, since, despite only having one working eye, I can still sign my name, I hope to coordinate one last mass book signing to help make my passing a bit easier. I also hope that I will be able to make one last public appearance wherein I can be photographed with as many of my fans as possible, with the proviso that I get to hug each and every one of them. I just want to be able to say goodbye with smiles as well as tears.
I know that many of you will have questions to ask or comments to make, and rather than fueling the fires of speculation and well-meaning but potentially harmful miscommunication, I will be returning to the arena of social media by starting a new Facebook account where fans and friends can communicate with me or my designated rep directly for updates and clarification.
For media and press inquiries, please use the contact information on the page as well. Please respect the privacy of my wife and family at this time and use the Facebook page rather than reaching out through other channels.
I may not be able to respond as quickly as I would like since I will be endeavoring to get as much outside pleasure as I can in the time allotted me, but I will do my best. Kind words would also be greatly appreciated. More details to follow once itâs up and running.
Well, thatâs it for now. This is not a message I enjoyed writing, especially during the Holiday Season, but, oddly enough, Iâm feeling the Christmas spirit more now than I have in many years. Maybe itâs because it will likely be my last. Or maybe because I am enveloped in the loving arms of so many who love me as much as I love them. Itâs quite uplifting to be told that youâve led a good life, that youâve brought joy to so many lives and that youâll be leaving this world a better place because you were part of it. To paraphrase Lou Gehrig: âSome people may think I got a bad break, but today, I feel like the luckiest man on the face of the Earth.â
Take care of yourselvesâand thank you.
George PĂŠrez
December 7th, 2021
This is devastating news. George did the sketch that serves as my avatar. Our brief interaction while he did the con sketch was quite memorable for me.
September 21, 2020 - Ron Cobb, best known for being the production designer for several major films, has died at 83 years of age. Cobb brought to life several cantina creatures for Star Wars (1977) and came up with weaponry and sets for Conan the Barbarian (1982), the exterior and interior of the Nostromo ship in Alien (1978) and the earth colony complex in Aliens (1986), and the DeLorean time machine in Back to the Future (1985).
More interestingly, to me at least, is that in the 1960s and 70s he was a great radical political cartoonist, and sadly, many cartoons of those days are still just as relevant today. A small selection:
I’ve shared this story before, but for the first time my sister is putting it into her own words. Content warning for protection of sexual harassers in comics
DC in D.C. Pop-Up Shop in January of 2018 at the Newseum Friday January 12, 2018 Jim Lee Signing
When I went to the Jim Lee signing, I had with me two identical printed sheets of paper.
1. When allegations against Eddie Berganza came to light he was slapped on the wrist via demotions and convention bans. None of those sanctions stuck, and not only was Berganza was promoted, it took years of criticism before he was fired. Why was Berganza awarded with promotions, and why did it take so long for him to be removed from the company? 2. Will higher-ups who enabled and protected Berganza face consequences? Will DC cut ties and stop projects with other known sexual assaulters and harassers, like Max Landis of “Superman: American Alien” and his upcoming sequel? 3. DC has lost talented female editorial staff like Janelle Asselin and Liz Gehrlein Marsham due to Eddie Berganza’s harassment towards them and DC’s inaction. DC has skipped opportunities to work with award winning female creatives such as Marjorie Liu, who told the company multiple times she would not write for them while Berganza was still hired. 4. What is being done to scout, hire, and support women at DC comics? What is being done to revise HR policy and ensure staff at DC can safely and effectively report sexual assault?
This was at a cresting point for the #MeToo movement. Days earlier, celebrities poured into the Golden Globes wearing all black. Time’s Person of the Year was “the silence breakers.” There was an illusory mythos building around the movement, calling out to survivors that now was the time to be heard. But not every claim of harassment has been treated with equal esteem. I know this first hand because when I handed this page over to Jim Lee, I very calmly said “We’re all looking for answers regarding Eddie Berganza’s time at DC, and Max Landis—“ and then two very strong security people pulled me away from the booth. He had the page. I don’t know what Jim Lee did with it.
Underneath the Newseum’s flashy billboard advertising “THE NEWSEUM CELEBRATES OUR FIRST AMENDMENT FREEDOMS,” I was given a “good cop” in the form of Courtney Simmons, and a “bad cop” in the form of some kind of security guard.
Ms. Simmons is the SVP of Publicity & Communications for DC Entertainment. She asked me what I was doing and I said fans of DC want accountability for continued sexual harassment in the workplace, and a lack of follow through when it comes to reprimanding offenders. She told me that Jim Lee was “just an artist,” and when I told her he was the publisher, she called it more of an honorary, decorative title. She told me she stood with women in the #metoo movement, but accused me of jumping this on Mr. Lee all of a sudden. How is he supposed to answer questions if he doesn’t have any time to think about them? She argued. I told her that I never asked for immediate answers. In fact, I had printed out my questions so he could take them home, think about the culture at DC, and respond to fans on a public forum, because I wasn’t looking for answers for me. I was looking for answers for everyone online who was asking. I even gave Ms. Simmons my second printout.
She then started marketing towards me. She told me that the event the next day, a “wonder women” style panel featuring actresses from DC TV shows, was completely sold out. If I gave her my email, she could get me into the event. This is when my “bad cop” started to get very vocal, telling Ms. Simmons that she didn’t want me there because I would “Hijack the event” just like I “hijacked Jim’s signing.” Ms. Simmons then asked me where I lived. When I told her California, she invited me (and my comics-loving sister) to the DC headquarters. We could get a tour and see exclusive art! I told her that we would absolutely love to join her in California so we could talk further. I gave Ms. Simmons my email and told her that I’d like to hear from her or Mr. Lee. I think she expected me to ask for tickets to the event or for that tour, but I just told her I looked forward to hearing from her soon.
The invitation was never put forward again. I didn’t get magical tickets to the ever ironic wonder women panel. I posted about this experience on twitter, but it got lost amid the thousands of other #metoo related tweets.
I really hope that we’re looking at a renaissance of the #metoo movement in comics. I hope the cries of fans and artists who have suffered from sexual harassment and assault are taken seriously. And I hope that everyone knows that DC comics knew about everything and did nothing. I never got an email. You never got tweets. For two and a half years they have continued to do and say nothing.
For those of you on Instagram, the Philbrook Museum is running a new account called Creative Distancing, featuring short video tutorials by artists teaching easy craft ideas you can make at home while social distancing. The newest video is by me, all about making one-sheet comics! Check it out here if youâd like:
