Orpheelin - Amazing comic and she's a SHE!

I've been to a NYC ComicCon a couple of times.  My honey is a fantastic artist.  Here's a picture he did of Marius, a character who re-iterates a lot in our RPs and in my writing - http://revoincubus.deviantart.com/

Hotkins aside, in Western comics there's a consistent lack of female influence. Considering the fastest growing readership is girls and women, this seems like a marketing no brainer.

So why aren't Marvel, DC, TopCow, BOOM!  IDW, Image, Zenescope and the rest running out to find female writers, editors and artists?  Well there a few, but most of them are colorists, like Nei Ruffino, who while she does an amazing job bringing life, light and color to her work, isn't creating the content.  The boobies and crotch shots she colors were drawn by guys.

Recently DC decided to restart their universe.  They put Wonderwoman back in her undies and did an opener of Catwoman where you never see her face!  Just TnA, as if women wander around their lairs in tiny outfits as a hobby.  Don't get me started on how "empowering" Witchblade's teeny bikini outfit must be.  Imagine trying to walk, let alone fight in that - Ouch!

Then there's Red Hood.  In a feeble, juvenile attempt to show she's a "strong, liberated" woman, the writers made her into a joyless nympho.  I'm fine with females having and liking sex, but making it a compulsion says a lot about the content creators and their target market:  Boys.

Turning now to our ray of hope.  The talented Orpheelin, whose work is sooo amazing I would buy the French books just to see more of Faust and Cendre.  The art is stunning and while there's boobies aplenty, there's also plenty of pics of Faust and other male characters and their naughty bits.  The story never treats the females as afterthoughts.  They are important and even when they're having a rocking time bouncy-bouncy on some Norse half-elf, they're treated with dignity and respect.

Check out Orpheelin at http://orpheelin.deviantart.com/

A Little Something Extra - D&D Miniatures

I recently started playing a new Pathfinder campaign.  For those of you who don't know, Pathfinder is very similar to D&D.  My DM (Dungeon Master - and no, this is not a 50 Shades of Gray thing) is a big fan of miniatures.

I've always shied away from miniatures, those tiny, chess like pieces which represent PCs and NPCs.  It'll take all the imagination out of the game, I thought.  Miniatures make it into a board game.  I'm here for role-playing, not to count squares and move little plastic or metal figures like a grown-up Candyland.

My DM had laid out an impressive dungeon map and provided us with a plethora of miniatures to choose from.  I and the other female player had a hard time finding female figures both armed and clothed.  Big boobs and wee bits of leather or chainmail?  Check!  Fully clothed and adequately armored? Not a chance.

This is a really common problem, especially in anything that has to do with fantasy   Don't believe me?  Check out http://repair-her-armor.tumblr.com/page/2.  Funny commentary on the typical bikini armor female characters are stuffed into.

That aside, miniatures did make it easier to judge distances in combat and figure out attacks of opportunity.  I have to admit, they do add a little something to the game.

Still, why can't my female elf ranger wear pants?  All the males get pants.  Why is she stuck in a loincloth and ity-bity top?  Maybe she should loot some pants in her next random monster encounter.