Let it Go

I’m a very lazy person. I know my characters well, but every time I try to fill out a proper character sheet, I either get distracted or simply never finish them.

SO!

I made this! A silly, simple character sheet in which you only have to check boxes to get to know your dear puppet character. Use to your heart’s content, and if you’re going to repost, please credit! Enjoy~

“I am the father of a proudly geeky daughter. She adores comic books and graphic novels — not a huge surprise since I’m an old-school nerd — but I really admire how committed she is to her fandom. She pours over superhero encyclopedias, we cosplay together at comic conventions (she makes an imposing Thor), and she’s a valued regular at our local comic book store.

However, when you’re a dad and you take your daughter into a comic book store for the first time, you quickly realize that comic books haven’t always been the most welcoming places for female readers. (So much cleavage, so little pants.)

Thankfully, fans have started pushing for greater representation of women in comics, and publishers have responded. And no one is currently doing it better than Marvel Comics. At the moment, Marvel is publishing 20 comic books that are led by strong, capable female characters, more than any other comics company.

It’s an eclectic range of titles — books like Thor, Spider-Gwen, Ms. Marvel, A-Force, Moon Girl & Devil Dinosaur, Patsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat!, The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, and Captain Marvel, to name a few — and I think it’s amazing how many options they’re offering my daughter when it comes to her female heroes.

But this isn’t entirely a recent development. Here are eight of my favorite times where Marvel really got it right when it comes to the portrayal of their female characters.”

I had a pretty awesome moment at the library where I work today.

A boy, who looked about 15, came to my desk to check out his books. The pile was filled with mostly comics, and I commented on the ones I had read, including the new Ms. Marvel, Vol. 1. 

“Oh, I love that one!” He told me. “I’ve read this several times. Ms. Marvel is probably my new favorite superhero.” When I asked why, he told me that she seemed “real”, and he felt like he could relate to her.

For those of you who aren’t “comic book people”, let me spell it out for you:

Kamala Khan (Ms. Marvel) is a young, Pakistani-American superheroine. She dresses modestly, doesn’t drink or party, and her comic books deal with issues such as racism, sexism, fitting in, and growing up.

If this fifteen year old white boy from Kentucky can appreciate (and love!) well-written and diverse female characters, I REFUSE to believe that the rest of the world can’t, too.

Don’t tell me that “boys don’t want to read comics about girls”. 

Don’t tell me that minority characters will only appeal to minorities. (Or act like that somehow justifies your refusing to write diverse characters.) 

Don’t tell me that de-sexualizing women is “ruining your fun”. 

Don’t tell me that there isn’t a market for comics/books/movies headlined by female characters. 

Don’t tell me any of that crap. Because you are WRONG.