your fave is problematic
I’ve been thinking about problematic faves.
Not even “faves” really, although I guess at least one of the people I’m thinking of used to be one.
As a comics fan, particularly someone who loves comics from the 80s-90s, there are bound to be a lot of these. It was a really weird time. Seeing the same creators by today’s standards, a lot of the shine would definitely wear off - it’s why my feelings about Neil Gaiman and Chris Claremont are so complicated now. One immersed me in folklore and blew me away with the vast possibilities in storytelling, and the other gave me characters who were unapologetically queer (even though the Comics Code Authority meant that it was all subtext) and feminist. Both are also (now) old white men who, as much as they try, might not really get what it means to be a mutant today, and who might’ve believed in their own legends a little too much.
I still like them, and I still support them. They are still “faves” - in a way. But as much as I treasure the works they’ve created, I do think it’s time for them to step aside for others who might better continue their work.
And then there are the people who did kind of step in after them, the people whose works I enjoy just as much but even thinking about them icks me out.
People like Scott Lobdell and Joss Whedon.
I’m not going to write about why they’re terrible human beings; Google exists, and anyway of we’re friends I’m sure I’ve ranted about them a few times to you already. But right now, as I’m reading Lobdell’s old Generation X comics and am queuing Buffy in my Disney+ playlist, I’m thinking about them more.
These are people who are truly awful human beings, that created works that mean so much to me. And it makes me think about the fact that You Know Who also created something that once meant a lot to me, so why do I hide her books away and take down prints from my wall, but continue to consume works by people like Lobdell or Whedon?
A part of it is my selfishness as a consumer of fiction - it’s easier to let go of and condemn You Know Who’s works, because they really don’t stand up to the test of time. And the books themselves are problematic - even if the books were original or well-written, which they weren’t, I couldn’t reread them as an adult without constantly finding things that put me off, or straight out angers me. This happens a lot less with the other authors who are terrible human beings - yes, even Orson Scott Card, who is basically the ultimate Problematic Grandpa. So I can still hate him but reread the first three Ender’s Game books and think they’re great despite everything, even when I couldn’t stomach the thought of touching anything by him that I haven’t read (and therefore have no sentimental feelings about.)
And then there’s the fact that it’s a little more complicated when you’re talking about collaborative works. It’s like how I’m still thinking about watching Black Widow despite my feelings about Scarlett Johansson, because she isn’t the only person responsible for the movie. Just like Scott Lobdell isn’t the only person behind his comics, and Joss Whedon isn’t the only person behind his tv shows. This part of my reasoning isn’t really that strong, though, because as someone who specifically read comics or watch shows for the dialogue/story rather than art or acting or cinematography, the real reason I love Generation X and Buffy the Vampire Slayer is pretty obvious. It’s just… this point does matter, even though it’s not the thing that matters most to me personally.
What does matter to me is this: Lobdell and Whedon were terrible, cruel even, to individual people - and while it reflects on their sexism/racism, they don’t seem to spew hate on social media and actively work towards harming young children. I would also say that You Know Who also attacks me for not being cis, but that doesn’t even matter as much to me now, because I know a 12yo who means the world to me, and who used to love those books, and is now being told by You Know Who that she doesn’t have the right to exist. So… you know, fuck that.
Normally, I would say that it’s a line that everyone has to draw for themselves. What level of media consumption is okay for you can only be determined by you, after all. But because of my own 12yo, because of all the kids who are being harmed by people like You Know Who on a daily basis, because of how pervasive her fandom and franchise is and how much influence she has in making the world a worse place to be in for us mutants, because this is something that is very personal to me, I am very biased when it comes to her works and as far as I'm concerned choosing to engage in her fandom means that you support the harm that she is trying to perpetuate.
When it comes to the people whose works I still consume, though, the line I draw is this - even when I read and cautiously recommend them, I would always give a heads up, a warning about the creator, in case other people’s lines are different than mine. Sometimes it might just be “Lobdell sucks, but this book is good, so you decide if you want to read it.” Sometimes it would be “yeahhh I like this and think it’s good enough to be worth watching, but some scenes hit different when you know about X, so hit me up if you want to rant/rage after”. And I always, always suggest getting secondhand copies or borrowing whenever possible.
Anyway. I started this because I wanted to write about Generation X which made me think about all the disclaimers about Lobdell that I need to put up first, and also it’s the beginning of Pride Month which for Malaysia seems to be Month of Actively Displaying Queerphobia On Social Media, and all of that made me think about all these other stuff, and then… word vomit, as usual.
This IS Pride Month, though, or as the X fandom would say, it's HELLFIRE GALA MONTH.
I'm hoping to add recs or other stuff with every newsletter in June and since we're on the topic of problematic faves, I'm adding a list of people/books to read instead.
(I'm not saying these people are perfect by any means! No one is totally unproblematic. I'm just saying, they're decent alternatives.)
If you're looking for science fiction and fantasy, I implore you to read:
- The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune which is pure and wholesome and hopeful and reading it feels like getting a big warm hug from Totoro
- Witchmark, Stormsong and Soulstar by C.L. Polk, which starts out as a super swoony romance and ends up as a powerful tale of revolution and reparation work
- anything by Sarah Gailey but especially Upright Women Wanted which is a feminist queer western novella
- the Murderbot books by Martha Wells which are so hilarious and heartwarming and also Murderbot is total SCORPIO VIBES to me!
Instead of reading BL by cishet women for cishet women, at least for the month of June I urge you to try these comics:
- Our Dreams at Dusk by Yuhki Kamatani which about the importance of community and found family and safe places and I talked about it two newsletters ago but this series is so amazing.
- Boys Run the Riot by Keito Gaku, which will be published in English soon and is being marketed as a book about a trans teen by a trans mangaka which is correct but not the full story. This series is about fashion and two teenagers' obsession with male street fashion in particular, and their efforts in creating their own brand. If you know me at all you'd know I'm a sucker for these kind of stories!
- My Brother's Husband by Gengoroh Tagame which is about a straight guy coming to grips with his grief for his dead queer brother, and his less-than-stellar treatment of said brother when he was alive. I cried so much reading this, it's sooooo good.
- the Heartstopper series by Alice Oseman which is sweet and lovey dovey with enough angst to satisfy any BL fan. This series is available on Tapas and Webtoon! Please read the content warnings for each chapter, though, as it does delve into some serious topics.
And, finally, for the Lobdell and/or Whedon fan, or for those who might've been interested in Generation X or Buffy the Vampire Slayer but don't want to touch works by Scott Lobdell or Joss Whedon:
- Generation X by Christina Strain & Amilcar Pinna with art by Terry Dodson, et al. - this series came loooong after Lobdell's run and is partly a homage to it, but it's totally its own thing. It's quirky and fun and different from any other X title running around the same time, and one of the main stories it tells is this suuuuper slow burn queer romance that I still think about now. And! There are only two volumes!
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer by Jordie Bellaire and Jeremy Lambert with art by Dan Mora, et al. This reboot series won't have the same place in my heart as the original just because it wasn't the version I imprinted on, BUT it's basically everything awesome about the BtVS franchise with so much less of the not-awesome stuff. You know, less mean girl stereotypes, more confident queer Willow, you get the sitch. Plus it's out of tv-Buffy continuity so you don't have to watch any of the show to understand it!
what's the sitch, again?
- it's been a few days since my jab, so far so good.
- we are in another "lockdown" and I don't actually know whether or not I'm required at work because no one replies when I ask. I figure it's better to err on the side of not going, lol.
- Please stay safe, folks!