In the state of New York, it is legal for women to go topless. Photographer Jordan Matter took pictures of women in NYC doing just that – as if it was an unremarkable, everyday occurrence for women going about their days – and the results are here.

The exhibition is thought-provoking, frequently beautiful and sometimes saddening, and should be compulsory viewing for anyone who’s ever drawn Power Girl without a bra.

Via boingboing, these awesome mods which their creator describes as inspired by ‘Gotham by Gaslight.’ But whatever, I like my description better. Also, he says of his Hawkgirl: ‘The figure was going to be Hawkman, but I changed it to Hawkgirl in order to have another girl in the line up for balance.’

Wait a second, more than one girl? That’s crazy-talk, man!

You may have read Perry Moore’s Hero, a YA novel about a young gay superhero. If so (and very probably if not) you might be interested in this audio interview!

Talking to Tommy Roddy of Prism Comics (the writer of excellent superhero comic Pride High) Moore discusses the inspiration behind the book, his experience in the publishing industry, the controversy sometimes occasioned by gay heroes and teases at the sequel.

Disclaimer This bingo card is not meant to replace or, indeed be used in, actual debate. Instead it is merely designed to amuse and inform, in a lighthearted presentation of the most common arguments against having queer characters in comics.
BINGO!
http://ragnell.blogspot.com/2007/12/never-thought-i-say-this-but.html

ETA: Feel free to use, link, or distribute this image in any way you see fit.

This past weekend, Girl-Wonder.org made its convention debut at Stumptown Comics Fest in Portland, Oregon. Imagine our joyful surprise when guest-of-honor Shaenon Garrity ran up to our table, introducted herself, and asked if it was to late to donate a piece to the art auction (the official answer is ‘yes,’ but we’ll make exceptions if you’re Shaenon Garrity)!
What Shaenon gave us was the original art from a strip of her long-running web-and-print sensation, Narbonic:

The starting bid for this piece will be U.S. $25. BID HERE!
You’ll be able to bid on this and other items in the Girl-Wonder Art Et Cetera auction, from October 7-14, 2007.

WOW.
Today is the second day of Stumptown Comics Fest, Portland’s awesome hometown convention and the site of Girl-Wonder’s first-ever booth, and for the first time this weekend, I have the chance to post an update (Livia and Noah are still hard at work at the con).
Stumptown rocks. It’s full of independent comics and creators, and it’s small and friendly enough to avoid the impersonal chaos of bigger cons. If you don’t know everyone going in, you will by the end of the weekend. It draws not only the best and the brightest of Portland’s (numerous) local talents, as well as folks from all up and down the west coast. With a $5/day entrance fee, it’s also accessible to fans who might not be willing or able to shell out the heftier admission prices at larger cons.
And apparently, Stumptown Comics Fest–and it’s exhibitors, volunteers, guests, and attendees–loves Girl-Wonder. We showed up and were greeted by a volunteer who first gushed about how much he dug our site, then solemnly asked if it was okay that we’d been bumped up from a half-table to a full table. We spent Saturday talking with fans and creators, and being generally overwhelmed by their tremendously positive responses. Many had heard of the site; some had sought us out to tell us how much they enjoyed the columns, or the comics, or the forums. Those who hadn’t seemed genuinely interested in checking us out. Partway through the day, we ran back to Kinkos to replenish our rapidly disappearing stickers and fliers. Phil Foglio came to say ‘hi’ and doodle in our sketchbook. Guest of honor Shaenon Garrity stopped by to ask if we were still taking donations for the auction (we’re not, but we made an exception, ’cause c’mon!). Amy Mebberson hung out at our table for a few hours (she’s awesome, by the way!) and drew the cutest superheroes we’d ever seen.
Stay tuned for more updates…

David Willis once again demonstrates his wit and good sense when it comes to the lack of a memorial for a dead girl Robin.

The Supergirl clothing line!
Via new Newsarama blog Spin-offs by Stephanie Chen, this youtube link to the launch of the Supergirl clothing line in LA boutique Intuition.
Oh, the horror, the horror! More pink glittery faux-punk ‘girl power – so long as you’re glamorous!’ than you can shake a stick at, and almost no connection to the super girl herself.
On the other hand, I was enormously cheered to see at least one of the numerous (possibly) celebrities interviewed was a fan. Speaketh Adrianne Palicki: ‘This little blonde girl, growing up… I wanted to be just like her.’
Aw. If only she was visible in this clothing line!

This wonderful post from LJ user pnkrokhockeymom articulates with clarity and passion exactly why responding to feminist critique of patriarchy by reassuring the writers that there are nice guys out there can be so very infuriating.
The thing is, it goes so far beyond any one man’s actions, good or bad. These really nice guys always show up–they’re well meaning but they don’t understand– they say, ‘But some of us are nice,’ as if our reactions and internalized confusions are the result of irritating behavior by individual assholes, rather than institutionalized sexism we bear from all fronts simultaneously. The frustrating thing I always feel, and always want to say, is DUDE: FEMINISM IS NOT ABOUT MEN. This is not about you, individually. This is about a culture that treats me as a breeding machine whose sexuality and sexual activity is to be controlled, through any means necessary. No prince charming in feminist clothing (and believe me, I know they’re out there, I’ve loved them, I’ve fucked them, and I hope to find more of them in the future), simply by saying ‘Well, I like it that you are a sexual being, and I love you and respect you not despite it but for it and apart from it simultaneously,’ can negate the impact of a lifetime as a member of the sex class.

Via Newsarama, I discover that the NYT has reviewed the DVD release of The New Frontier. I learn that Mr. Cooke fought to keep Lois Lane and Wonder Woman in the film, which relieves and pleases me; Darwyn Cooke’s Wonder Woman is the most original and progressive reworking of that story since Perez’s.

The one screenshot included did disappoint me slightly, since Wonder Woman seems to have lost the signature look Cooke gave her, but given the scene it portrays, I’m still thrilled that it was included.