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Yep, still complaining about the reboot.
I've been spamming this comic all over the place today, so no reason to stop now. This issue of Gutters perfectly articulates why I have so many problems with the Batgirl reboot. I adore Gail Simone --- she's the single reason I stuck around with DC for the longest time --- but unless this is part of a larger plan (like my "the reboot is a lot more House of M than a for reals forever change" theory) the whole thing is just so wrong-headed and offensive.
Barbara being in the chair is important. It's vital that there be disabled characters in comics who are powerful and awesome and get to be important lynchpins of their universes (it's really impossible to overstate how important Barbara is to the Batverse). Because there should be characters of all kinds. Barbara Gordon is unique in the comics world: a smart, determined, funny leader who happens to be disabled --- here comes the important part --- and doesn't have superpowers to compensate. Sure Daredevil is blind, but his super sonic hearing means he can still "see." Dr. Mid-Nite is blind too --- during the day. Xavier's in a wheelchair, but he's also the most powerful telepath on the planet (and he gets to walk around every few years anyway.)
Barbara didn't get any of that. She got dealt a bad hand and put on her big girl panties and went on living her life, just like thousands of her fans do everyday. And IMO, as Oracle Barbara was ten times the hero Batgirl could ever have been.
And now that's gone. And I think that sucks.
DC may be claiming it's all about diversity now, but they're doing it by rebooting one of the characters that actually made them special. I'm not sure that sounds much like diversity to me.
***
I love So You Think you Can Dance, but I don't know why I watch the pre-final 20 episodes. It's one long parade of "Hey, remember that dancer from the auditions you liked? Prepare to never see them again!"
ETA: Oh good Lord, they're making them audition with the quick step? Well, that's one way to cull the herd, I guess.
***
Still plenty of time to decide my fate! (Poll is open until Saturday, the next time I'll be able to carve out any quality fic time.)
Barbara being in the chair is important. It's vital that there be disabled characters in comics who are powerful and awesome and get to be important lynchpins of their universes (it's really impossible to overstate how important Barbara is to the Batverse). Because there should be characters of all kinds. Barbara Gordon is unique in the comics world: a smart, determined, funny leader who happens to be disabled --- here comes the important part --- and doesn't have superpowers to compensate. Sure Daredevil is blind, but his super sonic hearing means he can still "see." Dr. Mid-Nite is blind too --- during the day. Xavier's in a wheelchair, but he's also the most powerful telepath on the planet (and he gets to walk around every few years anyway.)
Barbara didn't get any of that. She got dealt a bad hand and put on her big girl panties and went on living her life, just like thousands of her fans do everyday. And IMO, as Oracle Barbara was ten times the hero Batgirl could ever have been.
And now that's gone. And I think that sucks.
DC may be claiming it's all about diversity now, but they're doing it by rebooting one of the characters that actually made them special. I'm not sure that sounds much like diversity to me.
***
I love So You Think you Can Dance, but I don't know why I watch the pre-final 20 episodes. It's one long parade of "Hey, remember that dancer from the auditions you liked? Prepare to never see them again!"
ETA: Oh good Lord, they're making them audition with the quick step? Well, that's one way to cull the herd, I guess.
***
Still plenty of time to decide my fate! (Poll is open until Saturday, the next time I'll be able to carve out any quality fic time.)