After the controversial Spider-Woman cover was revealed last week, Bret White took it upon himself to create a series of sensualized male superheroes to provide some much needed perspective. Women are constantly treated as objects around the world, as the latest iCloud hacking crime attests to, and this is no more true for the comic book industry. Artist Milo Manara pushed the boundary even more than usual this time around and these sensualized male superheroes hopes to balance the inequality a bit.
From Captain America laying seductively out on a beach towel to Wolverine surrounded by hot alien women, these sensualized male superheroes shows them more as lovers than fighters. White writes, "Sexiness isn't inherently a bad thing (whether or not comics ostensibly aimed at an all-ages audience even need sexy covers is a whole other issue), it just needs to be an equal thing."
Sensualized Male Superheroes
Brett White Imagines Marvel's Men as Racily Depicted as Their Women
Trend Themes
1. Gender Inequity in Comics - The representation of male superheroes as sex objects may lead to greater gender equity in how heroes are portrayed.
2. Objectification of Male Characters - Portrayals of male superheroes as sex symbols and lovers may disrupt the male gaze and traditional gender norms.
3. Demand for Diverse Representation - The controversy surrounding Marvel's recent covers and subsequent fan creations highlight a desire for more diversity and inclusivity in comic book media.
Industry Implications
1. Comics and Graphic Novels - In an industry dominated by male creators and characters, disruptive innovation opportunities may arise in promoting equal representation and inclusivity for audiences.
2. Advertising and Marketing - Companies may seek to capitalize on the controversy surrounding Marvel's covers as a means of promoting products through social media engagement with fans.
3. Media and Film - The ongoing debate surrounding gender in comics may influence future adaptations of comic book content to film and television, providing opportunities for diverse and innovative casting choices.