So you want diversity in comics and media ...
Well, I have news for you - Plus Mumpworld # 009
This week, I want to share a remarkable success. It is a series of amazing stories with diverse characters created by a diverse team of writers and artists. I think it is important to review the overall landscape within which this team has evolved in order to understand why they are so special.
First, please enjoy the latest from Mumpworld. I’m trying a square format this week. Let me know what you think in the comments.
So, let’s talk about diversity. Please understand that I am not a member of any obviously under-represented group, but I love to see both diverse creators and characters in entertainment, provided they are well written and visually enticing. I am not a fan of whatever DC was doing with their poorly thought out Hispanic Heritage comic covers. Wow, that was a mistake and I think a good example of the lack of understanding and poor decision making of the “Big Two” comic publishers when it comes to diversity. Thankfully they made some improvements following the online backlash, but it may have been too little too late for many fans.
Having information about world events at our fingertips 24/7, the good, the bad and the propaganda certainly stimulates awareness. I understand that we live in a society where the top 1 percent of American households owns more wealth than the bottom 90 percent. I understand that specific groups of people in North America have been discriminated against, both on a personal level and an systemic one. I understand that half the population, that happen to be born with an XX genotype, have had their rights as human beings both restricted and trampled upon. A fact that is particularly important right now in the post Roe v. Wade era and during the current justifiable protests taking place in Iran following the death, in custody, of Mahsa Amini.
(Even though I cannot read many of his captions, political cartoons by artists such as Mana Neyestani above, transend language end effectively communicate across cultures)
I also understand, that most of the people who read this newsletter will not click on any one of the above links. I am not judging or shaming anyone. That is the reality of our current age. It is overwhelming, mentally and emotionally, to even attempt to be fully informed on every social and political issue that is relevant today.
That is one reason why artists and creatives are so important. The artistic community has an opportunity to distill the information on any given topic into an easily digestible form that can resonate with people quickly and powerfully.
A political cartoon, a well written song, poem or well constructed painting or piece of digital art can connect with a massive audience and shape their understanding of an issue at a deeper level. This power can of course be abused in the form of propaganda, which obviously is a perversion of it’s purpose. I personally think that it is equally harmful when diversity is done badly. The value of art can be subverted, diluted and made irrelevant by poor quality attempts at social or political commentary being given broad exposure.
Some works of art are so vitriolic that they alienate masses of people who otherwise would be supportive of a group or movement. Such projects ultimately hurt the cause that they intend to promote.
The other failure of unskilled and inexperienced creators, is a more personal one. It is lost opportunity. The opportunity for members of under-represented groups to identify with heroes and role models is a critical and intrinsic value of diverse media. Great stories give young people heroic figures to look up to. Those heroic figures can be powerful role models if they display positive attitudes and behaviors. Badly written, one dimensional characters, whose only defining feature is their hatred of some other group are a disservice to diversity and a failure for fans.
That is why it brings me great joy when I see a remarkable team of artists and writers, having success creating high quality comic series featuring characters that better represent their culture. It is even more exciting to see the response from young readers of the comics who are passionate enough to want to cosplay those characters at public events.
That tells me that these comics matter and resonate with their audience. I am, of course, talking about the remarkable Niobe series from Stranger Comics
I purchased the digital versions of the comics in the ebook collection, but I am very tempted to get some printed versions shipped to me as well.
Honestly, in reviewing the comics, I am impressed with both the artwork and the writing. The cover art is beautiful. Inside the cover, I certainly see where the artists have taken some digital shortcuts in the initial issues (Niobe: She is Life). That improves significantly as the books progress (Niobe: She is Death).
In the later books, the backgrounds become more detailed and complex, but never overshadow the beautifully rendered characters.
This is a book series that is listed for the 10-18 age group on amazon.ca. It fits securely in the fantasy/adventure genre and does contain some violence and bloody scenes, but it is not excessive or gratuitous. Still, I would recommend it for 12 years and up personally. I can’t speak highly enough of this indie publisher and the creative people working on their projects. The publisher did post to their blog that they are in discussion with HBO, so you may even see this remarkable universe brought to life on the “big screen” in the future. I certainly hope so. At the very least, I hope that the team behind these books at Stranger Comics continue to be successful and continue to create more diverse content in the future.
If you enjoy fantasy stories, grab a copy of Niobe for yourself. Otherwise, go out there and find some other interesting indie comic artists and give them your support. hope you enjoyed this weeks newsletter and I’ll see you next time.
blackManic