Denver ComicCon, one of the world’s biggest comic conventions held a panel about women in comic books without any women panelists.
This is happening at #DCC2015. Let’s see how this ALL MALE panel about women in comics goes #noneofthismakesanysense pic.twitter.com/hQZhfFc0CQ
— Christy (@GeekChristy) May 23, 2015
[I]t was a panel that took an historical view of women characters in comic books rather than the current role of women creators in the industry or diversity in comics — of which DCC has many with appropriately diverse panels. The Women in Comics panel was a submitted panel that featured respected academics on the subject.
The underlying statement seems to be that there were no experts well-versed with history of women in comic books, who were also female themselves, available for the panel. Which is strange considering the fact that Trina Robbins, a historian of women in comics, who has been writing comics/graphic novels for over forty years, was present at the festival this year.
(Image Courtesy: denvercomiccon.com)
A lot of the fans were borderline appalled and puzzled, at best. Here’s to hoping that Denver releases a more coherent and explanatory statement soon. Meanwhile, here are some opinions and good natured trash talk from Twitter.
Would love to hear from #DCC2015 about their #allmalepanel on women in comics. Please. Share with us how this happened.
— Lyndsay Kirkham (@Lyndsay_Kirkham) May 25, 2015
Tip for next time #DCC2015: literally just walk into Artist Alley and shout “DO ANY WOMEN WANT TO BE ON A WOMEN IN COMICS PANEL??” Easy.
— Maggatron (@SamMaggs) May 24, 2015
There’s not seriously an all-male panel on women in comics at #DCC2015, is there?! There is?! What?! Comics, what are you doing?!
— Ready for Brennan (@Brennanator) May 23, 2015
@Angerina_ Not saying men can’t or shouldn’t talk about women in comics but we should at least have a seat at the table #DCC2015
— Christy (@GeekChristy) May 24, 2015