do you love female characters and an ENDLESS stream of thoughts about them? do you find yourself delving deep into their minds or the themes of their stories or their character development, only for it to go unnoticed? you are not alone, and you no longer have to shout into the void alone.
I STARTED THIS COMMUNITY to help curate a productive and focused space for appreciating female characters without unwanted derailment. it's still young and new, so, i was hoping to inspire a wider variety of meta and discussions because i want to engage with the way you engage with your favourite heroines.
if that sounds like your deal, PLEASE READ FURTHER AND BOOST THIS POST BY REBLOGGING IT!
EVENT: you can participate by sharing a meta discussion or post about any female character(s) of your choice, using any of the prompts below, curated by yours truly. this is meant to lean towards analysis of canon material rather than writing fanfiction.
PROMPTS:
I. “CHARACTER STUDY.” choose any character(s) of your choice and give your take on their characterisation. think of them as layers: the outer surface — their demeanour and first impression, then their motivations — intrinsic and extrinsic, their strengths and weaknesses, their personality, their behaviours in social interactions, their quirks, their fears, their psychology, their development and arcs, and so on. you can opt for a generalised overview or dive into a specific aspect of their characterisation. you can analyse them from any type of angle.
II. “VERSUS.” pick two women who have been pitted against each other for any type of conflict, and think about it. was that rivalry organic and inevitable or editorially forced and unexpected? was it beneficial or meaning for their character development? could it have been handled differently? was it interesting or tired? do you consider it reflective of our society? do you think this type of stories have any impact on the way we discuss relationships between women? does the bechdel test come to mind?
III. “MISCHARACTERISATION.” take any story, plot, comic, etc. of your choice and make your case for why this specific portrayal of the character does a disservice to them and is out of character. then tell me the implications and impact; did this mischaracterisation stem from ignorance or stereotypes? how much did this instance damage the public perception and understanding of the character?
IV. “A RETCON YOU ACTUALLY LIKED.” not all dramatic changes are bad all the time, and reboots aren't always terrible beyond belief. sometimes, they can work! i'd love to hear if there's an example you're fond of that was beneficial to your favourite character.
V. “BY DESIGN.” aesthetics aren't always surface-level, sometimes they can be reflective of who we are on the inside or carry significance that is cultural, psychological, or sentimental at times. for this prompt, i'd like for you to analyse the sartorial choices made in the design of your female character: why do they look the way they do? why these costume choices? why this colour scheme? why that hair length? why those gloves and masks? are these retcons helpful? additionally, you can also use this prompt to defend a specific character design you like.
VI. “DREAM TEAM-UP.” if you're anything like me, you have multiple favourites and you love playing dolls with them. so, use this prompt to propose a team-up, crossover, or collaboration of your choice! no limits on the number (minimum: two female characters), as long the focus is on the women of marvel and dc comics. you can analyse why these characters would work or wouldn't, draw parallels between them, think about what their dynamic would be like, propose a story idea, and so on. also, if these two did meet but you want them to meet again? i'll allow it.
VII. “PHOENIX.” pick any character who's been killed off, retconned out of existence, or simply collecting dust in limbo — and make your case for why they should be brought back to the current times. when was the last time they were mentioned? do you know what plans the editorial did have for them? do you think they can fit in now? how would you reconcile their years of absence? what would you retcon from the past story, and what new changes would you make for their new ones? what would their new debut be like?
GUIDELINES.
do you need to be a member of the community to participate? it's appreciated, but it's not mandatory! this event is open to everybody.
is there a fixed time or deadline? honestly? no. i understand people can be busy and whatnot, and frankly, co-ordinating a timed event can be a hassle. these prompts are forever and always available for use.
word count? as much or as little as you'd like. a minimum of one paragraph would be appreciated.
the questions in the prompts' description are not meant to be taken literally. they're only elaborate, the words in the quotation marks are the prompts. you can use my questions as a framework or just ignore them outright and interpret the prompt however you'd like it to be.
the focus should be on female characters. marvel and dc only. comics only.
i won't say you can't write your meta without sources, but it's strongly recommend to the cite the comics you're discussing; your citations should include comic name, year, and writer. a wiki link would be appreciated so that people don't get confused which comic you're dissecting. you can also cite other secondary sources.
these prompts aren't for storytelling, but moreso for articles or essays, as well as think-pieces and ideas for potential stories. these do not have to be unbiased or professional or following some fancy formatting or whatever, images and aesthetics not needed as long as your stuff is comprehensible. again, you can structure your meta that way.
you can be biased and whatnot, but the main thing i'm looking for is passion and enthusiasm for what you like. critiques are welcome, but in that case, i'd also recommend adding in solutions or constructive feedback too.
no ai. no plagiarism. no unpleasant arguments or disrespect or insulting.
tag appropriately and correctly!
no deliberate misinformation. no bigotry, propaganda, harmful rhetoric, and so on.
you can submit as many times as you'd like for as many of the prompts for as many female characters.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINE: tag your posts with #throughyourlens, @ me, and message/inbox me a link to your post, and i'll reblog your meta to the women of comics community. additionally, you are welcome to reblog your post directly to the community.
Written for @dchuntress's Through Your Lens fandom event!
Carrie has gone through a myriad of mantles, and with them a different costume. This post will discuss each of her mainline mantles + their uniforms. We will share our individual analysis of each one, our likes and dislikes, and if we feel it does her a disservice. There wont be much to talk about when it comes to effects on the comic world and her future iterations, as she is a rather niche character, and has only really been written by her original creator. It's also difficult to gauge the opinions of people who actually engaged with her character, since most discussion of the comics she appears in completely sideline her in favour of discussing Batman, and the other male characters. Most public opinions of her are little more than "I don't like her," or "This would've been better with [insert boy robin here]," or, rarely, "I think she's cute." Written by a fashion hobbyist and resident Carrie nerd.
The main comics discussed are Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (1986), Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again (2001), Dark Knight III: The Master Race (2015), and Dark Knight Returns: The Golden Child (2019). They will be henceforth abbreviated as TDKR, DKSA, DKIII, and TGC. Any other comics or media will be mentioned by name.
Robin:
From: TDKR
Robin is her first mantle, and with it her first costume. It is the classic robin uniform, worn by Dick Grayson and Jason Todd. She has no utility belt, and carries with her a rope and her weapon of choice: a sling shot. She doesn't wear a domino mask, instead a pair of boxy green glasses that she also wears when not in costume. Her design is very interesting, as it puts zero emphasis on her "feminine" aspects. Her costume is an exact copy of the boys', she is entirely flat chested (and even if she weren't, the vest is loose enough to give that impression) and she wears her hair short. She's even gendered masculine by this book's new commissioner, Ellen Yindel (as well as the rest of the police force), and the media. When Bruce comforts her with praise, he uses the gender neutral "good soldier." In fact, on first reading, we actually believed her to be a boy until the third issue.
Her femininity, at this point, in no way a facet of her character or design. Although she later takes up overtly feminine mantles, it remains as something that doesn't impact her character. She could easily be written as a boy without her characterization changing in the slightest. We find this very interesting, especially when looking at art of her as robin from other comic artists. Some of them nail her androgyny, but a fair chunk put feminine traits on her (noticeable chest, wide hips, lipstick, large eyelashes, etc) that simply aren't present in canon. While some of this may be entirely innocent interpretation of her design, there is something to be said about this being possible sexualization, or at the very least making her align with society's notion of was a "girl" should look like. Robin gets a 10/10, absolute classic, a juggernaut of a debut.
Catgirl:
From: DKSA
Just to get this out of the way: Catgirl is a 10000000/10. We adore her. We are #1 Catgirl fan. She has claws under her fingerless gloves. She has huge, chunky sneakers with MOTORIZED ROLLERBLADES. She wears a different outfit every scene. Her hair is bleached blonde. She has WHISKERS. Every aspect of her design oozes personality and charm, which makes sense since she canonically chose and designed this mantle + costumes.
First, the design list. As mentioned, she changes costume to a new pattern each appearance. She cycles through Leopard Print (pictured), Gray (pictured), Tiger Print (pictured), Black, and Gray Tabby.
She also features a second mask design. Above shows her Cat-Cowl, but she also wears a more traditional mask + cat ears. The costumes she has in this version are Gray, Leopard Print, and Black.
Catgirl is Carrie's first and only original mantle, this is her striking out on the scene, entirely on her own, and through that fact, we get a very good glimpse into her character. She's bright, and silly, and isn't afraid to take up space. Her hair is shorter, and bleached blonde, which beyond looking awesome, is probably meant to help reflect her age as a 16 year old. Catgirl feels like a natural continuation on from Robin; still bright, still just a bit goofy, but in a way, more adult.
Catgirl is also more clearly feminine than Robin, and not just in name. While she remains mostly flat chested, she is also drawn with a noticeable butt. And while she does still have a rather square design, her thin waist gives her a more feminine silhouette, compared to Robin's straight up-and-down design. Personally, these changes don't feel like sexualization, merely a reflection of the changes during puberty she would've experienced in the 3 year in-universe jump between books, but its absolutely possible.
It's also important to note that this book is the first instance of a darker, more brutal side to her personality being shown, which will be eventually explored a bit more in TGC. We think this is especially interesting since, again, Catgirl is the first mantle Carrie has all to herself, and is a clear display of her identity as a vigilante separate from Batman.
Batgirl:
From: DKIII
Batgirl, is, on first glance, very similar to Catgirl. This design is much less interesting, but she makes up for it by way of an excellent performance. By now Carrie is fully adult, and has a body type to reflect that, fully abandoning visual androgyny. She also has no real "on model" state, in each panel the details of her costume are drawn differently, only staying within the general premise of her design. Pink boots, gauntlets, and cape. Yellow utility belt. Green bodysuit with a bat emblem on the chest. It's definitely an intentional choice, but unlike Catgirl, its a decision made by the artists instead of by her character.
On that note, she very much feels as though she has less agency in this book compared to previous installments. She chose to be Robin, she made Catgirl entirely, but Batgirl is given to her by Bruce as a graduation present. She never once comments on the suit, either in internal monologue or aloud. Batgirl is lovely, but lacks the sheer appeal and narrative importance of Robin and Catgirl. Still, 7.5/10. We can't deny that she makes pink and green look good.
Batwoman:
From: DKIII, TGC
Now here is an example of Carrie done right. She's an absolute force-of-nature in this book. The cruelty briefly displayed in DKSA is given the spotlight in this book and then some. Her design is bright and creative, giving her a likeness all to herself. We do have our nitpicks however, we wish she were more muscular, and had a bit of a squarer stature, and a bit of a harder jawline, but those details are all but lost in what this design got right. The writing and design in this book are in harmony, giving a full and complete depiction of her character.
On her more brutal side, like Catgirl, Carrie chose to take up the mantle of Batwoman. Bruce and the other Justice Leaguers make no appearance in this book, showing her entirely on her own, and boy does she shine. This is the second real demonstration of the authority she wields, with Catgirl (unsurprisingly) as the first.
She makes full use of the "frightening" aspect of being a bat, and eagerly enjoys wreaking chaos. She is openly violent, and refuses to be constrained, an image of her holding a lit molotov cocktail was even briefly used as a symbol of protest. She loves her job, and looks great doing it! 9/10.
Above is her Batwoman design at the end of DKIII. 6/10. It's serviceable, but a bit lacking.
Honourable Mentions
Civilian clothes:
From: TDKR
From: The New Batman Adventures S01 E19 "Legends Of The Dark Knight"
Both of these are a 9/10. Huge fan of TNBA Carrie's long coat and wire glasses.
Mutant Disguise:
From: TDKR
Mutant Carrie is a 7/10. It's a good outfit but we feel that more could've been done with it.
Robin (Arctic):
From: DKIII
12/10. My cutie :]]]] Also she roasts the shit out of Superman in this part and that's pretty peak.
For this #MelaninMonday #Wildography Presents The Dark Lord of the Forest by #wildographer & guide @sarang_mhaskar whilst leading @impressions_photography first wildlife photography tour to Kabini National Park. * Be sure to follow them for regular updates, enquire about prints and upcoming trips. * @bookmylens #throughyourlens #indianforestofficial #fantastic_earth #awesomeglobe #wildlife_perfection #wildlife_seekers #earthcapture #wildkarnataka #blackpanther #kabini #naturein_focus #nikonindiaofficial #nikontakez #indianwildlifeofficial #impressions_photography #indian_wildlifes #wildlifeconservation #sanctuaryasia #bbcwildlife #wildlife_photography #lonelyplanetindia #ourplanetdaily #featured_wildlife #indianafricanwildlife #discoverychannel #wildlife_conservation_official (at Kabini Forest, Karnataka.) https://www.instagram.com/p/CS51-7xCcyw/?utm_medium=tumblr
Had a blast at @silverstarmtnresort today! Sun shine and blue skies in one direction, overcast and clouds in the other. Was still a beautiful day! . . . . . . . . . . #dynamicduo #adventure #silverstarmountainresort #skisilverstar #throughyourlens #travelphotocourse #skiing #snowboarding #outdoors #outdooradventures #snowmuchfun #mountains #trees https://www.instagram.com/p/CaBovF3r22O/?utm_medium=tumblr
I want to call you Milkyway, That sweet outside, That tasteful yet gooey centre, covered in a hard shell, Yet you have The beauty of the night stars, Sky and all the wonders It carries with it. -Ryan Holden - - - - - - - - - - #nomoon #fullmoon #milkyway #tamronlens #milkywaychasers #photopills #throughyourlens #night #nightphotography #photographers_of_india #dslr #sonyphotography #milkywaygalaxy #india #yelagiri #astrophotography #nustaharamkhor #maibhisadakchap #picoftheday #nightphoto #noitenoinstagram #raw_nightshots #passionpassport #voyaged #beautifuldestinations #beautiful #travel #natgeoyourshot #oph #sky ______________Shot on @sonyalphain [email protected] @raw_nightshots @fav_skies @raw_skies @noitenoinstagram @nightphotography @photographers_of_india @official_photographers_hub @voyagedm (at Yelagiri YMCA camp) https://www.instagram.com/p/COIcdqkpXZK/?igshid=1jio23ck5gile
A super chilly day on the hill but the snow was fantastic! Happy family day! . . . . . . . #dynamicduo #adventure #silverstarmountainresort #skisilverstar #snowmuchfun #toocold #outdooradventures #reflection #throughyourlens #travelphotocourse #snowboarding #skiing https://www.instagram.com/p/CaRJFt9rCxA/?utm_medium=tumblr
