In a YouTube video titled, “Spider-Woman’s Ass is a Big Deal,” vlogger has taken on the naysayers in regards to Marvel’s recent cover reveal of an upcoming Spider-Woman comic. When this cover hit the web back in August, male and female fans alike collectively cringed. And then dominated social media criticizing the cover, Marvel for allowing such blatant sexual objectification, and the artist, Milo Manara, who is known for his erotic approach to comic book characters both male and female. All over a variant cover (in other words, it’s an alternate cover; it’s not even the normal cover.)
I’m all for pointing out the ill-intent of hyper-sexualized characters/posters/whathaveyou because objectification of any kind is inherently damaging to the viewer; it creates a false sense of reality for both men and women. However, it’s hypocritical to criticize female objectification in comic books and NOT do the same for male comic book characters, who have been continually objectified on covers for decades with their form-fitting rubber suits that cling to every single muscle and tease the faint outline of the penis.
Where are the “OBJECTIFICATION!” Police then?
If we’re truly setting out to educate people on female objectification — or objectification in general — and why it’s wrong, then we need to also react like this when a male character appears on a cover in the same type of compromising position. Otherwise we’re all just a bunch of hypocrites.
Maddox’s video might be in-your-face, but he argues with sound logic and it’s hard to refute his points, especially when he’s calling out everybody who had something to say about Spider-Woman who clearly never cared when Spider-Man posed the exact same way.
If you’re going to cry, “UNFAIR,” then you need to at least know your history.
Check out the video here: