The Line

The internet is a harsh mistress. This wonderfully anonymous forum for the world to play in has a gift for bringing out out best. Information can be shared with people all over the planet, and our ability to become a truly global society expands every single day. It's awesome to be a part of it, and it's a huge responsibility to use it wisely and with good judgment.

And then there's the Bendis Board.

Comic fans are a peculiar breed, prone to raging fits of stupidity and immaturity at the drop of a hat. Brian Michael Bendis' forum has been around for a long time in varying forms, establishing itself early on as one of the best places for comics fans to meet, talk, and discuss comics, pop culture, relationships, the whole gamut. But as of late, this once proud forum has become a sad, pathetic joke, and I wonder why Bendis isn't standing up, applying the brakes, and putting a stop to the absolute fucking nonsense going on in his name. Let's take a look at some of the current topics, shall we?

"Which Superhero Has The Biggest Cock? Discuss." Gosh, that's a startlingly pressing question, isn't it? Apparently so, as it has now generated three pages worth of responses. I'm sure the creators and writers who venture to Bendy's board only on rare occasion are happy and satisfied that they can weigh in on the size of Luke Cage's dick. Yay.

"Fuck, Marry, Kill: Comic Book Women". Four pages discussing the sexual desirability of female comic book creators. I suppose it could have been worse- it could have been about comic book characters. But still...this offensive little ditty actually drags poor Jamie Rich into it, as his friend (and awesome creator) Chynna Clugston-Major is under discussion in the thread. And the presence of Colleen Doran as a topic is doubly disturbing, as she faced horrid sexual harrassment breaking into the business, and she was just a teenager at the time. Does anyone think that this topic was a good idea, or good for the rep of the board? Four pages, and no sign of the bald guy whose forum bears his name speaking up. Gail Simone, a board regular, manages to not be a topic of discussion in the thread- is this what passes for respecting her?

And finally: "How Is It We're Suddenly Besieged By Ladies?" Five pages of responses, but let's be real... this is what the above topics are really about. Comics are a notorious boys club, and any stride forward, like a Bendis writing comics that are actually appealing to women, not appalling, and having those women come to his forum... well that's a threat to the sad, juvenile nature of most of his posters. So you get topics reducing women to objects, and primo discussion on dick size. Because these morons don't want icky girls coming by who aren't strippers, or whom they can't wank to while watching on film. It violates the natural order of the comic book geek. And it's an embarrassment. An embarrassment to a good guy like Bendis, an embarrassment to women who want to be a part of our communities, and an embarrassment to anyone who has a shred of self-respect and love for the medium. We will never stop being a low-read, shame-ridden pop culture as long as this attitude prevails.

UPDATE: Late today, Bendis removed the "Fuck, Marry, Kill" thread from his board and admonished the posters. I tip my cap to Brian for doing the right thing at first opportunity. Unfortunately, even in the thread where Bendis discusses the removal, it is very clear that some people just don't get it. Oh, well.

Marc@MarcMason.com