Posted in: Comics | Tagged: dc comics, marie javins, Refinery29

DC Comics' Marie Javins Makes the 29 Women Who Took Over The World In 2018 List

Published Tue, 18 Dec 2018 10:00:30 -0600

Last updated Tue, 18 Dec 2018 10:08:19 -0600

Refinery29 is a fashion focused city guide aimed at young women that included music, style, health, food, entertainment, careers, technology, news, politics, and more.

DC Comics' Marie Javins Makes the 29 Women Who Took Over The World In 2018 List — Marie Javins, Photo by Steve Cook

Yesterday they ran their Matriarchy Power List: 29 Women Who Took Over The World In 2018 and included DC Comics Group Editor and comic book legend Marie Javins stating,

It was big news when DC announced that Javins would be the editor taking over the Justice League line, after the ousting of Eddie Berganza. She started her career at Marvel, but now she's a rising star at the competition. "At Marvel, women worked both in the office and as freelance writers, artists, colorists, and letterers, but maddeningly—like centuries of women in teaching, nursing, and childcare—history tends to ghost them, to overlook their contributions. The younger generation doesn't need me to show them how to be superheroes. They were already crashing into the glass ceiling of their own accord before I started pointing out the weak spots."

DC Comics assistant editor Andrea Shea posted,

Justice League Group Editor and all around idol @mariejavins made Refinery 29's Matriarchy Power list–I can think of none more deserving. But to call her a "rising star" does a massive disservice to her influence on the comic industry over the years. https://t.co/CSv0UHh2lq

— Andrea Shea (@whatthe_shea) December 17, 2018

And she also was able to share Marie Javins' full unedited response – and Refinery29's original question.

Feels worth sharing (with permission!) the full, unedited quote @mariejavins wrote for this article. She sent it around to the ladies of editorial for our thoughts before finalizing. My response: "Without meaning to be unhelpful…can you just say all of that? No notes dot gif." pic.twitter.com/XyyxdcFZQK

— Andrea Shea (@whatthe_shea) December 17, 2018

Q: You began your career as an intern at Marvel Comics in the '80s. How do you feel having a woman at the helm of the company would've motivated or inspired you back then? How do you think we can help women see themselves as superheroes today?

A: By the time I interned at Marvel, Jenette Kahn had been in charge of DC for more than a decade, so I didn't have to look far to see women at the helm of a comics company. And at Marvel itself, women worked both in the office and as freelance writers, artists, colorists, and letterers, but maddeningly—like centuries of women in teaching, nursing, and childcare—history tends to ghost them, to overlook their contributions. The stage was set for me by Louise Simonson, Marie Severin, Ann Nocenti, Jo Duffy, Bobbie Chase, Flo Steinberg, Carol Kalish, and countless others, and I honor their legacies by supporting the younger women at DC now. I try to teach the staff to navigate complex situations with fearlessness, strategy, patience, humor, and a small dose of subversiveness. Sure, it helps that I've gone around the world alone twice on public transport, lived in eight countries, written nine books, and been the editor-in-chief of a comic book staff based in Cairo and Kuwait, but I find the younger generation doesn't need me to show them how to be superheroes by fighting with corrupt border guards or pickpockets. They were already crashing into the glass ceiling of their own accord before I started pointing out the weak spots.

Enjoyed this? Please share on social media!