Posted in: Comics, san diego comic con | Tagged: Caitlin Kittredge, comic con, Comics, Corinna Bechko, dynamite, Dynamite Entertainment, entertainment, gail simone, red sonja, san diego, san diego comic con, sdcc, sdcc '16, SDCC 2016, sdcc16

Dynamite Entertainment Discusses The Need For Female Creators And Representation In SDCC Panel

Alex Roberts writes for Bleeding Cool…

If you're familiar with the comic industry, it's very likely that you're aware of an imbalance between male and female creators and content. For decades, comics were something that "only boys read," and while this notion has been thoroughly squashed, the industry as a whole is still struggling to catch up on leveling the playing field.

When it comes to strong women in comics, Dynamite Entertainment is a cornerstone of female empowerment. They are currently running some of the most respected female-based titles in the industry right now, such as the beloved Red Sonja. They arrived at Comic Con with a panel to discuss their strength and how the industry can make improvements. The panel was moderated by actress RuthAnn Thompson and consisted of Corinna Bechko (Lords of the Jungle), Gail Simone (Red Sonja), Caitlin Kittredge (Grimm) and Joseph Rybrandt (Executive Editor).

Gail Simone started the panel by discussing how she originally wasn't interested in writing for Dynamite nor taking over Red Sonja, but she was eventually convinced to come on board after she mentioned it to her mother and was surprised by her mother's overwhelming enthusiasm to take it on. When Simone requested female artists to do the covers for Red Sonja, Dynamite was happy to comply. In the past, she had often been met with pushback when she requested female artists and writers to help her with her works and found Dynamite's willingness to hand the reigns to women refreshing. Considering the industry is still struggling to take stock of its inherit male-centric practices, it is a relief to hear that Dynamite is dedicated to do their part in balancing the scales.

Joe Rybrandt asked the panel their thoughts on how the industry had changed from when they started to now. Simone discussed starting online and spending years being the only person on the panels she attended. When she started, conventions were about a 70/30 balance of women and are finally reaching levels of gender representation within the last few years. Executives had a tendency to choose male creators over females for no clear reasons, and the industry is finally waking up to its error – although it still has great strides to take in leveling the playing field.

Kittredge started in novels and moved into comics, but felt it was hard to even get onto the playing field. She said that the last three or four years has unleashed a flood of female creators that was needed in the industry. Additionally, works targeting female audiences are on the rise, allowing greater diversity in storytelling to be greenlit.

Rybrandt mentioned the challenge the industry has with female characters who were created decades ago and are rooted in outdated costumes and male-driven storyline. What the creators have to do is try to update the characters, while staying true to their core, to make them modern versions of themselves.

When asked what inspired them to go into the industry, Bechko stated that it was American Splendor that brought her into the fold. For Simone, it was characters like Batgirl and Wonder Woman, who did not need males to come in to save them and instead led their own adventures. Kittredge started reading comics in the 90's and was very off-put by the of the time. Eventually, she discovered Vertigo and comics like Sandman and Preacher and other titles that "didn't necessarily involve spandex." Kittredge found the freedom to really do whatever she wanted in the comics medium and that is what brought her in. Rybrandt recalled the 90's and the rise of Vertigo being something that was able to draw women in during what was essentially a drought of representative comics.

The panel discussed representation, such as the new Ghostbusters movie and the ability for young girls to dress up and feel included in the culture. Simone spoke about meeting some young male fans who were the most die-hard Batgirl fans she had ever met and how the role of a positive female model can even help males develop healthy respect for women. Dan DiDio told Simone at an early part of her career to pursue her own ideas and bring new perspectives, which pushed her to defy the industry standards of the time.

Thompson asked what the next steps were for creating equality for the talent, to which Simone responded that creators need to be judged on their work primarily and empowered to bring their own ideas to the table rather than being pushed to stay within the styles of their predecessors. Kittredge stated that she looked forward to when diversity is normalized in the entertainment industry, when Trans or Muslim characters can be included without it being seen as a big deal. This will allow the industry to stand up against misogyny and racism when it no longer is seen as a regular aspect of it.

During the Q&A section, an audience member who works in the game industry asked how they balance the level of input from males and females and how they handle harassment, considering both industries have a problem with male-dominated creation spaces. While the panel joked about yelling people down, Simone went on to emphasize the importance of female creators feeling and acting like they belong in the room. Bechko discussed the importance of building support networks with other women, just to know that you mutually exist and interact within the industry.
Jumping off of the previous discussion, Simone brought up the Valkyries, a group of female comic-industry owners and how they have redefined the industry. Currently boasting around 600 members, they have combined their power to make themselves known and their interests represented. It is important for groups like this to come together and carve the path that needs to exist. Thompson brought up Geek and Sundry as a similar group in the video gaming industry, another group that needs to learn how to allow women equal representation and respect.

If you're looking for comics with a strong female narrative or want to support some great women in the industry, head to www.dynamite.com.

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