Posted in: Comics | Tagged: Comics, cover, entertainment, idw, powerpuff girls

Powerpuff Girls Cover Causes A Modicum Of Uproar

Published Tue, 21 Jan 2014 12:30:26 -0600

This Powerpuff Girls #6 Subscription Variant comic cover has been causing a little consternation. Retailer Dennis Barger Jr wrote on Facebook,

this is taking grade school girls and sexualizing them as way older, monster high school is at least high schoolers dressed and acting like normal high schoolers (as sexualized as actual high schoolers are)

IDW's Dirk Woods replied,

Hey Dennis et al – That was actually a Cartoon Network mandated cover, by an artist of their choosing. I think they were thinking of it more along the lines of "female empowerment" than the kind of thing you guys are talking about, but certainly, we're sensitive to the issues here. We love making comics for kids, and always want them to be appropriate. For what it's worth, CN has been a great partner in that regard… I know an 8 year old and 10 year old really well, and always look at these kinds of things through their eyes… Half of the employees have kids here, and we pride ourselves in making comics they'll enjoy and not give them a warped view of the world (except, you know, in a good way). Anyway, I certainly see your points, and we'll be sensitive to these things, as I think we mostly have been.

Dennis replied,

I think I am more disappointed than anything else that we are pandering to a very small perverted segment that unfortunately exists and will consume this cover, I supported the brand without question…that ignorance has changed. I will be keeping this alive until it changes

And Nancy Collins, who campaigned against Dragon*Con over the abusive actions of one of its founders, until he was convicted, added,

Ugh. These characters are supposed to be 6-7 years old, aren't they?

With Barger adding,

this is a childrens comic book marked all ages with a cover that you would usually find on a comic for much more adult readers. if you see the word "Little" under the word IDW Publishing that is their all ages imprint, family friendly, which i would say this isn't.

The conversation continues. It doesn't exist within a vacuum, see this piece by Artgerm, but there's a world of difference between someone's experimentation on DeviantArt and an official Powerpuff Girls publication… also these ones look more like actual people.