Posted in: Comics | Tagged: bitch planet, Comics, entertainment, image comics, kelly sue deconnick, Valentine De Landro

"We Seem To Be On The Cusp Of Progress": Bitch Planet #8 Brings A Whole New Level Of Reality

Published Wed, 22 Jun 2016 14:30:19 -0500

This week brings the release of Bitch Planet #8 from Image Comics, written by Kelly Sue DeConnick, with art by Valentine De Landro. I'd be amazed if anyone hadn't heard of the comic by now because of it's profound ability to shine light on a lot of issues that people choose to ignore. Over the last eight issues the cast of characters has changed, we've lost some and gained some new ones. However, the story just keeps getting better and better.

I felt emotionally torn apart by the contents of the issue. As always, there's a lot of sad things going on. However, I found comfort in the letter that followed the issue.

Kelly Sue DeConnick is one of the most admirable writers around. While she writes a great script, she is also openly honest with her process and beliefs. The closing letter included her experience working with trans consultants for Bitch Planet. Part of what she wrote was this:

"The point is that the trans experience has not often been seen in our cultural mirrors. When we haven't erased them, we've fetishized them, written them off as freaks or otherwise discounted their humanity. We seem to be on the cusp of progress, thank god, but with so little to pull from in our own cultural history, Val and I felt strongly that we needed to hear the voices of real human beings who were living this experience."

I've said it before, and I've said it again. Bitch Planet is an important comic. It's something that will be with us forever, and will hopefully shine light on the most stubborn of minds. Be sure to pick up issue #8 today.