Saturday, January 06, 2007

Gratuitous Female Moment


Hawkgirl 56
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

When I think of gratuitous shots of female characters, my mind doesn't wander to the many "boob shots" available. It goes right to this lovely shot of Hawkgirl on the cover of issue #56.

To me this is just sad. Yikes. My husband thinks that maybe I am desensitized to breasts but that shots like this are a whole 'nother level. I have to agree.

Characters that make me cringe right now because of their artistic portrayal are Hawkgirl and Supergirl, but mostly for the outfit created by Michael Turner. As much as I apreciate the legend of Howard Chaykin and have been a fan of his past work, his portrayal of Hawkgirl leaves me cold. Actually, it makes me want to scream and avert my eyes, but that is splitting hairs.

Can I say yikes again?

16 comments:

Carl said...

Welllllllll, since she looks like she's flailing about, you really don't have control of your body at that moment. Buttttttttt, you have to love the battle-axe with the rather round pointed head moving right across her leg...

Richard said...

Yikes. That's not just gratuitous boobage, that's what they call in the professional theater "balcony and orchestra."

Actually, maybe Scott at Polite Dissent should have a look at this: that pose looks more like a GYN exam than a battle scene.

On the plus side, I'm impressed with Hawkgirl's formidable biceps. But how many readers will notice them?

Heidi Meeley said...

Carl, I would most likely buy the flailing part if she wasn't posed like that in several panels in the issue itself. I was going to scan the panels but couldn't bring myself to do it.

The battle axe just brings it all home.

Heidi Meeley said...

RAB- I like your points on this. She definitely has professional boobage going on. I also like the suggestion that Dr. Scott get a look, God knows he could probably make an educated diagnosis.

The biceps.. she has arms?!?

Unknown said...

It almost looks like she's trying to catch the mace with her cleavage, doesn't it?

Anonymous said...

Yick. Where does Chaykin get his reference material...."SKANK" magazine? Yeesh.

I remember looking at Chaykin's first issue on Hawkgirl, and was revolted by the huge, toothy mouths he gives everyone..now I've got something else to turn me off about Chaykin's art.

RedheadFangirl said...

Yes, you can always tell Chaykin by the teeth-baring and the nips. I didn't like Hawkgirl after a few issues, but did just start his Guy Gardner series (at $6 a shot!)

James Meeley said...

Yeah, what's up with asking so much for a Guy gardner mini-series? Seems odd, you ask me.

notintheface said...

"I remember looking at Chaykin's first issue on Hawkgirl, and was revolted by the huge, toothy mouths he gives everyone..now I've got something else to turn me off about Chaykin's art."

There's also the fact that he draws everyone with BIG RECTANGLE HEADS.

Heidi Meeley said...

Loren- excellent observation! Does that make her a triple threat?!

Heidi Meeley said...

Mark, what is so odd is that I didn't consciously remember Chaykin's art looking like this. It startled me to realize this was his.

It makes me feel bad to be so grossed out, because I like Chaykin's written work, but I guess I had to draw the line in the sand somewhere.

Heidi Meeley said...

Redlib- the teeth baring is definitely a trade mark. The nipples were extremely disconcerting.

How does his Guy Gardner look?

Heidi Meeley said...

Not- until you pointed that out, I hadn't realized it. Ohmigod, you are so right!

Anonymous said...

"How does his Guy Gardner look?

Not bad. The nipples make him look kinda sexy.

Carl said...

Hmmmm, welp, I love Chaykin's art, alway have. I have meet him twice at cons over the years. You have to remember, the same guy that did the original Star Wars adaptation, brought The Shadow to the 20th Century and so much more, also did "Black Kiss". I'm not so keen on his writing as much as his art, it's always gritty and with his own style...

Heidi Meeley said...

Carl, it is alright to enjoy Chaykin's art. Normally I don't have such a violent reaction, but I really dislike his stuff on Hawkgirl. Weird, huh?

Or maybe it was just the dirth of crotch shots that did me in!