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Post by codystarbuck on Aug 30, 2022 10:33:55 GMT -5
DC Comics has been hit with criticism of their Latino Month covers, for reducing Latino culture to food, and street food at that. Voices include several Latino creators, including at least one who did a cover for DC that was more about Mexican history. NPR's article can be read here.On the one hand, its not surprising, both from comics' tendency towards visual shorthand and the rather stereotyped nature of ethnic characters. Some creators handled things better than others; but, too often the end result is not something to hang your hat on. You also have the nature of social media for being a platform for criticism of everything. How widespread the criticism is is a little murky, in the article, apart from individuals quoted. In years past, Warner Bros Speedy Gonzales cartoons were generally not shown, after complaints from Latino groups; but, were brought back into broadcasts after other Latino groups said he was a heroic figure and felt he was a positive character. Being about as WASP as you can be, it's not really my place to say who is in the right; but, looking at the cover examples in the article, they are pretty reductive. Here is a chance to educate that misses badly. One cover discussed, that featured more history was not going to be published; but, the article says DC announced it would be. However, DC also did not address the criticisms of the released images.
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Post by Batflunkie on Aug 30, 2022 12:59:28 GMT -5
Wasn't it Tom Brevoort that said "Controversy sells"?
But yeah, it is kind of tasteless from numerous angles
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Post by thwhtguardian on Aug 30, 2022 13:35:08 GMT -5
Nah, some controversy you can wonder about how controversial it really is outside the bubble of social media but others are really, really obviously bad calls.
Can you imagine if it was Black History Month and we had covers like John Stewart eating watermelon, Nubia serving up fried chicken and Static trying to buy malt liquor with a fake ID? It'd be called racist and rightfully so, and it's the same here.
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Post by wildfire2099 on Aug 30, 2022 19:06:37 GMT -5
Seems silly to have something like this go wrong... do they not have Latino creators do the covers? Obviously that's not required, but if the editors/promo types can't figure out that doing nothing but fast food as 'culture' is ridiculous, maybe it should be... or at least have someone with some sense to take a look before releasing them to the public
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Post by thwhtguardian on Aug 30, 2022 19:17:26 GMT -5
Looks like they've realized the back lash wasn't worth it as they've went with the original version for atleast one of the covers:
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Post by mikelmidnight on Aug 31, 2022 11:39:01 GMT -5
I don't think I'd appreciate a Jewish Month where the cover shots were all a bunch of superheroes eating bagels.
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Post by Icctrombone on Aug 31, 2022 12:17:30 GMT -5
I missed where the made Rayner latino.
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Post by thwhtguardian on Aug 31, 2022 18:06:10 GMT -5
I missed where the made Rayner latino. It was back during Judd Winnick's run and I don't think it's been mentioned since then until this cover.
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Post by wildfire2099 on Aug 31, 2022 19:04:34 GMT -5
I missed where the made Rayner latino. I think they decided his dad was latino? Seems vaguely familiar, but definitely not a big part of the character.
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Post by Icctrombone on Aug 31, 2022 20:05:08 GMT -5
I missed where the made Rayner latino. I think they decided his dad was latino? Seems vaguely familiar, but definitely not a big part of the character. I suk. I have the entire Rayner run , but haven't read it.
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Post by thwhtguardian on Sept 1, 2022 19:25:38 GMT -5
I missed where the made Rayner latino. I think they decided his dad was latino? Seems vaguely familiar, but definitely not a big part of the character. Yeah, his dad was shown to be Mexican in Green Lantern #150(2002) it was revealed that he was with the CIA and Rayner was just his cover name and his real name was Gabriel Vasquez. It's kind of an odd retcon but it was a decent story. I was wrong about it being only referenced by Winnick though as I was rereading the 2015 run of Omega Men and Kyle prays in Spanish there and mentions meeting his maternal grandmother. So Tom King remembered the retcon too.
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