Comic Book Resources

You raise a good and unnerving point.

Do people REALLY need to see this when they come check the blog? Really, REALLY?

Actually, I’m still thinking about this, and I now realize that at some point, I became a person who looks at an image like this and thinks, “That is tentacle rape.” I’m used to the concept now. God *damn*, that’s creepy.

I was forced to watch tentacle porn. Yeah.

Fair enough, MarkAndrew, I’ll change it so folks have a choice!

Hooray!

Also, I wasn’t thinking tentacle rape at all ’till people on the blogsphere pointed in out to me.

Thank you blogsphere. Ever so much.

But it’s still an unpleasant cover.

In a weird sorta way, I think Misty Knight is, like, the female Captain America. And you shouldn’t put her in a position that you wouldn’t put Cap in. That should be a law.

Um, I hate to be the one to say this, but where are Misty’s nipples? Given the skin exposed, they should be right there. Not only is this (disturbing) cheesecake, this is poorly done cheesecake! I think a good clue that you have made a bad choice of covers to draw is that your editor won’t let you include all the anatomy.

Given that the artist is Japanese, I’m pretty sure SHE is familiar with the concept of tentacle rape. It’s not like people are reading into the picture something that’s not there.

I think at the very least it is sexist. But Heroes for Hire is pretty damn sexist. I still don’t get why my girlfriend reads that obvious T+A male dominated bullcrap.

Yes, my girlfriend reads it and I am the one constantly blasting it for being sexist. I dont understand how that works either, so don’t ask.

But I am also offended that because an artist with a Asian name made the cover, the automatic conclusion is that this is some kinda rape cover. That has a slight taste of racism which also rubs me raw.

I am all sorts of confused….

It’s not like people are reading into the picture something that’s not there.

Okay.

Again, though, if you didn’t know about tentacle rape, the cover wouldn’t be considered as offensive, right?

That’s the point.

When I read stuff like this, I start to think that some people just has way too much time on their hands.

I wouldn’t call H4H “male-dominated.” There are more female characters than male ones, and they’re generally more capable, in charge, and kick more ass.

I speak, of course, of the *interior* of the book.

>

To borrow a line from American Beauty: Look closer…

They are there. If you look at Misty’s right breast you can see one protruding from under her…costume. (If you can call it that.) It’s almost directly under Felicia’s bell. The left one is a little trickier and you need to look at the light being reflected off of it and the shadow under it. Her breasts are not pushed together, I think they’re actually separated, sort of like Colleen’s.

(I cannot believe I actually spent time looking at that picture and then spent even more time typing this nipple roadmap out…)

I must admit that I like this look of her art (not the tentacle rape part, just the anime styling). It would be cool if they did the whole book like this.

But I am also offended that because an artist with a Asian name made the cover, the automatic conclusion is that this is some kinda rape cover. That has a slight taste of racism which also rubs me raw.

I am all sorts of confused….

Why waste the time getting offended at what some stranger says in the comments of a blog?

I do roll my eyes and groan when I see this cover. I am a big anime fan as well as a comics fan, but just like comic fans still sometimes get the stigma brought on by the 60’s Batman TV series (”BIF!”, “BOOM!”, “POW!”), anime fans have to live with the stigma of being associated with ‘tentacle porn,’ which honestly makes up a tiny fragment of all the anime produced in Japan. Stuff like this doesn’t help that…

That said, I do normally like this artist, especially her work with C.B. Cebulski on his DRAIN title for Image. I’d like to see more work from her…

“But I am also offended that because an artist with a Asian name made the cover, the automatic conclusion is that this is some kinda rape cover. That has a slight taste of racism which also rubs me raw.”

Its three lacerated and wounded women, tied up, their boobs practically hanging out, with we’re-not-penises-honest tentacles waving at them. black cat is wincing away (look at her eyes, she’s not simply unconscious) from “her” tentacle which has apparently got rather excited and left…something…on her breasts.

Dude, its rape-tastic!

Oh, and as an aside to the whole “if you didn’t know about tentacle rape” thing, a friend of mine saw the cover yesterday (who can’t identify The Flash, never mind discuss the finer points of tentacle fun) and said “wow, its like they’re gonna get raped by those tentacle things”.

so I don’t think this cover can be passed off as simply “another creepy cover” without knowledge of the whole tentacle thing as the rape references are so overt.

Jesus Christ!

What the fuck is “Tentacle Rape”?

I’d say the phrase is pretty self-explanatory.

But I am also offended that because an artist with a Asian name made the cover, the automatic conclusion is that this is some kinda rape cover.

I don’t even know what the artist’s name is. But even if it was White Guy McWhiterson, that is some tentacle rape right there.

I’m disgusted by the anti-tentacle monster prejudice here. Tentacle monsters are very playful, they just like to tickle people.

Also, I’ll be honest, I didn’t even notice the goo on Black Cat’s chest.

That’s pretty darn hilariously lame.

Fer Petesakes, it’s Heroes For Hire! We all know what the main gimmick of that series is. We’re gonna complain about the sexism in hentai after this? It’s been given far more attention than it deserves by now (and free advertising, by the way).

Though the main question Brian raised with this post was a funny one.

Wait, wait, tentacle rape is a Japanese thing? The only time I’d come across it before was in ‘Evil Dead’. The things you learn… either way, good point, Brian.

If this is gonna be the new thing that people get offended by now that the MJ statue controversy has died down, build a freakin’ bridge.

Maybe they should make a statue of this cover. That would tear the internet in half…Tentacle Style!

“Wait, wait, tentacle rape is a Japanese thing? The only time I’d come across it before was in ‘Evil Dead’. The things you learn… either way, good point, Brian.”

Dude, that was a tree. You’ll hurt the tentacles feelings.

Wait, wait, tentacle rape is a Japanese thing? The only time I’d come across it before was in ‘Evil Dead’. The things you learn… either way, good point, Brian.

Nah – that was twig rape.

TBH I’m not sure if tentacle rape would have occurred to me if I hadn’t read it first – and I’m not sure what makes this (admittedly bad) cover worse than lots of other bad sexist covers.

“Nah – that was twig rape.”

We definitely need to get these definitions worked out, there’s so many varieties to choose from…!

Yeah, what was I thinking with the tree/tentacle mixup? The tentacles could sue me for defamation, spreading accusations like that around.

In that case, this is definitely the first I’ve heard of tentacle rape. I’m reasonably certain that’s not a good thing.

What’s really funny is I was thinking the exact same thing:

Yesterday I was reading a website about it and a friend of my asked what the big deal was. “It’s a horro comic cover, with a little more sensuality than nexessary, but it’s not that bad” (translated from portuguese), he said.
Of course, he’s not a comic reader or an anime fan.

I don’t think I would have thought of tentacle rape if you hadm’t mentioned it. The really ugly thing about the cover is the outfits. I know Marvel want to re-engage with 14 year olds but surely there has to be a better way.

The only people that should be offended by this are the non-raping tentacles. There are plenty of nice tentacles just trying to make it in society.

And honestly, who wouldn’t want to be raped by a tentacle? – if you are single…

I think it’s supposed to be satire or homage. Takeda’s other art is so much better than that, and generally avoids the manga/anime cliches. On top of that, the cover is just so incredibly, blatantly awful.

But it still doesn’t work. I think it’s a potentially amusing idea that went horribly, horribly wrong.

All that goo on the tentacle is really sick…

Also, is kinda curious that Marvel re-orders a book like Iron Man because of a nipple and then releases a cover like this…

But Heroes for Hire is pretty damn sexist. I still don’t get why my girlfriend reads that obvious T+A male dominated bullcrap.

If she wants to read comics about strong women in teams, what else can she read? Birds of Prey … anything else?

I don’t read these books myself but I can sympathize with the desire to read comics focused on strong superwomen kicking ass and taking names, where the women are the main characters and story leads.

For some people, reading these books and gritting your teeth through the tacky artwork is better than no superheroine-as-main-character stories at all.

What if the cover actually has to do with what’s inside the comic? Remember those days when Marvel used to make those fancy covers? I think the arc has them in the Savage Land, so the tentacles might be part of the story.

Personally I don’t give a shit what the bloggers are bitching about. Just whiny little fucktards that have nothing else to do with thier miserable lives. I’m happy that Marvel is using Sana in general. Her artwork is wonderful. Granted DRAIN from Image is a piece of shit book, but the artwork is damn pretty.

“What if the cover actually has to do with what’s inside the comic? Remember those days when Marvel used to make those fancy covers? I think the arc has them in the Savage Land, so the tentacles might be part of the story.”

Yay, 33 pages of tentacle rape then? Who cares whether the cover bears any relation to the action inside the comic – the cover is still rapetacular and that’s the issue at hand.

“Personally I don’t give a shit what the bloggers are bitching about. Just whiny little fucktards that have nothing else to do with thier miserable lives.”

….wow, so many things wrong with that I don’t even know where to begin. So I won’t. It’s mostly quoted for hahahas anyway.

My biggest problem, is taht with all the hubbub generated over this and the MJ statue and whatever came before it that i am blanking on, its making us all come across as sexists and misogynists. I am pretty sure most of us aren’t but when its all we look at and discuss it shows up that way.

My biggest problem, is that with all the hubbub generated over this and the MJ statue and whatever came before it that I am blanking on, its making us all come across as sexists and misogynists. I am pretty sure most of us aren’t but when its all we look at and discuss it shows up that way.

Are there really people who are outraged?

I can see people thinking it’s tacky, but going beyond that seems silly.

…?

Frankly I’m kind of curious about the mindset you have to be in where outrage *isn’t* at least one correct response to that cover. Does it help to be male? A hard-core comics fan? A champion of tentacle rights? What?

Once again, as with the statue, I’m just kind of awed at the lack of intelligence, imagination, humour and sensitivity the average comic-book fan is being credited with here. That alone is worthy of outrage.

I’m not outraged; I’ve seen far too much crap like this over my years of reading comics for that. What I am is profoundly disappointed.

This cover, and all the others like it, just make me think of one thing: some parent somewhere who takes his/her kid into a comic shop for the first time, sees some garbage like this, and leaves, never to return.

Good Lord, I would, were I not a big fat comic nerd who knows there’s god stuff out there as well.

If Marvel is really worried about bringing in that next generation of readers, how about more POWER PACK and MARVEL ADVENTURES and less of this kind of nonsense.

And she may be a fine artist, DubipR, but that doesn’t change the fact that she’s drawing absolute crap in this case. And as for having nothing else to do with my miserable life … well, I’ve got a couple of little girls to raise, one of which is absolutely nuts about comics. We’ll be sticking to the fun stuff and leaving HFH to the pervs (who ELSE is reading it?).

Brian for the win! with this one!

We’ve had, what, a year of covers of these particular characters being depicted as unusually buxom, but throw some tentacles into the mix and suddenly everyone’s up in arms?

I suppose those tentacles on the Planet Hulk cover a few months back were also planning on raping the Hulk.

How about throwing bondage into the mix? Does that change anything?

I swear, I didn’t even notice the tenticles at first. I guess I was distracted by the breasts hanging out all over the place.

I’m a tentacle monster and I’m getting a kick out of these replies.

Ignorance would really be bliss in this situation, I think.

The only people that should be offended by this are the non-raping tentacles. There are plenty of nice tentacles just trying to make it in society.

That’s like saying that white people shouldn’t be offended by racism towards black people!

Personally I’m deeply offended on behalf of all non-raping tentacles.

I don’t care what you say. Every tentacle out there is a rapist or will be at some point in the near future. They just can’t help themselves, it’s in their nature.

P.S. I have felt the pain/pleasure of a good tentacle rape so don’t just disregard my sweeping statements.

Cayman said:
We’ve had, what, a year of covers of these particular characters being depicted as unusually buxom, but throw some tentacles into the mix and suddenly everyone’s up in arms?

I think the cover is crap without the tentacles, but thus far I’ve managed to avoid recognizing the existence of the book at all. Blame Brian for bringing this to everyone’s attention.

Joe Quesada responds:

JQ: This one I can answer to. First, I think people are reading way too much into that cover than was ever intended. I heard terms such as “tentacle rape” being thrown around when that in no way is what’s happening, nor does it happen in the book. Those tentacles are the arms of the Brood who appears in the issue and is a major story point, the Brood have tentacles, sorry about that.

Secondly, the concept for that cover, soup to nuts came from a female artist. Thirdly, not being a deep follower of manga, I have no idea what recurring theme people are referring to or concerned with. While I appreciate the sentiment and the feelings that some may have about this, I honestly feel that there is way too much being read into this cover.

Also, HFH is a book that features two strong, lead female protagonist who kick major ass; somehow folks have forgotten to focus on that.

So to sum up:

1. According to Joe, it’s not a “tentacle rape” homage because there are tentacled monsters inside the book, not just on the cover. Did anyone think Marvel would be so mindless as to put this cover on a book that *didn’t* have a tentacled monster inside?

2. A woman drew it, so apparently it’s OK.

3. Joe doesn’t really have a third point; he simply admits that he’s ignorant of the genre that this cover is supposedly homaging. But he’s confident it’s not an homage. And he doesn’t seem concerned with it being pretty creepy even if you aren’t familiar with the genre.

4. Um, isn’t that part of the problem here? That two strong, lead female protagonists are bound, lacerated, bleeding and scared? Alongside their strong female friend who is apparently unconscious, with Brood goo on her? (And does the one on the right always wear her top that unzipped, or did a tentacle do that too?) If this is how Marvel likes to portray its strong women, I’d rather not see how they depict their less-strong characters.

its making us all come across as sexists and misogynists. I am pretty sure most of us aren’t but when its all we look at and discuss it shows up that way.

I’m pretty sure most of us are, actually. At least, what sells in terms of books, maquettes, posters, and t-shirts says so.

Think about how many superheroines have costumes with HIGH HEELS.

And having gone to a few SDCC’s and seen the packs of guys who follow girls around the convention center and stand in front of booth models and ogle them, it’s no surprise to me.

The tentacles didn’t offend me as much as the awful costume the girl in red is wearing. And can’t we bitch about putting those giant goods on display? Or maybe that was what we were complaining about last month?

It’s like every week the blogs blow up with another one of these stories and peoples trip over themselves trying to prove they aren’t misogynists. Then again I would love these companies to get the message because apparently they haven’t yet.

See, this is what annoys me about this stuff. Dan Didio, or the MJ statue guy, or Joe Quesada, or any other random flamefighter from the comics industry gets involved in these arguments WITHOUT actually bothering to read the complaints in the first place in anything other than a passing, entirely superfluous manner. If he HAD, he’d have known that all of the above (incredibly weak) arguments for the cover had already been torn a thousand ways to sunday on endless comics sites.

Is it just me, or is it too much like common sense to think you’d read up on the problem at hand a lot more before wading into the fray and just pissing people off even more than you have done?

He can dress it up however he wants, he can go into the “interesting” twist of it being a woman that drew the cover (thank you, Captain Obvious!), he can talk about the socio political ramifications of – oh wait, Black Cat has jizz on her boobs!

/ rolls eyes

I’ll admit I’m not too knowledgeable about the Brood but when have they ever been that gooey? I thought they were like insects, shiny not slimy.

Joe Q:

lso, HFH is a book that features two strong, lead female protagonist who kick major ass; somehow folks have forgotten to focus on that.

Yeah, because that’s what the cover shows – strong females who kick arse.

How could we not focus on that aspect of the book, when the cover shows it so strongly.

Yeah, Quesada’s defense is pretty weak. I think a “no comment” would have worked a lot better.

Here’s a ferocious rebuttal from fantasy author Tamora Pierce. I’m not approving it…exactly…just putting it out there.

Y’know, I can just about buy Quesada’s notion that people might be giving this cover more thought than was intended. What drives me absolutely nuts is that it never occurred to him *at the time this cover was being approved*. Which of course renders his whole entire defense completely null and void.

I think it is all a big mistake.

The artist was confused by the initials used and thought the work was for FHM magazine!

Here’s a ferocious rebuttal from fantasy author Tamora Pierce. I’m not approving it…exactly…just putting it out there.

So is she going to cut all ties with Marvel then?

Because if she at least threatened to, you can bet they would turn around fast, because she is a big name, and mainstream press would cover if ‘high profile childrens writer refuses to work for marvel’.