Like many of my costuming compatriots, it was never my intention to become a cosplayer. Everyone has their own story on how they got involved. For me, it was happenstance and a Poison Ivy costume I’d constructed for Halloween. What started as determination, undergarments, fake leaves and hot glue has now become something people recognize me for/as. That’s neither here nor there though, and the real point to this is that there are a lot of us that are involved in cosplay and consider it a part of our lives. We’re from all walks of life and have different tastes and levels of technical costuming skill. It’s a passion where all who are interested should be welcomed, but that’s not always the case.

Let me lay this out first before going on: yes, you are entitled to your opinion. Also, yes, some costumes are “better” than others from a technical standpoint. There is no doubt in my mind that some people have more advanced costuming skills than others. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean any less effort and love was put into the costumes that aren’t perfection incarnate. We all had to start somewhere. For this reason, it makes me sad to read negative comments about anyones costume. From Tumblr to Twitter to Facebook, there is so much rude commentary on cosplay photos. Beyond just adhering to Wil Wheaton’s rule of “don’t be a dick”, there are some things I feel should be kept in mind when looking at and judging anyone’s work:

1.) Not everyone who attends a convention/party/event in costume is a professional cosplayer, or ever intends to be.

2.) We don’t all have the same pool of resources to draw on, whether they be time, money or technical ability.

3.) No one looks exactly, precisely like any comic character, and they shouldn’t be expected to. If they want to rock out as a character of a different ethnicity, gender, physical size, etc. let them do it. (By the way, some of my favourite cosplays are the Rule 63 ones.)

Please also bear in mind that negativity and critique are not the same thing. “This sucks” is not the same as “this might have been better if” or “I would have suggested doing”. I’ve seen plenty of posts that are nothing but someone trying to tear down another persons work for no discernable reason besides the fact that douchbaggery is an internet epidemic. It’s hard enough to put yourself out there and display your craft without the anonymous (and sometimes not so anonymous) nastiness in response. It’s unwarranted and unnecessary.

There’s also some definite cosplayer on cosplayer hate out there, which I believe largely stems from jealousy. Personally, I feel there’s room for everyone in the sandbox. As someone whose most known cosplay is Poison Ivy, I can tell you there are a lot of us attempting to fill her leafy accoutrements. (Yeah, I know that last sentence sounded sort of filthy.) Having other people at the same convention dressing as the same character doesn’t dilute my work. If anything, it can serve as inspiration to up my game and to keep working on new and creative portrayals. Besides, shouldn’t you be glad that so many people love the same character you do?

Another point of contention seems to be the assumption that this person or that person is only dressed up for the attention and not for the love of the character or craft. If that’s the case, who cares? Let them be whatever they want. If someone comes up to them and wants to talk shop, it will become pretty apparent what their intentions were, and they’ll have to deal with it. It should make no never mind to you. (Note, I am not advocating going up and quizzing cosplayers on their costumes, just stating a possible situation.)

On the whole, cosplayers are a pretty cool lot. They display their passion for a variety of the nerd genres in a unique and inspirational way. There’s no reason to put them down about it. If you don’t like what they’re doing, just leave them be. I doubt you’d appreciate anyone being rude and negative about your hobbies/lifestyle, so don’t do it to other people. So, as two wise men once said, “Be excellent to each other.”

“Party on, Dudes!”

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As a Poison Ivy enthusiast and cosplayer, I’ve been getting asked more and more about what Poison Ivy actually eats. (Yes, we nerds still question and debate these sorts of topics.) I have to admit, the question has been rolling around in the back of my mind for a while now and I felt it was time to present my position.

To my knowledge, we haven’t really seen Poison Ivy eat in the comics. I know in an episode of “Batman: The Animated Series”, Ivy (as Pamela) goes on a dinner date with Harvey Dent (pre-Two Face), but I don’t recall her actually eating anything. Not to mention that in this particular season of the series she’s seen as being human rather than a plant hybrid.

I also know that in some of her portrayals, where she’s become more plant than human, that sun deprivation weakens her and has occasionally brought her to the brink of death. I would assume being cut off from water would have a similar effect. However, while sun and water are a part of what would be considered eating for plants (in addition to taking nutrients from the ground), neither of these things is really considered “eating” by human standards. And, as noted before, Poison Ivy is not always portrayed as being entirely plant or human and could possibly have the needs of both.

My gut answer to the above question of what she eats is that Poison Ivy would be a vegan for a number of reasons. For one, while plants are her priority, I can’t imagine her willingness to eat slaughtered animals, or even any byproducts such as eggs or milk. Second, as an eco-terrorist, I would think she’d be aware of how much land is taken up for animal farming and grazing and that swaths of rainforest have been chopped down for that very same purpose.

A point often brought up when I’ve leaned towards this reasoning, is whether or not her veganism would be considered cannibalism. It’s a valid argument, and I can see the logic in that, but I don’t think it works with the realities of the plant world. Plants can often steal what they need from other plants. Anyone who has watched the “Planet Earth” documentary should remember how the plants in the rainforest are in a constant battle for resources and work to reach skyward in search of vital sunlight. Plants can also benefit from the death of their fellows by absorbing them as they decay. It’s really a basic matter of the circle of life. (Cue singing animals.) I should think Ivy, who was a botanist/botanical biochemist prior to her transformation, would understand these realities better than anyone. There is a balance and a cycle to nature that she respects, and her anger and criminal activities are largely due to her perception that this balance is being tipped unfairly by human interference.

I think it could also be argued that in many instances eating plant-based items doesn’t actually result in the death of the plant. As an example, let’s look at apples. They grow from the trees, picking them doesn’t kill the actual tree, and they were destined to fall off at some point anyway. Even if they do fall off from natural causes and their seeds are properly fertilized, you are left with another tree vying for resources that will possibly steal them from its own parent.

With all this in mind, I’d like to know what others think. It’s possible that I’ve overlooked something in the many comics I’ve read over the years, but I don’t think they’ve ever given a firm answer. Then, once we have this settled, I suppose we can move on to whether or not she breathes oxygen solely or also takes in carbon dioxide.

Just kidding.

(Not really.)

For those interested, you can read more of my ramblings on Poison Ivy here and here at ComicAttack.net.

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First off, let me just say how sad I am to have neglected the site for so long. Life can be a crazy bitch sometimes.

In any case, I’m back, and I thought I’d give a little bit of feedback on the New 52 issues from DC that I’ve had a chance to read. For those who have somehow missed it: DC decided to pseudo-reboot their comic universe. All of the titles released over the past month have been #1s. While the supposed intention was to help bring new people to reading comics and make it more accessible for those just jumping in, that’s not how all of them ended up.

Overall, I’ve found the reboot to be a mix of the good, the bad and the mediocre.

Birds of Prey: I’ve decided to list this one first as it is my clear favourite of the new comics. It has a good set up, compelling characters, action and excellent art. I’m looking forward to the next issues of what seems to be a wonderful girls kicking ass comic.

Swamp Thing: This one came out of left field for me. Swamp Thing is a character I know very little about, but I found the initial story intriguing. I’ve heard a few people say that they’re a bit confused by what is going on and that they needed more back story, but it’s my hope that all is explained in the subsequent issues.

Batgirl: Another one of my top picks. Overall, I found this to be a strong title, and I have faith in Gail Simone to really take this story in the right direction. My only quibble is that we don’t know how Barbara has regained the ability to use her legs beyond the vague description of it being a miracle. It’s my hope that it’s further explored in upcoming issues.

Batwoman: I would have read this to look at the art alone. It is absolutely stunning! The good news is that the story also seems to be moving along nicely. I think there’s some serious potential here as a unique and compelling series.

The Flash: Another surprise hit for me. I wasn’t planning on reading it until my husband insisted. I’m glad he did. Great set up and I am in love with the art.

Wonder Woman: Another really strong first issue, and it appears to be quite the fan favourite for a reason. There’s definitely a big arc coming our way with this story, and I love seeing our amazon in action!

Supergirl: I enjoyed this story enough that I want to see where it goes. It’s really a fresh start and it’s another comic with strong art backing it.

Grifter: Yet another character I am entirely unfamiliar with, but I’m hoping to change that. I think this could be another surprise win in the New 52 lineup.

Nightwing: This was a fun read. It’s nice to see Dick back in his Nightwing costume (though I prefer the old colours better). Definitely worth reading.

Superboy: I know some people who are really in love with this title, but I thought it was just alright. The first issue is really all about setting the stage for what’s to come next, so I’ll see what issue two brings.

Red Lanterns: Well…it had lanterns in it…and they were red. So, at least they have that going for them. I really wanted to like this book, but I just found myself yawning.

OMAC: Talk about old school! This comic feels like a complete throwback to comics past. Definitely some potential.

Demon Knights: I kept hearing how wonderful this book was, so I gave it a chance. It wasn’t really bad per se, but I keep forgetting I read it. The pacing seemed weird and it simply didn’t grab me.

Okay, now for the ugly. I won’t rehash the things that have been said, better than I could say them, about these titles, but I’ll give you a taste of my reactions.

Catwoman: I so wanted to like this book, but I just couldn’t. Yes, there are some good things about it, but I felt like they were drowned out by splashy images of Selina in her bra and doing the nasty with Batman. I don’t care that she’s doing it with Bruce, but the way in which it was presented was a real turn-off for me. I expected this to be one of the titles female fans could really feel was theirs, and I hope they can turn the book around in following issues, but I’ll be hard-pressed to grab the next issue right away.

Suicide Squad: I refused to purchase this title from the outset, and only read it because someone else offered to loan me their copy and curiousity won out. I felt like there were two big fails. One, in the redesign of Harley Quinn (costume and personality), and the second with the redesign of Amanda Waller. But, you say, appearances aren’t everything. Okay, let’s go with that for a second. I’ll imagine the Harley and Amanda problems are gone. Nope, still wasn’t a compelling book. I know some people really loved this title, but it’s just not for me.

Red Hood and the Outlaws: I could go on and on about this one title, but I won’t. It was quite obviously not a book for women, and for the men, it was something to read with one hand. I’ve heard all of the arguments on both sides, but I’m not changing my stance on this: what was done to the character of Starfire is just plain wrong and insulting. I also highly recommend reading this article about it. The writer could have been channeling precisely what I felt when reading it.

There you have it. My new review of the New 52, goo goo a-joob.

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Oh the madness that is casting a comic book based film! Recently, we had two uproars from fans. The first was the announcement that Anne Hathaway was cast as Selina Kyle (mind you, the press release said nothing about Catwoman) in the next Batman film. The second is Henry Cavill as Superman.

It seems we go through this every time. It’s so rare that a casting decision is embraced by the fans when it comes to their beloved comic heroes. My question is, is it that Hollywood really casts the wrong people so frequently? Or is it that comic book fans are too choosy.

I think it goes without saying that no one actor is going to satisfy everyone. There will always be a group that complains. However, I think there should be more of a willingness to let physical appearances slide a little in comparison to acting prowess. Sure, Hugh Jackman isn’t as short and burly as Wolverine appears in the comics. But, who is? Danny DeVito? What Jackman lacks in mirroring the physical appearance of Wolverine, he makes up for with his performance. I really can’t imagine anyone else in that role now.

When I heard Edward Norton was going to be cast in “The Hulk”, I thought there was no way it was going to work. I just didn’t see him as Bruce Banner. I was wrong, and he was amazing. A lot of people whined about Heath Ledger as the Joker, and we’ve all seen how that turned out.

The bottom line is that there should be allowances by the fans when it comes to casting. Should someone who’s three feet tall play Beast? No. However, have some small measure of flexibility. I know we all want our fantasy dream team to grace the screen and fill the shoes of the characters we love, but until we’re all Hollywood movie makers, it’s not going to happen. You can scream and complain until you’re blue in the face. It’s not going to change things.

Let’s also look at the reality of the movie business. It’s precisely that: a business. The studios are out to make a commercially viable film, and with luck, turn it into a franchise. You may know the ins and outs of the characters, but the movie going public at large may not be that familiar. Studios have to make films accessible to the widest group of moviegoers they can. Without that income, they won’t be able to make any films in the first place.

Also, let’s not forget that even in the comic book world, origin stories and characters evolve and change. It’s a fluid world where very few things are locked in forever. Characters die, come back, become younger or older, change to villains, etc. Even a film that is true to a comic to a fault is going to catch flack from those who wanted to see the alternate story told.

It’s okay to not like a movie. It’s fine if you think it’s drivel or screws everything up. The brilliant part is that it doesn’t change a damn thing about the story you adore. You can still go back and read what you fell in love with in the first place. Plus, chances are, there’ll be another reboot in a few years you can complain about, too.

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Over the past few weeks, I have been catching up on The Walking Dead comics. So far, I have read the trade paperbacks volumes one through twelve. It only took one of them, however, to know I was hooked.

The writing in The Walking Dead reminds me a little bit of stories told by people like Stephen King and Joss Whedon. It may seem like those two don’t have a lot in common, but the thing they do share is unpredictability. Reading or watching their stories, they make it so hard to guess which characters will live or die. No one is really safe, and sometimes even main characters bite the dust. It’s risky, but if done right, it can really pay off.

The Walking Dead is risky and it’s nerve-wrecking. All of the characters are well developed despite the fact it has such a large cast. None of the characters seem to be there “just because”. Every time I reach a story peak and think things can’t get any worse, they somehow do. Very few series of any kind can continuously up the ante.

Where I find the comics faltering (and I mentioned this in another article at Comic Attack) is in their treatment of female characters. This is the second series I’ve read that is by Robert Kirkman, and it seems like he has it out for the lady folk. Intentional or not. So far in The Walking Dead, there has been a serial killer that murders a few female characters, a mother and baby girl shot to death, a woman who is violently raped again and again, three women who try to commit suicide (two succeed) and a back story of a male character whose wife and daughter were violently raped. I find that more than just a tad worrisome.

While the abuse towards woman is not easily overlooked when reading (not by me anyway), I can’t put the books down. The stories are so compelling and the characters so real. If anything, the zombies are a backdrop to the real story. It’s really a series about survival and how the people around you might be the worst thing out there when it comes down to a crisis. It’s the sort of story we’ve seen time and time again, whether it’s the Twilight Zone episode “The Monsters are Due on Maple Street” or the story “The Mist” by Stephen King. No matter how many times we see it, it’s still just as scary. No one wants to find out that those closest to them have the capacity to change for the worst.

Overall, I can’t recommend The Walking Dead books enough. If you have the stomach for zombies eating people that is. (Pun VERY intended.)

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