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jesncin · 3 hours

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loosening up with some exploration doodles of Ma'alefa'ak during his teenage years in the Red Martian temples. Featuring Cha'rnn O'zzm and a young Jemm enby son of Saturn.

This story idea has been itching at the back of my mind,,, it tempts me so.

#martian manhunter #ma'alefa'ak #jemm son of saturn #dc comics #cha'rnn o'zzm #jl remix #don't think just cuz I had a detour in Superfam or Johnstantine that I don't remember my ROOTS #this is a MARTIAN blog green guy nation supremacy etc etc

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jesncin · 16 hours

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Hopefully this is my last time having to explain this. I've covered this already here: and it's that making Clark into the sole exception to a planet of colonizers "because he's adopted" is a convenient absolution of colonizer guilt by the narrative.

I think it's important to ask "why do people want Superman to be a descendent of colonizers or a redeemed one"? If he's historically meant to represent Jewish immigrants in the 40s, why is there a desire for him to reflect colonizer guilt? We should interrogate why we want to shape an allegory about marginalized people into a story about why oppressors feel bad about what their parents did.

Coddling Colonizer Guilt

"Performative diversity is when MAWS features a Native American variant of Lois Lane in the multiverse episode only to end the season on a Thanksgiving episode."

...is something I like to joke with my friends as a shorthand for referencing MAWS' squeamish approach to politics while still trying to reap the clout of "diverse representation". I want to get my thoughts out there and perhaps start a discussion over why this feels off.

Some disclaimers: Firstly, I'm not Native American. Understand this is an observation I'm making from an outsider perspective with no personal authority. I'm just a disappointed Asian Lois Lane fan. Secondly, I know the MAWS crew/creators had no malicious intent in any of these (what I consider) poor writing decisions. I'm simply here to challenge and analyze these narrative and visual choices.

MAWS takes a fairly controversial take on Superman mythos so far. Unlike Superman's historic roots as an allegory for Jewish immigrants with Clark coming from a Kryptonian socialist utopia (leading the imperfect people of Earth to a better tomorrow), MAWS chooses instead to reimagine Superman as a descendant from a planet of "alien invaders". If the leaked(?) concept art (warning potential spoilers for s2) is to be believed, Clark is the direct descendent of the leaders of the "Kryptonian Empire". Supposedly gone are the parents of Superman being scientists that warn of the destruction of their home planet- instead we have the "proud, loving, brilliant" "leaders of the Kryptonian Empire".

While we don't know if this is the direction the show is going in, there are already cryptic hints of it being planted and thematic elements set up that point to it being a possibility. Clark had spent a majority of the season wondering what/who he is (being incapable of talking to Jor-El's hologram because of a language barrier) only to find out his supposed origins in episode 9. He's devastated learning that he's an alien invader and, once he regroups with his friends, angsts about believing he's a weapon sent from Krypton to invade Earth. Asian-Lois Lane and Black-Jimmy Olsen assure White-passing-alien-man Clark Kent that he's different and not like other colonizers. Clark ultimately saves the day, proving he's an exception. It's curious then that the season ends on Thanksgiving.

As I've mentioned before, MAWS is exhaustively squeamish with getting political. Whatever happens in the show that resembles "themes" is quickly contradicted with very little consistent internal logic. One minute Superman is supposedly a threat that "wipes out good American jobs", should "go back to where he came from" and Lois makes a hope speech about how we shouldn't treat people who "are different" and "don't look like us" (??) with cruelty (so Clark's an immigrant going through xenophobia?) and the next he's a redeemed colonizer (a more prominent thematic arc). One minute Clark is "different" and scared of being othered- likened to a gay couple and allegorically closeted, and the next his friends call him out for being a lying liar for not disclosing his marginalized identity within a week (the narrative frames Lois and Jimmy as being in the right). This show's writing is non-committal with what it wants to say, and largely goes on vibes. That is to say I don't think the writers intended for the themes of colonizer guilt to accidentally tie into Thanksgiving as a set piece for their final episode.

I'm sure the reason the writers chose Thanksgiving as their final episode is because it's "relateable". Half the episode is dedicated to slice of life family reunion shenanigans and the dang turkey still not being cooked through. But in choosing Thanksgiving, the writers told on themselves here with their biases. The existence of Thanksgiving implies the existence of genocide (of Native American people) by colonists in the MAWS universe. And yet Black Jimmy Olsen doesn't know what racism is (Mallah and the Brain give him a judgmental stare as Jimmy admits he can't relate to being violently marginalized) and Asian American Lois Lane doesn't understand immigration and xenophobia (constantly being entitled to Clark's immigrant identity, being incapable of comprehending why he would keep it a secret, because secrets are lies). The MAWS crew wanted a "relateable" set piece but in doing so ended up reinforcing the historical revisionism the holiday entails. A foreign colonizer sharing a meal with his friends of color on Earth, whose culture, history, and identity are all white washed.

I would like to challenge this idea that Thanksgiving is somehow the "relateable" choice. Why pick this holiday? Why not celebrate Thanksgiving as a National Day of Mourning (as some Native Americans do)? Why not pick any Jewish holiday as a nod to Superman's creators (ignoring this version's colonizer interpretation for a second)? Why not pick Lunar New Year, a holiday celebrated by many people including Koreans (Seollal in South Korea)? It could've been another fun opportunity to showcase Lois' heritage, and create a fusion of cultures from Jimmy and Clark's families. At its most non-political and secular, why couldn't they pick any weekend? This is what happens when a show doesn't consider its world building and setting in a holistic way. MAWS will nod to xenophobic rhetoric, portray allegorical queer marginalization, and make the vaguest nods to systemic bigotry (Prof Ivo displaced a whole neighborhood! Yet we never hear from those figurative displaced people). But it does nothing to discuss any of that on a deeper level. Its characters of color don't know what racism is and Thanksgiving is just a fun family reunion, guys.

All this and they had the audacity to sneak in a Native American Lois Lane in the multiverse episode?? Why is she, out of all the Lois Lanes in this screencap, the only one in full traditional wear? Why isn't she in a smart casual business fit like Black Lois and STAS white Lois? Would she not have been recognizably Native American to the non-Native audience otherwise? Isn't this tokenizing? Do you think she has a xenophobic dad in the military like Korean American Lois does?

But that fits MAWS' approach to diversity, doesn't it? Surface level cultural nods, maybe make Lois wear a hanbok one time, and let the audience eat it up. Never mind that both Korean American Lois and Native American Lois have been stripped of their culture and history in every other aspect.

I use the word "relateable" a lot here, but I think the important question to ask is "relateable for who?". 'Immigrant' is too charged a word, so MAWS universalizes Clark's marginalization to "being different". Superman isn't even an immigrant in this version, that was all a smokescreen for the twist that he's actually a descendent of colonizers! Being wracked with colonizer guilt is way more relateable to the white audience than being an immigrant, surely. Thanksgiving is more relateable than celebrating any culturally specific holiday our "diverse reimagining" could have represented. Characters of color being functionally white (in a way that doesn't threaten middle America) is way more relateable. MAWS is a show that doesn't want to delve into Native American history. It would rather put a Native American Lois hologram on a pedestal and call it a day.

#self reblog #jesncin dc meta #and PLEASE do not bring irl examples into this like last time. we are talking about a show that refuses to discuss racism or sexism #instead of “can't we make colonizer Superman work” you should be asking “why do you want to make colonizer Superman at all”#adoption doesn't absolve you of your cultural history

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jesncin · 16 hours

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Your m'gann design is so cute!! 🥺😭 I wanna know more abt her! Do you have any comic recc for her?

Thank you so much!! M'gann is so fun to draw! As for comics, I actually struggle with recommending some because sadly Miss Martian doesn't have a solo run. She first appears in Geoff Johns' Teen Titans (2003, issue #39 goes into her character more, but she appeared before that) run, but I'm told she's at her most prominent in the Young Justice animated show even if they take some liberties. Here's a great video on her history and creation!

My version of M'gann is very different from canon, in that I'm giving her a more fleshed out familial relationship with J'onn and Martian fam and distancing her from her "we have Supergirl at home" roots with a different story. Leaning less into the contrived Martian racism and more into the social struggles with human social cues and, of course, migrant angst.

#askjesncin #m'gann is such a mess as a character because her existence relies on the worst parts of martian lore (the fantasy racism)#so I'm taking a lot of liberties for my au but I think you can see how it still pays homage to stuff she goes through in the comics

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jesncin · 17 hours

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Constantine Birthdays fancomic sneak peak! Almost finished drawing it all, it's short but lookin' great. I think I'll whip up a cover for this too.

#self reblog #there's other panels I want to show but I don't want to rob the impact of you reading it for the first time #a true test to my patience...I say this but I've waited longer for my book to be out

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jesncin · 17 hours

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urrhgfhg im just realizing how messed up my colours are from drawing in the dark but im.im so.no one talk to me this show is doing crazy things in my emotions

#inspiration #the cowboy fits episode!! YEA #awkward J'onn so true and yet so beloved

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jesncin · 17 hours

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places to donate for tigray

for those who are unaware of what is going on in tigray, omnitigray has an in-depth piece on the genocide happening right now and the history leading up to it. tigray has had an internet blackout since 2020 so there is very little accessible day-to-day information. however the atrocities that are known are clear and alarming, and the tigrayan people need attention and support.

https://www.ahwatnarelief.org

links are all sourced from this linktree, which also has more educational sources and an informational poster for sharing.

#boost

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jesncin · 1 day

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Hi! Here's my thoughts on Superman: Up in the Sky!

It's a delightful light anthology-vibe snippet of Superman tales. The fact that Ruthye isn't narrating it already puts it way ahead of Woman of Tomorrow, but it does also feel a little disjointed in some places. Like it's a collection of short Superman stories that just happen to lead to rescuing a kidnapped girl. Some of the stories are a tad shallow and just kind of exist to give the reader The Standard Superman Feels without really saying anything, but Part 8 (Man and Superman) and Part 9 (If Not an Angel) are actually really good and cleverly told!

Clark being split into his human and Kryptonian halves- with the Kryptonian half representing Krypton's heightened evolution and pride? That's actually really cool!

Overall, I wish there was a stronger through-line of Clark learning and growing from something. A lot of times it feels like stuff just happens to him and he has to deal with it and get lucky. I'd like to see him want something for himself from this journey.

Otherwise I think it's just okay! It feels like eating popcorn; fun, but not as fulfilling as a meal.

please do tell about why woman of tomorrow sucks i love reading your takes they’re always so well written

Sure! And thank you for throwing me this bone because WOOF

(btw it's totally fine for people to like Woman of Tomorrow, and I can even see why! This is just my experience with it that I wish was talked about more)

Quick context: Woman of Tomorrow is about a space farmgirl named Ruthye who seeks revenge on Krem, a guy who killed her dad. Supergirl guides her on this journey so they can learn lessons about grief and revenge.

The biggest flaw of the comic is the narrative prose. Ruthye's dialogue is a rambly, over-indulgent, stylized mix of an attempt at medieval Shakespearian speak, but then in the last few issues the writer remembers she's a farmgirl so he decides she should suddenly say "ain't" more often and speak in double negatives to sound a bit more Southern. I can enjoy wordy comics! But Ruthye's dialogue and narration is blatantly excessive purple prose. So many scenes would hit harder with a less-is-more approach while still being stylized and characteristic. Sometimes the narrations pairs nicely with the art to create layered irony, but most of the time it feels like it's disregarding the comics medium altogether.

The other thing about Ruthye's narration is that it holds the story back. I get that the narration is Ruthye writing from the future, but the way it's done gives us a very passive relationship with the events of the story. We don't get to be with the characters in the action heavy moments because we're reading caption boxes of Future Ruthye rambling about poetry recounting The Battle of Capes. I'm not experiencing grief or dread with the characters, I'm being told about it. All of Ruthye's narrative rants boil down to "Supergirl is really badass, sad and kind. I promise this is deep." and "here's how my farm girl experience is relevant to this". Ruthye also speaks in glowing admiration, idealization and worship of Supergirl; it makes it really hard to get to know Kara in a humanizing way. I'm sure the purple prose hits differently for others, but I personally think the story would have more room to breathe without it.

You know how people like saying "Superman is boring because everything is too easy for him, he's too powerful" yeah that's Woman of Tomorrow. The conflict Kara faces are not challenges to her character, they're inconveniences. The resolutions to each story don't feel clever or earned. Kara just knows where to find the murdered purple aliens, Kara just happens to have a silver age-reference magical horse that can outrun the suffering-ball Krem throws at her, Kara just toughs out 10 hours in the green sun. Why be a smart storyteller when you can just give your heroine the upper hand every single time? There could've been a great bonding moment where Ruthye uses her famer-smarts to build shade for Kara, she could've crafted a salve to protect Kara's skin. But I guess having her guard Kara from dinosaurs is ok. Kara helps of course, even though she's dying because she's so cool, badass, sad, kind, etc.

Kara's internal conflict is that she was hoping that taking Ruthye on this journey would teach the farmgirl a lesson about revenge, but has Kara herself learned to move on? She's still thinking about Krypton after all. The problem with how this is presented is that it's not a flaw that we get to see evolve with the story. We see Kara act mopey, get an origin story flashback and then Kara tells us this- in hopes it'll recontextualize everything you've read before. By the time we make it to the end, the characters act like they've learned so much and I'm just standing here wishing I got to see all this growth they're talking about.

At the heart of it, I feel like Woman of Tomorrow represents the side of Super-fandom that wants to see the Kryptonians deified by the narrative. They hate seeing Kara do silly girly rom-com teenager things, she needs to be SERIOUS and EDGY and SAD and ALONE but like a god would be and not how a young woman would be that way. How else will boys take her seriously? Don't forget to remind the reader that she's STRONGER than her boy scout wholesome cousin! There's potential in a short revenge story about young girls finding hope in seeing a role-model woman survive loss, but not like this.

"You don't think I could've solved all those problems? C'mon I'm Supergirl." I sure love seeing female characters be badass girl-god legends who don't get to be humanized by being unflatteringly flawed people. Anyway the better Supergirl grief+revenge story is "Supergirl: Being Super". I don't think it's perfect because it misses the crucial difference between Kal and Kara among other things- but as a story about a teenage heroine learning how grief shapes her and those around her, it's way better.

Woman of Tomorrow's art is stellar though lmao would get a copy just as an artbook to reference.

#ramblings #jesncin dc meta #media criticism #when clark kept imagining different ways Lois could die if he's not there to protect her #my guy you need a diagnosis for that #also the war story was cringe you can tell it's written by a government lackey

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jesncin · 1 day

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Constantine Birthdays fancomic sneak peak! Almost finished drawing it all, it's short but lookin' great. I think I'll whip up a cover for this too.

#john constantine #dc comics #vertigo comics #hellblazer #my art #jl remix #lotsa angst in this one and I'm proud of how the visuals are turning out!#will definitely finish in time for his b'day

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jesncin · 2 days