attackfish (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
attackfish) wrote2014-05-10 04:38 pm
attackfish) wrote2014-05-10 04:38 pm
Entry tags:
Free Comic Book Day Suki Comic: Shells - A short fannish analysis
Having finally gotten a chance to read this year’s Avatar: the Last Airbender free comic book day comic, “Shells”, I find myself with much less to say about it than last year’s comic. Unlike “The Rebound”, this is not a deep exploration of character, and motivations. This comic goes over well trodden ground with regards to Suki’s personality, though it does highlight just how far Sokka has come since he first went to Kyoshi island and got his butt kicked by “a bunch of girls.”
Of course, the real point to this comic isn’t character development or world building, but a message for real world fans, especially the ones who find themselves in comic book stores. Suki isn’t having any of this fakegeek girl shell collector bullshit, and Avatar Kyoshi isn’t either.
Things I Liked:
The shell collecting girl knew her shells, and when condescended to could prove it. This did not make the chauvinistic shell store people treat her any better. No matter how many hoops female fans jump through, we will never be “real fans” to some people.
Suki was there with her boyfriend. She was the girlfriend of her geek, not a fan herself, and not only does the comic make it clear that she doesn’t deserve disrespect for this, it also makes it clear that she is in the right to point out problems she sees, even though she isn’t an “insider”.
If anyone is a fake shell collector, it’s Sokka, and even when he talks about this in front of the shell shop people, they joke with him, and don’t treat him like an interloper. Because he’s a boy.
Kyoshi drew from normal, every day women to make the Kyoshi warriors. These weren’t champions, these were women that other women could aspire to be like.
Speaking of which, Suki and Sokka building up the shell collecting girl’s confidence.
Suki chi blocks him! Chi blocking Kyoshi warriors applying the skills Ty Lee taught them make me so happy.
Suki telling him “next time someone tells you ‘hands off,’ get your hands off!” italics in the original.
Sokka doesn’t rush to defend his lady love. He asks her if she wants help, she says no, and then he sits back enjoy the show. He doesn’t force help on her, he asks. And then he trusts her when she says no.
Sokka is just so thrilled with Suki and how awesome she is. You know when the shell shop guy says that her boyfriend might not have the nerve to put her in he place but he does, Sokka’s going “oh, this is going to be fun!”
Just the whole Sokka/Suki dynamic. They are a happy couple who love each other and both think the other is just great, and they love spending time together, enjoying each other’s company.
Things I Disliked:
I can’t think of anything really. This comic was a lot of fun.
And if you haven’t had a chance to read the comic, it’s up here at Avatar: the Last Airbender Online.
Of course, the real point to this comic isn’t character development or world building, but a message for real world fans, especially the ones who find themselves in comic book stores. Suki isn’t having any of this fake
Things I Liked:
The shell collecting girl knew her shells, and when condescended to could prove it. This did not make the chauvinistic shell store people treat her any better. No matter how many hoops female fans jump through, we will never be “real fans” to some people.
Suki was there with her boyfriend. She was the girlfriend of her geek, not a fan herself, and not only does the comic make it clear that she doesn’t deserve disrespect for this, it also makes it clear that she is in the right to point out problems she sees, even though she isn’t an “insider”.
If anyone is a fake shell collector, it’s Sokka, and even when he talks about this in front of the shell shop people, they joke with him, and don’t treat him like an interloper. Because he’s a boy.
Kyoshi drew from normal, every day women to make the Kyoshi warriors. These weren’t champions, these were women that other women could aspire to be like.
Speaking of which, Suki and Sokka building up the shell collecting girl’s confidence.
Suki chi blocks him! Chi blocking Kyoshi warriors applying the skills Ty Lee taught them make me so happy.
Suki telling him “next time someone tells you ‘hands off,’ get your hands off!” italics in the original.
Sokka doesn’t rush to defend his lady love. He asks her if she wants help, she says no, and then he sits back enjoy the show. He doesn’t force help on her, he asks. And then he trusts her when she says no.
Sokka is just so thrilled with Suki and how awesome she is. You know when the shell shop guy says that her boyfriend might not have the nerve to put her in he place but he does, Sokka’s going “oh, this is going to be fun!”
Just the whole Sokka/Suki dynamic. They are a happy couple who love each other and both think the other is just great, and they love spending time together, enjoying each other’s company.
Things I Disliked:
I can’t think of anything really. This comic was a lot of fun.
And if you haven’t had a chance to read the comic, it’s up here at Avatar: the Last Airbender Online.