As a lifelong comic book enthusiast and someone who has spent countless hours immersed in the rich tapestry of superhero stories, I find myself deeply troubled by the recent changes made to Black Canary‘s origin story by writer Tom King. Having grown up with the traditional portrayal of Dinah Laurel Lance, her journey under Wildcat’s tutelage held immense significance for me as a young girl. The symbolism behind her breaking through societal expectations and proving herself in a male-dominated field was powerful and inspiring.
The decision to rewrite her origin story to exclude Wildcat feels like a disservice not only to Dinah but also to the many readers who have found solace, inspiration, and empowerment in her story. It’s concerning that this trend of diminishing the role of male mentors in favor of female ones is becoming more prevalent in modern comics. I fear that by ignoring the complexity and richness that diverse mentorships provide, we risk flattening characters and limiting the depth of their stories.
On a lighter note, it seems that King’s reach extends beyond the pages of comics these days. With his involvement in James Gunn’s new DC film universe, I can only imagine how a Black Canary without Wildcat might fare on the big screen. Perhaps she’ll learn to fight crime by watching YouTube tutorials or something equally as believable. After all, who needs a mentor when you have the internet?
In the comic “Black Canary: Best of the Best,” written by Tom King, we see an instance of a concerning pattern emerging in contemporary comics and popular culture at large – the gradual removal or minimization of male mentors in the backstories of female characters.
This trend frequently asserts it empowers women, yet in truth, it tends to narrow down the vibrant array of relationships that originally made these narratives resonate throughout generations.
Or:
While this trend claims to empower women, it actually erodes the rich tapestry of relationships that once made these stories relatable across generations.
Both sentences convey a similar meaning and are easy to understand.
In a fresh take by King, the contemporary Black Canary, Dinah Lance, is no longer taught by Ted Grant, the renowned Wildcat, who played a crucial part in her development as DC’s top martial artist. Instead, her mother, Dinah Drake, the original Black Canary, steps into the role of mentor for her.
This adjustment aims at fortifying the Black Canary legend and enriching the bond between mother and daughter, but it eliminates an essential part of Dinah Lance’s past – her connection with an experienced combatant who tested and honed her skills.
This update mirrors the same contemporary adjustments we’ve seen in narrative structure, like the live-action version of the animated series “Avatar: The Last Airbender” produced by Netflix.
or
The changes made here are similar to recent trends in storytelling that can be found in adaptations such as Netflix’s live-action version of “Avatar: The Last Airbender“.
or
This update resembles the current shifts in storytelling style, much like those seen in adaptations such as Netflix’s live-action version of “Avatar: The Last Airbender“.
Originally, Katara gained Master Pakku’s respect by challenging him in battle, even though she was clearly outmatched. Later, he trained her to become a proficient waterbender and she became his top student. However, in the Netflix adaptation, this development is skipped over. Instead, Katara somehow manages to master waterbending without undergoing the significant character-defining journey that this process typically involves.
In Star Wars: The Last Jedi, it was evident that Rey’s journey to learn the ways of the Jedi wasn’t conventional. Luke Skywalker, instead of teaching her extensively, appeared more withdrawn, spending most of his time on an island drinking mysterious green alien beverage and ultimately losing a fight to Rey who was supposed to be his apprentice.
It appears these alterations originate from a discomfort in depicting females learning under male guidance, particularly when such relationships are crucial for their character growth.
Black Canary: A New Origin for a ‘Modern Audience’
In this fresh miniseries titled “Black Canary,” penned by Tom King and illustrated by Ryan Sook, which is part of DC’s Black Label, Dinah Lance takes center stage in a battle against Lady Shiva to decide who is the finest fighter within the DC universe. King’s revised backstory effectively brings together decades of history, highlighting Dinah’s role as a successor to superhero lineage.
In his interview with Comic Book Resources (CBR), King explained his reasoning.
King emphasized that he found the legacy and continuity of the character, specifically her connection to her mother as a Golden Age hero in Gotham and her stories by Kanigher, to be the most crucial and captivating part. This was significant even though he is known for making modern updates to characters that some might argue undermine their established legacies.
It’s admirable that King values legacy in theory, but his decision to exclude Ted Grant from the storyline overlooks a significant aspect of Dinah’s past. Wildcat was not merely a mentor; he served as a link between the Justice Society of America and the contemporary Justice League. By doing so, he connected Black Canary to a vast network of heroes, enriching her backstory.
His being there enriched her narrative, demonstrating how older and younger generations can both inspire and provoke each other.
Tom King’s History of Controversial Changes
In the course of his career, King has not just once but repeatedly introduced daring, sometimes contentious alterations to well-loved characters.
Throughout his professional journey, King is known for introducing bold and occasionally controversial updates to iconic characters he works with.
Heroes in Conflict:
King’s portrayal of Wally West, the beloved core member of the Flash family, as an unintentional instigator of a massacre has sparked controversy. Readers have voiced their disapproval towards the storyline, claiming it undermines Wally’s established character and relegates him to a mere plot device.
In a notable turn of events during the King’s tenure on Batman, there was much buzz about an upcoming wedding between Batman and Catwoman. However, this anticipated event never came to pass, leading many fans to feel deceived and let down.
In the ongoing series of Wonder Woman, the work of author King has drawn criticism due to significant changes in the character’s origin story and plot decisions that some fans believe deviate excessively from her traditional image. For instance, King’s narrative portrays Wonder Woman as being at odds with the U.S. government, which enforces the Amazon Safety Act, causing her to be seen as an illegal immigrant. This plotline incorporates contemporary political topics, sparking discussions about whether such themes are suitable within the superhero genre. Contrastingly, the classic portrayal of Wonder Woman is one who fights for justice, symbolized by her satin outfit and the American flag colors.
This pattern suggests an author who appears to prioritize disrupting consistency over preserving the core attributes of their characters. Although King might aim to update and enrich these characters on paper, his adjustments often strain the loyalty of longstanding fans who value the classic depictions of these heroes.
A Larger Trend in Storytelling
In contemporary media, including Black Canary’s transformation by Tom King, there is a prevailing shift towards featuring female mentors instead of males. Although it’s significant to emphasize strong role models, this change may inadvertently restrict the richness of storytelling as other relationships are sacrificed. Characters like Ted Grant were not merely mentors; they played pivotal roles in the hero’s journey, prompting them to develop and confront their weaknesses.
As a woman who has faced my fair share of obstacles in male-dominated fields, I find King’s rewrite of Dinah’s story to be disappointing. The original portrayal of Dinah training under Wildcat was a powerful symbol of her defying societal expectations and proving herself in a world dominated by men. By removing this aspect, King inadvertently minimizes Dinah’s resilience and determination to carve out her own path. As someone who has had to fight for recognition and respect in my own career, I understand the importance of showcasing such traits in stories about strong female characters. It is essential that we continue to celebrate and uplift women who break through barriers and challenge the status quo, rather than downplay their achievements.
The choice to revise Black Canary’s backstory so it omits Wildcat symbolizes a broader problem in contemporary comics: the apprehension towards portraying female characters developing or evolving through connections with men. Such narratives could potentially diminish character depth by overlooking the depth and richness that varied mentorships can offer.
It’s especially troubling that King plays a significant creative role behind-the-scenes at DC, influencing areas beyond just comics. He’s often teamed up with James Gunn on his new DC cinematic universe, and aspects of his work on Supergirl are expected to be incorporated into the upcoming movie Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.
Read More
- HBAR PREDICTION. HBAR cryptocurrency
- IMX PREDICTION. IMX cryptocurrency
- LDO PREDICTION. LDO cryptocurrency
- STEEM PREDICTION. STEEM cryptocurrency
- FLOKI PREDICTION. FLOKI cryptocurrency
- JTO PREDICTION. JTO cryptocurrency
- POL PREDICTION. POL cryptocurrency
- COW PREDICTION. COW cryptocurrency
- XDC PREDICTION. XDC cryptocurrency
- TRB PREDICTION. TRB cryptocurrency
2025-01-04 00:55