Comments on Wizard World Los Angeles--Comics vs. Soft Porn???

[LastStarfighter]

Dice-X... Very good point. The organizers could simply separate the adult-themed exhibitionists, er, exhibitioners to a separate area. That would allow parents to keep their kids away from the smut and yet still enjoy the con.

 

Exactly

[mlovest]

Exactly, and this is why many of us guys have trouble explaining why we like comics. I actually thought about bringing my wife to this con, and I'm very glad I didn't. She really would have been upset about having our kids amidst these women and the semi-nude/nude artwork. I can imagine her comment..."Now I know why you want to come to these "comic" conventions!" It doesn’t help the image of comic collectors one bit to be likened to perverts and dirty old men that can’t get a date. Again, I could care less if the adult-themed stuff were off in a corner or on another floor.

 

I would love to hear from some of our dealers who have tables at this and other cons. Of course, some of these folks are there right now...

 

What's the San Diego Con like? Is it just as bad? I was at Mid-Ohio Con with my son last year, and I don't remember anything that was out of line. There were some centerfold girls, but they weren't in semi-nude attire.

 

Also, regarding your bikini comment... I can always move to another spot on the beach or leave a pool if it gets too racy, but if I want to take my kids to a comic book convention, I'm somewhat limited.

 

V/R,

Mike

[Ze-man]

not directed to any one particular but this is what's exactly wrong with america. why is it such a big deal? in europe there are topless women in their TV commercials, topless beaches are not a big deal. but here in america, all the conservativenss and shielding is bad for kids. kids are natrually curious, if they have a "?" they'll ask it. the best thing to do with kids is to be honest. most of the bad kids or kids that got ito trouble when i was growing up was kids of pastors and polics officers. do you actually think it was a coincidence?

 

 

C'mon Pimpy... We are not saying shield our kids from all the bad things out there in the world. To make anything taboo with them.. is the kiss of death. We know that.

 

I think we are just asking for a wee bit of discretion to be used when a 7 year old walks into a Comic Convention.

The kid came to see Spiderman, Batman, The Hulk, or guys like Newt dressed up as a Wookie.

Even a sexy Catwoman, Batgirl, Wonder Woman...or other fantasy babes are all part of the Comic book Universe. And have a place there.

 

But to get an eyeful of a 6 foot tall Spandex Clad, Electical Tape wearing Dominatrix ... passing out autographs with all her hard/softcore porn stuff right as you enter the exhibit hall... is a tad bit harder to explain to a kid... then why a girl in a euro perfume, soda pop commercial might be topless.

 

And yes kids ask questions.. but I would rather them not ask me

"What is that lady doing with those 3 men, are they dancing, are they hurting her?"

 

 

Perhaps they should just not allow kids inside anymore.. fix all the probs.

Put up a sign..

Only Comic Books fans, and Perverts over 16 years old allowed inside.

 

 

Just my opinion... I personally am not into all the Smut Comics, Girls with Guns and Boobs stuff.

I know to each his own.. and it takes all kinds etc..

 

Now Fantasy Art.. I can appreciate, and do like. Vampi is a swell chick.

 

But it kinda gives me the creeps how far some take it... and as Mlovest said.. THAT is among the main reasons why it is hard to say in some circles you are a comic fan.

 

 

Ze-

[mlovest]

Ze-

 

Couldn't have responded better myself. I think you're right on track. People should be free to do just about anything they want as long as they aren't hurting others, but a comic convention should be about comic books. Adult-themed stuff should be segregated to allow kids to enjoy the thrill of reading about a clean superhero kicking some butt to save the day. The Incredibles was what I want to share with my kids, not Heavy Metal et al. There should be a way to allow both at a convention at the same time while allowing parents the ability to protect their kids.

 

Oops, I responded anyway...

 

V/R,

Mike

[Mr. Zipper]

Setting aside the issue of whether it's bad for kids or not, doesn't it bother anyone else that this plays into every drooling, bucktoothed, dateless fanboy stereotype?

 

Don't we have more collective pride than this?

 

Aren't you insulted that a bunch of worn out has-beens -- or never was -- silicone queens have targeted YOU as easy prey? Pathetic!

[mlovest]

Yep... Most people think comic collectors are losers, and when they see this stuff...

[Ze-man]

Setting aside the issue of whether it's bad for kids or not, doesn't it bother anyone else that this plays into every drooling, bucktoothed, dateless fanboy stereotype?

 

Don't we have more collective pride than this?

 

Aren't you insulted that a bunch of worn out has-beens -- or never was -- silicone queens have targeted YOU as easy prey? Pathetic!

 

 

The phrase

Sex Sells

Sums it all up.

 

Ze-

[october]

Yep... Most people think comic collectors are losers, and when they see this stuff...

 

No kidding. I have enough trouble telling people I collect comics without them seeing con photos of a dork standing next to a half naked model. No wonder the popular perception of a comic collector is a 300 pound 40 year old virgin living in his mom's basement. I just shudder when I see some knob leering at the girls who work the con....they must be completely creeped out by the whole thing.

 

 

 

 

[mlovest]

Again, right on target.

 

When my son and I first arrived at the convention, he yelled with excitement at seeing a huge, 8-10 foot statue of the Hulk. I got a very wonderful picture of my son standing meekly in front of the Hulk status, and he even bragged about it to our neighbors this morning. He loved it! Then, we left the Marvel exhibit and walked into the mess almost immediately. I sure would have loved more Hulks and Spider-Mans to scantily clad maidens…

 

V/R,

Mike

[justiceleaguer]

Did someone say porn? I understand that there are kids at these events, which is great for the future of the hobby, but the majority of the patrons i've seen at cons were over 18, so unfortunately majority rules. Beyond my own personal enjoyment, somebody mentioned nude art or drawings being very visible to minors. Correct me if i'm wrong, but don't kids in elementary school still go to museums with their classes? I know i did, and as you all know, a lot of artwork displayed in a museum has nudity. Are we suddenly going to start censoring artwork? Nudity is natural, so if you're afraid of your kid seeing any, you better lock them up in their rooms with no access to books, tv or internet.

[Ze-man]

 

 

Sigh....I give up.

[mlovest]

Just curious...do you have kids? Do you have a younger brother, sister, cousin, neighbor? Do you want them to be confronted with this smut at a convention?

 

V/R,

Mike

[supapimp]

i've always said that comic conventions are the only place where the men have bigger breasts than women.

[mlovest]

Hang in there, Ze-. Rome wasn't built in a day...

 

V/R

Mike

[whomerjay]

I understand that there are a lot of comic collectors and dealers out there who can't get dates, but there's no need to bring porn stars to the conventions.

 

[Mushroom]

My major problem with this....is that I do not want my young boys to think that this is how women are. Let's face it.....the slappers that represent these books are not your mothers, are not your girlfriends, are not your wives. If we look at the silver age of comics, although the women portrayed are generally in need of saving, the women are intelligent, have their own views, have their own goals in life and fundamentally are wholesome. This is how I want my boys to grow up......to that end I would never take them to a con if they were going to get bombarded with images that are less reality than comics themselves.

[supapimp]

I understand that there are a lot of comic collectors and dealers out there who can't get dates, but there's no need to bring porn stars to the conventions.

 

it's easy to get a date, just have good hygine and decent threads. well a personaility helps too.

[Joanna]

My major problem with this....is that I do not want my young boys to think that this is how women are. Let's face it.....the slappers that represent these books are not your mothers, are not your girlfriends, are not your wives. If we look at the silver age of comics, although the women portrayed are generally in need of saving, the women are intelligent, have their own views, have their own goals in life and fundamentally are wholesome. This is how I want my boys to grow up......to that end I would never take them to a con if they were going to get bombarded with images that are less reality than comics themselves.

 

BRAVO! I was really, really hoping one of you guys would say something like this. All hope is not lost. Thank you, Mushroom!!!

 

-- Joanna

[supapimp]

like i previously posted, you have to be honest with your kids. in that situation you would tell your kids that not all women are like that.

[justiceleaguer]

Just curious...do you have kids? Do you have a younger brother, sister, cousin, neighbor? Do you want them to be confronted with this smut at a convention?

 

V/R,

Mike

 

Why is it smut. Because a woman wears a tight outfit? Heck, im sure the majority of people in here were in their younger years when they watched princess Leia in her two-piecer at Jabbas side. I've seen women dress more provacatively then that on the subway for heavens sake. And when i do have a kid one day and i take him or her to a convention and see scantily clad woman i'll simply walk right by her and not worry about what effect it's having on my child. Nudity or semi-nudity is not something that is going to corrupt a child for the rest of their lives like so many believe. I'd be more worried about what they see on the news.