[AlexG]

Came across this, thought I’d pass it along . . . B)

Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/TheRedPill/comments/63a4em/marvel_executive_says_emphasis_on_diversity_may/

News article source for the Reddit commentary.

Link: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/apr/03/marvel-executive-says-emphasis-on-diversity-may-have-alienated-readers

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Update 4/5/2017

Also came across this, guess The Guardian couldn’t handle the feedback, cuz they closed the comments section.

Link: http://streamingradioguide.com/startingover/?p=18534

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Update 4/16/2017

The Z-Man Blog also touched on this subject in one of his postings, thought I’d also include the link here.

Link: http://thezman.com/wordpress/?p=10034

Also this same topic came up over @ the Cafe Society / Straight Dope Message Boards. Interresting commentary from some.

LInk: http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=9489029f90d7e08042ebc0f7de181ed1&t=823857

“I like a good story well told. That is the reason I am sometimes forced to tell them myself.”
~ Mark Twain / Samuel Clemens (1907)

[Roland]

Yeah … but to be honest I always think people that are payed to analyse the market should know better. They shoved this diversity into the faces of their fans if they wanted it or not. And even though I like female Thor I would have prefered if they had just designed a new, strong female heroine to be an equal to Thor so that when he returns she doesn’t disappear. Same goes for all the others …

They just wanted some “good press” with the least effort I think.

[Nick Furry]

I love it when SJW fail and have to admit openly.

[TC2]

This whole SJW term really irks me to no end.

First off, diversity in comic book heroes is not a bad thing. Having more women heroes and more female fans can ultimately bring us more interesting stories than, Wolverine vs. Everyone.

Now granted, it’s the WAY they introduced new characters that was really sloppy. Replacing Spider-man, Ms. Marvel, and Thor with female counter parts was lazy.

As I’m currently reading HULK who is now She-Hulk, I find myself bored to tears with the story they’re trying to tell. All I want to do is get straight to the FMG action because I quite honestly don’t give a shit about what’s happening in the story. It’s not because I don’t want to care, it’s because they haven’t given me a reason to care.

But then you’ve got a new character named America Chavez who is lesbian and has been drawn with some sexy abs. This character would not have come about had Marvel not pushed for diversity.

Rather than blaming their lackluster sales on diversity, they should blame it on the fact that they’re not telling interesting stories and they never should have replaced the mainstream heroes. Like rolsho1 said, they have created new heroes to stand alongside of them.

[unkn0wnx]

I am still waiting for an albino Amish muscle bound dyslexic heroine.

[Vollar-Tile]

Rather than blaming their lackluster sales on diversity, they should blame it on the fact that they’re not telling interesting stories and they never should have replaced the mainstream heroes. Like rolsho1 said, they have created new heroes to stand alongside of them.

However, I think that’s what Marvel’s plan may have been with this abrasive diversity thing. The thing is, while the idea to make new superheroes is a good idea, the hard part is getting them to catch on. We’ve seen it with several heroes; She Hulk, Supergirl, hell there WAS a Thorgirl. (Infact there were several Thor variations.) But the problem is that they all come off as knockoffs of the original. And why read them when you still have the originals to go to, who tend to be better anyhow, (or else the fanbase will freakout, but that’s a different topic of irritation altogether).

So thus, they moved the originals to the side so the reader base would HAVE to acknowledge them, at least for a while before the originals inevitably come back and reclaim their seats. By then, hopefully these new people will have carved out a niche for themselves to be able to hold down a solo comic for awhile. Not saying they did the right thing, but I think I understand their thinking a little here.

[Bane Dorrance]

wait a minute,..America Chavez is a lesbian?
Is there any reason why the Young Avengers growing up sooooooo fast?
http://www.cnn.com/2017/04/03/us/marvel-america-chavez-superhero-trnd/index.html

[philip]

There getting ready to kill off some characters perhaps?

[El_Roy_1999]

Honestly, I think that diversity is the least of their problems.

There are three big ways to produce comics and earn money with it:
– The American way, as also seen in Canada, but less so: This is mostly superheroes, with a dash of graphic novels. The books are in full color, on glossy paper, are released monthly or less frequently and distributed in specialized stores as well as online. The two big companies have been running their franchises for decades and earn money from merchandising mostly.
It’s very similar to Playboy, down to the customer base.
Movie and series tie-ins are rarely used for efficient cross-promotion.
– The Japanese way, as also seen in South Korea and China: This is a wild mix of stuff, widely varying quality and topics. Most comics are serialized weekly or bi-weekly, in black and white on cheap paper. Distribution happens pretty much everywhere and in specialized stores, plus online. The publishers constantly try new stuff and use their magazines to run new series and try whether they sell. Merchandising is a big deal and comics are used in cross-promotion.
The Italians do something similar, but inefficiently.
– The Franco-Belgian way: This is graphic novels all the way down. Releases are infrequent, high quality and on a variety of subjects. Cross-promotion, tie-ins and even merchandise is basically unknown apart from Asterix and Lucky Luke and even then, people seem to be reluctant. This works because it is seen as a cultural cornerstone and completely fascinating and important. Also, young people read the all-ages stuff, which is plentiful.

[El_Roy_1999]

By comparing these three approaches, the problems become evident:
– American comics are not perceived as culturally relevant (with a few exceptions that are then lauded as VERY IMPORTANT).
– They are expensive to produce, but not easily available. Their high unit cost makes it difficult for kids and teenagers to start reading them. Also, many stores are known to be hostile to newcomers. There is no all-ages segment, which is sad because you have to start them young.
– The reduction on superheroes means that the audience is very small. Superheroes are perceived as childish and ridiculous. They can be used in popcorn movies, but comic books are something different. Also, the story-lines and characters are decades old and only rarely expanded upon. It’s just same old, same old.

Under these conditions, the situation will only deteriorate faster.
There are several intrinsic problems too:
– Very few closed stories. If you want to start reading comics, you want a nice, cool story with the character that is actually interesting to you. Just pick it up and enjoy. And if that book was good, you’ll get another one.
– Huge universes that confuse newcomers. You don’t want to learn the lore before reading it. By interconnecting their characters, American publishers frequently derail their story lines. Many stories read like messes, because new characters just drop in and do their thing, without caring for the plot.
– A strangely tribal fanbase that gets very defensive about the product and aggressively fights newcomers.

[Author]

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