Okay, look. I know complaining about the way women in comic books are drawn is like yelling into a hurricane, but Siryn is my absolute favorite comic book character, full stop.
X-Factor’s next issue is being renumbered to 200 (counting this and the previous two volumes) and there is some great art coming out for it. The variant covers are great, and this amazing team spread will be the main cover:
X-Factor 200
I love the team redesign. I love that after 10 issues apart they’re finally back together in New York again. I love that they all look badass, I love the new costumes, I love that they match, I love it all. What I don’t love is Siryn’s redesign.
The previous issue (#50 before the renumbering) used this spread as a teaser for issue 200, and I loved it then. Nix and I spent at least half an hour talking about how much we love it. I loved it so much I had to take a picture of it on my webcam so I could shove it in my friends faces and tell them how much I loved it:
Notice anything different?
Of all the things to edit, why did Siryn have to lose half her shirt? Monet’s got enough sex appeal to cover all three women, and it’s in character for her to show that much skin. Considering what she’s just been through in the past month or so of comic book time (from having her baby, losing her baby and finally facing Jamie, even though he was a dupe), it’s almost inappropriate for Siryn to bare so much. Not that I’m saying a woman can’t show whatever she wants if she’s comfortable, but historically, Siryn’s shown just cleavage. She had a bare midriff for a very short time in X-Force, but that costume was lost to the ether when she lost her powers and left the book.
So, what gives? Layla gets to keep her body covered (though she used to be 15, so that’s probably for the best), but to counteract all the testosterone in X-Factor they have to give Siryn less? Was the cleavage in her original X-Factor costume not enough? Should I stop asking questions, because I’m just another woman complaining about the way women are dressed in comics?
(That’d be a no.)
I think what bothers me most is that the Marvel higher ups obviously vetoed the original design and asked them to edit Siryn’s new uniform. Which is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard off, because she is a pure (and sexy) badass in the redesign without showing any skin.
Oh, and let’s not forget: she flies. So not only is she dressed in half a shirt, but she’ll freeze when she’s in the air. Great thinking there, Marvel.
It’s not too much to want my favorite character be treated properly, is it?
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