THE MIGHTY SHOOSH

In 1999 Gail Simone asked the comics industry and fandom a question: why does this keep happening? Why do so many female characters keep turning up dead? Why are they so often tortured and raped? That was the start of Women In Refrigerators. Today WiR is a widely recognized trope in comics fandom and beyond. No doubt, Gail Simone opened up space for an important conversation that continues to this day.

This week we got together to look at WiR, to see what had changed in the intervening years, both in the comics we all love, and ourselves and our responses to the phenomenon.

This is the master list of responses to Women Write About Comics’ first blog carnival,Women In Refrigerators: 13 Years Later. We hope that you will take the time to read all of these posts, to comment, and to take the opportunity to get to know each other, writers and readers all.

• reflecting on the question, by didyoueverstoptothink.
• Lois Lane Through the Years, by Saranga.
• In which I am a negative nellie for some reason, but am actually passionate and excited!, by Claire.
• responding to the issue, by certainshadesoflight.
• Women In Refrigerators: 13 Years Later part one and part two, by Elisabeth Pfeiffer.
• Women In Refrigerators: 13 Years Later, by Corrina Lawson.
•  Breaking the Vicious Cycle, by Erik Bear.
• WIR (huh) what is it good for?, by Erin of Literate Knits.
• Women In Refrigerators 13 Years Later, by Megan.
• Ms. Marvel, a History of Refrigerators, and the Modern Day Fridge, by Boudika.
• Defrosting the DCnU (or not), by Jess Plummer.
• Women In Refrigerators 13 Years Later: time for an additional way to examine women in comics, by Sue of DC Women Kicking Ass.
• the evils of the evil that men do, by supergabbie.
• Our Princess Is In Another Refrigerator, by Fuck Yeah Black Widow

Thanks to all of our contributors and readers, and to everyone who linked around a roundup or favourite post. Special thanks go to Sue, Kelly, and Ragnell, who gave the carnival a huge promotional push in its early days. You guys are rockstars.

And so, we bid round one of Women Write About Comics adieu. Stay tuned for news about our second round; nominations will open soon.

Someday, I’m going to write up my experiences dealing with the WiR baggage…it’s been pretty remarkable. But worth it.

(via gailsimone)