Internet, you don't get me

[seriousfic]

I post this on tumblr, with a caption going "uhhhhhh" to Mark Waid doing the on-panel equivalent of saying "well, male costumes are just as ridiculous as female costumes" (an argument that really only works if you're talking about The Rocky Horror Picture Show). It's reblogged by someone who changes the caption to "That's telling 'em, Dinah!", and then people reblog it to the point of it reaching 170 notes. Finally, someone reblogs it with the new caption "ahahahahaah YES. everything these people wear is ridiculous. Unless it’s actively misogynistic or problematic, just fucking go with it, it’s a goddamned narrative convention."

Which strikes me as odd! Flash's head-wings are pretty much the equivalent of a good head of hair, in terms of things a villain could grab onto during a fight. Now, every superhero could shave their head or wear head-condoms, but for reasons of visual interest (and putting a stopper on "dickhead" jokes), we make allowances.

Black Canary wearing high heels and fishnet stockings is a bit... yeah. I mean, I'd grant them the low-cut bodice, but you've got to admit, that outfit's damn silly. As I mentioned earlier, how is it that Robin's no-pants look makes him one of the most hated and ridiculed figures in comics fandom, and is consistently changed in every adaptation and reboot, yet even more impractical and silly costumes are defended to the death so long as they're worn by women?

ETA: Yes, I'm aware BC is a legacy character and wants to pay homage to her mother/herself in another body/Black Canary's actual canon is the most fucked up thing since Scott Summers' love life. But then, I've always figured it'd be homage enough for her to have, say, fishnet sleeve-glove-arm-warmer things and also pants.