Posted in: Comics | Tagged: Comics, fearless defenders, marvel

Exactly How Did Fearless Defenders Get Cancelled Again? (SPOILERS)

Published Wed, 13 Nov 2013 06:00:09 -0600

What is it you're meant to make instead of war again?

The current audience of comic book readers in comic stores is stereotyped as men of a certain age, of a certain heterosexuality, a certain girth and probably a certain amount of facial hair. I count myself one of them. There has been a far greater diversity of late, and it's one that's welcomed if the industry is to grow and prosper, backed up with an attempt to reflect that in the comics, but there's still an understanding that there's a lot of us fat white straight men as a hardcore comic book audience.

Given that, I struggle to see why Fearless Defenders could have possibly failed, especially given this month's penultimate issue, with Dr Annabelle Riggs and new Defender, Ren.

Because, as a demographic group, we can be a simple lot. Boorish, obvious, predictable and possessor of the male gaze. No wonder our perspective can often be dismissed as loutish, uncultured and exploitative. But given that…

How the hell did this comic book not sell well? Seriously, we're a base lot, our tastes are simple and, well, this is generally one of them. It's not something we're proud of but it seems like it's wired in. We were born this way.

And yes, I liked this comic too. Sorry, Fearless Defenders, we hardly knew you. Last issue next month.

Comics courtesy of Orbital Comics, London. Currently exhibiting the work of Mark Buckingham's Fables, with an Ales Kot and Tom Muller signing next Wednesday, and Sean Gordon Murphy a week on Friday.