I think it's important that Today's Kids know that the whole "Iris loved Barry for his slow sincere simplicity" is total retcon.
Iris West was a viciously emasculating witch, who thought Barry was a total schlub and utterly hopeless without her. Really.
It was nice that hero-girlfriends were usually career women, rather than "just housewives". But other than that, girlfriends were not portrayed progressively in the Silver Age.
Jean Loring was crazy. Carole Ferris was cold. Lois was irresponsible. Sue Dibny was vapid.
Well...superhero girlfriends did have a lot to put up with, what with being kidnapped all the time, and never actually making it to the end of the date and winding up having to pay for dinner, because super guy had to run off and save the world or something.
I've always wondered if the girls all had a support group, where they'd get together and dish.
...Mom?
ReplyDeleteLOL!
ReplyDeleteI was gonna say Abra Kadabra, but whatta I know.
ReplyDeleteOK, just kidding. Of course it's Jean Loring's good twin Iris West.
ReplyDeleteExactly right, Gene.
ReplyDeleteI think it's important that Today's Kids know that the whole "Iris loved Barry for his slow sincere simplicity" is total retcon.
Iris West was a viciously emasculating witch, who thought Barry was a total schlub and utterly hopeless without her. Really.
It was nice that hero-girlfriends were usually career women, rather than "just housewives". But other than that, girlfriends were not portrayed progressively in the Silver Age.
Jean Loring was crazy.
Carole Ferris was cold.
Lois was irresponsible.
Sue Dibny was vapid.
But Iris? Iris was just plain mean.
Jean Loring was crazy.
ReplyDeleteCarole Ferris was cold.
Lois was irresponsible.
Sue Dibny was vapid.
Clearly you aren't looking at these people through the eyes of love.
--RD
Well...superhero girlfriends did have a lot to put up with, what with being kidnapped all the time, and never actually making it to the end of the date and winding up having to pay for dinner, because super guy had to run off and save the world or something.
ReplyDeleteI've always wondered if the girls all had a support group, where they'd get together and dish.
The Legion of Super-Girlfriends. See, now THAT is the kind of thing they should have Morrison writing.
ReplyDeleteThe Silver Age Legion of Super-Girlfriends, you mean.
ReplyDeleteThen they could battle the Golden Age Legion of Super-Girlfriends from Robinson's Starman.
Oh, lord, I remember them!
ReplyDeleteYe gods, they wouldn't stand a CHANCE against those vicious New Frontier Silver Agers...!
The Legion of Super-Girlfriends? I'd like to see Chuck Dixon write that. :P
ReplyDeleteAll know that Carol Ferris was cold because I -- Doctor Polaris -- turned her down and she had to settle for that fool Hal Jordan.
ReplyDeleteThe Legion of Super-Girlfriends. See, now THAT is the kind of thing they should have Morrison writing.
ReplyDeleteYeah, he could get four issues of sitting around talking out of that concept. Call it The X-Ray View.
It would be wonderful.
ReplyDelete