Bare Truth

There are many wonderful and important things to see in this week's comics:

• the return of the best western character of all time, Jonah Hex;
• Battlesuit Lex calling Superman stupid;
• Wildcat bitchslapping Mordru,
• and, of course, the GLORIOUS AND TRIUMPHANT RETURN OF VIBE.

But do not let those blind you to the signficance of this:


Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot; you won't recognize that image because you've never seen it before. It's Stargirl's midsection -- WITH CLOTHING ON IT.

Shocking, isn't it?

Now, I'm pretty sure that "Courtney" (and the only reason I'm not making fun of her name is that, when your name is Scipio -- or worse -- you're pretty much disqualified from making fun of other people's names) started this whole "midriff-baring costume" plague that's infected the DCU.

I suppose when Courtney first appeared, she was young enough that it seemed "cute" or "innocent". Oh, but what is cute at one age can seem, well, trampy at another, and as Courtney has aged into adolescence she's been teetering closer and closer to Brittany Spears territory (so who's the DCU caped equivalent of Kevin Federline? Vibe?).

As it spread to Hawkgirl, Huntress, and *shudder* Supergirl it became clear: this is the kind of thing that happens to young superwomen who don't have proper fathers to keep them in line. Do you see Jade traipsing around with her belly button out? Huh, no, I don't think so!

Now, Courtney claims the costume change is just because "it's cold in the sixth dimension", but I'm confident that's just an excuse. She's gotten older and wiser and it's suddenly hit her while battling omnipotent magical beings, "I don't want to die in an I Dream of Jeannie outfit." Well, who does, dear?

But you and I know that the editors at DC have finally awakened after the, oh, 20 year sleep that Krona put them in, the one that prevented them from editing Wolfman's dialog in Crisis on Infinite Earths. And they are mad!

"Why are the Daughters of the DCU wearing cheerleading outfits and looking like 'easy girls' ? Let them be clothed. Now."

Bravo, ei in loco parentes of the DCU! I applaud your efforts to return decency to our super girls.

As long as Phantom Lady, Power Girl, and Wonder Woman remain as they are, of course...