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drsevarius (drsevarius) wrote in scans_daily,
@ 2009-09-13 16:48:00

Entry tags:

char: chameleon/dmitri smerdyakov, char: michelle gonzales, creator: fred van lente, title: amazing spider-man

Fred Van Lente update on the Chameleon controversy

I got another e-mail from Fred Van Lente, that he's asked me to post.

First off, while I believe he had the best of intentions, the poster "DrSevarius" wrote me under his real name and asked me a question I thought I was answering in private, to him. He posted my response without my permission and without telling me beforehand it was supposed to be for public consumption.

If he had told me that, I would have, first off, made it clear that I am not a Marvel employee. I am not a Marvel spokesperson. I am a freelancer. I speak only for myself. That is just as true for the following statement as the previous one.

Also, if he had told me that, I may have been less coy about the following "Spoiler Alert". Anyone who cares not to have stuff that's in ASM #605 revealed now should avert their eyes.

Amazing Spider-Man #605, which went to the printer weeks ago, makes it clear that Michelle and Chameleon did nothing more than make out in the kitchen scene in #603.

There was no sex, and therefore no rape.

And I'll simply point out that in the scene in ASM #604 when Peter comes home he has no idea why, exactly, Michelle is treating him differently, only that she is. He learns why-- at least partly -- and he responds, in #605.

Thanks for listening. I appreciate it.

Best,
Fred Van Lente

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sandoz_iscariot
2009-09-13 11:21 pm UTC (link)

That's the risk of sequential publication, though. Unless you wait for trades, you have to judge each issue--whether you like it or hate it, whether or not you want to buy the next issue--on its own merits.

I agree with you that we were meant to think sex was happening when it turns out it didn't. I'm glad it didn't happen, but I don't think people (myself included) were wrong for being upset at the possibility being introduced, and for the humorous light it was portrayed in.

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steve_dash_o
2009-09-13 11:52 pm UTC (link)

You're right that we have to judge each issue as it's released, but we also have to judge them within the context of being part of a serial. It certainly *is* an upsetting possibility that a character may have been raped, but personally, I don't remember reading many "I am upset that Michelle may have been raped" comments. I do remember, on the other hand, borderline libelous attacks against Marvel freelancers and editorial staff by readers who were assuming the misdirection to be fact. Some posts even pointed out that intercourse wasn't certain based on the text, and they were belittled for it!

As for the "humorous light" part: I sort of think it *is* to soon to be upset by that, but, I definitely see that as subjective. My view is that Peter just found out at the end of the last issue that something -- he doesn't even know what -- happened while Chameleon was there. Michelle doesn't know anything is wrong at all. So, there hasn't been time for drama to kick in yet.

Plus... mistaken-identity romantic hijinx are a pretty well-established storytelling trope. Briefly playing it in that direction, while the characters still don't know the score, doesn't seem out of line to me. Given that practically every Shakespearean comedy relies on it, and there's not a lot of outrage about those as far as I know, I'm not surprised that Van Lente seemingly didn't expect this sort of reaction from readers.

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sandoz_iscariot
2009-09-14 01:34 am UTC (link)

When the "sliding to the floor" panels were first posted I remember a lot of comments like "ew" and "whoa whoa whoas...isn't that rape?" Later the comments shifted from displeasure that the perceived rape was being played with a light, inappropriate tone.

My view is that Peter just found out at the end of the last issue that something -- he doesn't even know what -- happened while Chameleon was there.

I think Peter should be much more alarmed in the panels where we do see his reaction because he doesn't know what happened. It kicks in enough for Peter to think "Chameleon, when I find you, I will kill you." But it's not in reaction to the fact that the Chameleon, who Peter knows is a murderer and could have done all kinds of creepy, terrible stuff to Michelle when he was alone with her, may have raped his roommate while wearing his face, it's in reaction to the fact that he is now expected to snuggle a woman he doesn't like.

It's a common trope, yes, but I think "Dangerous supervillain breaks into a woman's home in disguise and makes sexual advances on her" should not be used as the basis for romantic hijinx. To me, it's much too serious for that. As for Shakespeare, I don't think many people read plays written in the 16th century and expect them to be particularly enlightened regarding gender and sexual politics--there's a lot of contemporary criticism about whether the love potion in Midsummer Night's Dream takes away consent and identity, for example.

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