Recently, cancellations have been announced for Manhunter (ending with #38) and Spider-Girl (with #30, although that’s after a previous 100-issue run). Both have faced cancellations before, only to be “saved” a lot more than once; the Spider-Girl title had something like four or five reprieves. Both have devoted fan followings with voices out of scale to their size (by which I mean, they’re talked about a lot more than actually bought). and both star women. That last has Valerie D’Orazio concerned (link no longer available).
are comics starring superheroines in trouble? Is it the Minx effect?
She goes on to answer her own question in the negative. No, it’s probably not.
I am also ready to see this or that book go (or to be reconfigured or have the characters step on to other titles), and not feel it was a “sexist” thing that they were canceled.
I agree with her eventual conclusion. Yes, superhero books starring women have an uphill battle in reaching the mostly male core market. but these books weren’t singled out because they feature females. In my opinion, they’re getting canceled again because they’re doing the same things that got them canceled before.
All superhero serial comics have a declining readership over time. lots of of the customers are easily distracted by whatever’s new, different, or a big event. By returning with the same premise, characters, and creative teams, there’s no reason to think that the end result — not enough sales — would be any different. The promotional bump from “you get one a lot more chance — better make sure a lot more people get it this time” doesn’t work as a strategy, especially once you’ve gone to that well four or five times too many.
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