Knickers: Getting to the Bottom of the Miracleman Controversy

Well, the long awaited first issue of Marvel's Miracleman reprint series is out at last, but nobody seems to be talking about the story. Instead, all the buzz is around the latest it of controversy surrounding the series: the fact that a one panel shot of Liz Moran's bare bum has been censored in the 'mass market' digital version of the book by the addition of a pair of purple knickers! There's nothing overtly sexual about the scene; Miracleman's wife is simply standing nude in her bedroom talking to her husband prior to putting on a robe. But apparently the mere suggestion that kids might realize that women have buttocks was too much for someone! Even more amusingly, the censoring of the digital version has apparently prevented Marvel from giving away the now customary free digital code with the printed version, despite the fact that Liz is as naked as nature and Garry Leach intended in the 'Parental Advisory' digital version. Take that, digital fans!

I look forward to seeing how Marvel and Comixology will handle the infamous childbirth issue. Presumably, they'll have the pages hastily redrawn to suggest that Liz is giving birth during a power cut...  

Can't believe they had the cheek to do that. They are so puritanical. Perhaps they should put this issue behind them.

tony ingram wrote: I look forward to seeing how Marvel and Comixology will handle the infamous childbirth issue. Presumably, they'll have the pages hastily redrawn to suggest that Liz is giving birth during a power cut...  

I don't even want to know. This is so ridiculously childish I don't know what to say. I bought the print issue, and plan to keep buying them, but WHY do publishers think this kind of thing is ok?

I think it's an American thing. Things are different over there.

Lucy McGough wrote:Can't believe they had the cheek to do that. They are so puritanical. Perhaps they should put this issue behind them.

As opposed to on someone else's behind...

Apparently, they've now decided what to do about the childbirth issue. Diamond Distributors have issued a statement to the effect that they feel they have a responsibility to "protect" their readers, so copies of Miracleman are now to be sold polybagged. Graphic violence is fine, but God forbid their fragile readership should find out what ladies look like 'down there'...  

I love comics.

On the other hand, a fairly graphic rape scene in the latest issue of Dynamite's Game of Thrones comic is apparently fine. Although there was something of an outcry when several comics sites published uncensored previews of the pages online without checking them first.

tony ingram wrote:Apparently, they've now decided what to do about the childbirth issue. Diamond Distributors have issued a statement to the effect that they feel they have a responsibility to "protect" their readers, so copies of Miracleman are now to be sold polybagged. Graphic violence is fine, but God forbid their fragile readership should find out what ladies look like 'down there'...  

That's just nuts. Having watched two childbirths myself, I can safely say that there's nothing pornographic about it. It's kind of gross, of course, but certainly no grosser than Superboy-Prime ripping someone in half or whatever.

Considerably less so, I would have said.

Yes, because it's all about the miracle of new life and stuff.

tony ingram wrote:Considerably less so, I would have said.

Maybe my kids just look really gross?

Sam_Vimes wrote:

tony ingram wrote:Considerably less so, I would have said.

Maybe my kids just look really gross?

I suppose that's always a possibility. Do people tend to scream and faint at the sight of them?

Sam_Vimes wrote:Maybe my kids just look really gross?

Being a nurse, I've seen a few births. They're ALL gross. C-sections don't help. They all come out slimy, wet, bloody and just disgusting.
Once they're cleaned up it isn't so bad...

Just noticed that the credits on Miracleman read:

Art- Alan Davis
Script - The Original Writer

Oh, Alan...  

tony ingram wrote:Just noticed that the credits on Miracleman read:  

Yeah, I read about that when it was announced, and I STILL think it's funny!

When Alan Moore finally shuffles off this mortal coil (hopefully a long, long time in the future), his ornate marble tombstone in Highgate Cemetary will read:

                    The Original Writer
                          1953-20??

                     This Headstone may
                          not be reproduced,
                          in whole or in part,
                          without the express
                          permission of the
                          deceased.