North Carolina Comicon Panel Addresses Diversity

From left, moderator Laurel Foote-Hudson, Afua Richardson, Anthony Ruttgaizer, Fiona Staples, and Jeremy Whitley

Hosted by Laurel Foote-Hudson, this year’s Comics And Diversity panel at Durham’s North Carolina Comicon November 15, 2014, included panelists Afua Richardson (winner of Top Cow Pilot Season for Genius), Anthony Ruttgaizer (F1rst Hero), Fiona Staples (Saga), and Jeremy Whitley (PrinceLess).

Foote-Hudson’s first question asked the panelists to define “diversity.” Staples believed it has to do with “representing a cross-section of the population in your work” so readers can see themselves. Whitley applied that to writing by “reaching out, writing a character other than a version of yourself… rather than eight versions of the same white guy and calling it The Avengers.” Ruttgaizer preferred to interpret diversity in comics from the perspective of “the people behind the scenes,” pointing out that there are a lot of different types of creators in the independent comic publications. Richardson expressed a love for comics in general but a particular fondness for the characters that “bring something out of you, vicariously finding a different perspective, pushing the envelope, changing the norm.”

Genius, by Afua Richardson

The panelists were then asked how these diversity concepts are brought to the creative process, and Richardson discussed a character she is drawing in the upcoming Lady Danger, The Booty Commander, as a version of the feminine that demonstrates strength without being masculine. She hoped this character could reach readers and inspire the thought, “I’m like this, I see it in print, that’s okay,” and she referenced Whitley’s work as notable for addressing the lack of people of color in the fantasy genre. Whitley echoed the wish for more readers to see aspects of themselves in this medium that he loves, citing his wife and biracial daughter in particular and describing how important it is for him to show this young girl a character who looks like her and also demonstrates traits he’d like her to have. His experience with this thus far has led him to see the industry as telling his daughter, “You can enjoy this, you just can’t be a part of it.” Staples agreed that the fantasy and science-fiction genres in which Saga finds publication have a reputation of being “whitewashed,” and she sees her work as making her universe look more real than “White People In Space.” Ruttgaizer described his personal experiences with racist rejection and discussed an attempt to “rectify a lack of female characters” he has seen in some of his writing, but he admits that one challenge to diversity in comics is that “marketability comes in somewhere.” In order to maintain the potential distribution, he says that creators are faced with “a mind-wallet decision” and that to offset some of those choices, he feels “a responsibility to put different faces in – Jeremy’s daughter doesn’t see herself in books.”

F1rst Hero, by Anthony Ruttgaizer

Richardson then discussed that as a woman of color, she is unfairly expected to make characters of color, and that the decision about diversity of characters should be a want instead of an obligation. Whitley agreed that though he is often greeted at conventions with appreciation, on the Internet, he often sees comments like, “What does that white dude know?” and accusations he is trying to cash in (after which he joked, “You don’t know how much comic creators make!”). He acknowledged the history of throwing black characters into work just to raise sales, but he said that for every negative comment, he also has people commenting with a wish to see more of what he’s doing.

Saga, by Fiona Staples

Foote-Hudson then asked the panelists to address burnout on the creative side, and Staples answered that she has not received much negative feedback because skin color and facial features are incidental to the plot of Saga, allowing them to use wings and horns to talk about diversity. Richardson excitedly expanded about the ability of the medium as “a platform that can muddy stereotypes” and illustrated this by discussing how ethnic labels reduce a person’s individuality.

When asked about other types of diversity such as sexual orientation, several of the creators said that they had gay characters in their work who had not come out yet at this point in the story, and Staples in particular reported an interest in doing this better in Saga but was pleased that sexuality does not have to define her characters. Ruttgaizer reiterated that all diversity, including sexual diversity, matters to someone reading the comic.

Princeless, by Jeremy Whitley

When asked for closing comments, Staples encouraged the women in the audience not to let stories about sexism in the industry turn them off – “We need your story.” Whitley suggested not to write in a vacuum, and that though not every criticism is relevant, every criticism is worth listening to.