ARE YOU WOMAN ENOUGH TO SURVIVE...
'Bitch Planet' is a graphic novel series that might be better analysed than, say, wholeheartedly enjoyed. But I agree that it is a very important read for this day and age.
So here's proof #2901 that anyone who says that comic books are only for children has never actually read one in his/her life.
'Bitch Planet' - a perfect, eye-catching title for such a punching, in-your-face premise and execution. It is a sci-fi-B-movie-homage satire comic meant to be taken seriously; for similar to Margaret Atwood's 'The Handmaid's Tale', it is not hard to believe that this sort of thing could eventually happen to women. Where they are punished for being "non-compliant", or NCs for short, and are sent to a prison planet where rich, white middle-aged men would not have to deal with them and their problems.
Women and girls can be taken from their home and family - at any age - for not fitting a socially-acceptable label, for being too "masculine", for being too opinionated, for being "hysterical", for being too independent, for liking and being good at sports, for being too talented at anything, for being too sexual, for having a respectable career, for not living up to ludicrous and impossible beauty standards, for making their own choices, for not smiling enough even when they're not honestly happy, for not being married, for not being mothers or not fitting into a box that allows for nothing other than what is socially deemed as being a "good mother".
In other words, women are punished for being human.
I love the diversity of the main cast - Kamau Kogo, Penny Rolle and Meiko Maki are awesome - and how nearly every antagonist is a rich, white middle-aged man; the more diverse of the privileged men are more sympathetic. The one female villain, Miss Whitney, is a white blonde Stepford-type and she is scary as hell. Though I have a feeling that, like Severus Snape, she might turn out to be an ally later down the line. There is a reason why the majority of the NCs are women of colour, and are of different shapes and sizes other than the young, slim, poreless white girl which is our society's standard of godlike beauty. It is risky and bold commentary, and I love these characters to pieces.
The messages regarding the patriarchy and how sexism is ingrained in our culture (such as saying "We are not anti-woman, ‘cause look, see-", “We the Fathers have your best interests at heart...”, etc.) are poignant in surprisingly subtle ways. It tackles the subject of propaganda and how modern technology is used to influence people's way of thinking and living.
Rereading 'Bitch Planet, Vol 1', I noticed images in certain panels that show the effort put into making the feminist subtext work; like the little hints of a once-elected female president of the United States in this future. The political subtext drawn in to aid the narrative reminded me of 'Watchmen'. 'Bitch Planet' also uses the colour pink in its artwork for either a badass or eerie effect (such as with the holographic Auxiliary Compliance Outpost lady), and it is not feminine or "girly". It's a colour. Nothing more. It can mean anything to anyone, regardless of sexist social constructs.
Sure, there are people who may get defensive and declare that 'Bitch Planet' is "too feminist". Well, pardon me for not being compliant, but-
Fuck. That. Shit.
Because I firmly believe that equality is a huge necessity that benefits everyone. That helps people no matter their gender, race, background, family, sexuality, religion or other differences which make it awesome to be human, because all forms of oppression harm us all. Or so that should be what feminism and equality stand for to make the world a better place.
In 'Bitch Planet', anger is a healthy emotion for a woman to express, especially at the injustices done to her. Let her be outraged and unafraid to show it. She can be confident for who she is, and not give a damn what other people think of her. Her strong will and physical and mental strengths are things to be admired, not repulsed because they're oh-so "unladylike". Aggression is a virtue.
Meanwhile, women who are portrayed as "compliant" have no real personalities of their own; they are always smiling, passive, are mostly white and blonde, and only exist for their relationship with the rich working men of the patriarchy. They are only referred to as Mrs-insert-man's-name-here, and the female news anchors (or any woman on TV) are constantly called "sweetheart" instead of their name. They are objects - like household and public conveniences - and when they become inconvenient for men, they are shipped off to another planet, which as a bonus could become a death sentence for them if warranted...
The first volume of the series can be over-the-top - as well as hard-hitting violence, there is a lot of nudity and female and male sex organs on display - and subtle at the same time. The downsides are that sometimes I prefer the OTT moments because they are so much more fun to read - they always involve the women of Bitch Planet, and I get bored of the scenes where fancy-suited men talk politics in skyscrapers. These scenes seem to exist for exposition and worldbuilding purposes only, and I was impatient to see the fighting, rebellious NCs again. Also, there are a lot of story threads and character arcs left unexplained and delayed for the future. Further gender-double-standard issues could have been added in or implied as well, even though the volume is only the first five comic issues of a much bigger story to come.
But on further rereads, yeah, 'Bitch Planet, Vol 1' is important, with great characters and the beginnings of social and political discussions (on the subject of race as well as of sex and gender relations) to be taken from it. As a feminist, I can appreciate it all the more. It's complex, and emotional in a positive manner, not in a stereotypical "women's problems" BS manner that's dismissive and patronising.
A shocking riot of a book: holding back nothing, with underplayed character moments.
Prepare to be CAGED AND ENRAGED!!!
Final Score: 4/5
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