I Read The PERIOD Powered Superhero Comic By Emilia Clarke And I Have Thoughts...

Emilia Clarke of Game Of Thrones fame has entered the comic space. Publishing a superhero comic through Image Comics she has teamed up with Marguerite Bennett, and Leila Leiz, to bring the world M.O.M Mother Of Madness. A comic about a single mom powered by her period and menstrual cycle (also her hormones). It's a lot of a lot. We take a look at what led to this, the comic itself and everything in between as the Mother Of Dragons brings us The Mother Of Madness. Get ready to go a little mad yourself here on Casually Comics!
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[@sergioruiz733]

For some reason I thought Period powers translated to if they dress up from a certain period in history they get different powers lol.

[@DarkYashaRyoko]

Honestly, that sounds much more interesting to me.

[@CasuallyComics]

Lol I'd read that

[@harlannguyen4048]

So kind of like Cutie Honey then.

[@zenfirebird5360]

@@harlannguyen4048 I was thinking Wario: Master of Disguise.

[@austinmorrison6953]

That idea has potential.

[@WhiteRaven696]

She's a high-school dropout, but a chemical engineer? Don't you need a degree for that?

[@lyndsaybrown8471]

Yeah, maybe she went to junior college? Then regular college. The British school system is different, though, so I wonder if that point was even Clarke's doing.

[@hurlaky43]

Speaking as a chemical engineer, it takes at least 4 dedicated years of math, chemistry, engineering & project management courses at a university level - even longer if you have other obligations or specialized coursework

[@noneofyourbusiness4616]

Do people ask how The Joker has the chemical engineering knowledge to create deadly smile-and-laugh-inducing gasses despite being a random street thug who fell in a vat?

[@WhiteRaven696]

@@noneofyourbusiness4616 The Killing Joke established him as an employee of Acme Chemical before his life as Joker, though.

[@Awestefeld6612]

@@WhiteRaven696 beat me to the response.

[@LUISPRIME]

"No. My feet are my feet." You need to put that on a t-shirt, Sasha. That was a hilarious respond. 😄😄

[@Werewolf914]

I wouldn't be surprised if one of those DMs was from Quentin Tarantino asking her to audition her feet for his next movie.

[@tinymxnticore]

@@Werewolf914 "Once Upon a Time of This Recording"

[@asantemoitt133]

I missed a chunk of the video laughing at this 🤣🤣🤣

[@michaelthomas5433]

Repeal female footwear dress codes. Why? Because MY FEET ARE MY FEET, that's why.

[@PsychoStreak]

Just a pair of legs in galoshes with zero detail. No Wikifeet entry for Sasha!

[@bensneb360]

While this comic is a hard nope for me for it’s unrealistic dialogue, “men are all teo dimensionally evil” trope, and way too heavy handed on the themes and very little work put into the actual story… I will say I did enjoy Sasha‘s review. She gave a fair nonbiased review of it, which I respect. So thank you Sasha and keep it up.

[@KierTheScrivener]

Can I say I laughed because you made a comment about two dimensional evil men when your username is Dylan The Villain. It's just really genuinely funny. My mental picture is just beautiful and might include you as a cartoon campaigning for the rights of different villains' public perception. I am sure you are a very nice and I haven't read it so I can't judge the comic. But in general, I of course agree that fleshed out villains are better. It was just too pricelessly ironic not to point out

[@dadsfreetimeclassicgaming1220]

@@KierTheScrivener agreed. That trope will lead to more jobbers for Dylan's crime syndicate.

[@DSzaks]

It's sad to think her son is going to grow up to become the enemy. >.

[@bensneb360]

Well of course I am, there are a lot of hard-working men and women out there in the villain community, who are much better at their jobs than anyone in this book. I mean take her boss for example, if he wanted her to continue to wear high heels, there were multiple ways he could’ve gone about that. He could’ve acknowledged her hard work in the office and given her slight pay raise or some kind of benefit to help keep her happy and more willing to comply with his rules. He could’ve complemented on how she looked in them, playing into her vanity. He could’ve mentioned how she’s a single mother and how difficult that must be and how terrible it would be if she lost her job, but then pulled back and offered her more funds to her department, thus proving he could easily fire her while also helping out her co-workers out without directly coming out and threatening her, thus making her more scared of him. You could even have tried reverse psychology and try and make her question why she doesn’t want to wear high heels in the first place and make her think it might be some personality insecurity. There are many options he could of taken, but this book makes him look like a bumbling buffoon who only says things that will only piss her off, thus encouraging her anti-establishment behavior, but make him look like an idiot. I mean it takes a lot of time, money, effort, and nuance for villains like us to execute our plans, and we deserve a little respect for all our hard work, is that too much to ask? lol But seriously, I didn’t notice that until you pointed it out, that’s a funny coincidence lol i’m glad you got a nice laugh out of it :)

[@bensneb360]

We’re accepting new members, come join us… We have cookies lol

[@GSlice37]

It's too bad cause I think Clarke had a great concept and hero in mind. I feel she may have needed a co author or editor that was able to rain in some of this content..it could have been so much more subtle and realistic by going less is more. It should have been a little more sincere and less intense all the time.

[@thoomolong]

She did have a co-author and an editor.

[@davidj2074]

Maybe in up coming issues (going purely off Sasha's review). They could do more narrow focus on topics or circle back. Honestly I think if they wanted to be relatable. they should of leaned in to the simi unpredictability of her powers as a whole that and having to deal more with the negative inclination of her power as much of the embracing of it. Maybe even tie/ 3 wall break other female super heroes with emotionally based powers. If there's no tragicity it doesn't give a consequence learning point. Tldr: first issue should only/mostly be power setup especially for something like this comic.

[@GSlice37]

@@thoomolongwell yeah obviously, I was saying I wish she had a co author or editor that was "able to reign in those concepts". Whoever she has wasn't able to do that well. I'd say the professionals should have been better at telling Clarke what not to do.

[@zenithquasar9623]

Well, she can still have another go at it. Comics are rebooted all the time haha. I think the concept is great, the art seems too. Writing just needs to change.

[@myrhev]

Great concept for a hero in the Tick’s world. Also, the idea was a strait rip from Mystery Men.

[@CasualNotice]

At twenty-nine she's a high school dropout, single mother, chemical engineer? At 29? That one sentence questions whether anyone involved in the writing of that comic has ever lived a real life. Also, did she sit down and some point during that party? Because I can't see how she spotted th back of her dress in that location otherwise. I also didn't see any chairs.

[@willowbarrelmaker8269]

It's not *that* infeasible, especially considering comic book logic, but to me it just screams "Look at how over the top and wacky I am!"

[@MakiPcr]

I checked, I suspect no; Clarke's parents sound wealthy

[@Ando1428]

So she is a super powered menstruating Homer Simpson with rich parents?

[@MamaMOB]

My question is does she menstruate from her tailbone? That spot was incredibly high up on the back of her dress. To get it there she would’ve had to of been inverted or something.

[@CasualNotice]

@@MamaMOB Yeah, I wasn't even paying attention to the anatomy of it beyond "How'd it get back there if she's been standing this whole time?" But, yeah, it does seem awfully high.

[@someonewhocommentsonyoutub3779]

I'm not against the concept, but it feels like the execution is trying waaaaaaaaay too hard to be inclusive and progressive and as a result just boomerangs into self parody territory.

[@nightal13]

This!^

[@Walter_Lou_Iggy]

I like the messages it tries to send, but sometimes you can achieve more by doing less. In this case, subtlety would have made it more powerful. I feel an editor or a more involved co-author could have streamlined this into a funny comic with an interesting premise.

[@kumarjr1696]

Welcome to comic books circa 2017 and beyond

[@tarotsushima3332]

Because instead of bringing up issues for discussion so people can form their own opinions on the matter, they would rather take what they think is the right opinion without any space of debate and shove it down your throat. It's got so bad that even with messages I can agree with I can end up rolling my eyes at when they get mentioned on the soapbox.

[@newdivide9882]

Right? Like, the line where the kid talks about “How Simba treats the proletariat” sounds like something you’d have a character say in a parody of SJWs

[@Benjamin1986980]

As a chemical engineer, I can say that I have never been in any form of party that's close to this introduction. There are no Star Wars jokes, no awkward discussion with our spouses or teasing of Junior personnel about when they will get married. These are supposed to be engineers. Why is it not weird and awkward? We are all weird and awkward

[@Luanna801]

So first off, I think Emilia Clarke seems like a delightful human being, and I agree that she bleeds (uh... no pun intended?) good intentions in every interview about this, so I feel bad saying negative things. That said, even before we get to the execution, the basic idea here doesn't really work for me. I get it, periods and women's bodies can definitely be stigmatized, but to me having a heroine powered by her period doesn't make me feel good or empowered. It just feels embarrassing and like it's trying too hard, and I think that would still be true if there was a male equivalent to this, whatever that would even be (a superhero powered by his... sperm count?) I feel like a better way to combat the stigma would be to have some casual scenes of regular superheroines dealing with their periods, not making a big deal about it but just showing it as a part of their lives, just like it is for anyone who gets periods. (Which, of course, not all women do!) To me the focus on defining women by their bodies and menstrual cycles actually feels like a very dated form of feminism. I know that's not Clarke's intention, I don't want to say the comic is ~problematic~ for it or whatever, but I think we need to move past this to a place where periods are neither stigmatized nor bizarrely over-focused on to compensate. And i think we can talk about womanhood and feminism in more complex and nuanced ways than this.

[@dithaingampanmei]

If you still think there's stigma about menstruation in the west, you've got to be living under a rock. Over here in India, women are sent to camp out in huts away from the joint family, during the entire course of her menstruation, so as to not "defile" the home. And do you know who is doing this oppression? Senior women. I wish you didn't hold yourself back in your comment. This comic storyline is trash, and they ruined a good concept with propaganda and ranting monologue that no one wants to read.

[@Shrapnel82]

She might be nice in person. I don't know. However, in this comic at least, the way she writes men is just insulting. It would be like a comic where all the Black people are gang members, and the reasoning is that the author was robbed by a Black person once, and therefore is justified to portray all Black people as the most awful of stereotypes.

[@Otra_Chica_de_Internet]

@@dithaingampanmei There is still stigma in the west tho, OP never said that it was as bad as India, so don't derail the conversation. Those senior women shame other women because they've been taught that periods are shameful and dirty (I'm not justifying their behavior btw, just explaining it). And this belief comes from the stigmatization of women's bodies. Women CAN be sexist and misogynistic, and this is a result of internalized misogyny

[@Otra_Chica_de_Internet]

As a woman, I feel the same way! It's nice to see this attempt at destigmatizing periods but, oh man, it comes across more as a parody of typical "woke" stuff than as a genuine comic. It's so over the top, and too on the nose.

[@p0ulive646]

Yeah, I mean Emilia Clarke is a nice person. She did interview with Jimmy Fallon I mean she didn't force to us buying comic or happen movie action M.O.M and she knew that comic no one gonna buy it, I think she more like a poem not a comic story you know. I'm not hate her, I love her.

[@Xehanort10]

7:19 The fact that she mentions Undertale makes this a real "How do you do fellow kids" comic? Is she gonna mention Roblox and Fortnite next?

[@AesculapiusPiranha]

Undertale is good tho

[@ExeErdna]

@@AesculapiusPiranha True yet as a meme it's been kinda "dead" for a few years.

[@stranger59]

@@ExeErdna Once Kenny Omega called upon the power of Sans Undertale, it's place in history was assured.

[@worldcomicsreview354]

So I was VRing Fortnight on my Playstation 360... am I cool yet?

[@thomastakesatollforthedark2231]

​@@ExeErdnaehhh people still talk about it

[@Xehanort10]

4:33 Emilia Clarke does get that there are plenty of women who relate to male characters and plenty of men who relate to women characters doesn't she? Characters people relate to don't have to be the same as them to be relatable.

[@johnhogue9402]

A lot of people in the entertainment industry don’t seem to understand that nowadays

[@Jetsetradio]

A lot of people outside the entertainment industry don't get that either.

[@johnhogue9402]

@@Jetsetradio true

[@douglas2938]

While that's _always_ possible, each and every character is designed to target a specific angle that may or may not be achieved. It's a non issue that she'd try to make a character she wanted to have seen as a child.

[@stranger59]

I'm a CIS man and I'm not too proud to admit I can't 100% relate to having a period. Like... I got nothing like that. So it's probably good more things are coming out where periods are a central part of the work, as those who do relate to having them have something communal to bounce their personal experience off of. I don't think that experience can be fully explored with a character, for example, like Daredevil... cause the suit is red, GET IT???

[@donchon7580]

Just more evidence that comic writing isn’t easy.

[@angryspork610]

Writing is easy. Writing *well* is not.

[@crichton397]

@@angryspork610 Give an example of writing "well."

[@eghoseisiramen1892]

@@crichton397 immortal hulk for example

[@angryspork610]

​@@crichton397 Batgirl Vol. 1 by Kelley Puckett.

[@donchon7580]

@@crichton397 batman year 1

[@CTheng]

If you look pass the "period power" part, the idea can work really well as social commentary on womenhood and all that. The main problem with these kind of media is that they cannot do it with restraint or subletly and try to hamfist the message in your face in the most obvious way possible. As a result, it can come out as a total cringefest and make people overlook the positive message because of it. It's not help that Emilia Clarke has no experience as a comic writer and she seems to have a skewed/biased negative viewer on women in superhero comic.

[@ExeErdna]

That's what I kinda did because the writing is pretty everything I've been taught to not do in my own writing. Since it's a turn off. Show more, tell less and cut the fat. When you dump is when people run and or get upset.

[@camwhit8892]

Writing bad, power good yeah.

[@elizabethsmith7224]

Plus to me if someone doesn't like a medium they shouldn't write for it , the dislike tends to bleed through. I'm more of a casual fan of comics, strongly prefer the tv shows and movies as that's more what I grew up with.

[@CFacci-kq1cy]

She isn’t the first. Did we forget Heavy Flo from the Savage Dragon books? Now that’s period power.

[@paultapner1896]

There's also the PMS avenger from mystery men

[@louisvictor3473]

From a certain point of view, vampires are all period powered.

[@WillHollandstorytime]

Man-eaters did this way better.

[@blackphoenix77]

*We Don't Talk About Heavy Flo*

[@stranger59]

@@louisvictor3473 Well... I mean... hmm...

[@T-Jex]

In this World, every work place is Blizzard.

[@LadyHawke78]

This is giving me serious vibes of Chelsea Cain’s “Man Eaters.” Both books appeared to have a similar concept that COULD be quite interesting, but it gets overshadowed by a ham fisted approach to the feminist elements.

[@unlimitededge2689]

Isn’t Man Eaters the one about the girls who got were-cat-like powers from cat poop? That was Something

[@Gauldame]

Two things A) Where does the character work, Blizzard? B) Objectively looking at this, it seems to be a case of a team of really talented people desperately needing a good editor to focus the work and cut what needs to be cut. At the storyboarding/writing phase. Editors people...they are useful. Basically: "You're at 11, you need to dial it to 5 here." "This thing you mentioned here, focus on it, not all this other stuff." "Run with this part, hammer it home. let's let this other one go for the next book. " Etc.

[@fredcampbell4066]

I am going to go with it wasn't written for me and pass. But i do appreciate you reading it , you are braver then me.

[@djpegao]

First mother of Dragons, then Mother of the resistance, and now mother of madness. Emilia Clarke is getting typecasted on motherly roles lately, isn't she?

[@GenerationWest]

So, this was... A LOT! Like, I completely understand where Emilia is coming from, and good for her for making her idea for a positive message, but it's a tad ROOOUUUGGHHH. Give it some time in the lab, this would make a better comic, focus on it more, a good adaptation starring, co-written, produced, and co-created by Emilia Clarke, since the smile and brows scream Emilia's likeness. (Thinking about it, kinda reminds me of that Princess Peach DS game in the mid 2000's, where each emotion is a power effect.)

[@TsunamiWombat]

that was my first thought, and I remember people being outraged and offended over it then

[@MyselfandComics]

Princess peach did? That’s so cool.

[@MyselfandComics]

@@TsunamiWombat What? I don’t see why, it’s a cool power.

[@briannalee1998]

Yeah. I would've liked something like an Elastigirl solo comic or a similar character. This comic had way too much showing and not telling.

[@MyselfandComics]

@@briannalee1998 Elastigirl from the Incredibles?

[@MrPardoMe]

Sounds like a biopic about the Blizzard/Activision work environment.

[@willowbarrelmaker8269]

A pretty good reason why it doesn't work as a comedy tbh "Look at all these horrible things!" "... Okay, I'm looking." "..." "... Sure is horrible." "..." "... I think you and I have very different definitions of the term 'comedy'."

[@Gangerworld]

Geez, where does Maya work? ACTIVISION-BLIZZARD? I'll show myself out.

[@daverhoden445]

Too soon. (But funny(at the time of this posting))

[@lyndsaybrown8471]

I was totally thinking that the entire time. Like...there are workplaces like that.

[@PepperKatLancer]

Oh you will find the ones that speak up the most are the bigest pertrators of that crime! The blame game.

[@Chris-gq8ev]

First thing the concept reminded me of was Perez's Crimson Plague from the 90s. The protagonist has toxic blood, that becomes an airborne plague during her menstrual cycle.

[@kendra_t]

Clark comes off as one of several other celebrities who only know about comics and comic culture through cultural osmosis. They tend to enter the medium with preconceived ideas about the boorish consumers with totally fresh and not at all heavy-handed social commentary.

[@sakulaeyr9819]

I must agree with you. A surface level interest built on its sudden rise in popularity. I just find it hard to believe she's been "a fan" since childhood.

[@kendra_t]

@@sakulaeyr9819 she talks about her brother not letting her read his comics and of being intimidated by waking into a comic shop, and then just doesn't mention if she ever tried after that. If she was interested in the hobby, she could have requested them for birthday presents, gone into the shop with friends, checked comics out at the library, etc. It kinda comes off like she had a brief fleeting interest in her childhood and didn't bother with it again until comic properties went mainstream and now she's embellishing a bit on how much of a geek she was as a child. That's just my guess, though. There's no shame in someone admitting they're a new fan. Being genuine about your interest in something I love goes a lot farther with me.

[@sakulaeyr9819]

@@kendra_t Exactly, and I'm seeing that a lot with celebrities who get signed on to "geeky" properties. Whether they be comic book, novel, or even anime adaptations, you'll find one actor/actress who says they're "... a nerd..." and come with some sort of baggage behind it. Or excuse as to why they "... were driven out..." of the community. I remember when Vin Diesel first admitted he played D&D and the shock so many nerds had at the time - but the dude knew his stuff, and you could see the love and passion in his eyes about it. It even bleeds into the "Riddick" franchise. Clarke? As you said - sounds like she had a momentary interest, was denied by her "... big brother..." (Because what older sibling likes sharing ANYTHING with their younger sibling) and never went back to it again but now blames the "toxic" community for never feeling included. They're only going to win brownie points with normies and outsiders. So I just don't get the point.

[@SlimSamari]

@@sakulaeyr9819 Just like with Kevin Smith and He Man.

[@derekcollins7883]

It taking place in 2049 seems like a useless tack on. It is too grounded in today and feels depressing that things for women either haven't changed or gotten worse so nothing happening today doest matter.

[@hurlaky43]

I was thinking the same thing. What does that say about her view of society that we're no better off in the future?

[@stranger59]

This is the 2049 we all face if somehow Activision Blizzard wins their case against California. Just the whole nation becomes a frat house.

[@kendra_t]

Also, most depressingly of all: they still have people wearing masks in public in 2049

[@nykcarnsew2238]

@@kendra_t in lots of countries to wear a mask when you’re sick, it could well stick around

[@Hektols]

Feminists believe that today's women are still as opressed as they were 75 years ago, makes sense from their point of view.

[@justsurfin5013]

Just sounds like their is no focus and it's ham-fisted story wise.

[@Shiirow]

who needs a story or character development or setting or interesting things, when you have a "message". a horribly flawed message, that demonizes with broad brush strokes... that you didnt even create yourself. did 10% of the work and got your name plastered all over it like the inevitable victim they are.

[@MakiPcr]

This made me wanna check is Emilia Clarke is a rich person awkwardly trying to relate to the common woman, and it seems like she is

[@manis1551]

I appreciate the message which is wanting comics to be more inclusive to women. But this comic feels very preachy as it seems Emilia Clarke was more interested in expressing her political beliefs through her main character than to tell a compelling story. The art is nice though.

[@monkekun3033]

Taking one for the team eh....There is a reason I'm subscribed

[@trucontent]

Low key, who has a very small bit of anticipation to see what wig she unveils for the episode? No, just me then? Ok.

[@TitularHeroine]

I don't even wonder anymore. I know it'll always be something pleasantly surprising and somehow appropriate to the episode.

[@mobyt.3900]

I don't know why she sets the story in the future and then touches on themes of this moment. just set it "modern day"

[@alexforce9]

I have no problems with relating to female charcaters - One my favorite shows ever is Gilmore girls, I adored Scully in X-files, and so many female characters in ER - I watched and cared for all of them. Women who were single moms, and hard workers, and sexual cretures, and everything else. And I understood and related to them without me being a woman, or a single mom, ect. But this seems like "Mental problems - the comic".

[@Call-me-Al]

Clarke did have in essence a traumatic brain injury. TBI usually give you effects for many years after. I had a TBI in 6th grade and I had pretty severe mental issues for several years, and medium/light issues for at least a decade after.

[@briannalee1998]

I agree! I love Gilmore Girls and the idea of a superhero who is a single mom, but the dialogue was horrible and the concept of her powers are silly. Too much telling, not a lot of showing. I would've like a comic with a character similar to Elastigirl. Now that is a badass Superhero mom!

[@alexforce9]

@@briannalee1998 Elastagirl rules.

[@alexdurain3753]

I can’t stop laughing at “Mental Problems” the comic. Someone save me.

[@SithLadyDarhVamp]

I'm more confused by the fact that people would feel put off in comics shop because there were "no women". I was one of the few girls reading comics as a kid and never felt unwelcomed, in fact I felt especially welcomed as a girl reading comics. It makes me wonder how much was assumption, and how much was truth.

[@sakulaeyr9819]

^^^ THIS!!! While I might've experienced that: "Who does SHE think she is, coming into OUR space!" early on, it WASN'T the norm! Most men were really supportive - they helped me with which comics to start with, and even let me borrow and issue or two before buying my own! That lead to them sharing other hobbies (Mage Knights, Warhammer, and eventually D&D) with me and BOOM. I was a full, basement dwelling nerd before the age of 14 (Satanic Panic caused us to hide our nerdy stuff)!!

[@SlightlyPeeved]

This was my experience too.

[@cdogthehedgehog6923]

I met my best friend in a comic shop. Never felt unwelcomed, in fact, I wouldn't really have friends at all if I thought men would shame me for liking something....they like? Just seems a little silly.

[@valletas]

I think the lack of female interest in both comics and main stream gaming comes not from lack of inclusion but from the stigma that these things are "just for boys" that was a big problem in the past and pushed by both men and women alike While this is a lot better nowadays i feel like that stigma is still keeping both girls and boys from engaging with something that they would enjoy For a semi related exemple: growing up as a man i watched a lot of "girl" shows like winxs club and stuff and really liked them but i had to do so in secret

[@DrFranklynAnderson]

So basically what you’re saying is, all of this could have been avoided if Clarke’s brother had gotten her literally _any_ issue of ‘90s Birds of Prey… Also, WOW that wheelchair is atrocious. I will never cease to be amazed by the obliviousness of the able-bodied.

[@willowbarrelmaker8269]

"I want to be a good ally but I don't know how" definitely sums up a good chunk of this comic tbh

[@Vegadra]

When you said period comic in the beginning, I thought it was going to be set in the 50s or 1800s. Saying she gets her power during her period, it reminds me of Katy Kaboom from Animaniacs.

[@RabbiJoeInJerusalem]

"Big Expository Chunks" sounds like a failed Campbell's Soup ad campaign.

[@PirvateerKurei]

"Welcome to the Campbell's Soup focus meeting. We need a new catchy slogan! Quick what three words come to mind!"

[@rodrigoca3288]

The girl in the show "Ladyparts" pitches a way better idea in the same theme

[@wattsisnaim8111]

1:10 "Get a drink. I don't know which one." I'll stick to strawberry lemonade, thank you.

[@nkanyisoinnocentkhwane3752]

I'm currently making my own comics, they're extremely short but I have a novels worth of knowledge about them: It's always interesting to see a professional jam packing their work with too much *(unintentionally)* when making an 8 page comics subsequently the process is defined by *what I cut* and how I guide the audience

[@Werewolf914]

I had an idea for a comic book but I think it would have been just a little too close to Watchmen, because the idea was let the powerful Superman type character stay good and make Batman type character the bad one, but then I realized that's just Ozymandias the rich guy whose the smartest man on the planet, I mean there's differences, but the main idea would've been this Batman type character would've been a hero for a long time but then Superhumans and costumed heroes show up and he joins them but then it's followed by costumed Villains and then he decides the only way to get rid of the Villains is to also get rid of the heroes too so he starts a plan to kill them off both the Heroes and villains, so not exactly the same thing as Watchmen, but maybe a little too close,also I'm bad at names so his name would've been Knightshade lol

[@wolfprime]

@@Werewolf914 You should run with this. It doesn’t seem anything like Watchmen to me and even if it did, you’re not going to come anywhere close to Moore’s commentary on the world and superheroics. If you think it’s like Watchmen you will purposely steer away from that to discourage comparison. Do it.

[@ExeErdna]

@@Werewolf914 Still run with it. A lot of stories will overlap with famous works it's nearly inescapeable at this point so have fun with it.

[@chichiboypumpi]

I remember the PMS Avenger in the (criminally underrated) movie Mystery Men

[@confusion7809]

the eye on palm’s meaning: (copied from a google search) Often the "Fatima Hand" is decorated with an eye. It represents the eye that sees everything. The eye watches out for the person in possession of the "Fatima Hand" and warns about and protects against evil encounters. The "Fatima Hand" also represents femininity, as it is shown as the woman's holyhand.

[@threesofthree6100]

See, my gut reaction when I heard "period powers" was just... Eww. But looking more into it and finding out that they're tied to her emotions, and the heightened emotional state she's in around that time makes them go haywire... That's actually a really good premise. She's not just losing control of how she feels, she's physically impacting the world around her. There's a lot of potential there for a story about learning to accept your faults and flaws and just be who you are. And now I'm just kinda sad that it's more politics than story. I dunno, kind of a shame but there's still hope for this one.

[@Shorai_3]

This was basically the setup for Carrie. Her powers didn't awaken until she had her first period.

[@chancitjeffords1925]

I'm curious to hear your insight on the 'I am not Starfire' graphic novel

[@caseygibson7266]

Oh boy, that'd make for a good watch. Same with Heroes in Crisis because holy cow....

[@josequintana3669]

I concur. That wold be so worth watching!

[@caseygibson7266]

@@josequintana3669 It would appear that she thinks so as well, because it's today (at the time of this recordings) video

[@KellyKMc]

Did the Author see Mystery Men (1999)? As the Pseudo-hero team was evaluating applicants, one of them was PMS Girl. “Do you have a problem with that”? She lost out to Gerofalo’s “The Bowler”.

[@AesculapiusPiranha]

Mystery Men was underrated

[@Libikuroi]

It's been while but if I remember right. The angry hero didn't want competition of another rage based hero on the team. The joke been PMS makes her angry. Its their joke not mine. Cool movie tho

[@dorothycosentino]

I think "Sex Criminals" was a really good series that did this kind of "weird joke powers" thing but in a way where they really fleshed it out and tackled relatable, human stories. Frickin love those books.

[@TheGrimStride]

It strange that some of the problems that she says are “women centric” are problems that apply to men as well. Which makes her sound tone deaf (not sure if that the right wording)

[@sakulaeyr9819]

She's a Hollywood Star and her parents are wealthy. Its an extremely tone deaf outlook - especially when you consider how many men's lives are ruined by a single HR complaint made against them.

[@Hektols]

She is a feminist, she can't get the idea that men share most problems with women or that in many case those problems are worse for them.

[@SwedishEmpire1700]

Its very important to scream about the agenda in all possible ways ya know.

[@Otra_Chica_de_Internet]

Well i didn't know cis men got periods as well

[@mengsk90]

@@Otra_Chica_de_Internet Nope but we do get sexually harassed, raped, abused, have unrealistic expectations placed on us and unfairly treated in many aspects of western society. We also have next to no infrastructure for men dealing with issues and when trying to talk about our issues are often ignored or worse.

[@moonlilly467]

No comments from the male colleagues about a wheelchair user being "less sexy" to the men/ being fetishised? I'd say it's refreshing but guessing by the rest of the writing I'd guess it's an oversight

[@GiulianaBruna]

When I was little in a child magazine there were two comics sponsor by the tax recollection ministry (one with a group of kids and one with a girl spy) . One didn't notice until... Later. But there were not to sutil, teaching about unregistered labor, money laundry, retirement plans etc. Reading mom felt like that.

[@DanceMonkeychg]

Setting aside how well or poorly this book handles social commentary and gender politics, as a work of fiction created (hopefully) to also be entertaining, the clunky, anachronistic modern day pop culture references in a story set 3 decades from now just make me cringe. Setting it in the future for no reason except to say "Stuff that's bad now? In the near-future it'll be kinda worse.", then introducing the protagonist with lines that make her sound like a character from a toned down and slightly updated version of Ready Player One rather than actually do some friggin' world-building, is just lame as hell. And why, in 2049, are the characters using smart phones and tablets that look like what I could find in a Best Buy (or my own pocket) today? Did anybody, her co-writer, the artist, the editor, ANYBODY at Image apply a common sense filter to any of that stuff at ANY point? Or was everyone involved so tickled at the prospect of helping a famous actor flesh out her pitch for a self starring franchise so she can try to sell it to a studio, that they just "Yes, Ma'am"ed this thing out the door?

[@ExeErdna]

I guess to not be fired they "yes ma'am'ed" it. The story is too dated even now like it's good and bad at the same time

[@user-yj3kn4fe7h]

They used an editor?!

[@sakulaeyr9819]

About the worldbuilding (or lack thereof...) I'm ignorant to the workspaces in the UK (being American) but I can't take a lot of the male dialogue too seriously either. Here most Human Resource Departments would rather FIRE a man who receives even 1 complaint against him than deal with interviewing and investigating the matter - so most men don't even TALK to their female coworkers (unless they have to) for fear of being a target of an HR nightmare. Meanwhile... statistically, the highest harrasment ratio in the workplace are Women bullying other WOMEN. Sure, I've had my fair share of men's unwanted attention but I've been working on-and-off for 23 years and in all that time I've got, maybe, a handful of workplace harassment from men and three times that from women. and can I just say: I don't know a single woman in my circle of friends, family, or workplace that would EVER wear WHITE while on their period.

[@hope-cat4894]

I didn't even think of that. There's no reason for this comic to be set in the future because everything is topical for today's time like with the Me Too movement reference.

[@michaelhames8404]

I am so glad that you read MOM MOTHER of MADNESS so that I didn't have to do so. I, too, was intrigued. Alas, I passed. I ain't gonna be able to resist the allure of PIG though. Love listening to your musings on the funny books.

[@hamaciohamanis1632]

Does it take place today or is it a period piece? I’ll show myself out…

[@randominternetweirdo5479]

Maya was born last year, and I love that she's both a chemical engineer and high school dropout.

[@lle.5583]

I was intrigued about Emilia writing a comic, but grossed out when I found out the topic. Arm pit hair is gross, bloating is frustrating, bleeding through your clothes is rage inducing for me. So I couldn't imagine how any of that could be empowering. And watching this video, it's just a standard comic over-saturated with modern identity politics like all the others. This is absolutely not a comic for me, but I will say, I do like that art. I want to say I'm thankful for youtube algorithm recommending your video because I've never heard of you before but I found your video very fair. I like that you have context for the comic you were about to review, and provided a bunch of quotes and your interpretation of what the author probably meant by them.

[@thomsirveaux99]

What if the story's attempts to tackle literally everything at once to it's own detriment is on purpose to illustrate it's own narrative of a woman over her head taking too many roles at once?

[@stranger59]

Oh, you're going NEXT LEVEL... interesting!

[@shawnwilliams9287]

Or it could all be the side effects of the drugs she took, overwhelming her mind.

[@anelkia27]

That would be so cool

[@Dooger414]

Sounds like you are doing the writing FOR the artist. If it was that deep, it would require the comic to be capable of nuance... which it is not.

[@Xehanort10]

9:16 Those lines hurt my head. Nobody says those things. Especially not "bilge rot."

[@EvasiveBlue]

Having people who were experienced in comics should have helped influence Emilia Clark's decision making in this comic series. The exposition dump is really some day one lessons folks learn as they create comics. Glad you mentioned the tights and scantily clad costumes. Tights are just short cuts. Because fabric shifts move with different poses, not fabric made to be tight lol. One last thing while not being a woman I could see too many details who would be relatable would come off as untrustworthy. Almost pandering. I feel like if they had a fight scene with her mentioning her love for RBG. Maybe she smashes a statue of RBG over a perp.

[@toganium4175]

“Are there any women out there that are super-powered, but aren’t in a skintight costume?” Raven wears a cloak, and she still has a passionate fan base.

[@TheJadedJames]

I mean, she is commonly depicted as wearing a leotard under cloak. Form fitting outfits are pretty common for men and women in comics. Even though women are generally sexualized more often

[@ExeErdna]

The problem is "skin tight" makes a lot of sense if you don't want it to rip when grappled. Which also plays into the "capes are a bad idea" as well because they're just something to grab on or get snagged. Then that cascades into long hair too and some jewelry...

[@DATFilms]

But then again... TTG made a whole episode about her legs

[@willowbarrelmaker8269]

Raven has had a lot of costumes, some more revealing than others

[@Pradapussy]

Most of Raven’s fanbase sexualizes her as the big tiddie goth gf plus she wears like a leotard. Not to say that I don’t like her character design though I like it very much

[@emfrymcfly]

It was nice to watch a review of the comic from a woman and really breaking it down going in depth. Ive seen a couple of other "reviews" mostly from men saying they hated it and hadn't really read it and weren't willing to have a discussion, they just hated it because it was a woman writing it. So it was really refreshing to watch your video.

[@smurgerburger]

Nobody hates the comic because its made by a girl everyone hates it because its made by a Hollywood star.

[@emfrymcfly]

@@smurgerburger in one of the reviews i watch they said they didn't read it because it was written by a woman

[@smurgerburger]

@@emfrymcfly you only watched one review where he said that

[@swimbumps]

Honestly I feel like this comic tried too hard to focus on progressiveness and inclusiveness versus actually focusing on making a story around a good character just based off your video alone. There’s just a lot of unnecessary and juxtaposed mentions of sexuality and gender in awkward places. I’d be fine with it if it was just blended into the story well, it just seems like it’s there just to be there.

[@paultapner1896]

Spot on analysis.

[@The_Skrongler]

It's so frustrating to me how most media that's supposed to fight against period-shaming (not just this comic) romanticizes the experience of menstruation. I think we need to get to a point in the conversation where we can break down taboos and shaming *without pretending that periods are a positive experience of some kind.* Periods are a normal bodily function that shouldn't be stigmatized. They are also a painful and physically taxing process which is more likely to make a person want to take a couple ibuprofen and lay down with a hot water bottle than make them feel powerful. Both of those things can be true at the same time.

[@jessemartin7718]

I like the art a lot. Makes me want to check out more of their work. I don't particularly want to read more of this though...

[@psychonaut1502]

I'm pretty sure the pose that's "literally impossible" is very much possible. There's nothing about it that's anatomically impossible.

[@michaelthomas5433]

The PMS Avenger was already introduced in Mystery Men. That aside sadly I think this is an interesting idea that wasn't executed as well it should have been. Also it's an idea that needed to be done well from the start for broad acceptance.

[@andynystrom1519]

And that character wasn't the first such character. There was also the short lived 1992 series Ms. PMS.

[@profjeff9]

Didn't Rob Liefeld already do this in the '90s with the team comic Bloodpool? I mean I didn't read it.......

[@stranger59]

Most stories that start with Rob Liefeld end with "I didn't read it", so maybe.

[@affordablehousing9116]

@@stranger59 lol poor guy, I get it though

[@briankeithevans7972]

I hope she makes more comics and improves as an author, and we get to see stories from someone that hasnt been in the industry and where they go

[@falgalhutkinsmarzcal3962]

Reminds me of Clive Barker's "Weaveworld" character that was essentially a menstrual witch. She was a cool character and was not absurd despite being dead-serious. This just seems like...they sacrificed both story and character for message.

[@michaelboyd2404]

Thank you! You've encapsulated most of my own thought and shed light on a lot of things I hadn't noticed. I would've loved a Hickman style datapage on her powers at the beginning!

[@elsevillaart]

This comic makes Season 8 of GOT look like a masterpiece.

[@TeruteruBozusama]

A story like this could've been done well, but it has this bitterness about it that makes it uncomfortable. It tries to be so much yet mysterious at once it feels bloated yet hollow. More unique than Heroine Chic (which I hope you'll cover someday), but both have this uncomfortable feeling about them. Can't really explain why :/

[@PharaohOfTheDamned]

I love going on these journeys with you. Makes me think, gives me perspective. If I ever read it I'll come back and give my thoughts

[@brenthill2656]

The concept is phenomenal! I haven’t read it yet, but I think I agree with your assessment! Hopefully the next two issues do the idea justice! Either way, this book will stick around in peoples’ minds for a long time!

[@timelordvictorious]

the peoriod thing is not even that wired Obuisly It was explored Carrie and other things. Its just the body hair clining to things which seems odd like puberty spiderman .

[@Schweigetherapie]

Geckos climb with tiny hairs under their feet, so more like a lizard ig

[@dragonetafireball]

If someone famous in any way before getting a book deal I always make absolutely sure to find reviews from non fans before even considering buying it because publishers standers go through the floor when a brand name is attached

[@Libikuroi]

Haha same!! A master sushi chef doesn't always make a good grill master.

[@Libikuroi]

Haha same!! A master sushi chef doesn't always make a good grill master.

[@AesculapiusPiranha]

Yeah people like this need to take their knocks on fanfiction dot net or tumblr or something first at least

[@dragonetafireball]

I somehow failed to take my own advice on the same day I wrote this comment. Yesterday I saw a comic called Angel Catbird and later noticed it was written by Margaret Atwood and I mentioned it to my mum who said she wrote a lot of comics and my mum likes her so borrowed it from the library, read the comic and… honestly most peoples first attempt at a medium shouldn’t be published and if it is it usually needs overhauls. I have no idea what she’s like as a novelist but it was not an enjoyable comic for me personally. I don’t know if people who read golden era comics more would prefer it but it wasn’t for me.

[@richardleatherman5075]

Thank you! I had heard about Emilia Clarke's comic and was curious about it.

[@CthulhuTheory]

This video earned you a subscriber. I appreciate the even keep approach to this, highlighting what works and what doesn't, why some will and some won't like it. I really appreciate that. Thank you. :)

[@thanglongnguyenvu3815]

I live with my mom and sister. Every time it's that time of the month, they'd get a lot of stomaches and get cranky, look really exhausted and all. I can't imagine them knowing about this and feel empowered lol.

[@reeba4824]

I've always loved the idea of a superpower coming from your period cuz depending on the person, you really get heightened senses and it's kinda cool but also kinda sucks lol (there was a time where I could literally taste the separate ingredients of a soda; tasting the water first then the sugars and other things I didn't like 😅😅 Other times I'm so physically sensitive that any physical touch almost hurts.) I don't think we need the extra touch of a "male" agendas. Just powers coming from your menstrual cycle sounds really cool by itself cuz periods/ovulation cycles are hella interesting anyway.

[@CanibalCookieMonster]

This review actually makes me want to read the comic! Despite the problems, tbh the concept Does sound pretty rad, and i can totally see it going better moving on. Good video!

[@lanternsown3525]

Good Summary! Sasha I'm just glad more people try their hand comics, I agree with you it sounds like they need to streamline the idea more.

[@KaBoomStock]

You would make an awesome story editor, which this comic could have used a lot of.

[@Xehanort10]

This whole comic just feels like Emilia Clarke taking her resentment out on her brother for not taking her to a comic shop with him. Like "My brother wouldn't let me buy comics with him therefore all men are evil sexists." Her assuming that what happened to her happens to all women comic fans is arrogant too.

[@stranger59]

I mean a lot of comic shops back in the day were sexist. Only reason I'd say it's less so now is because those shopped closed once people could just buy digital if their local shop was rude or otherwise a bother.

[@titsbitchmcgee7502]

@@stranger59 *citation needed

[@amandafinger8337]

@@stranger59 I i

[@Hektols]

@@stranger59 So did the comic book stores have signs forbidding women to enter or purchase comics? Clarke was born in the mid 80's, at the time she learned to read she was already living in the 90's, when it became more common to see girls in comic book stores, specially with manga becoming popular in Europe during that time.

[@Shamazya]

I really like the visuals of this comic. Love the art style and the panel layout

[@shamroc34]

I love your even handed review. I'd like to read your version of this theme.

[@randombsgo4367]

am I the only one wondering whats gonna happen to her powers when she hits menopause? just me? ok

[@chriseichenberg6879]

Based on your review. The power concept is pretty interesting . . . but I feel the writing is suffering from RCS ( reborn Christian syndrome ) beating people over the head with a concept. Also gives me Francis Bacon New Atlantis vibes ( at least the part I could get though ) creating an intelligent pedestal/soapbox to stand on.

[@aviaveria8307]

Thank you for this analysis/review, Sasha. I was thinking about picking this up because the story seemed interesting and the cover is just cool, but I can't handle info dumps, and the execution seems pretty bad. At least it reminded me that Man-Eaters exists. I'll check that one out instead.

[@DaRealDJ]

Great take. I appreciate your analysis on it!

[@shinkaiatsuya950]

Could have been a good gag comic like Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo, weird kink like Mysterious Girlfriend X, or gore maybe like Nailbiter. But it's not any if these.

[@tkdarkheart]

God, I had forgotten about MGX.... that was a rollercoaster of what-the-fuck.. and Bobobo was like watching Hammy the Squirrel take six hits of speed and chase it with Monster, so much energy and randomness (but funny).

[@DazzlingMrScratch]

I was floored by how well recieved this was after I read it, it almost has 5 stars on goodreads.

[@onikaizer]

i really enjoy your insight, excellent breakdown, i need to give some comics a second reading now

[@jenhalbert3001]

Thanks so much, this was fantastic and has made me kinda intrigued to read the comic even though I don't read comics.

[@marsupius]

The premise sounds AWESOME. I don't know if the execution panned out, but I plan to find out. The concept sounds amazing.

[@bartoszjedlinski6808]

what sounds "awesome?

[@marsupius]

@@bartoszjedlinski6808 the premise sounds awesome.

[@bartoszjedlinski6808]

@@marsupius So iv bean hering. But no one is telling me anything. What about the premise is awesome?

[@marsupius]

@@bartoszjedlinski6808 menstruation based powers and addressing the issues women face in an over the top way.

[@bartoszjedlinski6808]

@@marsupius Addressing the issues women face in an over the top way means your not taiking it serius. And menstruation based powers screams parody. It's like having a superhero whose powers come from farting So once more this premise was doomed. Thats why im shocked at so many people saying that the idea behind it was awesome.

[@douglas2938]

It's a good concept, though I agree that it seems to be all over the place in that it should be building on one thing or the other rather than just dumping information. I really liked the art style too. All in all, of all the silly things famous people do with their fame, this probably ranks way above average.

[@nathanbeach7301]

In the Buffy The Vampire Slayer movie, Buffy got cramps when a vampire was nearby. I wonder of E.C. took any inspiration from this.

[@josequintana3669]

As always, Sasha, awesome coverage and peeling apart of the source material. I was thisclose to picking up a copy last week at my LCS. I think I will get a copy and just let it sink in. I mean, if I can read Red Room, this can't be that bad, right? BTW, I agree with an earlier comment: Would love to have you do an expose on "I am not Starfire." Please!

[@blainecrowley1134]

Every time a youtuber tells me they’re Canadian I’m caught off guard

[@fduranthesee]

Same

[@SLYKM]

I think the failings of this come from Emilia Clarke not being able to write outside of her perspective. She is not a mom and does not have super powers. The thoughts that plague the main character's mond might be stuff Clarke thinks about as a hard working professional who has base level perspective on the importance of feminism. They prolly could have toned her down, instead of giving her the role of scientist, she could have a friend fill that role. I think it is kinda a disservice to be like single mothers are badass, but only if they have an excellent career and crime fighting and sex work on the side. I think more people could relate to more realistic life of an average single mother, who is extraordinary in her powers and persevering and being kind and still learning how to be a good mom. And her thinking about that stuff could cause the peak strength of her powers.

[@LowellLucasJr.]

Could you do a video on Strangers in Paradise? That series is the most underrated and realistic take on dealing with relationships, being + sized, and drama that goes on into our main gals lives! It's beautiful! It stood tall with alot of independent works!

[@kuno3336]

I wanna give it a try. I'm glad this video came across my feed