Yesterday, in browsing the Chicago Sun-Times, I seen an article that made me pause. It seems Mattel, in order to get some of the collectors market, are making special edition Barbies. In the past, some of these have been linked to national sororities charities. This latest one is an out and out commercial idea. It has Barbie as today's Black Canary, complete with the black leather (?) body suit,jacket, fishnet stockings, and, boots. (If the character itself wasn't a serious hero, I'd say some artist has a fetish fixation.)
Anyway, because of Black Widow's costume some British group is protesting the marketing of this doll because of all the usual reasons. It's too sexy for the normal Barbie target group, etc, etc.
This group should have seen some of the other dolls in this collectors Barbie line, accompanying photos to this article in the newspaper included not only Barbie as the Black Canary, but the Jennifer Garner
Elektra, and, the Halle Berry movie Catwoman, as well as the Harley Davidson Barbie, and, the Bob Mackie gown wearing Cher Barbie.
Since the forum has problem with links, I'll write the address to the article here; www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/1078791,CST-FTR-barbie29. article
The haedline reads "Barbie dons fishnets, tarts it up, and, God's squad's mad."
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Comments:
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Posted by: Chuck Taine
Posted on: 2008-07-30 at 08:52:25 AM
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Obviously, I should've edited the title before publishing. The obviously should be Black CANARY Barbie.
My Bad, sorry.
My Bad, sorry.
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Posted by: Rob Allen
Posted on: 2008-07-30 at 08:56:37 AM
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It isn't just a British group - some people on this side of the pond are upset too. From the Orange County Register:
www.ocregister.com/ocregister/life/ocmoms/abox/article_2096876.php
The comments are interesting.
www.ocregister.com/ocregister/life/ocmoms/abox/article_2096876.php
The comments are interesting.
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Posted by: Don Markstein
Posted on: 2008-07-31 at 06:41:26 AM
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Why is the character being a "serious" hero inconsistent with a fetish fixation? I thought modern superhero women were aimed at people with fetish fixations. And generally not little girls with fetish fixations. Is this an attempted major market expansion for Mattel?
Noting how many of the characters listed fall into the "bad girl" genre, I'm wondering why there isn't a Vampirella Barbie or a Lady Death Barbie. Not a big enough market, I guess, but a Purgatori Barbie would really get the would-be censors' dandruff up, wouldn't it? And the publicity wouldn't do them a bit of harm.
Or how's about a Klaus Barbie? (Google him, if you don't remember.)
Quack, Don
Noting how many of the characters listed fall into the "bad girl" genre, I'm wondering why there isn't a Vampirella Barbie or a Lady Death Barbie. Not a big enough market, I guess, but a Purgatori Barbie would really get the would-be censors' dandruff up, wouldn't it? And the publicity wouldn't do them a bit of harm.
Or how's about a Klaus Barbie? (Google him, if you don't remember.)
Quack, Don
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Posted by: RedFive
Posted on: 2008-08-09 at 08:54:26 AM
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Sigh, what's next? Wolverine Ken?
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Posted by: Don Markstein
Posted on: 2008-08-10 at 06:21:02 AM
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Probably not. I doubt they're that cool.
Quack, Don
Quack, Don
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Posted by: Clint
Posted on: 2008-08-31 at 08:42:08 PM
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The Black Canary outfit was designed in the late 1940s, when the charecter started. As I see it, the costume was designed to show that she is a woman and is proud of being one. I feel the same way about Wonder Woman's and Zatanna's duds, as well. 'Nuff Said!
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Posted by: Don Markstein
Posted on: 2008-09-02 at 06:48:44 AM
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That would be one way of looking at it.
Quack, Don
Quack, Don
