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IGN: Cyblade Bares All For Series Covers:
Aaargh.
OK, look: I'm not advocating taking the sexy out of comics, OK? Not at the moment, anyway. (Though I would like to advocate for equal opportunity stupid sexy, but that's another issue.) But I do have two issues with the Cyblade covers.
First, it really does seem inappropriate to show a teenager naked on the cover. (We shall, for the sake of sanity, decline to comment on anatomical inaccuracy, since that's not really a helpful observation.) Second, the context would seem to indicate one -- or possibly both -- of two things: (1) she's just done something awful and is trying to wash off the physical and psychic stink of it, or, (2) something awful has just happened to her, and she's trying to wash off the physical and psychic stink of it.
The second observation is more about the character design than any real issue, and is the one where people will say that I'm trying to take the sexy out. But seriously, look at that second cover: lightly armored bandeau, lightly armored elbow-length gloves, lightly armored leggings and boots -- without heels, even! All terribly sensible, in their own way. But: big open cleavage area, so why armor the bandeau? And totally bare torso. Because a supervillain, or even a regular villain, would never think, "Ooooh ... look! Vulnerable squishy bits! We could do a lot of damage, maybe completely take her out if we aim at those!" No, of course they wouldn't.
Aaargh.
OK, look: I'm not advocating taking the sexy out of comics, OK? Not at the moment, anyway. (Though I would like to advocate for equal opportunity stupid sexy, but that's another issue.) But I do have two issues with the Cyblade covers.
First, it really does seem inappropriate to show a teenager naked on the cover. (We shall, for the sake of sanity, decline to comment on anatomical inaccuracy, since that's not really a helpful observation.) Second, the context would seem to indicate one -- or possibly both -- of two things: (1) she's just done something awful and is trying to wash off the physical and psychic stink of it, or, (2) something awful has just happened to her, and she's trying to wash off the physical and psychic stink of it.
The second observation is more about the character design than any real issue, and is the one where people will say that I'm trying to take the sexy out. But seriously, look at that second cover: lightly armored bandeau, lightly armored elbow-length gloves, lightly armored leggings and boots -- without heels, even! All terribly sensible, in their own way. But: big open cleavage area, so why armor the bandeau? And totally bare torso. Because a supervillain, or even a regular villain, would never think, "Ooooh ... look! Vulnerable squishy bits! We could do a lot of damage, maybe completely take her out if we aim at those!" No, of course they wouldn't.