The Depressing List B side Introduction

Okay, first thing's first, go here so you know the story.

Really though, Ragnell and I have been talking about compiling a list like this for a while and now we're going to do it. She's handling the female characters and I'm handling the guys.

As there are only two of us, we'll be glad for any contributions to the list. So if you know of a male character that fits in any of the below categories, please either suggest him in a reply to this post or through email at r_nyalveis@hotmail.com. If possible, please provide an issue number or the name of the storyarc for my reference. Thanks.

Please note that we're centering our focus on DC and Marvel comics at this time.

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Our category list

I. Explicit Instances of Actual/Attempted Sexual Assault

A. Rape/Sexual Assault of Adult Victims (Actual):

The primary subcategory will be "On-Panel" (Shown explicitly through current events or flashback) or "Off-Panel" (established in Dialogue but not Visually Indicated).

The secondary subcategories will be as follows:

-In the Present: Storyline/Plot-Related

(For example: In the Killing Joke, Barbara Gordon was shot by the Joker, who then removed her clothing and took suggestive pictures of her. This would count as "storyline-related assault" as it happened in the present tense of that comic.)

-In the Past 1.0: Backstory Established at Character Origin

(For example: In the first issue of the Post-Crisis Wonder Woman series, it was established that Queen Hippolyta and the other Amazons were raped by Herakles and his men in Ancient Greece.)

-In the Past 2.0: Flashback/Backstory Retroactively Inserted

(For example: in the miniseries Identity Crisis, it was established that at some point during the Satellite-Era of the Justice League, Sue Dibny was sexually assaulted by Doctor Light)

-In the Past 3.0: Flashback/Backstory Retroactively Removed

(For example: Helena Bertinelli's backstory used to contain a reference of a childhood sexual assault [Section C] however the later retelling of her origin retroactively removed it.)

B. Rape/Sexual Assault of Adult Victims (Attempted):

Same subcategory setup as seen in section I.A.

C. Sexual Assault/Abuse/Molestation of Minors (Actual):

The primary and secondary subcategories will be the same as in section I.A and I.B, but there will be a tertiary subcategory that addresses statuatory rape.

(For example, In Robin, Stephanie Brown was impregnated by her boyfriend at age 15. The sexual acts were portrayed as consentual, which would differentiate them from acts of traumatic molestation or assault, but still qualifies as statuatory rape.)

D. Sexual Assault/Abuse/Molestation of Minors (Attempted):

The subcategories of Section D will be the same set-up as seen in Sections I.A, I.B and I.C.

E. Sexual Activity under False Pretenses:

Same subcategories of Sections I.A, I.B, I.C and I.D

II. Implications, Subtext and Symbolism

A. Implied/Subtextual Sexual Assault of an Adult Victim:

(For example Dinah Lance's torture in Longbow Hunters is commonly believed to have contained rape. Quotes have been attributed to creators to indicate that this was not the case, however the particular scene could be read with that interpretation)

The subcategories will be:

-Taunts and Threats with Sexual Overtones
-Physical Assault/Abduction/Torture/Murder with Sexual Overtones

B. Implied/Subtextual Sexual Assault of a Minor:

(For example: Starfire's backstory of slavery contains the implication of sexual abuse, however it has never, to our knowledge, been confirmed or denied)

This will have the same subcategories as II.A.

C. Symbolic Rape/Violation that are not sexual in nature.

Subcategories will include:

-Mind-Control, which robs the victim of self-autonomy and will
-Forced Transformation, which robs the victim of control of physical state.
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We anticipate that this project will take *awhile*, so any help you can give us with regards to contributions would be more than appreciated.