Huh, they're right: this scene DOES work!

Zhinxy's posted this Wolverine interrogating Spider Woman in the shower scene over on scans_daily.

Now, I'm going to admit outright, I have not read the issue in question. Moreover, I'm not particularly impressed with Bendis at the best of times and not really inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt.

That said, I actually really like this scene.

It could be considered a bit gratuitous in that there really isn't a need to have him interrogate her in a shower, sure, but the thing is, this works for me. Having it in the shower isn't necessary, but it does add a special sexualized element to the confrontation without being exploitative.

There are so many ways that this could have gone wrong, so many. But instead they made it work for me. I think because a) it's Wolverine. Wolverine's not one of my favorite characters, but even I, at my most irritated with him, would never suggest the man is a rapist. He might stab her in the head, sure, but he wouldn't rape her.

It's weird when I type it out like that, since one would think a naked stabby death would be something to be avoided, (and it certainly does have sexual overtones...anyone who thinks it doesn't really needs to go watch Psycho again) but the difference, to me, is that with Logan, the naked part probably wouldn't enter into the equation. If he were going to stab her in the head, he'd probably do it as easily clothed as he would naked. Stabbing her isn't about dominating her sexually or otherwise, it would be about ending a threat. Impersonal.

If this were a villain? The scene would not play out well at all. If it were a character we could believe would rape her, the scene would go from tense to full on threat, which wouldn't really be cool. I won't say that sort of scene is never useful in storytelling, but it's not suited to a superhero book and there are other, non-sexualized ways, to carry about the same threat.

b) she's confident. Annoyed, but confident. Yes, she's naked, and yes she's in the shower, but she knows that he won't rape her. She knows that she can put up a fight if it comes down to it. She's also a character who's used her sexuality as a weapon, so she knows full well that even if he's trying to get a psychological edge over her by making her vulnerable, she's not falling for it.

If she were frightened? It would be different and squicky. If she were cowering, cringing, crying for help? The scene would have been very unpleasant and infuriating. The fact that she's meeting him on an equal level, uncowed and confident regardless of implied vulnerability...

Well, that's just hot, really.

It's essentially like the difference between rough sex and rape. The former can look violent, scary, painful to an observer, sure. But if everyone's consenting and having a good time, well then, there you go. Rape on the otherhand is rape. It's ugly, awful and horrible.

This scene is both violently and sexually charged. But it's not just him dominating/threatening her. It's equal and mutual. It's rough and hot and she's definitely contributing to the atmosphere as much as he is. It's honestly sexy.

There's a part of me that kind of wants them to dooo eeet. (I'm twelve at heart, and thus incapable of talking about sex maturely. :-P) And I barely know who Spider-Woman IS, or if it's remotely in character for them TO have sex. But damn if that's not hot.