Ramblings about a Bird in Fishnets

I am a feminist and a comic book reader. Naturally this occasionally results in quite a few rants combining these two factors.

Today I want to try something different.

I always say "It's not about the costumes" but even I have to admit that many times that is what I rant about.

So I thought I'd focus now on a costume that I like. One that is both sexualized and decidedly impractical, but I like it anyway.

I'm talking about Black Canary's costume, specifically the one with the fishnets.

My practicality winces occasionally at the thought of actually fighting crime in those shoes, but honestly, I think it's perfect for Dinah for quite a few reasons:

1. It's honoring her mother. Dinah is one of the few female-to-female legacy characters.

2. It's got an old-time movie appeal to me. Dinah is one of those characters that I tend to think should always be depicted as an old-movie star, like Veronica Lake. (Hal Jordan is another for me. In his case, Cary Grant) One of those classically beautiful women who can make fishnets look classy. Sure her costume is more cabaret than Sunset Boulevard, but I think it fits the overall atmosphere.

3. She's an adult woman. This isn't a sixteen year old engenue wearing a sash with delusions of grandeur around her waist. Dinah is in her thirties, possibly forties (Lazarus youthing not-withstanding), she's experienced and confident. She knows her body and how to dress to impress.

I guess the big difference is that for me, it seems that Dinah is old enough to understand the wardrobe choices she's making instead of performing some adolescent cry for attention.

4. Dinah is a woman that knows her limits. She may sacrifice some practicality for style, but she also knows her skills and capabilities well enough to be able to do this. She is a character that is sometimes flighty, but never stupid, she knows what she can get away with.

5. And this is oddly important to me: She doesn't wear it when it's socially inappropriate.

When Dinah was in the JSA, she wore a plainer no-fishnet ensemble. While it lacked in 40s-ish style, I really liked what the choice seemed to say about her character. The JSA is classy, and even if they probably wouldn't mind what she wears, it seems like a nice show of respect to dress a bit more conservatively. Also she's on a team with men she considers like uncles. It would make sense not to feel the need to show off so much in this case.

While I realize the costume design really didn't have anything to do with the teams she's placed on in the meta, out-of-comic-book sense, I like that I can attribute such a motive to the character herself.

Now that she's not on the JSA anymore, I much prefer her in the fishnets.

6. It's iconic. That's what I think of when I think "Black Canary" and that's not a bad thing.

7. It's genuinely sexy. I have nothing against sexy heroines. As long as the sexiness suits the character. Dinah Lance should be sexy. Supergirl and Stargirl should be cute. Hence I bitch more about Kara. (To be fair, I agree with many: the comic itself IS improving, I'm not completely won over yet...the high school experience portrayed rings a bit oddly to me...an adult trying to evoke a time/mental state he'd left a long time ago. But the comic is definitely on an upward swing.)

Anyway. I like Dinah's costume, just like I like Storm's. I like sexy, showy costumes...when they are pretty and suit the character.