jayragepeace

I discovered 'Revolutionary Girl Utena' when I was in high school. I didn't quite know what to make of it, except that the cover showed two women embracing- one of which had vibrant pink hair, the other having purple hair. There were screenshots of sword fights, intimate scenes, and the box set was the first thirteen episodes and the movie, all marked down to 25 percent. 

So, I decided to check it out. 

Utena Tenjou is one of the best examples of the 'female Prince' characters I've ever seen. The girls at Ohtori Academy marvel over her and they fangirl (which is pretty hilarious). She has her own best friend/playful flirt in Wakaba- when Wakaba is publically humiliated over a letter she sent in confidence to one of the school's elite students, Utena's sense of justice and anger on behalf of her friend cause her to confront her tormentor, Saionji, and after he assaults a girl that Utena sees watering flowers in the rose garden- her first sight of Anthy Himemaya is definitely noteworthy in the series and in canon. 

The symbolism in the entire series and the movie is mind-boggling. There are symbols within symbols, with hidden meanings all over the place. 

But what becomes evident is the friendship and later on, love that evolves between Utena and Anthy. While the Student Council all at some point has custody of Anthy as the 'Rose Bride', it is Utena who wants to release Anthy from this incarceration. But things only become more convoluted and complicated, going into themes of murder, incest, and destruction. 

Utena keeps picking herself up, over and over again to confront the upperclassmen, her own trials and demands of school, life, and her own realization of her feelings and conflicts. She is torn in her decision-making, but strong willed enough to do what needs to be done. 

The movie only reinforced this... and the scene at the end was, to me, intensely satisifying. 

I hope to finish the entire series one day, and I am only two seasons into it. But Utena will remain one of my favorite characters. 

So anyone who browses my favorites will noticed I have a lot of Haruka/Michiru pictures... that's a story that began after high school...

When I was a sophomore in high school, a friend of mine named Jeff lent me some VHS tapes of a series called Ranma 1/2. That was my first real turn-on to what anime had to offer. I watched cartoons and read novels for entertainment. I had heard of anime, but didn't understand what it quite was. As a kid I had seen episodes of 'G-Force: Guardians of Space' (which was known in Japan as Science Ninja Team Gatchaman), and dealt with Pokemon episodes rather than attend my junior high (which was not my favorite place to be).

After school, I was employed at Sam Goody as a sales clerk; my first real job. Several consequences came of my employment, one of which was an interest in anime. I picked up on DVD off of the shelves, and it was called 'Sailor Moon S'. I had seen a few of the American English translations on Cartoon Network, and it hadn't caught my interest, but I wanted to hear the original in Japanese.

So, I watched the first couple of episodes. AND THEN...

I remember hearing the theme and seeing the rose petals fall across the screen, and I saw them for the first time: Haruka Tenoh and Michiru Kaioh. Michiru was elegant, poised, very classy... Haruka was bold, determined, strong and tough... both were young women who were in a very intense relationship (though how intimate it was, that was left for the viewer to determined/fantasize about).

They were my first lesbian role models; there's not another way I can think of to put it. It cemented home for me what type of person I wanted to be like.

I imagined myself as Haruka; swift, coming to terms with my future, but being reliable for a partner who earned my trust and perhaps more than that... and the fact that Michiru is a femme knockout doesn't hurt in the least.

Confession; I cried at the scene in the cathedral. Yes, they had me caring that much.

I gave my DVDs away, and traded in the manga I had read. But I will remember those two, and hope that they and their family (with Hotaru as their daughter and Setsuna as their dear friend) will continue on, along with the other Sailor Senshi into legend.

*And I would totally wield the sword that Haruka wielded. It looked so shiny. ^^

I feel the need to add this entry because of the close character relationship that Kate Kane and Renee Montoya have, or at least had, due to the 52 (mass murder of characters) re-write that the powers that be at DC did...

Okay, actually it was because I read 'Elegy' in one day and I couldn't put it down. An intro by Rachel Maddow, written by Greg Rucka, art by J.H.Williams III... you couldn't ask for better (except for more Renee/Question cameos, but that's just me).

Man... Kate Kane is one badass lady, and I mean that with nothing but respect. She is the rebellious one in the family of her mother, father, and twin sister Beth, who often has to defuse her more wild sister from violence or anger. I can't go into the story without revealing spoilers, but suffice to say she is a strong, worthy character to take the mantle of Batwoman.

There are similarities between Renee and Kate; both lose someone close to them, both deal with the loss of something important in their lives; losing the goal of whatever they were fighting for drove both into self-destructive paths. But in the end, both characters picked themselves up (with some help), dusted off their shoulders, and dove into the action.

The difference?

Renee inherited her 'hero title', but earned the right to do so with the previous Question's blessing.

This incarnation of Kate, based off of an original character, was a 180 twist from what you would normally see. She wasn't just another take on Batman, or another shadow in the darkness. She blazed in like a fireball, as if to say 'I'm here. Deal with it.' She IS Batwoman, and Batwoman is her.

Kate was strong enough to go through West Point, and to return her ring when she refused to hide who she was during the days of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'. She was strong enough to go through intense training, mentally and physically pushed to and past the point of breaking, to gain her strength and skill. Her own father became her biggest ally and rock, grounding her when she was frustrated and angry and unable to cope or take another step. 

I still miss Renee, and I want to see her again.

But I am really, really glad that we still have Kate.

So browsing through my favorite pictures and all the stuff on deviantart that catches my eye (and my imagination) I find I have an admiration for certain characters. Hopefully, through the journal I can communicate just why I like these characters... and to eventually have a good reason for doing so. ^^

I started reading comics in Disney Adventures magazine; mostly Disney with previews like BONE and Nervous Rex thrown in for kicks. But I never really bought comic books until I started reading Archie comics in high school. I had to give them up when they were taking up too much space in my room, and eventually moved on to watching comics in the movie form.

I remember watching the Batman movies as a kid, and I liked them, as dark as they were. (I have to credit Joel Schumacher for doing what he thought was good, but seeing the dude that was to be Bane getting tied up to a table and having a mask placed on it... and mind you, I was only about 11 at this time... *insert uncomfortable silence here* Little wonder it took me a long time to figure out 'things' about myself.)

So, during and past college, I found myself looking for some awesome lesbian heroines. And there were plenty if you knew where to look for them. But I kept on seeing the same thing; either they were filthy rich, or they had superpowers, or both. Not to knock against superpowers, because I like Superman and the X-Men (respect due to the Marvel group). And nothing against Batwoman, because she is badass in many fine forms of the term. I just wanted someone... who wasn't like the normal, regular crowd of heroes and heroines.

I thought to myself; 'What about a heroine who isn't rich, or has superpowers, but who can kick ass anyway? Who is unapologetic about being herself, and that includes liking other women? And if she has a helluva mack game, I'm cool with that too!'

Enter Ms. Montoya.

After reading the first issue of Crime Bible, I was hooked. And I read some of the original work done with Vic Sage (the original Question) and was hooked again. THEN, I remembered that the man who created the Question had also created 'The Creeper', who was in a cameo in the animated Batman series! It was like this awesome game of connect-the-dots!

I actually felt a little glad that they hadn't renewed her in the 'New 52', because it meant I could catch up with whatever she was in before and not get logged down looking for back issues.

Yet a short time later (and after looking at copious amounts of fanart on here), I knew I was wrong.

Renee's story is filled with overcoming so many hardships in her life and work, but throughout all that happens to her, even when she is at the darkest moments, she never fell back or away. Was there complaining? Oh yeah, her snarkiness is one of the best things about her. Were there trials? Ex-girlfriends, dying friends, giving up smoking, training intensely in martial arts and finding oneself in the swirling maelstrom that is this world... indeed there were.

But she didn't back down. Renee is such a strong character; her power comes from her determination and stubbornness, questioning and answering what life throws at her; being challenged, but always aiming a challenge back at her enemies. She wasn't naive, or world-weary... she was street-smart, and Gotham raised, so she was resilient... When she put on the mask for the first time, she was THE QUESTION. And she deserved and earned that role in admirable fashion.

But the 'power that be' at DC didn't seem to care or consider that. I can still hope that somehow, in some world, there is still a Renee Montoya, who is also The Question, still kicking ass and getting answers for those who seek them, but cannot search or fight for them.

Because in order for goodness to win against evil, someone has to fight. Renee Montoya is one of those who can and will bring a good fight.

I'm starting to wonder if I should even continue writing. Thinking about it, my dream of becoming a writer seems like it's fading each day as I continue to work at the same old same old job, bored with all of the sameness yet glad that my mind doesn't have to be extended to some obscure pattern of thought.

But I miss going to school!

(And I never thought I'd say that, but it's true.)

It had necessary interaction between other people, there was plenty of time to research for projects or papers, you could use other materials as long as they were carefully cited within your text, you could live off of coffee and free food (like soup or pizza) around campus, there was always a hallway to fall asleep in where no one would steal your stuff, and only at a college campus would someone be dumb enough to place a pool hall right next to a computer lab!

(sigh) Oh the memories...

Lately I have had some ideas for either a story or a manga (if it were to be illustrated out of my mind that is), the trouble is just applying them to paper. And taking the time to do so with care and detail.

Now I'm lucky if I can speak properly. With all the double negatives in my speech, my previous English teachers would have a fit.

I have to deal with it somehow. I could return to school but if I ever want to leave my parent's house and my hometown, I'm gonna have to work for it.

And I have to work in the clause that I escape with my sanity intact.