Discussion Question: How well do you think this storyline handles the issue of teen pregnancy? Is this a topic that superhero comics should try to tackle?
Poll Question:
Should Stephanie keep the baby (vs. putting it up for adoption)?
Absolutely!
I don’t think so.
It’s none of our business!
0voters
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Really love the Secret Origins issue - illustrated by Amanda Connor! And with some amazing little details, like Steph loving Sooperman as a toddler!
I think the handling was pretty good, though of course it depends on where you’re coming from. It’s interesting that DC seemed to have a “do not talk about this storyline” policy during Steph’s Batgirl issue, apparently. (source - BQM’s deactivated tumblr, archived here: Batgirl Vol 3 24 | Stephanie Brown Wiki | FandomAnd don’t think I didn’t want to revisit the baby she gave up for adoption (wasn’t allowed to go there).) Though Convergence: Batgirl did mention it!
Well, it was created in around 2009ish by my predecessor, who left around 2012, when the n52 disappointed them too much. I volunteered to run it in 2014, but this past year has been a bit too much for me to handle, so it’s a bit empty for now. Hopefully next year, with the Batgirls title, I’ll be excited enough to update it! (there was a big coding change that also destroyed my excitement for keeping it up to date, because it means I have to re-code every page by hand )
I think it does it well enough for a book where it’s dealing with a supporting character, and the lead of the book isn’t the father, but his current love interest. I think the scene of Steph’s dream of all of her superhero life happening around the baby does a decent job of establishing why she gives the baby up for adoption.
Honestly, I think it works well in this series because the bar for that is extremely low. Like, either a book skips over the pregnancy period (ala Catwoman One Year Later) or it just turns into a horrible catastrophe – Avengers #200, Ms Marvel, Marcus, need I say more?
I think the only big two superhero book I’ve seen handle pregnancy fairly well with the main star was the Dennis Hopeless run on Spider-Woman after Secret Wars.
As for whether superhero comics should handle issues like this, sure. I think superhero comics can handle just about any topic, it’s just a matter of care and execution.
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