Am I the crazy one here?

[richardak]

So I recently posted a couple of pages from old-school Birds of Prey, and, while rereading the issue, I was reminded of something that I noticed at the time, so I've decided to post a couple more pages from the same story (don't worry, I'm still well below the page limit).  In this story, the Birds have come into conflict with a government agent called Spy Smasher, who turns out to be Katarina Armstrong, an old "friend" of Barbara Gordon from college (note, the quotation marks were actually in Barbara's thought-caption in the comic).  Barbara reminisces about how she and Katarina were close once:



Now, I know that one of the rules here is that, on scans_daily, it's never just you, but here's my question: am I crazy to think that the subtext is all but screaming that Barbara and Katarina were a lot more than just friends back in college?  Consider that Barbara says "I thought she hung the moon."  That's a very strong statement of affection.  And look at the picture that that statement is appended to: they're sitting bed together, by themselves, both barefoot, Katarina reclining.  And look at the expression on Barbara's face in the midst of what's supposed to be a heated debate.  Add that to all the general subtext in Birds that Barbara is, well, gay, and doesn't it kind of seem like these two were lovers?  And wouldn't that explain the special bitterness between them in the present? 

Granted, it could just have been a very intense friendship.  That could explain all the same phenomena, which is why it's subtext, not text, but am I wrong to think that the subtext is practically screaming here?

Comments

[q99]

As the SD saying goes, 'it's never just you.'

[richardak]

Yes, I know, but I sort of wanted to hear what other people thought in more detail than that.

[siliconshaman]

Nope, not just you.

[icon_uk]

It's certainly not a difficult conclusion to reach...

[beyondthefringe]

Now that you mention it.... hmmm.

Interesting that in the newest Batgirl, they introduce Munira Khairuddin, former friend/college roommate/sparring partner/rival. Another one of those intense friendship/rivalries that, if you look at it the right way, might be construed as more. Although it only gets a few pages of development.

Gail Simone seems determined to give Barbara these subtext-laced relationships.:)

[shadowpsykie]

wait what?

[bj_l]

And then they have sex on the bed, right? That is the only way this can end.

[lieut_kettch]

Batgirls ALWAYS end up having sex on the bed.

[bariman]

And on the floor. And in the shower. And a couple times on the kitchen table, but they make sure to clean and sanitize it later, unlike some people. *significant glance in Nightwing's direction*

[lieut_kettch]

One does not clean and sanitize surfaces graced with the presence of Nightwing's derriere. Such surfaces are preserved and cherished, and nothing else is ever allowed to come in contact with them ever.

..

[thepinkperil]

No. Just rivals who considered each other equals worthy of the competition.

[starwolf_oakley]

Way back when, I had plans for a "The Death of Barbara Gordon" series of commissions (similar to The Death of Captain America). One of them would be Huntress confronting Katrina.

[skemono]

And look at the picture that that statement is appended to: they're sitting bed together, by themselves, both barefoot, Katarina reclining.

Of course they're barefoot. You can't wear shoes on the bed, that's just gauche.

[donnblake]

For what it's worth, when I was in college and to a lesser degree afterwards I sat on people's beds barefoot all the time, often without having a romantic or sexual relationship with them. Sometimes one of us even reclined!

[skemono]

Inconceivable!

[squirle]

I don't really see anything beyond just the text. (Though I have never heard the expression "Hung the moon" before, so perhaps that does add more intimacy to the whole thing, I wouldn't know). You can read it in there, I guess, but I think Gail Simone would've been a little less coy about it if she had intended it.

Tangentially, your post reminds me of an issue I had with Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., where I had the inverse reaction you had to this scene to the Fitz-Simmons relationship. I was really hoping those two were just best buddies, even as the subtext was rapidly turning into text. The "shy guy secretly pining for his female friend" is a plot we've seen a million times already. And as a guy with a female best friend, I really would've prefered to see a subversion of that plot for once. (Luckily Black Widow didn't turn into a love-interest in Captain America II. That was nice!)

[donnblake]

I would've been happy with them staying mutually platonic, but I did appreciate Fitz realizing he needed to get over himself and stop grumping at Trip.

[shadowpsykie]

i think it's safe to read it either way.

Barbara, at least during Gails run (and that one panel from Dixon) seemed to be open to it. i think in her mind (gails) Canary was a little Bisexual...


simone likes to play with the fluidity of sexuality...

so it;s possible.