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Spider-Woman #1 causes controversy with booty-centric cover art

"Imagine Spider-Man in that position instead" says critic of the sexualized cover art.

By Matthew Bradwell
Spider Woman #1 (Disney)
Spider Woman #1 (Disney)

NEW YORK, Aug. 20 (UPI) -- A variant cover for Marvel's upcoming Spider-Woman #1 has caused immediate controversy for disproportionately featuring the title-hero's buttocks as a focal point.

The cover, drawn by artist Milo Manara, has received wide-spread criticism for what many feel is the unnecessary sexploitation of the character for simply being a woman.

"If you're wondering what the hell Jessica Drew, a.k.a. Spider-Woman is doing, I believe it's what's known in the animal kingdom as 'presenting,'" criticized Gawker's sci-fi and science news imprint io9.

"All in all, the image seems to toe the line of pornographic," observed Megan Friedman of Elle.

"Imagine Spider-Man in that position instead, and the concept would have never gotten this far."

Friedman's criticism is a common one within the speculative fiction community, as many artists and models have taken to displaying the artistic hypocrisy between female sci-fi heroes and their male counterparts.

Manara's artwork has a long history of exploring the female form and implied eroticism, and the book's other cover by artist Greg Land -- despite featuring a gluteal-centric background -- is much more in line with contemporary comic book style.

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