[It's pretty obvious that the average CollegeCandy reader has some very strong opinions. Opinions that she likes to share with everyone on the site.  We love a strong woman, so we thought we'd give her a real forum to discuss her thoughts, feelings, and perspectives. Every Friday I'll be featuring a hot topic (like the romper!) and leaving it up to you, the readers, to duke it out. So, read it and get your debate on in the comments section below!]

We all grew up wanting to be supergirls – maybe not with all of the superpowers – but to be strong, smart, independent chicks who could handle themselves and still wear rockin’ heels. But the world of the superhero has always been a boys club (Wonder Woman famously started out as the Justice League’s secretary). Next week one of the most famous comics in history will have a female hero for the first time; and not just your run-of-the-mill, butt-kicking woman; but a hot, rich, Jewish, lesbian, butt-kicking woman.

But is this kind of character a blow for women’s rights, or are comics really just holding back the female image?

One of the concerns over women in comics has always been that they are hyper-sexualized, which some say gives many of the people (especially men) who read them, the wrong idea about women’s bodies and their functions in the world. And it’s definitely true that the world of superheros seems to be populated by a race of  supermodels with Barbie-doll proportions and a propensity for leather. Catwoman is practically the poster girl for fetish garb, and even the great Wonder Woman can’t get rid of the freaking bustier (no matter how hard her writers try)! I mean, have you ever seen Powergirl? Apparently her “powers” are housed in her cleavage. Read More »

The first time I’d ever heard of Watchmen was when I went to see The Dark Knight. There was a trailer with an amazing Smashing Pumpkins song, and it looked pretty cool. The trailer mentioned something about being based off of a graphic novel, so when I got home I called the bf since he worked at a comic book store in high school. (Nerdcore, I love it.) He told me that it was really good, and since I’d never read a graphic novel before, it’d be a good one to start off with. So I went and bought a copy.

I FRIGGIN LOVED IT. Here’s why I’m stoked about anything Watchmen; book or movie:

1) Incredibly well written: The entire time, I couldn’t put it down. Without giving anything away, it’s about a group of masked vigilantes who are considered superheroes, but only one of them has an actual power. The world is going down the crapper and they have to save it. But there’s just so much more to it than that. It’s written amazingly and you get everyone’s background history. You really get involved. Plus it’s won a Hugo award and is the only graphic novel on Time magazine’s “Best 100 English Language Novels,” which means it’s not just me who’s thinks it’s amazing. Read More »

Sex is weird. It’s basically a collaborative seizure that eventually results in a pink bowling ball that poops. Curiously, the most essential act to sustain the human race is also one of the most absurd and counterintuitive things you can do with your body. If nobody ever told people how to have sex, one has to wonder, would they figure it out?

But even if the regular flailing, shrieking mess that we call “lovemaking” wasn’t bizarre enough, us soldiers of sexuality have figured out a never-ending list of even stranger acts to indulge in. And this isn’t like, you know, tie me up, spank me a bit, maybe some handcuffs. Bondage and creepy power relationships aren’t weird anymore, especially not with all those damn vampire romance stories these days. And poop, well, poop is gross, but that’s still pretty old news. We’ve all heard about poop. No, these are fetishes that would actually sound interesting if you brought them up at a party. Links may be NSFW, and incidentally now I have to throw my hard drive into the center of the sun or something.

Hypnosis

Was anyone else ever kinda creeped out by the hypnotist at your “official” high school graduation party? Did anyone else ever find anything weird about fat, sweaty guys putting groups of young students to sleep and then ordering them to dance at his whim, zombie-like, before making them forget about the whole experience? Creepy, right? More like sexy. Although if all those hypnotherapy ads are to be believed, I think quitting smoking, losing weight and reinvigorating your marital life are pretty hot, too. Sign me up? Read More »

• London will be thinking of nothing but sex for months! (The Guardian)

• According to the last link, this title is totally deserved. (The Sun)

• This is the best practical joke ever. Also, Springfield cops are really understanding. (rrstar.com)

• This little kid means business! (seattlepi.com)

• A list of gay superheroes…in Harper’s Magazine? Weird. (Harper’s)