I overheard this gem while Corey was reading to Mo-Bug:

“Once upon a time, in a faraway kingdom, there was a beautiful queen, heavy with child. She sat sewing by her open window, gazing at the winter scene before her. Her needle slipped and a drop of blood from her pricked finger fell upon the snow on her window sill. Oh, she thought to herself, how I long for a beautiful baby girl with skin as white as snow, lips as red as blood and hair as black as night…” Cor slams the book shut.

“Or, actually, blue eyes and brown hair would be fine too. Hey! It doesn’t matter what she looks like. I’ll teach her to use her brain instead of a pretty face. And what the heck am I doing sitting next to an open window in the middle of winter right before I have a baby? This is messed up… ”

Corey is fantastic. She is a spectacular comic book artist, and, with great pride, creates characters who break stereotypical female molds. She takes distinct pleasure in challenging social norms, especially in regards to women.

Case in point:

Ha! Hope that doesn’t give anyone nightmares. A little twisted, I know. But this is one of my favorite Corey comics. I’m sure she imagined it while contemplating the futility and pathetic-ness of Ariel. Turns out, mermaids can take care of themselves…

I hope my girls, in some small way, pick up on her excellent sense of humor and radically different definition of feminine.