BEWARE THE VALKYRIES: KATE LETH ON ORGANIZING WOMEN COMIC BOOK RETAILERS [INTERVIEW]
Behind the scenes in comics, there are a number of shadowy groups pulling the strings of the industry… Okay, that’s not entirely true, but there is a group that operates behind the scenes and affects the industry, and that group is the Valkyries. The Valkyries is a group of women who work in comics retail that have banded together. They push books that they particularly love, and work with creators, publishers, and fans to sell more comics — to women especially. But above all, the group functions as a private support network for women in the comics retail business, and offers its members help when confronting some of the more unpleasant dimensions of the comic book business and geek culture as they relate to women.
Started by cartoonist and retailer (and ComicsAlliance contributor!) Kate Leth, the group just hit 300 members total.We chatted with Leth about the group, its purpose, and its plans for the future.
ComicsAlliance: Let’s start at the beginning: how did the Valkyries group come about?
Kate Leth: The Valkyries were an idea that my boss and I came up with when, at the comic shop one day, I mentioned how great it would be if there were a girl gang for women working in comic shops. He told me, reasonably, that the best way to make that happen was to do it myself, so I started a Facebook group with about twelve members. I knew some girls in other shops from traveling, from Tumblr and Twitter, and asked them to pass along the word. Eventually I asked my friend Lissa, who had built my website and now actually works at my comic shop and is a member, to help me make a form for people to apply.
CA: What are the requirements to join?
KL: Just two – that you are a woman and you work in a comic book shop. I’ll add to this that we do welcome trans, genderqueer and nonbinary members. Also, some members don’t work full-time for a store – we have Valkyries who organize events for their shops, or work for store credit. We try and be inclusive! I think, if you look at the phrase “a woman who works in a comic shop” and you feel it applies to you in one way or another, you’re welcome to apply.