Sweet, Sweet Subtext

Sweet, Sweet Subtext is the second episode of the second season of Pork and Konjac, written by Dana Min Goodman, Wyatt Cenac and Sajeet Convoy. Seeking time away from their respective groups, Colleen, Fiona, Rhonda, Kate, Alison and Donna team up to write a fan-made comic based on Marvel Comics' She-Hulk. However, they would soon face pushback from a smut obsessed publisher who tries to steer them toward his preferred direction. Meanwhile, Alex takes part in a stage play with an actress seeking to return to the fold, but her past resurfaces.

Plot[]

The episode begins with a disclaimer.

"The following events in this episode, though incorporating real life subject matter, attitudes expressed whether directly or in passing, is fictitious. Any similarities to those living, dead, active or dormant are purely coincidental."

"This isn't to say the events don't occur, with wolves in nerd clothing or those who fit a certain stereotype seeking to cause trouble and prevent comic media from moving forward without pushback."

"If you take issue with anything here, you very likely fit the stereotypes presented in this episode, beyond any objective faults."

"Dictated, not read. Public relations."

Alex is doing a line-read for a stage play she is taking part in, said play involving a former prominent actress seeking to return to the field. A guessing game relating to who the actresses is runs Colleen ragged, compounded with a lack of personal time, Colleen wants to take a personal vacation to recharge. Elsewhere, members of Alyson's group had previously left due to in-fighting and Alyson's then over-persistence and are trying to find something new to do. They and Colleen would overhear each other at a secondhand store, with Colleen confronting a clerk relating to political allegories in X-Men, something the group resonates with. Both would meet in a diner and go over their shared love of comic books, with Colleen entertaining the idea of making their own comic based on one of their favorite superheroes, each agreeing to meet up the next day to plan it out.

They would meet back up and plan out the story, but are almost deterred by how derivative their concept turns out to be. Colleen reassures them by suggesting they attempt a direction nobody has tried, settling with a psychological thriller story with feminist themes. The group would write the first issue, and in looking for a publisher find promotions for an outfit called 2D Publishing, After presenting their story, the head publisher Cunningham would provide them notes to incorporate for the final draft. They would be dismayed to learn the publisher wants them to take their story in a more sexual direction, owed to the general perception of the character by a dedicated community. However, fearing dismissal from the project they would attempt to compromise by incorporating the suggestions but in their own way. Cunningham would take issue with the dialog in the story, but the girls stand their ground. Cunningham would warn them that if they're dismissed from the project he would assume complete creative control per the terms of their contrat.

Alex would go to a local playhouse to rehearse for the play, meeting her co-star Lisa Zane. The play had been co-written by Zane relating to personal experiences, those of which she is reluctant to go into. Both do a line-read which goes well, though things sour when a compliment Alex makes on Zane's voice triggers a bad memory. Both would make peace and opt to go to a cafe for lunch. As Alex excuses herself to look for a table, Zane is confronted by a patron and Alex intervenes. Zane claims that the patron was sexually assaulting her and Alex forces him out. In spite of Alex insisting they call the cops, Zane claims she doesn't want to press any charges as Alex got involved before it could get severe. Both would return to the playhouse to finish out their rehearsals, before leaving at night.

The next day, Alex would return to the playhouse for a final rehearsal before the show. Noticing a co-writing credit from Zane and the subject matter, she would ask Zane about it. She would claim it is based on a point in her career but does not want to explain it, stating she wants to do the play for cathartic purposes. Later the play would start, and halfway into it Zane is subject to catcalls once certain crowd members recognize her voice. She would have a meltdown when she gets overwhelmed before storming off, ignoring Alex as she tries to comfort her. Taking certain calls said, Alex looks into it and discovers the point Zane alluded to, that in an old Incredible Hulk cartoon where she played an indirect role in a sexually suggestive scene. Seeing how the scene shaped viewers for the worst and plays a role in discourse around comic culture, Alex would form a grudge against those kinds of comic fans. A drunken Alex goes on a tirade at a bar as Anthony and Mace try to comfort her, but Alex declares she wants revenge.

The next morning, Colleen gets a call from Cunningham alleging she had vandalized yet to be published comics in order to spread feminist propaganda and call out perversion. Cunningham would hold his end of their agreement and force Colleen and company off of the project. The girls would find the first issue, and are horrified to find it altered to suit Cunningham's mentality, leading them to a drinking binge. Alex would find the girls drunk in front of her house complaining about what happened, but passes them over due to their arrogant behavior. Alex would later discover a video message she recorded while drunk, revealing she had caused trouble for She-Hulk fans. To the effect Alex would find herself the victim of a number of hazings by said fans in retaliation.

Zane would awaken, and find a similar drunken message stating that she had harassed an artist into censuring She-Hulk fanart. Both would contact each other over Zoom to make sense of the events, opting to contact one of the fans in order to discuss a plan for compensation. Cunningham would be brought on and he would claim that both can make it up to him by performing an act paralleling Zane's notable role. Though Zane reluctantly agrees, she would give Alex more details on her role. Zane claimed that she wanted to provide a more direct portrayal, but was goaded into an over the top direction due to the staff wanting to take advantage of the innuendos drawn. While there is an easy way to put the discourse behind them, neither want to give in to Cunningham's demands fearing they'd be thrown for a loop. The two would recruit Colleen and the others to make a comic that fits Cunningham's request, and they'd agree on the condition control of their comic be given back to them. Cunningham would agree to the proposition and they'd get to work.

The comic would be sent to Cunningham, who would be pleased based on the sexually suggestive comic alone and honor his end of the deal. However, he would be horrified to find that the comic is an attack on She-Hulk fans. He would threaten to go back on the deal, but the girls point out a loophole in the deal that goes against him. In the aftermath of this, Alex and Zane try their play again, this time altering it to focus on what Zane would've wanted to do back then, while Colleen and the others are content to making the comics for themselves. The group would encounter Jessica Gao and offers to join their writing team, but the girls would flatly turn her down.

Cunningham would go through a mental crisis as he is no longer able to see past the allegories of She-Hulk and soon other superheroes, breaking him from his views. He would begin to write a fanmade story involving X-Men character Rogue and how fans view her.

Cast[]

Starring[]

Julie Rei Goldstein: Alex
Stephanie Hsu: Mace
Julia Wolov: Colleen
Lombardo Boyar: Anthony
Olivia Thirlby: Alyson
Charlie Day: Drew

Also Starring[]

Olivia d'Abo: Rhonda
Joy Osmanski: Kate
Kirsten Schaal: Fiona
Sarah Silverman: Alison
Elizabeth Gillies: Donna
Dana Min Goodman: Mina

Special Guest Star[]

Neal McDonough: Cunningham
Lisa Zane: Herself

Written by[]

Wyatt Cenac
Dana Min Goodman
Sajeet Convoy

Teleplay by[]

Bill Oakley
Josh Weinstein

Directed by[]

Elliot Strange

Executive Producers[]

Michael Rotenberg

Trivia[]

The episode pokes fun at a fandom dedicated to sexual depictions of the She-Hulk, one spurred by an episode of the 1996 Incredible Hulk cartoon "Doomed" that introduced the character She-Hulk that also serves as a basis for fetish art pieces.
Neal McDonough previously played Bruce Banner in the 1996 Incredible Hulk cartoon.
Zane says "Tatiana was right, women do have to control their anger more." This is a reference to the Disney+ series She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, where Jennifer Walters, played by Tatiana Maslany goes on a rant about how she has to control her anger more than Bruce Banner/Incredible Hulk. The interpretation of the line had been used against the series in criticisms of her character.
Colleen and company's She-Hulk comics are loosely based on those by Mariko Tamaki, whose run of the comics faced backlash from grifter channels for allegedly stripping She-Hulk of her identity.
The episode was written by Sajeet Convoy to vent about attitudes had in the comic industry, especially over criticisms of comics relating to established characters that take different directions. The disclaimer at the start was created by him.
Colleen brings up going to Chipotle to get a Mr. Pibb/Pibb Xtra. Certain restaurants feature products from Pepsi or Coca-Cola, Pibb being the product of the latter company. However, most Coca-Cola fountain drinks also offer Dr Pepper, which Pibb is a derivative of. Pibb is typically offered in restaurants that don't have Dr Pepper available.

Quotes[]

Colleen: Hey. It's Colleen.
Donna: Do we know you?
Colleen: I helped you guys flush out that crazy Christian guy?
Alison: I remember the Christian. Well with so many of us some people are bound to just fade into the background.
Rhonda: So what do you want?
Colleen: I heard you guys at the comic store, you know, X-Men's political, death to all chuds, old Marvel was written by horny old toads. You meant that right?
Rhonda: We have our differences, what of it?
Colleen: I was thinking we could make a comic of our own, stick it to 'em. I wanna do a little project just to shake things up a bit.
Kate: Well if you're serious, why don't you get me a Mr Pibb?
Colleen: On my way.
Mina: I don't think they make that anymore.
Kate: Duh. Now, where were we?
Fiona: Judging people.
Woman: I'll take a tuna melt and a blueberry pie, oh, but I'd like the pie first.
Waitress: You know what that makes you honey, a hot ticket.
Rhonda: What the-?
Colleen: Here.
Kate: Huh?
Colleen: There was a Chipotle next door.
Kate: Wow. So that's what it is.
Rhonda: Alright if you're this serious about working together, let's meet at Shaw's Books and Coffee tomorrow morning, say eightish?
Colleen: You mean a little before eight or a little into eight?
Rhonda: ...you heard me.
Colleen: Alright. I'm a little hungry, can I sit with you?
Donna: Oh, well... the table's kinda full.
Colleen: I can pull up a chair.
Colleen: I'll see you tomorrow.
Waitress: Can I take your order?
Donna: Yeah I'll have an entree and a dessert but I'll have the dessert first!
Alison: Hey hot ticket, er, her der dur!
Donna: Okay for real this time, I'll have a cheeseburger with brie, cheddar, provolone, mozzarella, bacon, pickles, mustard *smacks lips* tabasco A1 steak sauce and would it kill you to toast the buns?
Waitress: We don't have A1 steak sauce.
Donna: ...well go to the store and buy some! Dumb spinster c**t...

Reception[]

Sweet, Sweet Subtext received mixed reviews. More positive reception centered on the depiction of the cultural and communal climate of comic books as well as the overall characterization. The episode highlights opinions shaped on past reader experiences and reactionary responses to changes.

However, the episode drew considerable backlash from reactionaries and grifter channels, criticizing the episode for its perceived bias and depicting She-Hulk fans as perverted, taking especial issue with the casting of Lisa Zane to voice the opinions of the writers, due to her heavy association with the 1996 Hulk cartoon. Bob Forward, who had written the episode "Doomed" which is referenced heavily throughout the episode, expressed embarrassment for writing it and gave his approval for the episode. Zane expressed similar sentiments and discomfort toward She-Hulk fans, stating "In a time where people went crazy over sexy ladies, it's never fun to look back on."

Disclaimer[]

Animation produced in Melbourne, Australia with the assistance of Vicscreen

The producers acknowledge the support of the Australian Government through the producer offset and Screen Australia

This project was completed with assistance from the California Film Commission

The characters and incidents portrayed and the names used herein are fictitious, and any similarity to the name, character, or history of any person is entirely coincidental or unintentional.

Ownership of this motion picture is protected by copyright and other applicable laws, and any unauthorized duplication, distribution or exhibition of this motion picture could result in criminal prosecution as well as civil liability.

SAG-AFTRA

This picture made under the jurisdiction of IATSE affiliated with A.F.L.-C.I.O.-C.L.C.