The Infamous Milo Manara Spider-Woman Variant

I'd like to talk for a minute about the Milo Manara variant cover for Spider-woman.
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Spider-woooow...

     If you keep up with comic book news as I occasionally do, you have seen this image. Milo Manara drew this as a variant cover for the upcoming premier issue of the new Spider-Woman series. While many fans loved this cover for obvious reasons (be honest) other readers and non-readers saw some problems with this being on shelves. 

     With sexism being hot topic right now (rightfully so) this cover saw a lot of controversy from it's announcement. This cover was in the ether for a while, then it was cancelled, and now we see fans wanting to bring it back to shelves. Every hot button issue has been hit for this illustration, free speech, pollution of youth, rape culture, sexism, the list goes on. Manara himself has been reported by "Bleeding Cool" as saying essentially "it's not my fault women are hot". I am paraphrasing, of course.

     On the one hand I see how this image is potentially objectifying. On the other hand I love this cover. It's pretty, it's sexy, it's something I'd want in my collection. The fact is Milo Manara is Milo Manara. He's gonna draw the female for in a way that guys want to see it. Is his stuff a little overtly sexual? Yes, but marvel knew that so why even consider him if that's not the direction you want to go. 

     Bottom line, I'm for it 100%. I love and respect all the women in my life and I believe women should have all the rights, respect, and dignity men receive. That being said... have you seen how men are portrayed in comics. I'm never gonna be a brooding, dark, emotional, stoic, romantic, mystery man... We read comics to escape reality and see more interesting and, at times, more pleasurable portrayals of the world. I want to love this cover and covers like it without feeling like an evil despicable person.