Tough Babes

by Chris Zuga
August 26, 2009

If you've ever wondered about the history of the female superhero, then the upcoming "The Supergirls: Fashion, Feminism, Fantasy, and the History of Comic Book Heroines" (Exterminating Angel Press, September 2009, $16.95) may just be the book for you. Written by Mike Madrid, "The Supergirls" takes an in-depth look at the origins of lead female characters in the comic-book medium.

From the early use of women in comics as a titillating way to attract male readers through the modern age where you'll find them holding their own against guys who dress up like bats, spiders and the like, the book takes an unflinching look at the way superheroines have both reflected the time and mood of a nation, as well as occasionally giving life a chance to imitate art.

During the initial explosion in demand for comics during the late 1930s and early 1940s, the role of these scantily clad avengers shifted from that of socialites getting their kicks donning costumes and fighting crime to the noble patriot fighting the Axis alongside male compatriots like Captain America and Superman. Yet as World War II drew to a close, female characters found themselves with less to do, and the popularity of the superhero waned considerably as troops returned home in search of a normal life. As the women who had made such a difference in the war effort returned to their homes and their accepted role in society, so the superheroine found herself without an audience. New genres, of course, kept women in comics, but the new western, horror, and science fiction stories relegated any female protagonist to a decidedly weaker stance of generally waiting for a man to step in and save the day.

Throughout the 1950s and '60s, the female adventurer became little more than a pretty face. Wonder Woman and Sheena Queen of the Jungle began to attract readers once more, but they had sacrificed some of their independence for greater sex appeal and found themselves beholden to the men they loved. At the beginning of the '60s, Supergirl, cousin of Superman, made her debut as an analogue to the squeaky-clean pop singers of the day. Unfortunately, this sweet, girl-next-door image remained frozen through the decade despite the growing women's liberation movement. Perpetually subservient to her more famous kin, Supergirl became less and less a role model for girls just as the role of the American woman was redefined.

With the new attitudes regarding a woman's choices that heralded the dawn of the 1970s, comic publishers were able to re-invest stalwart characters as independent women with agendas of their own. Women with fantastic powers demanded respect from their male counterparts, and slowly earned it. No longer was the superheroine the refuge of bored debutantes looking for a thrill. Women from all walks of life donned masks and capes for a variety of reasons that were uniquely their own.

This trend continued during the explosion of interest in comics that the 1980s brought. The grittier tone set by the industry was reflected in the role of the female vigilante as well. Storylines tackled issues like drug addiction, rising crime and the AIDS epidemic. Proactive women took to the streets, darker in mindset, but no less feminine for it. Social conscience, an attitude, and a mask became the order of the day.

The last two decades have seen a proliferation of new publishers challenging the established order of Marvel and DC Comics dominance over the comic-book market. With this came a slew of new female characters. During the "Bad Girl" craze of the '90s, barely dressed, buxom women with all the bravado of a Schwarzenegger character and often an armory to match sought to further empower the female lead.

Over-saturation of tough girls quickly saw this trend devolve into something resembling self-parody as every pretty face seemed more interested in violence for its own sake as opposed to actually solving anything. Thankfully, this past decade has seen a revival of the independent, and fully formed, female lead. Characters have become more three-dimensional in their portrayals. No longer is the female character simply the sex object, the helpless damsel or the subservient sidekick.

Like other storytelling media, comics have become more sophisticated in both storyline and the portrayal of characters. They are a reflection of the attitudes of the given period in which they were created. We live in a time where anyone can be anything they wish, it's nice to see that the supergirls of today have that opportunity too. Exhaustive in its research, full of interesting lore and little-known details, "The Supergirls" is a high flying trip through comic-book history.

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