Nov 16 2008
Five Best Female Comicbook Characters
#5: Liz Monroe
In the graphic novel “Fortunes Friends’ (Starblaze Graphics) Liz Monroe is a PI joining a new agency, and meeting her gorgeous gay coworker. A diminutive chick kicking ass well before Anita Blake with the advantage (for me anyone) of serious eye-candy as a sidekick. Art by Colleen Doran, and it shows. This graphic has dated somewhat but is a very under-appreciated precursor to a lot of the strong heroine, gay-men-written-for-female-readers trends that have continued to grow over time.
#4: Dazzler
Dazzler (Marvel) was the mutant superhero who just wanted to be a rockstar. In an interesting twist on the ‘is biology destiny’ question she tries to break through as a singer. But just when she almost makes it something happens that obliges her to use her powers for the greater good, and reveal her to be one of the invisible, feared minority of genetic mutants–this more ‘real world’ story gave mush more depth to Marvel’s universe by exploring a life that struggled to straddle the human/hero divide. Later story lines in which Dazzler behaved more like a standard costumed hero didn’t strike me as being as anywhere near as novel or interesting.
#3: Omaha, Cat DancerOmaha is an adult comic with a lot of frankly described sexual activity, a strong plot and equally strong characters. Omaha makes her living as an exotic dancer and model. She is a character that comes across as real, practical and struggling with all the normal problems of boyfriend, bad employers and complicated friendships. What I love is how sexuality is depicted as normal, healthy and erotic performance as a profession that a normal, moral, intelligent person might pursue.
#2: Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman (DC) has been invented and reinvented with varying success, but at her best see would probably rate the #1 position. At the very core of the character is an origin in from a feminist utopia, and the power to over come people (typically men) both physically and by having the power to force people to speak the truth. Wonder Woman is the most high profile female superhero who routinely stands shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Batman and Superman. Long may she continue!
#1: Halo Jones2000 AD Comics ran a series of stories in their comic anthologies called the Ballad of Halo Jones. The first installment appeared in 1984 and subsequently collected in both three volume and a complete series graphic novels. The setting is sci fi and the stories are are science fiction in the real sense of the word with thought provoking speculative science and also strong commentaries on topic such as war and conformity. Halo Jones is attempting to escape a life-destroying ghetto called the Hoop, through a series of exploitative jobs, serving as a soldier and basically grabbing any opportunity she can to get ahead while trying to hold onto her humanity. Halo is, as she is often described, is an ordinary type of person but seized every opportunity she can, fights hard and struggles to make a better life for herself in settings that are cutthroat and unfair–without trampling anyone else down in the process. Halo Jones is a great character completely devoid of Mary Sue or Bimbo tendencies. A must read.
I can post more of these later if any of you out there are looking for more graphic novel heroines that avoid the boobs-and-bazookas cliches. If you have any suggestions and favorites of your own, please share them!
Not a bad list. I’d include Mitsuko Souma from Battle Royale and Amanda Waller from DC Comics.
Wonder Woman is my hero. My friend even gave me a wonder woman doll for my 36th birthday last week. I’m going to hang her from my kitchen ceiling like she is flying!
Stranger in Paradise would certainly be in my top 10. I will probably get to them later :) I will have to look up Bill’s suggestions.
to bill: The article is about female comic book characters, so I would assume it’s just characters who first appeared (if not solely appeared) in comics. Battle Royale was a novel first before it became a manga (and eventually movie). Amanda Waller isn’t a bad suggestion; she’s definitely complicated in her own ways.
Wonder Woman sure has come a long way from being the secretary for the Justice Society.
I was always a little partial to Black Canary, at least how she was portrayed in the beginning — a no-nonsense Robin Hood type. She didn’t have any powers and she didn’t have to prove anything to anyone. She just kicked ass because she wanted to help out those who couldn’t help themselves.
Granted, she has become a one-dimensional “boobs and bazookas” type in recent years, but she’s still one of the decent ones, in my opinion.