Female Super Heroes Missing Onscreen

8/10/2014

Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman (Fanpop)

It's research time again. I am working on an article and need your help!

An entire generation of men and women recognize this iconic superhero instantly. Every little girl I knew, myself included, wanted to BE her. Every boy imagined her as his fantasy girlfriend. Wonder Woman could hold her own against any number of bad guys, bank robbers, jewel thieves or assassins. She wasn't a sidekick or cutesy arm candy for the real hero. She was IT.

Before I go any further, let me just admit it: I'm a super hero geek. I love comic books, really love seeing the movie incarnations of so many cool heroes, fangirl over Ironman with the best of them. But I am really getting tired of waiting for the sorely needed ass-kicking female super hero headliner movie. There's been much recent discourse in the media over this, with all kinds of excuses and conjecture attempting to either explain the deficit or deny it altogether. It's not like there's a shortage of female super heroes. There's Lara Croft, Black Widow, Rogue, Storm, Mystique, Elektra, Resident Evil's Alice, Katniss Everdeen, Divergent's Beatrice Prior (yes, they count, at least to me), to name a few (and no I am not including Batgirl or Supergirl). It's that they are always relegated to the background, rescued by the bigger, stronger male superhero, and generally assumed incapable of carrying their own movie.

So here's my question: if someone asks you to name a female superhero or two that you love, what would you say? And why? Please help me out and leave a comment below. I need to get into the collective minds of the women -- and men! -- out there. Thank you in advance for your thoughts!

3 Comments

Vicki L. Weavil link

8/13/2014 01:14:36 am

Well, not an official "superhero," but if you include Katniss, surely we can include EMMA PEEL from the Avengers (the British TV show). She was my idol when I was young because she was smart, independent, and totally kickass. She usually saved herself, and often had to rescue the men too! (And she always looked FAB doing it!)

Tracy Gardner Beno

8/24/2014 08:18:33 am

Thanks Vicki! Emma Peel was awesome, and exactly what I'm talking about, good choice!
Hey, and congrats on your upcoming Crown of Ice, I can't wait to read it!

Evil Verbose Jimmy

9/16/2014 06:28:05 pm

And behold, before Wonder Woman ever came to the Boob Tube, there were several empowered female role models. The first female Super Heroes were on a hilarious Saturday morning spoof called, "Electra Woman and Dyna Girl. The best was Jamie Sommers. She went from being a secondary character on "The Six Million Dollar Man," to having her own show. It was a triumph for a model who became an actress. Her natural unpolluted beauty made her an excellent role model. She was a spy!
However my point is Lindsay Wagner went on to great success.
And what about the original Charlie's Angels? The ensemble cast had six women that I can think of. (ignore Tanya Roberts, she slept her way into that one {last season, BARF}) They all were great role models for women and girls. Admittedly the times called for skimpy bullspit. But look at Farrah! She did ONE season. Put out her poster. Made several million dollars. In the SEVENTIES! Then she became a serious actress. Nominated for nine Emmy's.
Jaclyn Smith plowed through the whole run. I met her at Sak's Fifth Avenue. She was launching... something. She took my breath away, she was so perfect and classy.
How about Lauren Bacall. Her book, "By Myself," had no ghost writer. It detailed how to become an Icon without sacrificing one's morals or dignity. This "Woman of the Year," refused plucking, tweezing and having her HAIRLINE shaved. She was on the famous cover of Vanity Fair six weeks later.
Who can forget Barbara Walters? Not "The View" Babs. The woman who's specials drew record ratings every time. In a predominantly male dominated field.
The person who ought not to be any kind of role model?
Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone.
Unless you want your daughters to sleep their way through life...
Then... Yeah...

Female Super Heroes Missing Onscreen

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