Heroines Who Changed the Superhero Game

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8 books

While superhero comic books have been a male-dominated genre from the very beginning, female characters have been a constant presence nonetheless, expanding the scope of who can be a superhero and how. These collections profile heroines from each decade of superhero history, showcasing the evolution of their representation, the ways they impacted the genre, and the exciting tales that established them as cultural icons.

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Wonder Woman: the Golden Age Omnibus Vol. 1

Various, William Moulton Marston, 2016

Wonder Woman was a direct counter to the pervasive masculinity of early superhero comics, a feminist heroine who showcased a new form of strength and power. This collection of her first adventures from the 1940s shows how she saved the world with love and compassion while fighting greedy racketeers, alien invaders, and even Axis forces on the front lines of World War Two.

Batman: The Silver Age Omnibus Vol. 1

Bill Finger, 2022

Bat-Woman was created to be Batman’s girlfriend and counter allegations of homosexual undertones between Batman and Robin. She soon grew beyond this limited role and became a compelling, independent heroine in these stories from the mid-1950s, providing a feminine complement to the Dynamic Duo who could more than hold her own alongside them.

Batgirl: The Bronze Age Omnibus Vol. 1

Batgirl debuted in the late 1960s, just as the women’s liberation movement began to take off in America, and she fully embodied these changing times. The stories in this collection show Barbara Gordon’s journey from a plain Jane librarian to a costumed heroine to becoming a member of Congress as she fought for justice in myriad forms.

Ms. Marvel Masterworks Vol. 1

Marvel Comics, 2016

Carol Danvers was Marvel’s first major attempt at a feminist heroine, a super-powered riff on Gloria Steinem who hit newsstands in 1977 with a debut issue that promised “this female fights back!” While the publisher’s progressive intentions proved to be hit or miss, Ms. Marvel’s action-packed outings paved the way for a new generation of heroines at Marvel.

The Uncanny X-Men Omnibus Vol. 1

Marvel’s revamp of the X-Men became one of the most popular books of the 1980s, and the weather-controlling mutant Storm was at the forefront of this new era. An orphan with ties to Kenya and Harlem, Storm became a key member of the team, a regal leader whose abilities proved substantial and essential time and again as the X-Men fought for their right to exist.

Birds of Prey Vol. 1

Chuck Dixon, Jordan B. Gorfinkel, 2015

The 1990s were a tough time for women in superhero comics, with hyper-sexualized heroines and deadly storylines abounding. Birds of Prey was a haven from this poor treatment, a team book where the computer genius Oracle and fierce fighter Black Canary worked together to take down bad guys around the world in one of the few comics that appealed directly to female fans.

Batwoman Vol. 1: Elegy

Greg Rucka, 2013

Rebooted entirely for a new generation in the mid-2000s, this Batwoman was one of DC’s first openly queer characters, a West Point cadet who was forced out of the military because of the “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy and turned to costumed crimefighting. This gorgeous volume established Batwoman as a force to be reckoned with who remained a fixture in Gotham City moving forward.

Ms. Marvel

G. Willow Wilson, 2019

When Carol Danvers became Captain Marvel and gave up her previous title, Pakistani-American teen Kamala Khan emerged as the new Ms. Marvel in this groundbreaking volume from the 2010s. Infused with optimism and joy, Ms. Marvel represented a massive step beyond Marvel’s traditional white, male hegemony toward a more diverse and inclusive world of superheroes.