Featured image source: Mashable
The comics industry started out in the early twentieth century at the back of magazines and newspapers. Comics since then has acquired a larger target market and reached its golden age where hundreds of comic issues and volumes have resided on the shelves or on a box under of every boy’s room. Superheroes like Batman, Superman and Thor graced the panels of each page with unbelievable powers and superhuman abilities that seemed impossible for a villain to win—and after each adventure, yet another woman was saved from a burning building, a kidnapping or as they were falling in mid-air.
A Man’s World
Much like western culture then, the comics industry was a “man’s world”, where women had little to no representation except for being the usual damsel in distress and the occasional love interest of the main male superhero. Up until some writers did create a comic book with a woman protagonist, the industry was already dominated by male superheroes depicting a muscular and an unfazed sense of masculinity that completely overshadowed the women.
During the 1940s, it was evident that despite a slow increase in the number of female-led comic books that targeted young female readers, it wasn’t enough. Some of these female heroes, ones that dated way before Wonder Woman, had stories that weren’t as progressive as the flagship male heroes of big comic book companies like DC and Marvel. The worse part of it all was, even before and during the Golden Age of comics and through its transition into the modern era, most of the female superheroes were reduced to becoming objects and pin-up posters in the hands of male writers and artists. Women were represented in the most conspicuous way possible: minimal clothing, impossibly small waistlines and on issue covers placed in suggestive positions.
Brave writers and artists, male and female, didn’t stop producing more female-led comic books, however. They have remained adamant to continue fighting for female representation in mainstream comics. It was a slow fight but there was progress nonetheless. Now, it seems that the comics’ male target demographic had been destroyed, by the writers who created these powerful female superheroes, who, not only became inspirations of women empowerment but became cultural icons alongsideother recognized heroes.
1.Kamala Khan – Ms. Marvel
Kamala Khan is the youngest superhero among the empowered heroines on this list. She’s fairly new to the superhero scene and is both dealing with her superhero responsibilities and struggling with her teenage life. She acquires her powers after being exposed to the Terrigen Mist and took the name, Ms. Marvel, after the former name of one of her idols, Carol Danvers, who is now Captain Marvel.
Created in 2014 by women writers, Sana Amanat and G.Willow Wilson and artist Adrian Alphona for Marvel Comics, not only does Khan represent young, courageous girls as a superhero, she carries with pride her heritage and beliefs as a Muslim and beingthe first Muslim-American superhero. Her traits stem from her Islamic beliefs as well, which is portrayed in a positive way unlike how it’s shown in most entertainment mediums. The creators are bent on breaking down black and white stereotypes about the Muslim community and opening up opportunities for diverse representation in comics. Superheroes like her let those who feel marginalized see that they are also capable of brave acts of heroism and strength.
The writers of Ms. Marvel have yet to make more complex storylines of her journey as a superhero in training, but nowshe is a symbol of her faith and an inspiration to young, brave girls in the world.
Carol Danvers – Captain Marvel
That’s right, she used to be Ms. Marvel, from whom Kamala Khan took the name from. Like most superhero origins in Marvel, Carol Danvers acquired her powers in an explosion with Mar-Vell, then Captain Marvel, who was shielding her from the explosion. The explosion caused a DNA fusion with Mar-Vell, which resulted in Danvers’ “accidental” powers.
Her entire journey from Ms. Marvel, Binary to Captain Marvel is an epitome of a woman’s rise from being a victim to an empowered woman—and this includes her strange character creationhistoryoff the pages of the comic books. She never had a starring role to begin with. Though she was a woman in power in her first appearance in Marvel’s Super-heroes no. 13, she was created as a love interest until another set of writers took her for a spin in her own comic book series, Ms. Marvel. This time, she had mediocre origins and powers. But things were changing for her during this transition of her storyline, she was starting to show that she was capable of much more than what other characters, like the Avengers, told her she can do. Her image as a superhero among readers at this point wasn’t as prominent as it is now, but the writers are finally giving her the chance to be ambitious and vigorous in her cause to help the world. She claimed the name “Captain Marvel” through female writer Kelly Sue DeConnick, who received feminist praise when she corrected Danvers’ mishandled origins, earning a Carol Danvers fandom called, “Carol Corps”.
There’s nothing more empowering to a woman reading and understanding her origins than a superhero who refused to be held hostage to the woman stereotype in comics.
Selina Kyle – Catwoman
Initially, Selina Kyle or Catwoman was one of Batman’s first villains, appearing in Batman #1 back in 1940. Like Batman, she only had her own strength and wit that she used to survive the streets of Gotham. Like Danvers, her comic creations started out for her to be the occasional love interest for Batman, while still being a menace to the city. Throughout the years, however, writers of Catwoman began teasing her good side, where she would be shown to occasionally help Batman in his dark adventures. Though she was not a full-on superhero, she was, however, an antihero of sorts.
What made her an example of claiming your own woman power,is that she claimed her sexuality and accepted that this is her own strength, and in the comics, she uses this against men who only see her as an object.
Despite her now feminist storyline, her character was a victim of early comics stereotyping. She was recreated time and time again by male artists in the covers of comic books in highly provocative poses and drawn in unrealistic and outrageous outfits. However, over the years, her evolution led to Kyle flipping the script on her own image. She was alluring yet devious, and she uses that often against her adversaries. She proved to be wise and tactical, which, over time, had caught the eye of Batman and in recent comics, Batman considers her as his equal.
Her tragic comic origins also support her claim to her own feminine power as she transforms from just Selina Kyle to Catwoman. She grew up and lived by herself on the dangerous streets of Gotham as an orphan and knew as a young girl that she could only rely on herself for her survival.
She was a woman who knew she didn’t need a man to save her.
4. Ororo Munroe – Storm from the X-Men
Ororo Munroe, better known as Storm, wasn’t only a superhero, she was a leader. A powerful one at that, as she can manipulate elemental forces that involve the weather and other atmospheric phenomena. By birth, her origins take her to be the rightful heir of her family’s hidden kingdom in the Great Rift Valley of Africa and she once became Queen of Wakanda and soon a reliable leader of the X-Men. Storm has the heart of a leader and she represents a strong woman of color in comics.
Storm was created to play a prominent role in the X-Men as she first appeared on Giant Size X-Men # 1 in 1975, which was a fresh and less stereotyped origin than the other heroes on this list. But at the time of her appearance, women of color in comics were still few, which is why, Storm became a driving inspiration to represent her African roots and other women of color in the comics industry. Over the years, Storm became a strong princess, queen and a leader of the mutantkind. The X-Men, her mutant peers and her students relied on her wisdom, and the world relied on the goodness of her heart. She knows the responsibility tied with an overwhelming power like hers and she remained unwavering in her pursuit to help the world, even as the odds are pitted against her.
She was a woman of strength as she was a woman for others.
Diana Prince – Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman didn’t become just a name. “Wonder Woman” became a label for any woman who has strength and a fearless soul. Diana Prince, as her peers and readers know her by, was the quintessential female hero. Despite a number of origin stories, one thing will never change about her: she has always been the strongest Amazon princess who grew up in Themyscira, a mythical land only occupied by the strongest women warriors in the DC Universe’s Earth. She appears in All-Star Comics #8 in 1941,where she is blessed with abilities as giftsfrom the Greek gods that makes her a match for even the likes of Superman and Shazam. These abilities are coupled with her formidable training as an Amazon, with close-combat and weapon skills with famously the Lasso of Truth that is almost unmatched.
She’s a part of the DC Universe Holy Trinity, alongside Batman and Superman—if not in the middle of them both.The 1940s for female comic book superheroes were a difficult time for them to shine. But Wonder Woman became a beacon of hope for writers wanting to create superheroes to aid in the fight for female representation. For decades, Wonder Woman’s origins and creator, Professor William Marston, the inventor of the lie detector test, has been shrouded in mystery and controversy. However, Marston still believed in the necessity of his creation to enforce a feminist ideal that women are not inferior to men in any way.
Diana evolved and transitioned into several roles ranging from superhero to fashion icon, depending on the writer handling her. She was not an exception to objectification by male artists as well. Soon after the industry has recognized the error in suppressing female representation in comic books, Diana was a singular character with complex storylines and trials that allow readers an intimate scope about her struggles in always upholding the truth. But most prominently, she was ultimately portrayed as an indomitable leader of the Justice League and the strongest female superhero in the DC Universe.
Until now, Diana Prince is a cultural icon. But “Wonder Woman” is the embodiment of the empowered woman of the fictional genre.
Women are still rallying for female representation in mainstream media, but in the comic industry, these superheroes are proof of victory for every woman.
Mashable: Mashable ni kampuni ya kuchapisha vichekesho ambayo ilianzishwa mnamo karne ya 20 na kuanzishwa mnamo mwaka wa 2000. Tangu wakati huo, vichekesho vimepata soko kubwa la lengo na kufikia enzi yake ya dhahabu ambapo mamia ya masuala ya vichekesho na mabuku yamekaa kwenye rafu au kwenye sanduku chini ya chumba cha kila mvulana. Superheroes kama Batman, Superman na Thor graced paneli ya kila ukurasa na nguvu ya ajabu na uwezo superhuman kwamba walionekana haiwezekani kwa villain kushinda - na baada ya kila adventure, bado mwanamke mwingine aliokolewa kutoka jengo moto, utekaji nyara au kama walikuwa kuanguka katikati ya hewa. Kama ilivyo katika utamaduni wa Magharibi wakati huo, sekta ya vichekesho ilikuwa ni ulimwengu wa wanaume, ambapo wanawake walikuwa na uwakilishi mdogo au hakuna isipokuwa kuwa msichana wa kawaida katika shida na maslahi ya mara kwa mara ya upendo wa shujaa mkuu wa kiume. Kabla ya waandishi fulani kuunda kitabu cha vichekesho na mwanamke mkuu, sekta hiyo ilikuwa tayari inatawaliwa na mashujaa wa kiume wanaonyesha misuli na hisia ya unfazed ya masculinity ambayo kabisa shadowed wanawake. Katika miaka ya 1940, ilikuwa wazi kwamba licha ya ongezeko la polepole la idadi ya vitabu vya vichekesho vilivyoongozwa na wanawake ambavyo vililenga wasomaji wachanga wa kike, haikutosha. Baadhi ya mashujaa hawa wa kike, wale ambao walichaguliwa kabla ya Wonder Woman, walikuwa na hadithi ambazo hazikuwa za maendeleo kama mashujaa wa kiume wa kampuni kubwa za vitabu vya vichekesho kama DC na Marvel. "Hata kabla na wakati wa enzi ya dhahabu ya vichekesho na kupitia mabadiliko yake katika enzi ya kisasa, wanawake wengi wa superheroes walikuwa ""kupunguzwa"" kuwa vitu na mabango ya pin-up mikononi mwa waandishi wa kiume na wasanii." Wanawake waliwakilishwa kwa njia ya kuvutia zaidi: mavazi madogo, waistlines ndogo sana na vifuniko vya suala vilivyowekwa katika nafasi za kuvutia. Waandishi na wasanii wenye ujasiri, wanaume na wanawake, hawakuacha kutengeneza vitabu zaidi vya vichekesho vinavyoongozwa na wanawake, hata hivyo. Wamebaki imara kuendelea kupigana kwa uwakilishi wa wanawake katika vichekesho vya kawaida. Ilikuwa mapambano ya polepole lakini kulikuwa na maendeleo hata hivyo. Sasa, inaonekana kwamba idadi ya watu wa wanaume wa vichekesho ilikuwa imeharibiwa na waandishi ambao waliunda mashujaa hawa wa kike wenye nguvu, ambao, sio tu wakawa msukumo wa nguvu za wanawake lakini wakawa ikoni za kitamaduni pamoja na mashujaa wengine waliotambuliwa. Kamala Khan ni superhero mdogo kati ya mashujaa wenye nguvu kwenye orodha hii. Yeye ni mpya kabisa kwa eneo la superhero na ni wote kushughulika na majukumu yake superhero na mapambano na maisha yake ya ujana. Alipata nguvu zake baada ya kufunuliwa na Terrigen Mist na kuchukua jina la Ms. Marvel, baada ya jina la zamani la mmoja wa sanamu zake, Carol Danvers, ambaye sasa ni Kapteni Marvel. Aliundwa mnamo 2014 na waandishi wa wanawake, Sana Amanat na G. Willow Wilson, na msanii Adrian Alphonse kwa Marvel Comics, Khan sio tu anawakilisha wasichana wachanga, wenye ujasiri kama superhero, yeye hubeba kwa kiburi urithi wake na imani kama Mislamu na kuwa superhero wa kwanza wa Kiislamu-Mmarekani. Sifa zake zinatokana na imani yake ya Kiislamu pia, ambayo inaonyeshwa kwa njia chanya tofauti na jinsi inavyoonyeshwa katika vyombo vingi vya burudani. "Wanahusika wamejitahidi kuvunja maoni ya kawaida ya ""nyeusi na nyeupe"" kuhusu jamii ya Waislamu na kufungua fursa za uwakilishi tofauti katika vichekesho." "Wahusika kama yeye huwafanya wale wanaohisi kuwa wametengwa na jamii waone kwamba wao pia wana uwezo wa kutenda matendo ya ujasiri, ujasiri na nguvu.""" "Wanahistoria wa Ms. Marvel bado hawajafanya hadithi ngumu zaidi za safari yake kama superhero katika mafunzo, lakini sasa ni ishara ya imani yake na msukumo kwa wasichana wachanga, wenye ujasiri ulimwenguni. """ Carol Danvers <unk> Kapteni Marvel <unk> Hiyo ni haki, yeye kutumika kuwa Bi Marvel, kutoka ambaye Kamala Khan alichukua jina kutoka. Kama ilivyo kwa mashujaa wengi wa Marvel, Carol Danvers alipata nguvu zake katika mlipuko na Mar-Vell, kisha Kapteni Marvel, ambaye alikuwa akimlinda kutoka kwa mlipuko. Mlipuko huo ulisababisha mchanganyiko wa DNA na Mar-Vell, ambayo ilisababisha nguvu za "ajali" za Danvers. Safari yake yote kutoka kwa Bi Marvel, Binary hadi Kapteni Marvel ni mfano wa kuongezeka kwa mwanamke kutoka kuwa mhasiriwa hadi mwanamke aliye na nguvu - na hii inajumuisha historia yake ya ajabu ya uumbaji wa tabia kutoka kwa kurasa za vitabu vya vichekesho. Yeye kamwe alikuwa na jukumu kuu kuanza na. Ingawa alikuwa mwanamke katika nguvu katika kuonekana kwake kwa mara ya kwanza katika Marvel's Super-heroes no. "Mwanamke huyo aliwahi kuonekana kama ""mwenye kupendeza"" hadi wakati wa kuundwa kwa mfululizo wa vitabu vya vichekesho vya Ms. Marvel." Wakati huu, alikuwa na asili na nguvu za hali ya chini. Lakini mambo yalikuwa yakibadilika kwa ajili yake wakati wa mabadiliko haya ya hadithi yake, alikuwa akianza kuonyesha kwamba alikuwa na uwezo wa mengi zaidi kuliko kile wahusika wengine, kama Avengers, alimwambia anaweza kufanya. Picha yake kama superhero miongoni mwa wasomaji wakati huu haikuwa maarufu kama ilivyo sasa, lakini waandishi hatimaye wanampa nafasi ya kuwa na tamaa na nguvu katika sababu yake ya kusaidia ulimwengu. Alidai jina la <unk>Captain Marvel<unk> kupitia mwandishi wa kike Kelly Sue DeConnick, ambaye alipokea sifa ya kike wakati alirekebisha asili mbaya ya Danvers, akipata mashabiki wa Carol Danvers walioitwa, <unk>Carol Corps<unk>. Hakuna kitu zaidi ya kuwezesha kwa mwanamke kusoma na kuelewa asili yake kuliko superhero ambaye alikataa kuwa mateka kwa mwanamke stereotype katika vichekesho. Selena Kylie (Katwoman) ni mmoja wa wahusika wakubwa wa Batman, ambaye aliibuka katika Batman # 1 mnamo 1940. Kama Batman, alikuwa na nguvu na akili yake mwenyewe ambayo alitumia kuishi katika barabara za Gotham. Kama Danvers, uumbaji wake wa vichekesho ulianza kwa yeye kuwa maslahi ya mapenzi ya mara kwa mara kwa Batman, wakati bado akiwa tishio kwa jiji. Hata hivyo, kwa miaka mingi, waandishi wa Catwoman walianza kuchekesha upande wake mzuri, ambapo angeonyeshwa mara kwa mara kusaidia Batman katika vituko vyake vya giza. Ingawa hakuwa shujaa wa hali ya juu, alikuwa, hata hivyo, aina ya mpinzani wa shujaa. "Kile kilichomfanya awe mfano wa kudai nguvu yako mwenyewe ya mwanamke ni kwamba alidai ubinadamu wake na kukubali kwamba hii ni nguvu yake mwenyewe, na katika vichekesho, anatumia hii dhidi ya wanaume ambao wanamwona kama kitu tu. """ Licha ya hadithi yake ya sasa ya kike, tabia yake ilikuwa mhasiriwa wa stereotyping ya vichekesho vya mapema. Alichorwa tena na tena na wasanii wa kiume kwenye vifuniko vya vitabu vya vichekesho katika mitindo ya kuchochea sana na kuchorwa katika mavazi yasiyo ya kweli na ya kuchukiza. Hata hivyo, kwa miaka mingi, mageuzi yake yalimwongoza Kyle kubadilisha maandishi kwa picha yake mwenyewe. Alikuwa mwenye kuvutia lakini mwenye hila, naye hutumia jambo hilo mara nyingi dhidi ya wapinzani wake. Aliwahi kuwa na akili na mbinu, ambayo, kwa muda, ilikuwa imevutia macho ya Batman na katika vichekesho vya hivi karibuni, Batman anamwona kama sawa naye. Mwanzo wake wa ucheshi wa kusikitisha pia unasaidia madai yake ya nguvu yake ya kike wakati anabadilika kutoka Selina Kyle tu kuwa Catwoman. Aliishi peke yake katika barabara hatari za Gotham kama yatima na alijua kama msichana mdogo kwamba angeweza kutegemea tu yeye mwenyewe kwa ajili ya kuishi kwake. Alikuwa mwanamke ambaye alijua kwamba hakuhitaji mwanamume amwokoe. 4. Uwe na uhakika Ororo Munroe <unk> Storm kutoka X-Men Ororo Munroe, anayejulikana zaidi kama Storm, hakuwa tu superhero, alikuwa kiongozi. Yeye ni mwenye nguvu sana, kwa kuwa anaweza kudhibiti nguvu za asili zinazohusisha hali ya hewa na matukio mengine ya angahewa. Kwa kuzaliwa, asili yake inamchukua kuwa mrithi halali wa ufalme wa siri wa familia yake katika Bonde la Rift la Afrika, na mara moja akawa Malkia wa Wakanda na hivi karibuni kiongozi wa kuaminika wa X-Men. Storm ana moyo wa kiongozi na yeye inawakilisha mwanamke nguvu ya rangi katika vichekesho. Storm aliumbwa kwa jukumu muhimu katika X-Men, kama yeye kwanza alionekana katika Giant Size X-Men # 1 mnamo 1975, ambayo ilikuwa asili mpya na isiyo ya kawaida kuliko mashujaa wengine kwenye orodha hii. Wakati wa kuibuka kwake, wanawake wa rangi katika vichekesho walikuwa wachache, na kwa hivyo Storm akawa msukumo wa kuwakilisha mizizi yake ya Kiafrika na wanawake wengine wa rangi katika tasnia ya vichekesho. Kwa miaka mingi, Storm akawa princess nguvu, malkia na kiongozi wa mutantkind. X-Men, wenzake wa mutant na wanafunzi wake walitegemea hekima yake, na ulimwengu ulitegemea wema wa moyo wake. Anajua jukumu linalounganishwa na nguvu kubwa kama yake na alibaki bila kutetemeka katika utafutaji wake wa kusaidia ulimwengu, hata wakati uwezekano ni pitted dhidi yake. Alikuwa mwanamke mwenye nguvu kama vile alikuwa mwanamke kwa wengine. Prince Diana <unk> Wonder Woman Wonder Woman hakukuwa jina tu. "Wonder Woman" ikawa lebo kwa mwanamke yeyote ambaye ana nguvu na roho isiyo na hofu. Diana Prince, kama wenzake na wasomaji wanavyojua, alikuwa shujaa wa kike wa kawaida. "Licha ya hadithi kadhaa za asili, kitu kimoja hakitabadilika juu yake: amekuwa binti mfalme wa Amazoni mwenye nguvu zaidi ambaye alikulia huko Themyscira, ardhi ya hadithi iliyochukuliwa tu na wapiganaji wa wanawake wenye nguvu zaidi katika ulimwengu wa DC. """ Katika All-Star Comics #8 ya 1941, alipewa uwezo wa kuwa na uwezo wa kufanana na Superman na Shazam. Uwezo wake wa kupigana na Amazons ni pamoja na ujuzi wake wa kupigana na silaha na Lasso ya Ukweli. Yeye ni sehemu ya DC Universe Utatu Mtakatifu, pamoja na Batman na Superman, kama si katikati yao wote wawili. Wonder Woman ni mwandishi wa hadithi ambaye amekuwa akitoa hadithi za hadithi za hadithi za hadithi za hadithi za hadithi za hadithi za hadithi za hadithi za hadithi za hadithi za hadithi za hadithi za hadithi za hadithi za hadithi za hadithi za hadithi za hadithi za hadithi za hadithi za hadithi za hadithi za hadithi. Kwa miaka mingi, asili ya Mwanamke wa ajabu na muumbaji wake, Profesa William Marston, mvumbuzi wa mtihani wa kugundua uongo, amekuwa amefunikwa na siri na utata. Hata hivyo, Marston bado aliamini katika uhitaji wa uumbaji wake kutekeleza feminist bora kwamba wanawake si chini ya wanaume kwa njia yoyote. Diana aliendelea na kubadilika katika majukumu kadhaa kuanzia superhero hadi icon ya mtindo, kulingana na mwandishi anayemshughulikia. Yeye hakuwa ubaguzi kwa objectification na wasanii wa kiume pia. Muda mfupi baada ya sekta hiyo kutambua kosa la kukandamiza uwakilishi wa wanawake katika vitabu vya vichekesho, Diana alikuwa mhusika wa kipekee na hadithi ngumu na majaribio ambayo huruhusu wasomaji wigo wa karibu juu ya mapambano yake katika kudumisha ukweli. "Hata hivyo, kwa sababu ya kuonekana kwake kama ""mkuu wa Justice League"" na ""mwanamke mwenye nguvu zaidi katika ulimwengu wa DC.""" Hadi sasa, Diana Prince ni ishara ya kitamaduni. Lakini "Wonder Woman" ni mfano wa mwanamke mwenye nguvu wa aina ya hadithi. Wanawake bado wanashirikiana kwa uwakilishi wa wanawake katika vyombo vya habari vya kawaida, lakini katika tasnia ya vichekesho, mashujaa hawa ni uthibitisho wa ushindi kwa kila mwanamke.