Positive Female Characters In Comics

BigWords said:

Because of the "Oracle situation".

She overcomes her disabilities, and proves that she still has what it takes to be a major player. The early appearances were a bit rough, but she became one of my favorite characters in that role.

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By the Oracle Situation, I meant how everyone was so pissed about her becoming Batgirl again in New 52.

I actually got really used to her as Oracle as well so I was somewhat annoyed when I heard she would be Batgirl again. So far though (besides for Batman himself) her storyline is the most interesting in New 52's Bat Family.

I can't really comment on those Eras of Wonder Woman since I'm a pretty new DC comic reader but I get what you mean. Some of these characters just get too damn powerful.

People were right to complain because Oracle was a very unique character, but Gail Simone managed to make that executive decision work. Better: She made it matter.

Her Batgirl was my favorite New 52 book right from the start, even though it wasn't the best technically. The art is no match to gorgeous books like Batwoman, the writing has its flaws, but the character matters from the moment we learn how she deals with her injury.

So you're both right.

My thoughts on this have definitely evolved over the decades. In my teens and early twenties, my only concern with female characters was how sexy they were.

Now that I am a father to two young women, my views are a much different. I try to make my female characters strong and smart, like Ripley from Aliens. I have a webcomic that features a heroine in her twenties that solves her problems thru common sense and willpower.

I realized that one day my grandkids would be reading my work. That helped shape how I present my female characters.

This is a very interesting thread, and I am picking up some of the comics mentioned here. Good stuff!

Is anyone reading "Saga?" Alana is my favorite female character is comics right now. Brian K. Vaughan shows that being maternal and a badass are not mutually exclusive (ditto Jessica Jones, when written well). Actually, BKV has a good track record of writing female characters in general. See "Runaways."

SAGA had me right at "Rocketship Forest". But yeah, Alana's cool, too.

Unless I missed it, I'm surprised no one said Thorn or Grandma Ben/Rose from "Bone". Two different generations raised two different ways, but they're still two strong, brave women who face much bigger things than the series started you off thinking was coming. Easily my favorite comic/graphic novel and my two favorite women in comics.

pagesinstages said:

Is anyone reading "Saga?" Alana is my favorite female character is comics right now. Brian K. Vaughan shows that being maternal and a badass are not mutually exclusive (ditto Jessica Jones, when written well). Actually, BKV has a good track record of writing female characters in general. See "Runaways."

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I need to catch up on Saga.

I love Brian K. Vaughan. Y: The Last Man is my favorite comic. I agree that he writes women well.