Wonder Women and Bad Girls: Superheroine and Supervillainess Archetypes in Popular Media

Wonder Woman, Harley Quinn, Shuri, and Black Widow. These four characters portray very different versions of women: the superheroine, the abuse victim, the fourth wave princess, and the spy, respectively.

In this in-depth analysis of female characters in superhero media, the author begins by identifying ten eras of superhero media defined by the way they portray women. Following this, the various archetypes of superheroines are classified into four categories: boundary crossers, good girls, outcasts, and those that reclaim power. From Golden Age comics through today's hottest films, heroines have been surprisingly assertive, diverse, and remarkable in this celebration of all the archetypes.

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Wonder Women and Bad Girls: Superheroine and Supervillainess Archetypes in Popular Media

Wonder Woman, Harley Quinn, Shuri, and Black Widow. These four characters portray very different versions of women: the superheroine, the abuse victim, the fourth wave princess, and the spy, respectively.

In this in-depth analysis of female characters in superhero media, the author begins by identifying ten eras of superhero media defined by the way they portray women. Following this, the various archetypes of superheroines are classified into four categories: boundary crossers, good girls, outcasts, and those that reclaim power. From Golden Age comics through today's hottest films, heroines have been surprisingly assertive, diverse, and remarkable in this celebration of all the archetypes.

39.95 In Stock
Wonder Women and Bad Girls: Superheroine and Supervillainess Archetypes in Popular Media

Wonder Women and Bad Girls: Superheroine and Supervillainess Archetypes in Popular Media

by Valerie Estelle Frankel
Wonder Women and Bad Girls: Superheroine and Supervillainess Archetypes in Popular Media

Wonder Women and Bad Girls: Superheroine and Supervillainess Archetypes in Popular Media

by Valerie Estelle Frankel

Paperback

$39.95 
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Overview

Wonder Woman, Harley Quinn, Shuri, and Black Widow. These four characters portray very different versions of women: the superheroine, the abuse victim, the fourth wave princess, and the spy, respectively.

In this in-depth analysis of female characters in superhero media, the author begins by identifying ten eras of superhero media defined by the way they portray women. Following this, the various archetypes of superheroines are classified into four categories: boundary crossers, good girls, outcasts, and those that reclaim power. From Golden Age comics through today's hottest films, heroines have been surprisingly assertive, diverse, and remarkable in this celebration of all the archetypes.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781476684093
Publisher: McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date: 10/26/2020
Pages: 243
Product dimensions: 6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.49(d)
Age Range: 18 Years

About the Author

Valerie Estelle Frankel teaches English at Mission College and San Jose City College. The author of more than 90 popular culture books and more than 100 stories and essays, she lives in Sunnyvale, California.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Introduction delete 1
The Classic Super Eras
Pinup Girl: Sheena, Queen of the Jungle (Fiction House, 1937–1954)
Fifties Ladies: Batman’s Women (DC Comics, 1954–1964)
Silver Age Wimps: The Wasp (Marvel Comics, 1963–1970)
Superheroines Onscreen: Wonder Woman (TV, 1975–1979)
Antiheroine: Elektra (Marvel Comics, 1981–1994)
Bronze Age Fridging: The Killing Joke (DC Comics, 1988)
Bad Girl Comics: Fatale (Broadway Comics, 1995)
Girl Power: Powerpuff Girls (TV, 1998–2005)
Atoner: Cassandra Cain (DC Comics, 2001)
Cinematic Superheroines: Captain Marvel (Film, 2019)
Crossing Boundaries
Supermoms: Steven Universe (TV, 2013–2019)
Multifaceted Warrior Woman: Thor (Marvel Comics, 2014–2015)
Golden Age Fighters: Girl Commandos (Harvey Comics, 1942–1943)
Apocalyptic Heroine: Martha Washington (Dark Horse, 1994–1997)
Angry Feminist: Misty Knight (Marvel Comics, 1975)
Bad Girl Team: Danger Girl (Wildstorm, 1997–2001)
Seductress: Veda the Cobra Woman (Quality Comics, 1942)
Shapechanger: Mystique (Marvel Comics, 2004–2005)
Transgender Fluidity: Doom Patrol (DC Comics, 1993–1994)
Good Girls
Fourth Wave Princess: Shuri (Film, 2018)
Altruist: Wonder Woman (DC Comics, 1941)
Spunky Kids: Kitty Pryde (Marvel Comics, 1980–1985)
First Adventure: Batgirl Day One (DC Comics, 1993)
Responsible Sister: Karma (Marvel Comics, 1980–2013)
Paragon: Supergirl (TV, 2015– )
Mystic: Zero Girl (Homage Comics, 2001)
Fish Out of Water: Starfire (DC Comics, 2015)
Sidekicks: Electra Woman and Dyna Girl (TV, 1976)
Outcasts
Spy: Black Widow (Marvel Comics, 1965–1967)
Evil Mom: Talia al Ghul (Film, 2016)
Abuse Victim: Harley Quinn (DC Comics, 1992)
The Dark Lord’s Daughter: Nightshade (DC Comics, 1988)
Rootless: America Chavez (Marvel Comics, 2017)
The Other: Janissary (DC Comics, 1997)
The Monster: ­She-Hulk (Marvel Comics, 2003)
Cyborg: ­X-23 (Marvel Comics, 2006–2011)
Possessed Heroine: Katana (DC Comics, 2007)
Reclaiming Power
Community Activist: Citlali (Newspaper, 2002–2005)
Nature Incarnate: Poison Ivy (Film, 1997)
Mentor: Jessica Jones (Marvel Comics, 2005)
Antileader: Suicide Squad (DC Comics, 1987–1990)
Goddess and Ruler: Storm (Marvel Comics, 1975–2009)
Supervillainess: Texa (Zip Comics, 1940)
Dragon Lady: Madame Butterfly (Quality Comics, 1948)
Witch Queen: Seven Soldiers of Victory (DC Comics, 2006–2007)
Mighty Crone: Spider Widow (Quality Comics, 1942)
Conclusion delete 216
Primary Sources Cited delete 219
Secondary Sources Cited
Index delete 231

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