The Supergirls: Feminism, Fantasy, and the History of Comic Book Heroines (Revised and Updated)

by Mike Madrid

Overview

"Mike Madrid is doing God's work. . . . mak[ing] accessible a lost, heady land of female adventure." —ComicsAlliance

"Sharp and lively . . . [Madrid] clearly loves this stuff. And he's enough of a historian to be able to trace the ways in which the portrayal of sirens and supergirls has echoed society's ever-changing feelings about women and sex."—Entertainment Weekly

"A long overdue tribute to [those] fabulous fighting females." —Stan Lee

Mike Madrid has become known as a champion of women in comics and as the expert in Golden Age female characters. And now here is where it all began, as informative and entertaining as ever, in a revised and updated edition, including new illustrations and a new introduction, as well as an afterword bringing us up-to-date on what's happening with women in comics now.

Mike Madrid is the author of Divas, Dames & Daredevils: Lost Heroines of Golden Age Comics; Vixens, Vamps & Vipers: Lost Villainesses of Golden Age Comics; and the original The Supergirls: Fashion, Feminism, Fantasy, and the History of Comic Book Heroines, an NPR "Best Book To Share With Your Friends" and American Library Association Amelia Bloomer Project Notable Book. A San Francisco native and lifelong fan of comic books and popular culture, Madrid also appears in the documentary Wonder Women! The Untold Story of American Superheroines and is the illustrator of two of The History of Arcadia books: Lily the Silent and The Lizard Princess.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781935259336
Publisher:	Exterminating Angel Press
Publication date:	10/11/2016
Edition description:	Revised Edition
Pages:	336
Product dimensions:	7.40(w) x 5.50(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Mike Madrid is the author of Divas, Dames & Daredevils: Lost Heroines of Golden Age Comics, Vixens, Vamps & Vipers: Lost Villainesses of Golden Age Comics, and the original The Supergirls: Fashion, Feminism, Fantasy, and the History of Comic Book Heroines, an NPR “Best Book To Share With Your Friends” and American Library Association Amelia Bloomer Project Notable Book. A San Francisco native and lifelong fan of comic books and popular culture, Madrid also appears in the documentary Wonder Women! The Untold Story of American Superheroines and is the illustrator of two of The History of Arcadia books: Lily the Silent and The Lizard Princess.

Read an Excerpt

Introduction to the new edition

Back when I worked on the original edition of The Supergirls, and I would tell people it was a history of female superheroes, the usual response was, “Oh, it’s about Wonder Woman.” When I explained that Wonder Woman was only one of many superheroines, I would hear, “Like who? There are no other women in comic books besides Wonder Woman!” But I knew better. And I was on a mission to make those other women known to more people.

After The Supergirls came out, something interesting happened. I got emails from readers who had no idea that there had been female superheroes in the 1960s, much less in the 1940s. Some said
the book introduced them to characters they had never heard of, while others found themselves using it as reference for their own dissertations on the role of women in comic books. One woman who had read Mary Marvel comics in the 1940s thanked me for finally explaining the young heroine’s origin to her. Had I completed my mission of sharing the histories of these amazing women of
comic books?

Which brings us to this edition of The Supergirls. It’s been updated to reflect some developments in the world of female superheroes, along with other information I’ve come across in my continuing research. I’ve also added new artwork of some of my favorite women from the early days of comic books.

And if anyone thinks this is my final word on the subject of female superheroes, I assure you that’s not the case. There are more exciting stories to share with you. Many more.

Table of Contents

Author’s Note
Introduction to the new edition
Goddesses of Tomorrow
1940s: A Secret Life
The Queen & the Princess
1950s: The Girlfriends
Supergirl and the Ballad of American Youth
1960s: The Modern World
Girls Together (Outrageously)
1970s: Sirens & Suffragettes
Wonder Woman’s Extreme Makeovers
1980s: The Dark Road
Sex and the Single Superheroine
1990s: The Babe Years
Heroine Chic
2000 and Beyond: Mother Love?
Acknowledgments
Index

Editorial Reviews

“With the explosion of breakout new female heroes, huge changes for fan favorites, and major icons heading from page to screen, there’s never been a better time to soar with this expanded version of The Supergirls by Mike Madrid. Codenames and styles change, new characters rise but Madrid
remains the coolest Professor of comics history with a pulse on the past, present and where these heroes are flying next.”— Will Harris, Comicsblend.com

“The affection the author holds for these characters is infectious . . . An essential read for pop-culture enthusiasts, feminists, comic-book readers, and social justice warriors.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Mike Madrid is doing God’s work. . . . mak[ing] accessible a lost, heady land of female adventure.” —ComicsAlliance

“[Madrid’s] engaging, conversational language is as readable as the truly dazzling comics. He has endeavored to unearth the forgotten, and what he found is ultimately unforgettable.” —BUST Magazine

“Sharp and lively . . . [Madrid] clearly loves this stuff. And he’s enough of a historian to be able to trace the ways in which the portrayal of sirens and supergirls has echoed society’s ever-changing feelings about women and sex.” —Entertainment Weekly

“These ‘lost’ [characters] are now found—to the delight of comic book lovers everywhere.” —STAN LEE

“Lovers of comics and strong women everywhere thank you, Mike Madrid!” —TRINA ROBBINS, author of Pretty in Ink: North American Women Cartoonists 1896–2013

“Madrid’s meticulous and passionate research provides a window into a seemingly lost herstory of patriotism, bravery, and progressive ways of thinking about female agency and adventure.” —JENNIFER K. STULLER, author of Ink-Stained Amazons and Cinematic Warriors: Superwomen in Modern Mythology

From the Publisher

2016-07-20
A detailed history of comicdom’s women in tights.While many can name upward of 10 male superheroes, few can name women superheroes beyond the basic three: Wonder Woman, Batgirl, and Supergirl. This updated edition of Madrid’s 2009 offering details the many caped crusaders on the distaff side. The author takes readers through the history of comic books in a straightforward fashion, starting in the golden age and outlining the national mood before delving into the minutiae of the first female vigilantes. The first few chapters are the book’s weakest, as the lengthy list of bygone crusaders grows repetitive, and the author has little to add in the form of commentary. The book picks up considerably when it moves into the 1950s and beyond: the author gets to examine characters still in the popular consciousness, exploring their evolutions as the feminist movement kicks up, fashions change, and national moods shift. The affection the author holds for these characters is infectious. The deep dive into Wonder Woman’s various origin stories and Captain Marvel’s bizarre pregnancy are highlights, as is a chapter dedicated entirely to the grim and gritty trend of the ’80s. The author briefly mentions screen adaptations, particularly Batgirl in the ’60s Batman show and the Wonder Woman show of the ’70s, but comic-book history is the primary focus. An essential read for pop-culture enthusiasts, feminists, comic-book readers, and social justice warriors. (Nonfiction. 12 & up)

Kirkus Reviews