#5th most pathetic hero for girls

By the Power (He-Man) versus For the Honor (She-Ra)--which is more impressive?

I would rate She-Ra the fifth most pathetic hero for girls--for the simple reason that she is a blatant copy of He-Man but not as cool. The Sword of Protection (not Power), the Palace (not Castle), and instead of "I Have the Power" she just says "I am She-Ra". Basically She-Ra seems to struggle just to exist with almost no assertive sounding abilities. Even her animal, Spirit, gets the magical power to grow wings and fly away (c.f. Battle-Cat who, um, battles).

It reminds me of how I felt as a ten-year-old when I was reading the Narnia books and Aslan said "the Daughters of Eve will not fight in the battle", and instead of weapons they get given healing potions and so forth. Is it too much to ask for a female hero that kicks butt when kicking butt is called for?

He-Man


She-Ra

Comic as Pinup...

Looking through the latest releases it occurs to me that comics are one of the most vibrant continuations of pinup art. Not coy, kitch or retro, but serious pinup art. Yes, you can also read them for the stories and not all of the art is pure cheese/beef-cake. But honestly, I like pinup and the Lycra costume cliche was invented for a reason.



That said the female characters seem to be given the pinup treatment far more often. If I scan the covers, there are certainly exceptions, but female heroes are far more often posed in a static, near bare pose. The male characters are more often portrayes as active, dynamically foreshortened, conventionally clothed or face close-up (females typically get a face+cleavage closeup).



The male characters also display a wider range of physical types and ages. There are not very many visibly middle-aged, small-breasted or warmly dressed heroines. Yes, the males show the greatest excesses of 'roidy physique, but there also also slight, older, shorter and rather average-looking male heroes.

I like pinups, but lean towards wanting a pinup male and a hero female. So I have to wonder when the comic industry will ever offer a product equally accessible to female readers--who are the most spendthrift and voracious readers of almost every other literary format. Comics may reflect their audience but the also create it.

So isn't it about time the big boys like DC and Marvel gave us less the of Barbie comics (remember Princess bloody Amethyst?) and bouncy bondage-bitch styled Batwomen, and more heroines we can actually relate to a little... and perhaps beefcake sidekicks posed on the cover?

See Also:
Super Pinups - Making the World a Safer, Sexier Place
The Pinup Shop Update: Super Strong, Super Smart, Super Sexy

Batwoman's Shoes

Why are the news media acting like she is a new character when she has been around for a few years now? (Since 1956 by name, and 2006 as lesbian). And who told them her name is Kitty. I mean, Kitty Kane? (Sounds like a stripper name). I hope Kate isn't actually getting all kitten-y.

I assume it is a combination of the announcement of her new series to star in as announced at the recent NY Comic Con, and someone with bad handwriting.... (I hope). Comparing this character in her debut with a sneak preview of her new book, it is nice to see a superhero female finally wearing sensible shoes, isn't that dangerously close to a stereotype? ;) Although she is still clearly a fashion conscious character with that lipstick (Um, isn't that a stereotype too? LOL).

Then again, based on this concept sketch it seems like the crucial issue of shoes isn't really nailed down. Maybe that is even the source of the confusion, eh? (They look a bit like "kitten" heels....)