Depiction of Women in Comics The target audience for most comic books, especially super-hero comics, has always been teenage and college-age males. As a consequence, few comics portray female characters in a realistic way, even in the make-believe context of Superman and Spider-Man. Numerous titles do feature female super-heros, however. Even traditional super-heroines such as Supergirl and Wonder Woman, both intended to be positive role models for female readers, are typically shown wearing skimpy and revealing costumes. Two sub-genres continue to be popular with male readers: bad-girl comics and babe comics. Bad-girl comics feature female vigilantes, anti-heroines, or outright villains whose common characteristic is their "take no prisoners" attitude toward male opponents. Some titles in this category depict excessive violence, while others utilize more familiar, low-key comic book combat. Babe comics represent a related, somewhat overlapping sub-genre of gorgeous, ridiculously well-endowed heroines wearing revealing costumes and striking provocative poses. Examples of current bad-girl and babe comics abound, including: Alley Cat Aria Buffy the Vampire Slayer Catwoman Cavewoman Danger Girl Dawn Dirty Pair Fathom Gen13 Ghost Lady Death Lady Pendragon Lady Rawhide Shi Vampi Vampirella Witchblade Xena: Warrior Princess Happily, an increasing number of current comics portray women in a more realistic and favorable light. Better yet, several ongoing titles provide wonderful heroic role models for younger girls.

Cavewoman; © Budd Root

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