The Supergirl TV series is almost here, striking a major blow for female superhero fans everywhere. However, the new CBS TV show is hardly the first female hero to make her way into our living rooms. Where Supergirl is an excellent choice to help raise the flag of equity and send the glass ceiling crashing down, she is not alone in the fight. Despite the recent criticism that DC Comics has faced, the company has actually been promoting heroines for some time now. From Artemis to Zatanna, the DC TV/Movie Universe have been full of rich female characters, fighting the good fight.
Recently, DC Comics was, criticized by an 11-year-old girl on Twitter, who was asking why the company didn’t have more females heroes. All the while this show, the female heavy Titans series and the Wonder Women film where in development, alongside the already released properties featuring strong female characters like Arrow’s Black Canary(s), Vixen tie-in comic, and iZombie’s Liv.
Let's also not forget that Supergirl has already been a feature film (1984) with Wonder Woman, and Birds of Prey TV series and a (albeit poorly received) Catwoman movie also previously produced.
Note, Marvel (not including Fox/Sony properties) has released 11 superhero films in recent years, with females in mainly supporting roles (Pepper Potts, Jane Foster, Betty Ross) or as side heroes (Black Widow, Sif, Agent 13, Gamora, Skye, Maye, Scarlet Witch), with Agent Carter being the only female lead property in production. *Netflix's Jessica Jones is in pre-production.
Yes, as the meme says, Marvel has made a movie about a talking tree and a raccoon, but they have yet to make one with a female lead.
DC has also has a strong female presence in animated world, like Teen Titans' Starfire and Raven, Justice Leagues' Hawkgirl and Wonder Woman and Young Justice's Miss Martian, Zatanna, Wonder Girl, and Artemis just to name a few.
Who is your favorite female superhero? What female characters do you want to see brought to life next? let us know your thoughts in the comments section at the bottom of the page.
