Comics Needs More Leading Female Heroes

The world of comic books is full to the brim of characters, with new ones hitting the scene every day. Given how long some publishers have been around, it’s no surprise that their character catalog can be in the thousands. One would think, given these massive numbers, that there’d be a balance of character designs and backstories for readers, but that’s not entirely accurate. There are more male superheroes than females, and worse, there are even fewer heroines who get to land the leading role. The comic book industry (and the world) needs more leading female heroes, perhaps now more than ever.

The comic book industry, as a whole, has made some steps toward fixing the imbalance between male and female characters; heroes like Kamala Khan and Batgirl have taken the world by storm. Each year brings new heroines to the table. That said, we still have a long way to go. Remember that more female heroes mean a larger collection of diverse perspectives for readers, providing a richer storytelling experience and more. These stories can only help to uplift and expand the community, not harm it.

Over-Reliance on Male Templates and Counterparts

Part of the problem, as it stands, is that too many female superheroes are based on male counterparts. There are too many examples to include them all, but here are a few: Batgirl (Batman), Supergirl (Superman), She-Hulk (Hulk), Spider-Woman (Spider-Man), etc. While many of these heroes have evolved and developed their own identities over time, it doesn’t negate how their origin is rooted in male predecessors.

This is a bigger problem than it may appear. By consistently pushing heroes like this, we’re perpetuating the idea that women only matter when they’re an extension of existing male icons. We know that this isn’t true, yet pop culture and media really love to push that concept at us.

Leaning On Legacy Characters

A lot of this stems down to the insistence on using legacy characters. Legacy characters are people who inherit their name (or powers, role, mantle, etc) from an existing hero. A classic male example of this would be how the Robin mantle has been handed down several times. It isn’t inherently bad, but it can be when used to limit potential.

The comic industry loves to use legacy as a way of introducing new heroines. Truthfully, it can work. Kamala Khan is a fantastic example of a legacy character who took the story and made it her own. She picked up the Ms. Marvel mantle after Carol Danvers became Captain Marvel, but that mantle has never, and will never, define her.

Naturally, there are a few problems with legacy characters. To start with, the fandom isn’t always quick to accept them, particularly given how tired we are of seeing it happen. Legacy characters are often perceived as replacements, often feeling less permanent than their counterparts. Additionally, legacy characters can signal an attempt to avoid risk, which in turn teases a lack of faith. This can become a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy, as nobody wants to get invested in a series/character that’s going to get cancelled after ten issues.

Finally, by following a legacy formula, creatives often rip the potential of original mythologies from characters. Let’s be real; some of the most memorable new characters hit the scene hard because they stood out. They were allowed to try something new right out of the gate, and that helped them succeed. We need more of that across the board.

Original Female Leads Are Still Pretty Rare

Unfortunately, heroines today still don’t get the same level of treatment as their counterparts. There are consistently more male-dominated solo series than female ones, and that’s just a fact. Statistically, a female-led series is more likely to get cancelled, which can be compounded by issues like receiving less promotion.

Wonder Woman is a great example of how differently heroes are treated. She’s considered one of the biggest heroes in DC, part of their Trinity, right? She has her own solo comic series, but she still somehow gets shunted to the side. Where Batman and Superman often get their own solo TV series, video game franchises, or animated series, Wonder Woman doesn’t have the same bragging rights. The same can be said for Marvel; there was a ten-year gap between the first MCU film and the first female-led movie.

Opening the Door to New Possibilities and Adventures

At the end of the day, it’s good to remember that fresh perspectives can bring new life to a franchise. They can add new motivations, complex backstories, and even new types of conflict to the forefront. Every new character that gets a unique backstory brings new narrative possibilities to the table, and it’s the fans who win when that happens. Everyone wins when new characters, even female superheroes, are given a chance to shine and tell their stories.

Marvel Needs More Female Heroes (Here’s Why)