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Female Superhero

In the first episode of Netflix’s MarvelComics-based series Jessica Jones, thetitle character tells her equallsuperhuman sex partner, !u"e Ca#e$ %Idon’t flirt& I 'ust sa (hat I (ant&) * fe(explicit scenes later, it’s quite clear that

Jessica, plaed b +rsten itter, is aver different superheroine than the./0s’ 1onder 1oman or 2ionic1oman& Jessica doesn’t #et tarted up inlin#erie or a suspiciousl sex superherocostume, (aste time pinin# for !u"e orsh a(a from usin# the (ord %rape) todescribe (hat a mind-controllin# villaindid (hen he used his po(er to coerceher into sex&

 Halle Berry’s Catwoman and Jennifer Garner’s Elektrasuffered from muddled scripts that demanded sexed-up portrayals

Jessica Jones is 'ust one example of ane( "ind of superheroine ta"in# over 34and movies$ a "ind of believable super-po(ered (oman 5 at least in terms of

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character and emotion 5 (ho inspiresfemale fans rather than titillates oun#males& 1hen male superheroes too"

over the box office in the 6000s, (omen#ot onl a fe( (ea" attempts at their o(nfranchises$ 7alle 2err as Cat(omanand Jennifer 8arner as 9le"tra, capableactresses both, suffered from muddledscripts that demanded sexed-up

portraals& 2ut 7oll(ood has spent thelast fe( ears tiptoein# to(ard a differenttpe of superheroine& In 606, 3he :ar"+ni#ht ises introduced AnneHathaway as a more capable andclothed Catwoman 5 not desexed, but

she had more to do more than provideee cand& 3he same ear, 3he *ven#ersbrou#ht us a more empo(ered 2lac"1ido( plaed b Scarlett Johansson&

 *nd no( studios seem to finall befi#urin# out ho( to create compellin#

superheroines&

http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/batman/images/4/4d/TDKR-catwoman.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20120706174938http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/batman/images/4/4d/TDKR-catwoman.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20120706174938http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/batman/images/4/4d/TDKR-catwoman.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20120706174938http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/batman/images/4/4d/TDKR-catwoman.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20120706174938http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/batman/images/4/4d/TDKR-catwoman.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20120706174938http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/batman/images/4/4d/TDKR-catwoman.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20120706174938

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Jessica Jones is based on the Marvel Comics title *lias, (hich be#an in 600 and follo(sa super-po(ered private detective ;Credit$ Netflix<

3he ne(est iteration of 1onder 1oman,plaed b former Israeli soldier 8al8adot, has stolen the earl bu== from thetitle characters of the upcomin# movie2atman v Superman$ :a(n ofJustice – no surprise #iven the sheernumber of 2atmen and Supermen (e’veendured over the past t(o decades&;1onder 1oman (ill also, at last, #et her 

o(n film next ear&< 2eond JessicaJones, 34 has brou#ht us Marvel’s post-1orld 1ar 3(o sp pro#ramme *#entCarter, as (ell as a Super#irl (ho’s a

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self-declared feminist& 3he animatedseries Burka Avenger is also a hit forNic"elodeon >a"istan, (ith its o(n tie-in

i>hone #ame and soundtrac" album& It(on the presti#ious >eabod *(ard in60?&

 *nt-Man and the 1asp (ill be the first Marvel Studios film to feature a female superheroin its title 5 it (ill be released in Jul 60@ ;Credit$ Marvel Studios< 

!oo"in# ahead, in 60@, MarvelStudios will release its first movie with

a female character in the title,  *nt-Manand the 1asp. ;3he 1asp is plaed b!ost’s 9van#eline !ill&< Captain Marvelwill get her own movie 5 and, es, forthose (ho aren’t comic boo" experts, the

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XahbqLdCVhEhttp://www.etonline.com/news/173576_marvel_announces_ant_man_sequel/http://www.etonline.com/news/173576_marvel_announces_ant_man_sequel/http://www.etonline.com/news/173576_marvel_announces_ant_man_sequel/http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Should-Marvel-Consider-Brie-Larson-Captain-Marvel-115897.htmlhttp://www.cinemablend.com/new/Should-Marvel-Consider-Brie-Larson-Captain-Marvel-115897.htmlhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XahbqLdCVhEhttp://www.etonline.com/news/173576_marvel_announces_ant_man_sequel/http://www.etonline.com/news/173576_marvel_announces_ant_man_sequel/http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Should-Marvel-Consider-Brie-Larson-Captain-Marvel-115897.htmlhttp://www.cinemablend.com/new/Should-Marvel-Consider-Brie-Larson-Captain-Marvel-115897.html

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actual %captain) of the franchise is a(oman& Some say she’s the tou#hest ofall the Marvel (omen 5 and possibl the

most po(erful Marvel superherocharacter of all 5 as one mi#ht expectfrom her name& *nd 8hostbusters isleadin# a spate of #ender-reversedrema"es that have (omen feelin# li"e(e’re finall #ettin# the fantastical

onscreen role models (e deserve&

3he 600A film Cat(oman put 7alle 2err in a midriff-barin# dominatrix suit and had herbrin# to 'ustice an evil cosmetics mo#ul plaed b Sharon Stone ;Credit$ 1arner 2ros<

Boys club

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/badass-female-marvel-superhero_us_55d4c86ae4b0ab468d9f638ehttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/badass-female-marvel-superhero_us_55d4c86ae4b0ab468d9f638e

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3he recent delu#e of female superheroesma have occurred rapidl 5 in 60?22C Culture as"ed “hy won!t cinema

embrace female superheroes"# 5 but ittoo" decades to #et to this point& 3he60A Son email hac" revealed a tellingmessage from Marvel C9B I"e>erlmutter to Son >ictures chairmanMichael !nton listin# %female movies)

that had bombed as 'ustification foravoidin# depictions of superheroines&9le"tra, he said, (as a %ver bad ideaand the end result (as ver, ver bad&)7e called Cat(oman and .@A’sSuper#irl %disasters)& Marvel >resident

+evin Fei#e, ho(ever, insisted toComic Book $esources in the sameear that he (anted to pursue female-lead movies$ %I ver much believe that itsunfair to sa, D>eople dont (ant to seemovies (ith female heroes,’ then list five

movies that (ere not ver #oodE people didnt #o to the movies becausethe (erent #ood movies, not becauseGthe (ere female leads& *nd the dont

http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20130911-where-are-the-female-superheroeshttp://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20130911-where-are-the-female-superheroeshttp://www.businessinsider.com/what-female-superhero-films-bombed-2015-5http://www.businessinsider.com/what-female-superhero-films-bombed-2015-5http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=54522http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=54522http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20130911-where-are-the-female-superheroeshttp://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20130911-where-are-the-female-superheroeshttp://www.businessinsider.com/what-female-superhero-films-bombed-2015-5http://www.businessinsider.com/what-female-superhero-films-bombed-2015-5http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=54522http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=54522

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mention 7un#er 8ames, Fro=en,:iver#ent&)

 Jessica Jones fights evil fully clothed in practical

garments !eans" leather !ackets" #-shirts" $oots

3he ne( breed of superheroine,represented b Jessica Jones and1onder 1oman, has stopped panderin#to the male #a=e&Ma"e no mista"e$ the(omen plain# these characters are stillfrea"ishl beautiful& 2ut %essica %ones,at least so far, fi#hts evil full clothed inpractical #arments$ 'eans, leather

 'ac"ets, 3-shirts, boots& &adot!s onder oman still (ears a bodsuit, but sheloo"s more li"e Beyonc' in full power

position at the Super Bowl than a4ictoria’s Secret model posin# in theboudoir& 3he female 8hostbusters, ofcourse,fully embrace the (anitorial (umpsuits of their male predecessors& *nd Super#irl actually has its heroine

fret on screen over the feministimplications of her costume&

http://comicvine.gamespot.com/articles/aka-jessica-jones-poster-released/1100-152448/http://www.blastr.com/2015-11-23/image-day-gal-gadot-celebrates-start-wonder-woman-productionhttp://www.blastr.com/2015-11-23/image-day-gal-gadot-celebrates-start-wonder-woman-productionhttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3389557/Beyonce-set-perform-Coldplay-SuperBowl-s-halftime-show.htmlhttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3389557/Beyonce-set-perform-Coldplay-SuperBowl-s-halftime-show.htmlhttp://www.vulture.com/2015/07/first-look-at-all-the-new-ghosbusters.htmlhttp://www.vulture.com/2015/07/first-look-at-all-the-new-ghosbusters.htmlhttp://www.bbc.com/culture/story/%5C%5Cworldwide.bbc.co.uk%5Cdfs%5CWDL%5CMedia%5CBBCCom%5CCulture%5COne-off%20pieces%5CJennifer%20Armstrong%5CFemale%20Superheroes%5CSupergirl%20actually%20has%20its%20heroine%20fret%20over%20the%20feminist%20implications%20of%20her%20costume.http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/%5C%5Cworldwide.bbc.co.uk%5Cdfs%5CWDL%5CMedia%5CBBCCom%5CCulture%5COne-off%20pieces%5CJennifer%20Armstrong%5CFemale%20Superheroes%5CSupergirl%20actually%20has%20its%20heroine%20fret%20over%20the%20feminist%20implications%20of%20her%20costume.http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/%5C%5Cworldwide.bbc.co.uk%5Cdfs%5CWDL%5CMedia%5CBBCCom%5CCulture%5COne-off%20pieces%5CJennifer%20Armstrong%5CFemale%20Superheroes%5CSupergirl%20actually%20has%20its%20heroine%20fret%20over%20the%20feminist%20implications%20of%20her%20costume.http://comicvine.gamespot.com/articles/aka-jessica-jones-poster-released/1100-152448/http://www.blastr.com/2015-11-23/image-day-gal-gadot-celebrates-start-wonder-woman-productionhttp://www.blastr.com/2015-11-23/image-day-gal-gadot-celebrates-start-wonder-woman-productionhttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3389557/Beyonce-set-perform-Coldplay-SuperBowl-s-halftime-show.htmlhttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3389557/Beyonce-set-perform-Coldplay-SuperBowl-s-halftime-show.htmlhttp://www.vulture.com/2015/07/first-look-at-all-the-new-ghosbusters.htmlhttp://www.vulture.com/2015/07/first-look-at-all-the-new-ghosbusters.htmlhttp://www.bbc.com/culture/story/%5C%5Cworldwide.bbc.co.uk%5Cdfs%5CWDL%5CMedia%5CBBCCom%5CCulture%5COne-off%20pieces%5CJennifer%20Armstrong%5CFemale%20Superheroes%5CSupergirl%20actually%20has%20its%20heroine%20fret%20over%20the%20feminist%20implications%20of%20her%20costume.http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/%5C%5Cworldwide.bbc.co.uk%5Cdfs%5CWDL%5CMedia%5CBBCCom%5CCulture%5COne-off%20pieces%5CJennifer%20Armstrong%5CFemale%20Superheroes%5CSupergirl%20actually%20has%20its%20heroine%20fret%20over%20the%20feminist%20implications%20of%20her%20costume.http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/%5C%5Cworldwide.bbc.co.uk%5Cdfs%5CWDL%5CMedia%5CBBCCom%5CCulture%5COne-off%20pieces%5CJennifer%20Armstrong%5CFemale%20Superheroes%5CSupergirl%20actually%20has%20its%20heroine%20fret%20over%20the%20feminist%20implications%20of%20her%20costume.

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Scarlett Johansson’s 2lac" 1ido( has appeared in five Marvel Studios films to date 5 butstill hasn’t been #iven her o(n movie in (hich to star ;Credit$ Marvel Studios<

More than a pretty face

3he ne( breed of superheroine 34

sho(s and movies has cast actresses(ith lar#e female follo(in#s& itterplaed sardonic characters on 4eronicaMars and 2rea"in# 2ad. !ill #ave us acriminal mastermind to root for on !ost&3he 8hostbusters 5 !eslie Jones,

Melissa McCarth, +ate Mc+innon and+ristin 1ii# 5 are four of the bi##eststandouts in HS comed over the lastfive ears, unleashed on the (orld via

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the t(in po(ers of 2ridesmaids andSaturda Ni#ht !ive& *n of these names(ill illicit #asps of, %Bh m 8od, I love

her) from man (omen the don’t seemli"e the (ere cast solel b men, formen&

%omen are finally working $ehind the scenes to createthese superheroines

3hat’s because the (eren’t$ (omen arefinall (or"in# behind the scenes tocreate these superheroines& JessicaJones’ creator is former :exter (riterMelissa osenber#& 8hostbusters (asco-(ritten b 3he 7eat’s +atie :ippold,and resulted from a concentrated effort

to hire women for the productionteam& Super#irl (as co-created bChuc" and Famil 8u (riter *llison

 *dler& Cat(oman and 9le"tra (ere(ritten b teams of men&

http://perezhilton.com/2015-08-25-melissa-mccarthy-ellen-degeneres-ghostbusters-female-photo-empowering#.Vt2kmJMrK7ohttp://perezhilton.com/2015-08-25-melissa-mccarthy-ellen-degeneres-ghostbusters-female-photo-empowering#.Vt2kmJMrK7ohttp://perezhilton.com/2015-08-25-melissa-mccarthy-ellen-degeneres-ghostbusters-female-photo-empowering#.Vt2kmJMrK7ohttp://perezhilton.com/2015-08-25-melissa-mccarthy-ellen-degeneres-ghostbusters-female-photo-empowering#.Vt2kmJMrK7o

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1illiam Moulton Marston created 1onder 1oman to be a feminist smbol in .A 5 she(as portraed on HS 34 b !nda Carter in the ./0s ;Credit$ ex Features<

7avin# (omen involved in all the phases

of creatin# heroine ma"es a bi#difference, but the (ritin# is particularlimportant$finall, (e’re #ettin#superheroines (ith the "inds of fla(scommon in the last decade’s malesuperheroes 5 and anti-heroes&

Cat(oman and 9le"tra didn’t seem li"ereal (omen because the didn’t havecomplicated, human personalities to #o(ith their sexed-up superpo(ers&;Cat(oman is too mee" 9le"tra is tooan#r&< Jessica Jones, on the other hand,

is an alcoholic commitment-phobe& 9arl#limpses at 8hostbusters seem to sho(its stars bein# 'ust as quir", funn, andstran#e as their male forbears&

 *nd (hile little is "no(n about the ne(1onder 1oman’s bac"stor or character,the bri#htest spot in the trailer  features8adot, (ho tells 2en *fflec"’s 2ruce1ane, %I don’t thin" ou’ve ever "no(na (oman li"e me&) 7ere’s hopin# that’s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cle_rKBpZ28https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cle_rKBpZ28

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true of her, and man superheroines tocome&