Features

New Wonder Women Doc Shows Girls Can Be Super Too!

 Set to air on American T.V. channel PBS on Monday the 15th of April, Wonder Women! The Untold Story Of American Superheroines is a documentary, directed by Kristy Guevera-Flanagan, that tells the tale of female heroes.  The film sets to uncover the truth behind the creation of superheroines and the part that they play in society, comics and as role models for women worldwide.  For many young girls who see Superman, Batman and Captain America adorning the covers of comic books and being prevalent in pop culture, the existence of female heroes shows them that woman can be just as empowered, powerful and formidable.

 

Wonder Woman is one of the world’s oldest and most loved superheroes (or is that superheroines?).  William Moulton Marston, psychologist and early feminist, created her to be a strong female symbol in 1941 during World War II.  Being of the comics ‘Golden Age’ she predates most Marvel heroes such as Spider-Man, Thor, Hulk, X-Men and a lot of other famous non-Marvel or D.C. characters such as Spawn, Hellboy and Judge Dredd.

 She occupies a very important position in the world of comic books and pop culture and that is as the most well known female superhero.  Many followed her with D.C. comics creating Batwoman, Supergirl and Black Canary among others, while Marvel has Ms. Marvel, Black Widow, Black Cat and a raft of female X-Men.  The one main thing that Wonder Woman and the many other female super heroes let everyone know is that fighting crime isn’t just a man’s game!

The film will feature interviews with Lynda Carter, who played Wonder Woman in the 1970s TV series, Lindsay Wagner, who played the Bionic Woman in the 1970s TV series, Trina Robbins, writer and comic herstorian, and several other women involved in the comic book/superheroine community.

What are your views of women in comic books and the roles that they play?  Are they mighty broads or damsels in distress?

About the author

Chris Spence

You can read more of Chris' work on his blog http://filmandmoviehotspot.blogspot.co.uk/ and follow him on Twitter @TheRetroSamurai