Women of Comics
Heroines and Villains
Female comic book villains and heroines have evolved significantly since the Golden Age of Comics in the 1940s. Early heroines like Wonder Woman, introduced in 1941, were created to inspire female empowerment, while villains such as Catwoman (1940) blurred the lines between heroism and crime. The Silver Age (1950s-70s) saw an expansion of female characters, with Jean Grey (Marvel Girl/Phoenix) and Batgirl emerging as key figures. Meanwhile, iconic villainesses like Poison Ivy and Mystique gained prominence, often representing themes of independence and rebellion. By the modern era, female characters became more complex and diverse, with anti-heroines like Harley Quinn and morally gray heroes such as Jessica Jones redefining traditional archetypes. Today, female comic book characters continue to challenge stereotypes, offering more depth, power, and agency than ever before.