The Spectacular Sisterhood of Superwomen

January 30, 2017
Comic book heroines have come a long way and not always by the expected routes, as Nicholson, founder of Bedside Press, traces in this informative and entertaining encyclopedia of female characters in comics. Moving decade by decade, Nicholson—who admits in the introduction that her survey is far from definitive, and reminds readers that one of the reasons to follow the progress of female characters is that they’re often more interesting than their male counterparts—acquaints readers with names both new and commonplace. Only diehard comics fans will likely know the exploits of, say, Ultra Violet, a “bobby-soxer with the ability to shape-change into her wildest fantasies,” first seen in 1947, or 1985’s Sindi Shade, who “is trying to commit the greatest crime of all: checking out a library book.” But Nicholson makes even the relative unknowns sound as fascinating as that familiar Amazonian warrior, Wonder Woman (who, for trivia nerds, first appeared in DC’s All Star Comics #8 in 1941, in a decade Nicholson calls the Golden Age of comics). Since superheroes, female and otherwise, permeate so much of our current culture, it’s a real treat to get such rich history of how characters such as Carol “Ms. Marvel” Danvers emerged and evolved, and Nicholson is a trustworthy, knowledgeable guide.

November 1, 2017

Comic books have historically emphasized male characters, but this compendium offers detailed backgrounds on more than 180 female detectives, nurses, and college students; there's even a single mom and a homeless girl or two. Nicholson sizes them up and pares them down; as a female comic book fan, she's sensitive to how misleading stereotypes can be. She enthuses about old-school heroines such as the protagonists of Sally the Sleuth and Moronica; she knows their stories, and she has their backs-even if their creators saw them as exploitable, all curves and no brains. Nicholson sees a link between these pioneering characters and today's tougher Gen X-types, such as the heroines of Street Angel and Bandette. Acknowledging historian Trina Robbins and the many women professionals in today's comics field, she notes there's still much inequality. Drawing on everything from zines to popular collections, Nicholson has done extensive research, thanks to what must be an impressive personal archive; she's also a publisher. This one-of-a-kind volume informs readers what's available and where. It's an invitation to celebrate the long-lived and the forgotten, the popular and the unknown. VERDICT Fans of comics and graphic novels will love this passionate endorsement of female characters through comic history; it's an effective guide for those seeking to find their favorites, in print and online.-Georgia Christgau, Middle College High School, Long Island City, NY

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.