Powers of a Girl

A curated encyclopedia of female superheroes from the Marvel Universe.An array of Marvel Comics female characters is collected in this volume, each profiled in a tidy, uniform format: a full-page color rendering followed by a three-page entry smattered with informational sidebars. Beginning with Captain Marvel, Cink's (Ultimate Marvel, 2017, etc.) collection covers a varied selection of characters, ranging from the well-known, like She-Hulk and Black Widow, but also delving into lesser-known ladies like Gwenpool and Mantis. Each entry is written in a lively tone that is careful not to alienate those unfamiliar with the heavily nuanced (and generally convoluted) plots of the Marvel Universe but also winkingly acknowledges to seasoned readers how strange and tangled comics plots can be. Each vignette commences with a lushly painted portrait by the exceptionally talented and detailed-oriented Zhang (Star Wars: Women of the Galaxy, 2018, etc.). Cink has assembled a thoughtful and inclusive collection ranging from the Wakandan Dora Milaje and Shuri from Black Panther to Pakistani-American Muslim Kamala Khan from Ms. Marvel, Latinx other-dimensional America Chavez, and queer Runaways teammates Japanese-American Nico Minoru and extraterrestrial Karolina Dean. Also included throughout are two-page spreads dedicated to topics such as animal companions, empowering female relationships (from friendships to romances to siblings), and "mentors and matriarchs," which highlights the importance of older women.A visual and informative delight, this guide is a fierce and fun celebration. (Fiction. 12-adult)

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