The Supergirls: Fashion, Feminism, Fantasy, and the History of Comic Book Heroines
National Public Radio “Best Book To Share With Your Friends”American Library Association Amelia Bloomer Project Notable Book“The Supergirlsis a long overdue tribute to the fabulous fighting females whose beauty and bravery brighten the pages of your favorite comics.”—STAN LEE“A thoughtful, comprehensive history of women in comics . . .The Supergirlsgleefully celebrates the medium itself, in all its goofy, glorious excess.” —NPR “Best Book To Share With Your Friends” citation“From the super heroines of today to ‘Goddesses of Tomorrow,’ Madrid questions the position of women in the world of superhero fantasy, showing the parallels between society’s expectations and the depiction of American women in comic fiction.” —American Library Association Amelia Bloomer Project Notable Book citation“Sharp and lively—and just obsessive enough about women who wear capes and boots to be cool but not creepy. [Madrid] clearly loves this stuff. And he's enough of a historian to be able to trace the ways in which the portrayal of sirens and supergirls has echoed society's ever-changing feelings about women and sex.” —Entertainment Weekly“Weird and wonderful all the way through.” —Portland Mercury“There comes a time in every comic book geek slash fashionista’s life when she must ask herself ‘What do costumes and couture have in common?’The Supergirlssets out to answer that question. . . . A quick read that skims over the history of publishing powerhouses Marvel and DC, making it informative enough and providing sufficient cultural context for those who may have no prior comic book knowledge.” —WORN Fashion Journal(Canada)“Any comics or graphic novel library needsThe Supergirls.It provides a cultural history of comic book heroines and asks whether their fantasy world has any connection to our own, offering a fine survey of different super-women in comic history and crime fighting. Any long-time comic book reader will relish this blend of scene re-creation and social analysis.” —Midwest Book Review“Mike Madrid’s fast-moving, encyclopedic, and often funnySupergirlsshows the author’s lifelong affection for these heroines on every page. He has a great feel for the genre and its history, with evident sensitivity to issues of female power and powerlessness. The section on the She-Hulk is not to be missed!” —LARRY GONICK, author ofCartoon History of the Universe“Entertaining and informative,Supergirlsis a breezy and thoroughly accessible history of the comic book heroine. A great resource!” —MARC ANDREYKO, author of the DC ComicsManhunterseries