Fantastic Feminism: Female Characters in Superhero Comic Books

Abstract

The main focus of this thesis is to offer new insight into the portrayal of female superheroes in comic books and the ways in which they highlight important feminist issues. I have divided the topic into three chapters, each featuring a female superhero and discussing different aspects of their visual and narrative presence, and analyzing how they express feminist and psychoanalytic topics both in relation to each other as well as compared to corresponding male superheroes. The first chapter looks at Wonder Woman, who is an iconic presence among superheroes in general, examines the ways in which this is accomplished through images and narrative. The second chapter discusses She-Hulk, and what is problematic about the monstrosity associated with the character. Finally, the third chapter analyzes Black Widow, and how the character challenges gender roles through both bodily image and her superhero identity. In concluding, the main points will be summarized as the superheroes are compared and contrasted to highlight the argument that I am making.