the washington monthly on the failure of the latest rash of superheroine films. basically don't up the titilation, keep heroines on the chirpy side, make them something women actually like, avoid spurious over sexualisation.
"For female fans, the superheroine saga is a fantasy about being in control. Successful heroines defy everyday restraints: They cheat gravity, physically overpower men, and reflect bullets with silver bracelets. The last thing women want to see is Supergirl whining about her boss, suffering through a mid-life career crisis, and being served divorce papers by Superman."
there's lessons for all of us underemployed superdudettes here:
1. Do fight demons. Don't fight only inner demons.
2. Do play well with others. Don't shun human society.
3. Do exhibit self-control. Don't exhibit mental disorders.
4. Do wear trendy clothes. Don't wear fetish clothes.
5. Do embrace girl power. Don't cling to man hatred.
6. Do help hapless men. Don't try to kill your boyfriend.
7. Do toss off witty remarks. Don't look perpetually sullen.
Hmmm, not sure about numbers four and six there...
Posted by: Ian Betteridge on March 8, 2005 01:37 PMdarling, you can wear fetish outfits and kill as many boyfriends as you like as long as you accept you'll never be one of charlies angels.
Posted by: flambingo on March 8, 2005 02:01 PMit's more boy pathos about girls in the comic book genre,now dressed up in hollywood clothes. even if girls fit those points in the original comics, they often get turned evil, like phoenix- powerful girls never last long outside of alan moore. women in refridgerators has a great list of the fate of superheroines.
http://www.the-pantheon.net/wir/