Portrayal of women in American comics
Modern Age of Comic Books
### Modern Age of Comic Books

In the [1990s](/wiki/1990s_in_comics "1990s in comics"), a popular feminist comic book girl was [Tank Girl](/wiki/Tank_Girl "Tank Girl") (by [Jamie Hewlett](/wiki/Jamie_Hewlett "Jamie Hewlett") and [Alan Martin](/wiki/Alan_Martin_%28writer%29 "Alan Martin (writer)")), who sported punk\-influenced clothing and a shaved head. Her popularity in *[Deadline](/wiki/Deadline_%28magazine%29 "Deadline (magazine)")* magazine was such that [a movie](/wiki/Tank_Girl_%28film%29 "Tank Girl (film)") was eventually made. She represented the new modern woman as one who no longer had to live under traditional images of beauty or manners.\[citation needed]

Due to the fan–based nature of the comic book industry, many of the readers feel, either directly or indirectly, that they are involved in a social practice.By Jeffrey A. Brown, *Black Superheroes: [Milestone Comics](/wiki/Milestone_Comics "Milestone Comics") and Their Fans*, p. 129, 2001, [University Press of Mississippi](/wiki/University_Press_of_Mississippi "University Press of Mississippi"),  The attachment to the titles and the characters obtains a life all its own. There is a sense of social contact with the books and the characters themselves. A unique relationship is developed by the reader upon adopting these properties. This relationship has various effects in the way women are presented in comic books.

This portrayal would be put to the test in the [Modern Age](/wiki/Modern_Age_of_Comic_Books "Modern Age of Comic Books"). While there were many examples of strong female characters getting their own titles it was not uncommon that sex was used to sell comics as well. In the 21st century, the roles of many women have changed. Roles and choices such as single parenting, same\-sex relationships, and positions of power in the workplace have come to define many women in modern society. These roles have found their way into the comic books of the 21st century as well.

Lesbianism has become increasingly common in modern comic books. In 2006, [DC Comics](/wiki/DC_Comics "DC Comics") could still draw widespread media attention by announcing a new, lesbian incarnation of the well\-known character [Batwoman](/wiki/Batwoman "Batwoman"), even though openly lesbian minor characters such as [Gotham City](/wiki/Gotham_City "Gotham City") police officer [Renee Montoya](/wiki/Renee_Montoya "Renee Montoya") already existed in the franchise (Renee would become the new Question in the same story arch revealing the new Batwoman, and in fact the two were past lovers).

In 1999, a new website was launched entitled "[Women in Refrigerators](/wiki/Women_in_Refrigerators "Women in Refrigerators")". It featured a list of female comic book characters who had been injured, killed, or depowered within various superhero comic books and sought to analyze why these [plot devices](/wiki/Plot_device "Plot device") were used disproportionately on female characters. It noted that even though female comic characters were becoming more powerful, they were still inferior to the male counterparts, which can be seen by them appearing more disposable.

Portrayals of women characters as sex objects continues to attract comment and controversy: in 2007, [Sideshow Collectibles](/wiki/Sideshow_Collectibles "Sideshow Collectibles") produced a 14\.25\-inch "comiquette" statuette designed by [Adam Hughes](/wiki/Adam_Hughes "Adam Hughes") that appeared to depict [Mary Jane](/wiki/Mary_Jane_Watson "Mary Jane Watson") hand\-washing Peter Parker's [Spider\-Man](/wiki/Spider-Man "Spider-Man") costume. The statuette has received criticism for MJ's ostensibly highly sexualized and objectifying pose. Harley Quinn of DC Comics is most famously known for her torrid love affair with the Joker and her sex appeal to the male audience. Even if a female character is not sexualized, there are still characteristics reflecting traditional definitions of womanhood. There is a habit amongst cartoonists when they characterize their animals as females. Around the 1980s was when the oversexualization of both males and females rose. Males became even taller, muscular, and smarter. Females, too, became taller, but only in the legs. Their breast proportions became exaggerated, as well as their waists.

Characterizations of women as sex objects has declined in recent decades, and depictions of women as victims of physical brutality have significantly decreased over the past 20 years. Additionally, recent comics indicate a possible reversal of the trend of portraying characters according to rigid gender stereotypes.


Are there any benefits or drawbacks to having a strong attachment to comic book titles and characters?