The Supergirls: Feminism, Fantasy, and the History of Comic Book Heroines (Revised and Updated)

(Paperback, Revised Edition)

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"Mike Madrid is doing God's work. . . . mak[ing] accessible a lost, heady land of female adventure." ComicsAlliance

"Sharp and lively . . . [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

"A long overdue tribute to [those] fabulous fighting females." Stan Lee

Mike Madrid has become known as a champion of women in comics and as the expert in Golden Age female characters. And now here is where it all began, as informative and entertaining as ever, in a revised and updated edition, including new illustrations and a new introduction, as well as an afterword bringing us up-to-date on what's happening with women in comics now.

Reviews

"With the explosion of breakout new female heroes, huge changes for fan favorites, and major icons heading from page to screen, there's never been a better time to soar with this expanded version of The Supergirls by Mike Madrid. Codenames and styles change, new characters rise but Madrid remains the coolest Professor of comics history with a pulse on the past, present and where these heroes are flying next."-- Will Harris, Comicsblend.com "The affection the author holds for these characters is infectious ... An essential read for pop-culture enthusiasts, feminists, comic-book readers, and social justice warriors."--Kirkus Reviews "Mike Madrid is doing God's work... mak[ing] accessible a lost, heady land of female adventure." --ComicsAlliance "[Madrid's] engaging, conversational language is as readable as the truly dazzling comics. He has endeavored to unearth the forgotten, and what he found is ultimately unforgettable." --BUST Magazine "Sharp and lively ... [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 "These 'lost' [characters] are now found--to the delight of comic book lovers everywhere." --STAN LEE "Lovers of comics and strong women everywhere thank you, Mike Madrid!" --TRINA ROBBINS, author of Pretty in Ink: North American Women Cartoonists 1896--2013 "Madrid's meticulous and passionate research provides a window into a seemingly lost herstory of patriotism, bravery, and progressive ways of thinking about female agency and adventure." --JENNIFER K. STULLER, author of Ink-Stained Amazons and Cinematic Warriors: Superwomen in Modern Mythology

Author Bio

Mike Madrid is the author of Divas, Dames & Daredevils: Lost Heroines of Golden Age Comics, Vixens, Vamps & Vipers: Lost Villainesses of Golden Age Comics, and the original The Supergirls: Fashion, Feminism, Fantasy, and the History of Comic Book Heroines, an NPR "Best Book To Share With Your Friends" and American Library Association Amelia Bloomer Project Notable Book. A San Francisco native and lifelong fan of comic books and popular culture, Madrid also appears in the documentary Wonder Women! The Untold Story of American Superheroines and is the illustrator of two of The History of Arcadia books: Lily the Silent and The Lizard Princess.