My Favorite Superheroines (and bad girls)

Catwoman
Selina Kyle is slinky, lithe, playful, smart, independent and the dangerous type. She’s worn a variety of get ups; somehow she makes anything look good on her. A great character and foil/love interest for the Bat. I like the way Adam Hughes drew her, she looks a little like Audrey Hepburn (facially). While her feature film was a bomb, Michelle Pfeiffer in "Batman Returns" and Julie Newmar on TV have portrayed her nicely.




Emma Frost
Marvel hottest bad girl. Independent and gorgeous -villain turned X-Man- Emma can turn her skin into rock hard diamonds and has mental powers to rival Jean Gray. I like that she's her own woman, she makes the rules. You might think you got her figured out then she'll do a complete 180.

Black Widow
Her costume is a basic black cat suit with wristbands that shoot out lines of rope or a shock (called the widows bite) Russian agent Natasha Romanov is sexy, strong willed and crafty. Even in the crowded Alpha male world of the Avengers she stood out, tough and an equal to all. And Widow only sees men who can keep up with her - Hawkeye, Daredevil and Tony Stark (Iron Man). I'm looking forward to seeing her on film.

Supergirl
Kara has gone by many names and been seen in many forms. I've always preferred her to her cousin Clark. Maybe because she's flawed, more relatable. I love what Sterling Gates has done with her. She's still maturing so she stumbles here and there, but is always striving to do and be her best. I also loved Bruce Timm's version of her in the JLU. Younger, impulsive and trying to live up to her name - I got a kick at the way she'd stick her tongue out at someone who displeased her

Stargirl
Under Geoff Johns careful guidance, Courtney has grown into one of DCs best. First, teamed up with her Stepfather (S.T.R.I.P.E) and later as a vital member of the JSA. Johns created a teenager, who acted like a teenager. We watched her mature and go through her highlights and heartaches. She's got spunk and though young, she has great resolve and delivers in a crisis! I like her sporty costume and the staff bequeathed to her from the former Starman.

Black Canary
Gail Simone helped turn Canary into a great character in her run on "Birds of Prey". Sure, Dinah Lance looks great in that uniform, but more importantly she's tough as nails, a confident leader as well as a compassionate friend and able team-mate. Trained by Wildcat, she’s an exceptional hand-to-hand fighter and has that cool canary scream that can waylay the mightiest foes.

Harley Quinn
I don’t like clowns and I’m tired of the Joker’s shtick (Though he does bring out the best in many actors and voice over performers) But Harley is the exception. She’s ditzy and dangerous and somehow... cute in that get up!

Phoenix
When John Byrne drew Jean Gray as Phoenix, it was amazing. Her change into a stronger character was an improvement. But when she became Dark Phoenix she got even cooler. That bird flame thing that surrounded her, the dark red costume, the sash. Beautiful and bad-ass as anything out there.

Giant Girl
This version of a younger Janet Van Dyne was one of the highlights of the early "Marvel Adventures Avengers" series. She was a lot of fun as she had an interesting, cute, clever personality. Plus she’s a giant. I Love giants, I love how they look towering among the skyscrapers and picking up small baddies like they were dolls. I love this cover too, Giant Girl as the 60 Foot Woman.

Batgirl
There have been many versions of Batgirl, my favorite resides in Bruce Timm’s animated universe. While I've liked all the women who wore the cowl, no one surpasses Barbara Gordon. Who now puts her keen mind to use as Oracle, the mentor and helper to Gotham's heroes as well as the leader of the "Birds of Prey".

Elektra
Frank Miller did a wonderful thing when he introduced Elektra to the pages of Daredevil. What a superb, well rounded love story, what a superb well rounded character. This was the first time I ever saw sai’s, very cool. Too bad her movie wasn't up to snuff.

Deadly Girl
She didn’t come from a comic book, but was rather born on film as a member of “The Specials” – This was a pretty funny comedy and Deadly Girl was my favorite character. A snarky Goth girl who can enter the world of the dead. She can also summon forth demons, but sometimes that goes awry. Actress Judy Greer nailed it, she made DG stand out amongst a crowded and talented cast.

Rogue
The troubled Rogue was a different character in the films - in the comics she was proactive, she flew and brawled with the best of them. That white stripe in her hair stood out, as did her 'primarily' green uniforms. Later she hooked up with that Cajun guy, but I was a fan long before he came on the scene

Wonder Woman
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Wonder Woman – Diana was never one of my favorites, I didn’t care for the costume, but her character is what eventually made me a fan. She's a warrior who kowtows to no one, but she’s also a loving and loyal person. Princess Diana is intelligent and a smart tactician and a talented writer/artist who understands that can use this to stage some memorable fight sequences. Watch the "Justice Leagues Crisis on Two Earths" DVD and note the battle with Superwoman. She might be matched in brute strength, but she is without peer as a tactician. She beats Superwoman because she’s smarter, more skilled - more than just muscle.

Caitlin Fairchild
Created by Jim Lee and Brandon Choi for their Gen 13 comic. I loved the early stories of this team, and Fairchild stood head and shoulders above the rest as my favorite. She was not only an attractive red head, but super strong and smart as a whip. I actually didn’t care for Adam Hughes muscle bound version of Caitlin and prefer J Scott Campbell’s lanky, lean, Amazon look. I felt it was a unique way to portray a powerhouse figure.

The Huntress
Helena has been seen in many guises; my favorites were with her teamed up with Canary in Birds of Prey and in the animated JLU. The episode "Double Date" was one of the series best, and was the first pairing of her with the Question. The 2 made a strange, but nice couple.

Honorable Mention: Ms Marvel - Always liked the costume, she made a good Avenger and I enjoyed her in Iron Man's comics (though I hate how some writers have treated her. That thing with her and Marcus was messed up)

Honorable Mention: Ghost - The first time my eyes were awed by Adam Hughes gorgeous artwork, was in the pages of Ghost. A character from the "Dark Horse" superworld Arcadia. This mysterious pistol packing heroine was trying to solve her own murder, and would later been seen teaming up with characters such as Batgirl and Hellboy

Favorite Non-Super: Gwen Stacey - Peter Parker might have been a picked on nerd, but he sure dates the prettiest women. Gwen was the best, she was a sweetie. Man, how it broke my young heart when she died. I've also got to give a shout out to Tony Stark’s gal pals, Bethany Cabe and Pepper Potts. Two smart, confident, cool women that made the pages of Iron Man a much better place.

Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E.

Smallville’s “Absolute Justice” put me in the mood to check out both Stargirl and Geoff Johns' comic book debuts. Finding a nice price on the 2 volumes for “Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E.” I purchased both and settled in for a good nights read.

A little set up: Though I’m a fan of Johns work, I don’t think I’m as big a fan as others. Granted, what he did on Green Lantern... the way he brought back Hal Jordan was brilliant, intelligently written. I believe that was Johns at his absolute peak. But, I feel he gets a bit too busy as he goes on. I wasn't as impressed with the popular Sinestro Corps War or even Blackest Night. They are loaded with sound and fury, but little else. Neither have the depth of character or story for something I’d consider great. Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing was great, as was John Ostrander’s Spectre. Both were able to tackle a huge storyline and offer compelling character development as well. Generally, neither Johns nor his big events reach those levels of artistry.

I compare his writing to a candy bar – both are tempting and sweet tasting. While it might not be filling, that’s okay, I like a “Milky Way” now and again. Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E is probably Geoff at his most light and fluffy and Milky Wayish. It is -in his own words- rather green, especially at the start. The narrative doesn’t flow seamlessly and there is little character development, as the primary figures simply bicker and do little else. As the series went on we can see Geoff’s growth as both he and his protagonist mature.

The premise: Pat Dugan, who used to be the sidekick Stripesy to golden age hero The Star Spangled Kid, has just remarried and moved his new bride and her teenage daughter Courtney Whitmore, to a small town. Courtney expresses her unhappiness with this situation frequently. She’s pretty much a brat, treating Pat like dirt and doing whatever she can to get under his skin. She gets an opportunity to do just that when she discovers Star Spangled Kids’ cosmic belt and costume among Pat’s belongings. She adapts the uniform and wears it to a costume party/dance knowing it’ll bug her new stepfather. When baddies attack the dance she’s thrust into action, with Pat – now suited in robotic armor – looking to protect and keep her out of harms way.

The first volume sees the new Star Spangled Kid learning the ropes; there are strange goings on at her School and new town to keep her busy. S.T.R.I.P.E tags along and gets no end of grief from Courtney – loveable is not a word I’d use for her, she’s of High School age so it fits, but it took me a while to warm up to the girl. In these 8 issues the duo team up with the likes of Captain Marvel and Young Justice and do battle with goofy baddies such as… Paintball?

The art by Lee Moder is cartoony. I like his line work and composition. There’s a nice movement and flow in his pages. Unfortunately he can draw some ugly looking woman, maybe not Jack Kirby ugly, but ladies faces frequently foil him. Marked by large eyes, a narrow chin (rather light bulb shaped heads) and rubbery lips. Check out page 33 in Vol 1, Gaa! Is that supposed to be the face of a young girl or a Zanti Misfit?

His designs and renditions for S.T.R.I.P.E remind me of a Saturday morning cartoon figure, very old school in style. I like it, though the barrel-chest come off a bit exaggerated in some panels. Lee’s fight sequences aren't bad - not the best or the best choreographed, but not bad. They are clean and easy to read, if too static in places (for example: Vol 1, pg 158 panel 2 - the scene is too stiff, which lessens the clairity and impact of the moment). Lee would give way to the workman like Scott Kolins in later issues. Kolins is more realistic, but his panels are not as dynamic and crisp as Moder’s.

In Volume 2 the duo team up with the new Starman and the old Shining Knight, and wrap up their feud with the evil Dragon King and his daughter Shiv. We get to meet Pat’s annoying son from another marriage. He’s not an asset. And Johns bogs down some pages with excessive exposition (especially in the pages devoted to Shining Knight's comings and goings). But he also gives Courtney a few more layers. She jumped into the hero game so quickly and seemed pretty fearless for the most part, so it was nice to see her softening up a bit. There’s a heartrending sequence when her biological father shows up at her doorstep, and she and Pat have some nice moments, which were a welcome respite from the bickering.

All told these early tales of the future Stargirl were overall enjoyable fun. She's not as noble a young female hero as Supergirl. She’s not as kick ass cool as the Huntress or Marvel's Black Widow. As far as teenage heroes go; I didn’t find her as likeable and relatable as say, a Peter Parker. But Courtney does have her moments. She’s got spunk, and Johns and Moder kept me entertained with her and Pat's fast paced, colorful adventures. So... good candy!

Note: DC could have done a better job of filling in the gaps, provided a page directing us to crossovers (there is one obvious jump between issues in vol. 1) or told us where to go next for more Star Spangled stories. Research lead me to “JSA: Justice Be Done”, but DC could help themselves –sales wise- and do us fans a favor by giving us a quick and easy directory in their trade paperbacks

Smallville: Absolute Justice

After the idiocy of last years season finale it would have taken a lot to generate renewed interest in me for this show. Bringing back Green Lantern scribe Geoff Johns, who penned my favorite episode from the '09 season (Legion) was a step in the right direction. To start, I’ll point out that I’ve got a love/hate relationship with Smallville. I like it when it’s heroic; I hate it when it embraces the overwrought soap opera. It’s fun when it’s adventurous and mysterious, ponderous with its contradictory stabs at the philosophical. Overall, I find it damn schizophrenic.

Thankfully "Absolute Justice" zeroes in on action and intrigue. With a Watchmen-esque mystery about an old school crime fighting team -the JSA- whose members are being killed off one by one. As Clark and his crew try to suss out what’s going on, they collide with this old guard, before the two put aside their differences for the greater good.

The 2-hour episode spends its first half on the mystery and introduction, which I liked. The second half focuses on the adventure, which was equally as cool as. Add it all up and I got something that was entertaining and held my interest from start to finish.

A lot of talk on this episode involved the costumes. Would they work or come off cheesy? For me they were hit and miss. This is TV and it doesn’t have the budget of a blockbuster Hollywood production so I wasn’t expecting Spider-Man levels. Sometimes they did well - as with Doctor Fate, whose helmet and glowing eyes were very effective. Sometimes it was split down the middle. Stargirl, a favorite of mine -and someone close to Geoff Johns' heart- looked good; apart from the overlarge facemask (something about superwomen and their eyes flummoxes this show… ala the ugly black makeup they’ve put around Black Canary’s peepers). With Hawkman, his headgear has always looked goofy, so there's not much they could do there. The wings were tricky and the chestpiece was ill fitting and clunky. And speaking of clunky…

The actor-playing Hawk (Michael Shanks) was decent at first but once he donned the uniform and zapped into hero mode –Phew- It was like he was doing a bad Clint Eastwood impression. Over enunciating on some of the worst dialog of the episode. Hawkman and Green Arrow were paired as combative allies; Arrow was hilarious and delivered his lines like a pro. Hawk snarled and sputtered and made me wince with every lame quip he uttered. The rest of the JSA was serviceable and kept pace with the regular cast. Stargirl (Brit Irvin) and Chloe had some good bonding moments together and I liked Brent Strait as Fate (who sounded like James Earl Jones once he put on the helmet)

I’ve heard complaints that the villain Icicle was not a worthy foe. The actor does ham it up but the character did exactly what he was meant to do. He’s a puppet of Amanda Waller (Pam Greer) and the shadowy Checkmate organization - and that’s a nice set-up for some future stories.

Other pluses: The episode is packed with goodies that comic book fans should appreciate. You’ll spot items from Flash’s helmet to the Green Lantern’s battery. It was nice to see many of my old favorites, like Ted Grant (Wildcat in civilian dress). And there was a quick peak at Martian Manhunter’s true form in all its green glory -- as well as a nod to his love for Oreos.

All in all a –mostly- satisfying event. It cleansed the pallet and served to wash out the bad taste of the 2009s season finale and got me back to the show.

Next week: The welcome return of Zatanna (pitch perfect casting there. You couldn’t do any better than Serinda Swan). And a way we go…