Superheroines and the Epic Journey

Valerie Estelle Frankel teaches English at Mission College and San Jose City College. The author of more than 90 popular culture books and more than 100 stories and essays, she lives in Sunnyvale, California.

• Table of ContentsForeword: The Heroine with a Thousand Faces by Trina RobbinsIntroduction: Considering Superheroes and HeroinesChapter 1—GrowingHero Birth: Wonder Woman (DC Comics, 1941)Ordinary World: After the Golden Age (Novel, 2011)Adolescence: Ms. Marvel (Marvel Comics, 2014)Call to Rescue: Go Girl! (Dark Horse Comics, 2002)Refusal of the Call: ­X-Men (Film, 2000)Making the Choice: Runaways (Marvel Comics, 2003–2008)Chapter 2—Superhero ToolsSuperpowers: Wild Cards (Book Series, 1987–)Talisman: Witchblade (TV, 2001–2002)Self-Naming: Captain Marvel (Marvel Comics, 1977–2012)Secret Identity: Supergirl (DC Comics, 1959)Costume: Miss Fury (Timely Comics, 1941)Shadow Side: Savage ­She-Hulk (Marvel Comics, 1980)Chapter 3—Family FoilsGrandmother-Mentor: Miss Harkness (Marvel Comics, 1970–1989)Evil Mentor: Birds of Prey (DC Comics, 2004–2011)Brutal Patriarchy: ­Spider-Woman (Marvel Comics, 1977)Leaving the Father: Aurora West (First Second Comics, 2014–2015)Finding the Mother: Batgirl (DC Comics, 2005–2006)Killer Mother: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D (TV, 2013–2015)Sister Teamwork: Supergirl (TV, 2015)Evil Twin: Black Widow (Marvel Comics, 1999–2002)Chapter 4—Male InfluencesFriendship: White Tiger (Marvel Comics, 2007)Animus Growth: ­Spider-Gwen (Marvel Comics, 2014)The Good Boy: Dark Angel (TV, 2000–2002)Shapeshifter Romance: Batman Returns (Film, 1992)Bluebeard: Scarlet Witch (Marvel Comics, 1994)Government Persecution: Echo (Abstract Studios Comics, 2011)Shrinking Down: ­She-Hulk (Marvel Comics, 2005)Take Back the Night: Priya’s Shakti (Web Comic, 2014)Chapter 5—Descent to the SelfEntering the Otherworld: Daredevil/Echo (Marvel Comics, 2004)Into the Desert: Vixen (DC Comics, 2011)Hearing the Inner Voices: Power Girl (DC Comics, 2009–2010)Casting Off Illusions: Donna Troy (DC Comics, 2005)Healing: Jessica Jones (TV, 2015)Empathy: Batwoman (DC Comics, 2013–2014)Chapter 6—Facing the ShadowDescent into Death: Pretty Deadly (Image Comics, 2013–2014)Dying to Save the World: Kitty Pryde (Marvel Comics, 2004–2008)Shadow Transformation: Dark Phoenix (Marvel Comics, 1975)Embracing the Self: Wonder Woman (DC Comics, 2011)Return to Life: Danger Girl (IDW Comics, 2014)Finishing the Battle: “Call Her Savage” (Short Story, 2010)Finding Balance: Supergirl (DC Comics, 1996)Chapter 7—Motherhood and EnlightenmentBecoming Supermom: Invisible Woman (Marvel Comics, 1968–1973)Evil Child: Ms. Marvel (Marvel Comics, 1980–1981)Losing the Child: Scarlet Witch (Marvel Comics, 1986–2012)Death Crone: Claire Voyant (Timely Comics, 1940–1942)Mistress of Dark and Light: Storm and Illyana (Marvel Comics, delete1983–1984)Apotheosis: Promethea (America’s Best Comics, 2001–2005)Guiding the Next Generation: Birds of Prey (TV, 2002–2003)ConclusionGlossaryWorks CitedIndex

“A wealth of information about a variety of super-heroines and their comic book stories”—SFCrowsnest; “Frankel discusses the journey of the superheroine in contemporary comics, movies, and television”—ProtoView; “Frankel uses myth the way it was meant to be used, to help people understand how their lives fit into a larger world. She offers great depth of analysis in understanding how the mythic characters of comics utilize the standard mythic tropes. This is a must-have.”—Matthew Wilhelm Kapell, Exploring the Next Frontier: Vietnam, NASA, Star Trek and Utopia in 1960s and 1970s American Myth and History.