If youre a woman in a comic book movie, then the only thing more hazardous to your health than living in a major metropolitan city is drawing the eye of the local superheroes. Once you fall in love with a superhero, that usually leads to a whole host of problems to deal with. Were talking about an unavailable partner always making up lame excuses for why hes late or missing, staying up nights wondering if hell come home, and being the target of ruthless supervillains who will kidnap you and put your life in jeopardy. Theres also those awkward chats with his alien ghost dad. The damsel in distress trope has existed in centuries of heroic myths, and its continued on into the modern day. Unfortunately, it has also led to some extremely dreadful portrayals of great female characters, some of which weve covered in the past. But this time, were going to flip the lens around and have a look at the other side of the spectrum. This isnt about those comic movie girlfriends who make you root for the villain to win, this is about the women who are great characters in their own right and serve as more than just something for the villain to dangle over the heros head...
Percival Constantine is the author of several novels and short stories, including the Vanguard superhero series, and regularly writes and comments on movies, comics, and other pop culture. More information can be found at his website, PercivalConstantine.com
