10 Most Powerful (Fictional) Women Of 2015

2. Priya

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Rattapallax

Superhero origin stories are strange things. From radioactive spider bites to alien intervention, and from mystical artifacts to accelerated evolution, you'd think that writers would have covered it all by now. But gaining super powers from surviving rape is certainly a new one.

Priya's Shakti follows the story of a girl who is raped and subsequently invested with divine power thanks to the intervention of Parvati, the Hindu fertility goddess. The comic's creators have made no secret of the fact that the story was created as a means of tackling the culture of rape and sexual violence in India. 

And although initially concerned with personal revenge, Priya's story quickly expands after the god Shiva curses mankind with infertility after also witnessing the attack. As a character, Priya combines Indian mythology with popular culture in the hopes of connecting to reader both in India and abroad to promote social change. 

Contributor
Contributor

With a (nearly) useless degree in English literature and a personal trainer qualification he's never used, Freddie spends his times writing things that he hopes will somehow pay the rent. He's also a former professional singer, and plays the saxophone and ukulele. He's not really used to talking about himself in the third person, and would like to stop now, thanks.