# Must-Read Superheroine Graphic Novel **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 3, 2014, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-read-superheroine-graphic-novel/685293 "2014-04-03T22:01:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2014, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-read-superheroine-graphic-novel/685293/1 "2014-04-03T22:01:17Z")
In reference to the currently going thread about Superhero movies not starring female characters, I did a search among recommended lists for graphic novels to see which female superhero had the best stories…just to discover that the answer seems to be none. I saw Greg Rucka’s Batwoman listed. I’ve read it and the art was pretty, but it was impressively short and I’m a bit loath to call something great which barely has enough time just to introduce its characters (see also Mad Love). So are there any good entries out there? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2014, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-read-superheroine-graphic-novel/685293/2 "2014-04-03T22:05:05Z")
Does [_Give Me Liberty_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Give_Me_Liberty) count? ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2014, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-read-superheroine-graphic-novel/685293/3 "2014-04-03T22:15:44Z")
Too few! There are some Wonder Woman collections. There are quite a few Red Sonja collections (not superpowers, but swords.) (I was very fond of Christy Marx’s “Sisterhood of Steel” way back in the day; also not supers but swords, but very pleasantly feminist. Feminism that wasn’t hostile to men. There is a SOS graphic novel that’s pretty good.) ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2014, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-read-superheroine-graphic-novel/685293/4 "2014-04-03T22:32:11Z")
Neil Gaiman’s [Black Orchid](http://www.amazon.com/Black-Orchid-Deluxe-Neil-Gaiman/dp/140123335X) miniseries is usually well-regarded. But it is quite short ( three combined issues ) - basically an origin story. I rather liked the Amanda Conner( artist ) run of [Power Girl](http://www.amazon.com/Power-Girl-Trip-Jimmy-Palmiotti/dp/140124307X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1396564209&sr=1-1&keywords=power+girl+amanda+conner). It’s more light-hearted fun than anything else, though. Not terribly deep, just entertaining. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2014, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-read-superheroine-graphic-novel/685293/5 "2014-04-03T22:42:34Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Does [_Give Me Liberty_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Give_Me_Liberty) count? The story of Martha Washington would be at the top of my list. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2014, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-read-superheroine-graphic-novel/685293/6 "2014-04-03T22:43:12Z")
I guess you could also pull out the excellent Neil Gaiman [Death miniseries](http://www.amazon.com/DEATH-Deluxe-Edition-Neil-Gaiman/dp/1401235484) as well. But she’s not really a super-heroine of the standard sort and you should really have read **Sandman** first. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2014, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-read-superheroine-graphic-novel/685293/7 "2014-04-03T23:01:43Z")
_A League Of One_ was a pretty good Wonder Woman story. And while _The Golden Age_ was an ensemble piece, Liberty Belle is awesome in it. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2014, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-read-superheroine-graphic-novel/685293/8 "2014-04-03T23:19:48Z")
I’ve never read them myself, but I’ve heard good things about She-Hulk. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-read-superheroine-graphic-novel/685293/9 "2014-04-04T03:35:26Z")
_[Alias](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alias_(comics))_ by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Gaydos is very good. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-read-superheroine-graphic-novel/685293/10 "2014-04-04T04:01:24Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I’ve never read them myself, but I’ve heard good things about She-Hulk. Good call! The Sensational She-Hulk graphic novel, by John Byrne, 1990, was pretty good. Byrne rather ineptly promotes a feminist point of view…and also exposes a whole lot of flesh. But the story is good, the characterization is fun, and there are some good jokes. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-read-superheroine-graphic-novel/685293/11 "2014-04-04T04:32:01Z")
And of course there is [Empowered.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empowered) ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-read-superheroine-graphic-novel/685293/12 "2014-04-04T06:32:20Z")
Another not-really-a-superheroine is Elektra, from the Daredevil comic. I’d stick with the stories/collections written by Frank Miller. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-read-superheroine-graphic-novel/685293/13 "2014-04-04T07:01:39Z")
I enjoyed the Shado episodes from Green Arrow ~25 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-read-superheroine-graphic-novel/685293/14 "2014-04-04T07:17:48Z")
The Other Pepper: > [@](#): > > And while The Golden Age was an ensemble piece, Liberty Belle is awesome in it. I don’t recall Liberty Belle having much of a role in it at all. Maybe you’re thinking of Miss America? Also, the Tigress (who later becomes the villain called the Huntress) features prominently. Those are the only female characters I recall having a significant role, though the biggest roles belong to the male characters in the story. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-read-superheroine-graphic-novel/685293/15 "2014-04-04T08:42:50Z")
[Promethea](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Promethea) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-read-superheroine-graphic-novel/685293/16 "2014-04-04T11:12:48Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > I don’t recall Liberty Belle having much of a role in it at all. Maybe you’re thinking of Miss America? Also, the Tigress (who later becomes the villain called the Huntress) features prominently. Those are the only female characters I recall having a significant role, though the biggest roles belong to the male characters in the story. Spoilers… Libby’s the one who beats the hell out of her would-be abusive husband, at the culmination of a subplot contrasting his failure-to-earn-a-living problems with her useful-exposition-for-the-reader journalism, the story ending as she reunites on her own terms with the other guy she’d divorced – after she comes out of retirement in the climax to _save the world by killing the [del]century’s[/del] book’s primary villain,_ right? ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-read-superheroine-graphic-novel/685293/17 "2014-04-04T14:23:34Z")
Good point, I’d forgotten the Libby/Tarantula subplot. It wasn’t really in the forefront of the action, though. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-read-superheroine-graphic-novel/685293/18 "2014-04-04T14:35:35Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > And of course there is [Empowered.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empowered) Very good recommendation. People checking this out should be aware it’s one of those series that grew a beard as it was told. It started out as a fairly one-dimensional joke series before adding a lot of depth in the characters. So don’t dismiss the series too early if you don’t enjoy the first book. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-read-superheroine-graphic-novel/685293/19 "2014-04-04T14:53:25Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > _[Alias](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alias_(comics))_ by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Gaydos is very good. This, absolutely - it isn’t exactly a “superheroine” thing in that it tends to be more of an “ordinary people in a world with superheroes” detective story, but the main character is a woman with superpowers who failed to make the big leagues. Also it’s really good. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-read-superheroine-graphic-novel/685293/20 "2014-04-04T16:19:13Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > [Promethea](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Promethea) This is my second-favorite comic-thingie ever, after _Sandman_. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-read-superheroine-graphic-novel/685293.md?page=2)