The representation of female characters has seen a positive change with recentdevelopments in superhero comics. In this paper, I will discuss how representation of femalecharacters has evolved over the years and how these changes, increase in female led titles andcharacter provide a good example of and continues the important work of third wavefeminism using examples from comics Wonder Woman and Ms. Marvel.Superhero comics have changed significantly over the last five to ten years. Thecomics have done a great deal to address their notorious poor record on representation ofrace, ethnicity and gender. The significant changes are prominent with a black CaptainAmerica, Ms. Marvel, the first Pakistani-American hero, a Chinese Superman and inclusionof Cyborg in the reimagination of Justice League after 20 years of Justice League beingcreated. Sexuality has also been given more visibility, for example, the first tans character,Gail Simone’s Alysia Yeoh in Batgirl and gay marriage between NorthStar and Kyle in X-Men. However, this paper will particularly focus on the changes that have been made in therepresentation of gender.Recent developments in this area include a significant increase in women writing anddrawing, a gender swapping of characters that were traditionally male to female, a rise infemale led titles and an overall increase in female characters. Writers have been responsiblefor creating work that is richly diverse; without denying the social and institutional hurdlesthat exist with the industry, the writers found a space to challenge the conventional narrativesand aesthetics in superhero comics. It is arguable that the development is because of thecentrality of pluralism and intersectionality to the third wave of feminism. The specificinstitutions of third-wave feminism can be addressed in terms of equality and solidarity,violence, body and sexuality and the heritage it shares with earlier engagements of feminism
with popular culture. Historically, the third wave of feminism and female superheroes areoften misinterpreted and under interpreted. Women superheroes became more prevalent in the1960 and the 1970s and more female led characters were created. (Laura Mattoon D’Amore2008, 2012; Lillian Robinson 2004). In addition to this, more powerful female leads appearedin a male dominated world. However, despite it, feminist concerns still remained aroundbecause a vision of female empowerment was always missing and has been missing since theGolden Age (1938-1956).Wonder WomanMoreover, even though Wonder Woman is not the first female superhero to be created,she often seen as a founding female figure in the genre of comics. This is only because of thefact that she is one of the only three superheroes, including Batman and Superman to havebeen written since the genre of superhero comics began. William Moulton Marston, WonderWoman’s creator was a strong believer of female empowerment.
