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16/08/2008Superheroes seeking smart, strong women

Western superhero comics don’t reflect the diversity of their audience. Overwhelmingly, white males remain both the heroes and targeted readers. However, there is a growing demand for diverse comic characters—be they female or of a multi-cultural backgrounds.

The world has been obsessed with superheroes since 1938, when DC Comics launched Superman. Since then, Superman, along with the likes of Spiderman, Captain America, Wonder Woman, and the Fantastic Four, has been— with uncommon strength and virtue—a leading superhero archetype.
The popularity of superhero comics is cyclical, often surging during war, which is perhaps why they are flourishing once again. The Incredible Hulk, Batman and Iron Man battle evil in Hollywood this year. Currently, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York is showing  “Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy,” an exhibit that celebrates their glamorous haute couture.

DC-Comics Wonder-Woman
American superheroes and villains 
Western superhero comics, however, don’t yet reflect the diversity of their audience. Overwhelmingly, white males remain both the heroes and targeted readers. Female superheroes—aside from Wonder Woman—are likely just voluptuous bodies.

One reason for this may be that women are sparsely employed in the mainstream comics industry. Nonetheless, there is a growing demand for diverse comic characters—be they female or of a multi-cultural background. Some comic enthusiasts are so tired of the superheroes that are clearly marketed toward a straight, white, male audience that they’re turning toward female-friendly comics from other cultures. The most influential (and one of the oldest and most widely read) of these hails from Japan: manga (the Japanese word for comic). Early versions of manga debuted in the late 19th century and its wide-ranging themes are read by women and men of all ages. Action, adventure, comedy, horror, sexuality, politics, science fiction, and romance are just a few of manga’s vast topics.
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