Heroines of Comic Books and Literature: Portrayals in Popular Culture

This edited collection offers a variety of perspectives focusing on representation of women as heroines across printed media. In addition, the book extends the discussion of heroines for the broader audience, which provides a much needed, more nuanced discussion of this topic across American popular culture. Contributors go beyond the expected account of women as mothers, wives, warriors, goddesses, and damsels in distress, to provide innovative analysis that situates heroines within culture, revealing them as tough, self-sufficient, and breaking the bounds of gender expectations in places readers may not have expected. Addressing portrayals from Marvel and DC universe, manga, Jack London's novels, to real-life heroes of Iraq war, this is an indispensable book for scholars in rhetoric, literature, popular culture, and others interested in women's issues.