My First Book of Girl Power (Board Book)

DC super heroes: my first book of girl power showcases the strength, intelligence, kindness, and bravery of the women in the DC universe.

Comic Books. They are advertised to mostly boys, doesn’t it seem? Well, that’s not so true. In fact, I’ve been a comic book collector since a child and my love of pop art and strong female characters came together when I started reading the comic, “Ghost”. In fact, I even attempted to do big paintings of my favorite comics although only one has survived over the years as I give away most of my drawings.

Hey, it’s not that great of a painting, but I was a young teen!

If you have been watching the PBS the “Superheroes: A Never-Ending Battle” documentary, it is very interesting as to how and why comics came into existence and the mainstream. It’s no surprise that after WWI and beginning during WWII many people were looking to ‘super’ heroes to save the world. In fact, many comic book writers were emulating what was the perfect American soldier. As females were not part of that equation at that time, it’s no wonder that early depictions of females were quite…..ummmm….sexist? Impossible bodies that needed saving. Luckily, it has shifted to a more equilibrium between men and women in comics.

In fact, smart and important figures like Felicity Smoak from Arrow are becoming more of a norm than say, Lois Lane, Superman’s constant companion who needed ‘saving’. As a child, I looked up to and collected Wonder Women (who else had Wonder Woman underoos – come on, admit it!) and Batgirl for their sharp wit and no holds barred attempts at righting injustice. DC comics did a decent job at bringing in female fans for their strength while boys came for their looks.

“If I had accepted things, I would be a cocktail waitress in Vegas like my mother and I never would have gone to college and I never would have moved a thousand miles away to work at Queen Consolidated and I never would have believed some crazy guy in a hood when he told me I could be more than just some I.T. girl.“

—Felicity Smoak

My First Book of Girl Power from Downtown Bookworks is a great example of super women who save the earth. No help from men, these women did their duty without much recognition besides their little known identities like those of super heroes who were men. Fantastic! Not only are these superwomen wonderful role models for girls, the art work is fun and colorful and interesting. Superheroes may not exist in reality, but to believe that females and males are on the same level is something that as a comic book lover I find it important and necessary. They are women girls can relate to on so many levels and they are MY gender. So, move over drooling fan boys, us girls are here to stay in the comic book realm also filled with GIRL POWER!