No powers, no problem. These characters are some of the most iconic and breakthrough women in comics.
They don’t have super powers but they are powerful in the careers in the DC and Marvel Universes.
We decided to honor these female characters without powers, costumes or code-names.
We love Batwoman, Batgirl, Harley Quinn, The Spoiler and Elektra but we are focusing on the strong women of science, government, law and order and strong in character.
Let’s kick it off with the ruthless power player in the DC Universe:
Amanda Waller
From the mean streets to Chicago to the White House and most secretive corners of the DC Universe, Dr. Amanda Waller is a take-no-prisoners force to be reckoned with. After an acclaimed career in elected offices, Waller became one of the most feared and respected power brokers in the shadow government.
Waller runs Task Force X aka the Suicide Squad. Waller may not have powers but she has brains and courage to stand up to DC’s most sinister villains and make them work for her.
Oscar nominee Viola Davis played Waller on the big screen and hopefully will reprise the role again in future DC movies. Waller is front and center in DC’s massive event Justice League vs. Suicide Squad where fans are learning even Waller’s secrets have secrets. Waller may be ruthless but there’s no questioning the importance of this breakthrough character.
Val Cooper
In Marvel Comics if you have an mutant crisis, call Dr. Cooper. This National Security Advisor was recruited to the Office of National Emergency and later Commission of Superhuman Activities. Cooper didn’t win any Avengers fans when she replaced Steve Rogers as Captain America with her own recruit. Cooper took a hardline stance on mutants but after working with Professor Xavier and the X-Men she recruited and supervised the mutant teams Freedom Force and X-Factor. Tough, resourceful but open-minded, Cooper became a top figure in the government and ally to the X-Men.
Kate Bishop
Kate was never your basic spoiled little rich girl. After a traumatic event as a teenager, Kate empowered herself with intense martial arts training and archery. Kate crashed the all-boys club known as the Young Avenger and even saved turned the tide in their first big battle. Avenging Archer Hawkeye took on Kate as his sidekick. Kate adopted her mentor’s namesake, moved to Los Angeles and now stars in her own Hawkeye solo comic book series.
Lois Lane
A beloved character who needs no introduction. Lane is a tough, resourceful reporter who covered the biggest stories from war zones to the shadowy halls of power in the DC Universe. Lane is an investigative reporter for the Daily Planet who’s intense search for the story often puts her in peril. Amy Adams reprises her role as Lois in Justice League this year. Lois is currently married to Superman and raising their son Jonathan together.
Maria Hill
If Nick Fury trusts her, you know she’s a force of nature. From armed forces to agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., Hill was introduced in an intense period of the Marvel Universe having to arrest and question superheroes. When Iron Man/Tony Stark was made Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. he made Hill his Deputy Director during the superhero Civil War. She was charged with keeping law and order even if it meant arresting Captain America and his unregistered heroes.
Hill later led resistance forces against an alien invasion and even helped save Thor’s Asgard from an enemy siege. Hill became S.H.I.E.L.D. director leading Marvel’s ultimate spy organization. Colbie Smulders plays Maria in Avengers and Captain America films.
Maggie Sawyer
Sawyer is a crime fighter with a badge not a mask in two of DC’s most iconic cities. In Superman’s Metropolis Captain Sawyer lead a Special Crimes Unit taking on the city’s most wanted super villains. Sawyer transferred to Gotham City as head of the Major Crimes Unit working with Batman and Commissioner Jim Gordon. Sawyer fought off super villains and corruption in the GCPD to become Captain. Maggie has been romantically involved with another breakthrough hero Kate Kane aka Batwoman.
From standing up to super villains to keeping law and order – here’s to these amazing characters of comics epics.
By Editor