The original bad girls of comics are showcased in their power-hungry glory in Vixens, Vamps & Vipers: Lost Villainesses of the Golden Age of Comics.
Before Catwoman and the Comics Code Authority – there was Madame Doom, Texa, Queen Tuana, He-She, Madame Muscles and more ruthless women willing to seduce, corrupt and kill anyone who stood in their way.
After reintroducing the world to lost heroines in Divas, Dames and Daredevils, author Mike Madrid (The Supergirls) takes us to the dark side with a rogues gallery of fierce females who broke boundaries
while thrilling readers. This was an age of untamed women who were crime bosses, gang leaders, deadly spies and ruthless jungle queens.
Long before the code and the 1950’s morality police transformed women in comics into hero’s girlfriends – these lethal ladies broke society’s rules in an industry with little rules. Women like Red Haired Kate, Veda, Lady Serpent and Skull Lady were devious criminal masterminds but were incredible symbols of female strength and determination. These were twisted role models. You wouldn’t want your little girl to grow up to be one of these femme fatales but you can’t help but root for them because of their steely will and unwillingness to conform.
As we’re introduced to these outrageous evildoers in Madrid’s sharp and insightful profiles and rare long-lost comics – you see how these Queens of Crime showed how women could take on the world. A classic pro-woman saying is “you’ve come a long way baby” but in this golden age these classic villains broke gender, race, age and culture barriers. Evil gave these characters power and liberation.
Madrid continues a mission celebrating strong women of comics and rediscovering lost adventures. You can sense his love and knowledge of the genre in every chapter. He is the Professor of Comics Cool blending history, insight and cultural impact into a new collection you’ll want to share with comics fans and history buffs.
Vixens, Vamps & Vipers: Lost Villainesses of the Golden Age of Comics is coming in October. Here’s a link to pre-order and for his previous books: Divas, Dames & Daredevils and The Supergirls.
Madrid will be appearing in a panel about his new book at Geek Girl Con in Seattle October 11-12, 2014
Here’s a look at four of the rogue women you’ll encounter:
By Editor