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WOMEN OF 2014: Comics, Creators and Characters

Batgirl #35 courtesy DC Comics
Batgirl #35 courtesy DC Comics

A brand new Ms. Marvel, a new direction for Batgirl, the rebirth of a former Batgirl are among the amazing female characters and creators who made a big impact in 2014.

 

Batgirl/Babs Tarr Barbara Gordon received more than a change of costume and address in 2014. Breakout artist Babs Tarr, writers Cameron Stewart and Brenden Fletcher gave Barbara a modern edge and fans loved it. The new creative team made you believe Batgirl was a young woman in 2014 and that burst of youth energy comes from Tarr’s art.

 

Wonder Woman Warner Brothers made it official! The Amazon Princess will star in her own solo movie. Gal Gadot will reprise her role as Diana following Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice with Michele McLaren (Breaking Bad) directing and developing. Meredith and David Finch became the new creative team on Diana’s solo comic book series this year. Fans of the Lynda Carter television series will feel the flashback groove in Wonder Woman ’77 a new digital first series by Marc Andreyko and Nicola Scott.

Wonder Woman ’77 courtesy DC Comics

 

Gamora/Nicole Perlman Zoe Saldana helped bring the “deadliest woman in the universe” to the big screen in the year’s biggest movie. Nicole Perlman became the first woman with a major role behind the scenes in a Marvel movie. The Guardians of the Galaxy screenwriter will launch a Gamora solo comic book series in 2015. We’re still cheering for a Gamora solo movie.

 

Zoe Saldana as Gamora in Guardians of the Galaxy courtesy Marvel

 

Mary The Massive She’s not just Callum Israel’s devoted lover in his fight to save the planet. As writer Brian Wood evolved his post-Apocalyptic Dark Horse Comics epic – we learned the truth about Mary. Wood’s heroine was more than the mother of the leading man’s child she was an Earth mother force of chaos, change and behind “The Crash” that gave us Wood’s compelling, thought provoking sci-fi saga coming to an end.

The Massive #30 courtesy Dark Horse Comics

 

Medusa No Black Bolt, no problem? The Queen of the fallen Inhumans became a breakout Marvel leader in Charles Soule’s Inhuman series. With her king MIA and a crashed kingdom threatened by ancient rivals, Medusa held strong leading her devoted family and NuHumans to save her race. Even when Medusa was under the influence of the AXIS Inversion – she proved a regal badass complete with a AXIS power braid. Medusa could make any Game of Thrones rival bow in her presence.

Inhuman #1 courtesy Marvel

Bitch Planet Kelly Sue DeConnick (Captain Marvel, Pretty Deadly) teamed up with artist Valentine De Landra for her second creator-owned Image series. A violent, sci-fi twist on the women in prison exploitation genre in the new comic book with the  best “tell like it is” title of the year.

Bitch Planet courtesy Image Comics

 

The Spoiler Stephanie Brown fans received their long-awaited reward in Batman Eternal this year. The former Batgirl and Robin made her New 52 debut in the Batman weekly series. Fans saw Stephanie’s transformation from tortured teen on the run to costumed vigilante out to bring down her father. But if you remember the look into the near future in Batman #28 – The Spoiler ends up Selina Kyle’s captive. Brown’s fan base will not be denied – we expect the Spoiler to continue her run in Gotham.

Batman Eternal #24 courtesy DC Comics

 

Storm The X-Men leader is becoming the Wolverine of the team starring in multiple series and her own solo book by Greg Pak. Ororo faced the death of her friend, teammate and lover as rose to become the new headmaster of Logan’s legacy. Just the rumor of a series cancellation inspired a #SaveStorm campaign on Twitter proving the passionate never calms for the mutant mistress of the elements. I can’t wait to see Storm written by G. Willow Wilson (Ms. Marvel) in 2015!

Storm #1 by Victor Ibanez courtesy Marvel

 

Ms. Marvel/G. Willow Wilson The breakout female star of 2014 is Kamala Khan, a breakthrough new hero who was embraced immediately by fans with multiple reprintings. G. Willow Wilson is now a Marvel exclusive writer and takes on the all-female X-Men book in 2015. The success of the new Ms. Marvel goes in part to Marvel Editor Sana Amanat for championing this book and her co-piloting the Captain Marvel series, too.

Ms. Marvel #5 courtesy Marvel

Have other female creators and characters you feel deserve praise for a stellar year? Leave us a comment or join the conversation on twitter.

By Editor

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