The women of the comic book worlds that show strength, toughness, and resilience in more ways than you know.
March is Women’s History Month. A time of year where we celebrate all of the amazing women in the world, all they’re capable of, the change they have made and the things they’ve accomplished. Women like Maya Angelou, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Harriet Tubman who’ve broken the rules to set an example for women in the world. Without them, the world would be a completely different place. We wouldn’t have the literature, laws, and a plethora of inventions that we have today. We also wouldn’t have the amazing comic book as well.
It seemed appropriate to highlight the iconic women in comic books this month. Some of them are more recent additions, with game-changing characters like Kamala Khan making their first appearance less than a decade ago, while others like Zatanna have been proving themselves for decades.
On this list, you’ll see that not everyone is celebrated for their superpowers or their fighting prowess. There are those that make it because of a different kind of strength. Unfortunately, there will be some characters left off this list but that doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate them either. Make sure you let us know who was missed in the comments below.
(With the exception of the final two names, this list is not in order).
40. Jessica Jones
Comic book to check out: Jessica Jones (Brian Michael Bendis, Kelly Thompson)
Jessica Jones is a mother, wife, private investigator, sometimes a superhero and overall bad-@$$. Over the years, she’s had to overcome being mind-controlled and used by a monster of a human. While that time still plagues Jessica, she doesn’t let it define her. She’s helped the Avengers save the world a few times over the years, but that may not be what she’s the most proud of. She’s also defeated the monster who controlled her multiple times. If you asked her, she’d probably say she’s most proud of being a mother and helping people with Alias Investigations – and understandably so. A true hero in every sense of the word.
39. Jessica Drew
Jessica Drew has been put through more than most: Evil parents (depending on the written history), being experimented on and used by Hydra, Nick Fury, and as the face of the Skrull Invasion. Despite it all, Jessica Drew came out tougher than when she went in.
Now, Jessica balances being a mother, hero, mentor, and having a personal life better than anyone. Some people can’t do one of the four but she does all of them and makes it look good. She’s one of the many characters that will undoubtedly receive a positive response when they make their TV or movie debut. She’s too good not to.
38. Harley Quinn
Comic book to check out: Injustice
Harley Quinn had one heck of a makeover over the years. She was once a pawn of the Joker and now she’s a member of the Bat-Family. Every day she does something to redeem herself for the atrocious things she did while running with the Joker. She knows she can’t ever fully make up for that, but that doesn’t stop her from trying.
People who don’t take Harley seriously always end up regretting this. On the surface, she does seem like a gimmicky character but in reality, she’s far from it. Harley has a medical degree in psychology – something she has used to defeat her share of villains and heroes alike.
In the Injustice comic book, Harley was the best part of the series. She showed that she’s not an out of control woman with a mallet as she became one of the world’s greatest heroes. Without her, Superman’s Regime would not have been toppled.
37. Barbara Gordon
Comic book to check out: Batgirl and the Birds of Prey
Batgirl doesn’t make this list because of her fighting skills. Although, that is part of what makes her great, Barbara Gordon’s strength comes from her intelligence and her will to never give up.
A brilliant hero as Batgirl, she found a new way to help the fight against injustice by becoming Oracle after being paralyzed by the Joker. A source of information for the Bat-Family, she also coordinated attacks, planned missions, and hacked into systems all at once. After Batgirl returned, Barbara continued to be Oracle from time to time and it seems like she may be doing it more now with Cassandra Cain and Stephanie Brown being Batgirls.
Barbara found a way to adapt and continued to be a hero for Gotham. Her strength is unrivalled.
36. Emma Frost
Comic book to check out: Astonishing X-Men
Emma Frost is one of the premiere telepaths in the world and she’s not afraid to let you know it. Some naysayers call it arrogance but this writer looks at it as confidence. When you’re a mutant and one with her power and wealth, you can’t let anyone see a weakness. Insecure people will try to exploit it. Too bad for them. Emma can’t be exploited.
Emma Frost has used everything she can to win. Sometimes that involves money, promises, and sometimes praying on people’s lust. You have to love it, especially when she uses her telepathy to get what she needs. There aren’t many people who can do what she does as well as she does for as long as she has.
35. Batwoman
Comic book to check out: DC Universe Rebirth: Detective Comics: Rise of the Batmen
This writer’s introduction to Batwoman (Kate Kane) was in DC Universe Rebirth: Detective Comics. Having known nothing about her beforehand, there were no expectations and it didn’t take long to see why everyone loves her.
Kate doesn’t take attitude from anyone – including Batman. Batwoman knows that she’s just as good, if not better than he is. She’s a leader who understands that sometimes unpopular things need to be done. That doesn’t mean she doesn’t have a heart, though, because she has a huge one. It’s part of what makes her a great leader. She won’t put her teammates into situations where they can’t succeed. However, she trains them to be prepared for everything.
With the character’s continued popularity and her introduction on the first season of the Batwoman TV series, it’s good that she’s becoming a character that the general public knows more about.
34. Kamala Khan (Ms. Marvel)
Comic book to check out: Ms. Marvel
Kamala Khan is a fan of heroes. That fandom has made her one of the most honorable characters in Marvel Comics. It helped her see the sacrifices needed to do what she’s now doing. She truly believes in doing the right thing. For this writer, a big moment for her was Civil War 2. Her idol, Carol Danvers, was going to arrest Miles Morales for a crime he didn’t commit. Instead of letting it happen, she protected her friend. It took a lot of internal strength to do that.
That moment led her to help create the Champions. She knew that she could do more and grabbed like-minded young heroes to help her. It wasn’t just about beating up villains. They helped with relief and a lot of random things to show that superheroes do more than fight.
Kamala Khan is the first Muslim Woman to get her own ongoing series and, with more comic book appearances and her live-action debut in the MCU on the horizon, she has a long and bright future ahead of her.
33. Layla Miller
Comic book to check out: X-Factor
Layla Miller had a huge burden. She knew stuff that was going to happen. The problem was she couldn’t change anything. Her job was to make certain that everything played out the way it was supposed to. That meant that when people close to her were going to die, she had to let it happen. The one time she tried to fix fate, the love of her life died. That was the last time she did that.
Layla wasn’t an adult when she was given this knowledge. She wasn’t even a teenager. Nonetheless, she knew what had to be done. There are adults who couldn’t do what she did at a young age. Layla did it and didn’t complain. Even when she knew that she would have a life of torment for her troubles.
32. Riri Williams
Comic book to check out: Invincible Iron Man: Ironheart
Riri Williams made her Marvel Comics debut in 2016. Half a decade later and she’s one of the smartest people in the Marvel Universe – and she’s not old enough to buy a lottery ticket yet. Maybe the most impressive thing about it is her quick rise to stardom – not just in the comics as she’s set to become part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe in a few years. The good thing is it’s warranted.
She created her own Iron Man armor out of spare parts she found at M.I.T. and fought alongside the heroes in Civil War 2. Since then, she’s joined the Champions, helped find Tony Stark, and continues to upgrade her armor. Again, she hasn’t even been around ten years yet. Imagine all that she will have accomplished by the time she completes that first decade in the comics.
31. Cassandra Cain
Comic book to check out: DC Universe Rebirth: Detective Comics: League of Shadows
The Cassandra Cain we saw on the big screen in Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of one Harley Quinn) movie didn’t even scratch the surface in terms of what the character is capable of. Cassandra Cain in the comics is so much more than what we saw on the big screen.
She’s evolved so much over the last ten years, becoming an incredibly deep character. Watching her become Batgirl was an emotional moment. No longer Orphan, she’s part of the family. Cassandra earned the title and the respect of her peers. She may not be as brutal as she once was, but she’s still just as dangerous. Even Batman knows that she could beat him in a fight.
30. Jean Grey
Comic book to check out: X-Men Red, New X-Men
Jean Grey is one of the most powerful beings in the universe. This is without the Phoenix Force. She’s so masterful with her telekinesis that she can control things on a molecular level. We’ve seen her catch bullets in mid-air and reconstruct Emma Frost from shattered pieces of diamonds.
Beyond her powers, Jean Grey’s an incredible leader. It’s an underappreciated part of her character. She doesn’t need the title either. She just does it. The X-Men tend to just follow her without question because they know she’ll keep them safe.
People tend to think of Cyclops and Professor X when they think of the X-Men’s leaders. But Jean Grey is among the best mutants to ever direct the X-Men.
29. Monet St. Croix
Comic book to check out: X-Factor
A personal favorite of this writer, Monet St. Croix is one of the most underrated characters in all of comic books. She comes off as, in her own words, strong, overwhelming, better than everybody. In reality, she doesn’t want to be that person. She feels the need to be that for everyone else; to be this “M” character she created. Layers like that are hard to come by – especially for someone as tough as her (physically and mentally) but she has so many of them.
A whole new audience of fans are going to love her whenever she first appears in the MCU.
28. Jane Foster
Comic book to check out: Thor (Jason Aaron)
Jane Foster fought for her life while she had cancer, then became Thor and did things that even the Odinson admitted he couldn’t do with Mjolnir. Things like defeating the Mangog. Odin and the Odinson couldn’t do it, but she did. And she was also instrumental in ending the War of the Realms with the other Thors.
After Jane Foster beat cancer and was no longer Thor, we thought that was it. This writer can happily say that was a wrong assumption as she then took over as a Valkyrie. As the series (Valkyrie) has gone on, she’s learned more about what her new powers are and what her new weapon, Undrjarn the All Weapon, does. It’s great that Jason Aaron has continued to make her a better warrior, hero, and character.
27. Lady Shiva
Comic book to check out: Batman and the Outsiders
This writer didn’t know much about Lady Shiva other than the fact she was the deadliest of assassins and Cassandra Cain’s mother. It wasn’t until Batman and the Outsiders that she became more to him.
Shiva has her daughter’s best interest in mind. It doesn’t always come off that way, but she does. It took a while for her to learn that Cassandra has found her own way. Once she accepted that, she became a better mother. A big step for any parent – especially one as stubborn as her.
26. Catwoman
Comic book to check out: Catwoman (Frank Miller)
Catwoman hasn’t changed much over the years. She’s always walked the line between criminal and hero – and done an excellent job as both. Most characters that don’t change become stale. In this case, however, you simply can’t improve on perfection.
Selina Kyle has always been a strong, fun and engaging character. Her gimmick hasn’t needed any alterations. Her being with Batman made Bruce Wayne more interesting – that’s how amazing she is. She made one of the most popular heroes in any genre better by making him vulnerable and in touch with his emotions. That’s how she helped save Gotham City during The Joker War and City of Bane. Without her, Batman would have remained broken.
Catwoman is more of a hero than many would care to admit. She’s a truly purrfect character.
25. Black Widow
Comic book to check out: Black Widow (Kelly Thompson)
Black Widow is dangerous on a level beyond comprehension. She’s been an assassin since World War 2. The mission in which Captain America met Logan for the first time (Uncanny X-Men No. 268), Natasha wasn’t an innocent little girl. In Wolverine Origins: Our War, we found out she was there to assassinate someone. That means, since the 1940s, she’s been killing people all over the world.
Black Widow isn’t just a killer. Sure, she’s known as one of the premier assassins in the world, but she’s more than that. Natasha Romanoff is an Avenger, an Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. spy, and protector of people. Cross her at your own peril. She has an assortment of ways to hurt and manipulate people.
24. Gamora
Comic book to check out: Guardians of the Galaxy, Annihilation
Gamora is known as the most dangerous woman in the universe. A title she’s earned, she has fought in a war (Annihilation) that decided the fate of the universe and survived, helped keep the galaxy safe from her father Thanos by cutting his head off (Infinity Wars) and defeated other beings that threatened other worlds.
Gamora may not have the gift of gab, but she doesn’t need it. She’s all business. When you’re as good with a sword, gun, or any other weapon, you don’t need banter. Your reputation is all the quips you’ll ever need.
23. Artemis of Bana-Mighdall
Comic book to check out: Red Hood and the Outlaws
Artemis is an Amazon from Bana-Mighdall. A warrior who’s used a weapon as long as she could hold one. She’s fought all over the world and never backed away from a fight. For a while, she looked at the world of man as weak. It took a while for her to realize that every society has their faults – even her beloved Bana-Mighdall. A lesson she learned by having to kill someone she loved.
Along with Bizarro and Jason Todd, Artemis helped keep Gotham safe from Black Mask. Later, she assisted in keeping the world safe, preventing the Bow of Ra from falling into the wrong hands and later, Trigon. Artemis is someone that deserves more recognition than she’s gotten. And not just in a comic starring someone else.
22. Captain Marvel
Comic book to check out: Captain Marvel (Kelly Thompson)
Call Carol Danvers Ms. Marvel, Warbird, or Captain Marvel; one thing remains true about her regardless of the name: She is a natural leader. Carol can come up with a plan to defeat an enemy or motivate her team by example. Sometimes her idea of right and wrong differs from others, but she always has good intentions. She wants to keep the universe going and will do what it takes to make certain that happens, including putting herself in harm’s way. There’s even a future where she sacrifices herself to restart the sun.
It befuddles this writer that some find her divisive. That is just due to ignorance because once you start to read more Carol Danvers, it’s clear that she’s a must-read. And it’s great that she’s being represented well by Brie Larson in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
21. Agent 355
Comic book to check out: Y: The Last Man
Agent 355 was part of a secret American agency called the Culper Ring. After all the men but one, Yorick Brown, mysteriously died, she was charged with making certain Yorick’s DNA – which was used to restart the Y chromosome. A job that was far from easy, she was in danger from the moment she met him and never failed to keep him safe. Her skill as a fighter, determination to succeed, and love for Yorick made her one of this writer’s all-time favorite comic book characters. And it’s safe to say that fans are excited to see her adapted to live-action in the upcoming Y: The Last Man TV project.
20. Elektra
Comic book to check out: Daredevil No. 24-28 (Chip Zdarsky), Elektra (Matt Owens)
Gamora has been called the deadliest woman in the galaxy but there’s a strong case to be made for Elektra having that title. Elektra is one of the deadliest characters to ever grace Marvel Comics and she doesn’t need super-strength or speed to do that; all she needs is her sai (and maybe a sword). She’s well-versed in all sorts of weapons, but those are her go-tos. Even without them, she’s a force. During a fight with Iron Fist, she nearly beat him. If he didn’t use his Iron Fist, she would have.
Elektra has beaten Wolverine, Punisher, and Daredevil. There isn’t a thing in the galaxy that Elektra can’t kill. What’s scary is she can do it and you’ll be dead before you even realize she was in the room. They simply don’t come more formidable than her.
19. Poison Ivy
Comic book to check out: Batman: The Rebirth No. 42-42, Batman No. 609-612
Poison Ivy has the ability to be the most powerful being on Earth. During Batman: The Rebirth No. 41 she proved that as she mind-controlled everyone on the planet, including every Flash, Superman, Wonder Woman, and more. Batman is lucky that he had a contingency plan in place for her. Otherwise he would have been caught too.
Pamela Isley’s desire to protect the world’s plants made her a strong character while her powers literally make her one of DC’s strongest villains. The next time someone says that she’s not among the greats, remind them that Ivy controlled everyone on the planet. And that’s not even scratching the surface of what she’s capable of.
18. Jennifer Walters
Comic book to check out: She-Hulk (Charles Soule), Avengers (Jason Aaron)
Recently, Jennifer Walters has had trouble keeping her angry Hulk side in check. Eventually, T’Challa came up with something to let Jennifer be a Hulk while maintaining her intelligence. Sometimes, she embraces that side of her. During Jason Aaron’s run of Avengers, we’ve seen how valuable that part of her is and it’s great seeing her learn to be proud of her hulk as well.
For all of her strength and power, let’s remember that Jennifer Walters is also a lawyer – and a darn good one at that. Some may forget with all the smashing, that it’s a big part of her life. But it’s not something that should be forgotten, because it means that, in between all of the fighting villains, she manages to find time to defend people in court. That’s incredible.
17. Blink (Exiles)
Comic book to check out: Exiles
If you don’t know about Blink from the Exiles series, then you’re missing out. Blink has defeated some people that the heavyweights can’t. Among them is King Hyperion – a being that survived a nuclear holocaust. The best part is she tricked him into beating himself.
She was born in the Age of Apocalypse. Then, she was transported and forced to become the leader of a reality-hopping team of heroes from different Earths. She wasn’t a leader before her time with the Exiles. Thankfully, she was a natural at it. In that time, she led her team and corrected the timelines – all while overcoming odds that she shouldn’t have.
If there’s anyone on this list that’s under-appreciated, it’s Blink. This writer highly recommends learning about her.
16. Alana
Comic book to check out: Saga
Alana started off as someone who just followed the system. Then, she fell in love with someone. A love that’s forbidden between their people, she and her partner weren’t even supposed to be sexually compatible. However, she showed them how wrong that notion was. Since then, she’s been running from the law, all while protecting her husband and her daughter from a universe full of beings that want them both dead.
Alana never reconsidered giving them up to save herself. She kept on fighting. Sometimes she lost or did things she shouldn’t have, but that’s life. Alana continued to learn lessons and become a better, stronger person along the way. Saga is still producing new issues. Who knows what other amazing things Alana will do before everything is said and done.
15. Mystique
Comic book to check out: Mystique (Brian K. Vaughn)
Raven Darkholme is evil. She’s assassinated people, set them up for jail, ruined families, and did it for money. There are even times when she’s done it for fun. Mystique is a horrible mutant. Her atrocities include, but aren’t limited to, trying to kill her baby (Nightcrawler) and using her adopted daughter (Rogue) in hopes to make her a criminal like her. A manipulative mutant who’s never to be trusted, she can get into anyone’s mind with her shapeshifting powers or kill them with her amazing armed and unarmed skills.
Due to all of the above, Mystique is an elite X-Men character and villain that has enticed audiences over the years. You can’t have a list of all-time great comic book women and not include her.
14. Okoye
Comic book to check out: Black Panther And The Agents Of Wakanda
It’s good that the Black Panther movie elevated Okoye outside of Marvel Comics. Now there is a whole new legion of fans who know how truly fantastic a character she is. In fact, she may be even more fantastic in the comics.
Okoye started out as T’Challa’s bodyguard. Now, she’s a general, hardcore fighter, and loyal to a fault. Over the last five years, she’s taken a bigger role in Wakanda’s plans. T’Challa made her the leader of his group of spies, Agents of Wakanda, during King in Black, she was crucial in defeating Knull’s Symbiotes, and she helped beat the Angels of Heven (War of the Realms). She’s not someone that should ever be messed with.
13. Titania
Comic book to check out: Black Bolt, Immortal Hulk
Titania didn’t have a lot of success as a villain. She’s stolen some money, beaten up some heroes, but nothing too spectacular. Recently, however, she’s turned her life around.
She has become a government agent and left her life of crime behind. Now we’re seeing what she can really do. Titania’s transition from bad to good has made her a much better character. Seeing her shine in Black Bolt and Immortal Hulk has been something special.
Here’s hoping she stays a hero. It goes without saying that she’s been much better this way.
12. Rogue
Comic book to check out: War of the Realms
Rogue’s popularity skyrocketed in the 1990s and, amazingly, it hasn’t seemed to drop since. Even after her poor representation in the 20th Century Fox X-Men films, people still loved her because Rogue’s butt-kicking ways and southern sass and charm made her an unforgettable character. None of that has changed as the years progressed. If anything, Rogue herself has evolved.
She became a leader on more than a few occasions, finally let go of her mother Mystique, and married Gambit. Her time on Krokoa has been more up and down than almost anyone on the island. She was in a coma and forced to take on power that she didn’t want. Not surprising, but Rogue handled it well. Why? Because that’s what she does.
11. Jacqueline McGee
Comic book to check out: Immortal Hulk
Some readers might not know who Jacqueline McGee is. She doesn’t lift cars over her head or shoot lasers out of her eyes. Nonetheless, she’s shown that she’s one of the strongest characters in all of Marvel Comics. She did so by following the Hulk to get a story no matter where it took her. At one point she checked the Hulk’s privilege.
Jacqueline McGee called the Hulk out for being allowed to destroy property, hurt people, and still be allowed on the Avengers. She also pointed out that people built him a statue. Meanwhile, she’s a black woman who can’t be angry without being chastised. She did while she was in literal Hell.
Jacqueline never let her fear hold her back and she’s an amazing character that is going to stay in people’s minds for a very long time.
10. Shuri
Comic book to check out: Shuri
Shuri can outthink almost anyone on the planet. The other half she can beat in a physical fight. If not for someone falling on her on the way to the ring, she may have been the Black Panther before T’Challa. She trained just as hard as him to lead Wakanda and believes in the country’s tradition. After a short stint in death, she developed a connection to her ancestors and amazing powers.
If you liked her portrayal in the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, that’s a good start. But the truth is that you haven’t seen anything yet. Shuri has been the Black Panther in the comics, and in the process, did things her brother wouldn’t – and that’s a good thing. Sometimes T’Challa can let his emotions get the best of him. Shuri doesn’t have that problem. She’s a ruthless leader, a fierce warrior, and knows that the Black Panther has to make tough decisions if Wakanda is going to flourish.
9. America Chavez
Comic book to check out: Young Avengers (Kieron Gillen), The Ultimates (Al Ewing)
America Chavez has only been around a decade. In that time she has showcased one thing: One day, she’s going to be among the most popular superheroes in all of comic books.
There isn’t a category box that America doesn’t check off. Power, charisma, leadership, intelligence, personality, will; she’s got it all and so much more.
America knows how good she is and isn’t afraid to show it. If she’s disrespected, she’ll let you know – physically if need be. Carol Danvers and Monica attempted to fight her once. They were teammates at the time. She let them know that it wasn’t a wise decision.
Here’s hoping Marvel Studios does right by her when she debuts in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (portrayed by Xochitl Gomez) because, if adapted right, she could become as popular as Tony Stark.
8. Sue Storm
Comic book to check out: Fantastic Four (Jonathan Hickman, Dan Slott)
The Invisible Woman is the Fantastic Four’s strongest teammate. Reed may be the team’s leader, but she keeps them together. If she left the team, they’d fall apart.
We’ve seen it before. Reed is oblivious to social norms, Ben Grimm can be irrational (and allow his emotions to get the better of him) and Johnny Storm is, well, he’s Johnny Storm (a.k.a. He’s incredibly reckless). Sue is the glue that binds them. The mother, sister, friend, and powerhouse that makes the Fantastic Four one of the greatest teams of all time. Plus, she knocked out the Hulk and is the only person Wolverine is worried about on their team. Who else can say that?
7. Atom Eve
Comic book to check out: Invincible
Atom Eve has the ability to manipulate matter and energy at the sub-atomic level with her own willpower – a power that she’s used to protect Earth and other planets from multiple threats.
As a wife and girlfriend, she also kept Mark Grayson (a.k.a. Invincible) in line. When he messed up, she made certain to let him know when he needed to hear it. On the other hand, her kind words reminded him he can do and be a better hero. He needed her to be his everything and he knew it.
Atom Eve is the personification of the old saying that behind every good man is a great woman because, without her strength, Mark would never reach his potential. Everyone will get to see all of this on display in Amazon’s Invincible.
6. Black Canary
Comic book to check out: Batgirl and the Birds of Prey
Anyone who’s seen Dinah Lance in action knows what she can do. If you don’t, you may think that she’s all screaming and nothing else. That’s completely wrong. Black Canary is better than most fighters. She may not swing a sword or use a gun, but she doesn’t need to as she’s one of the very best hand-to-hand combatants that the comic books have ever seen. She can disarm anyone and win a fight before she even has to inhale for her Canary Cry.
Now, we can’t not mention the Cry now that we’re here. When she does scream, it almost seems unfair because, on top of everything else she can do, she has a supernatural power that allows her to stop bullets and apprehend her opponents without even having to touch them. Simply put, she’s one of the best.
She has a rich history on the small screen and recently made her movie debut in Birds of Prey but it’s shocking that she hasn’t been given a solo movie yet. Personality, fighting ability, and she’s a rock star. That’s a recipe for a winner.
5. Deena Pilgrim
Comic book to check out: Powers (Brian Michael Bendis)
Deena Pilgrim is everything you could want from a protagonist. She says exactly what she wants without a filter and she’s a damn good detective that got better as the comic series went on. She’s also not to be messed with. Deena’s gotten her partner and former hero Christian Walker out of more than a few jams – some jams that almost saw Christian die. She’s also helped solve cases no one else could.
Throughout her time in power’s crime, Deena went through more than anyone ever should. Despite it all, she came out of it stronger. Not even being killed and brought back to life could stop her. Something inside of Deena kept her going.
She is undoubtedly one of the most interesting characters on this list.
4. Kitty Pyrde
Comic book to check out: Marauders (Gerry Duggan)
No one on this list or any other had a better rise to superherodom than Kitty Pryde. She started out as a kid who wanted to control her powers. On her first day, she saw the X-Men defeated and captured. Since then, as Kitty said in Astonishing X-Men No. 2, “I learned more about good and evil in that one day than I have before or since. I was thirteen.”
Since then, Kate (no longer going by Kitty) Pryde has become her own woman, saved multiple planets by phasing a bullet through space, and is currently rescuing mutants around the world. She’s not the apprehensive, sweet teenager she once was. Life’s hardened her. Kate Pryde has adjusted to that hard life and done so wonderfully. All hail the Red Queen.
3. Lois Lane
Comic book to check out: Superman
It might be easy to confuse Lois Lane as a damsel in distress given how often she finds herself in scenarios that bring out the Man of Steel but the truth is that she is so much more than that. Lois is an award-winning reporter – one who’s not scared to put herself in danger to get a story. People may say that she has a security blanket in Superman, but she’d still be doing this if he wasn’t around.
Lois is beyond courageous. You have to be to live in her world. It isn’t just the superpowered villains she has to deal with, she also has to worry about the regular criminals who hate her as well. Does Lois get scared? Not even a little bit. Lois’ audacious personality should be admired. Nothing stops her from doing her job.
2. Storm
Comic book to check out: Uncanny X-Men
Ororo Munroe is one of the first two black superhero women in comic book history. Someone who was never weak, she had her powers taken away, became a better fighter, and still led the X-Men. Storm became queen of Wakanda and was T’Challa’s equal. That was on top of her being worshipped as a goddess and never letting it go to her head.
All of Storm’s teammates will say that she’s the kindest person they know. A motherly figure, a sister, a leader, and an intergalactically-known warrior. After all of these years, Storm remains one the most recognizable characters in comics – and one of the very best at that.
1. Wonder Woman
Comic book to check out: Justice League, Immortal Wonder Woman, Dark Nights: Death Metal
Diana Prince is undoubtedly one of the all-time greatest female comic book characters – and, without question, one of the greatest superheroes of all time. Some will call her the best and that’s a well-informed decision that no one should be mad at. We’ve seen who Wonder Woman is time and time again and know who she is because of the incredible things that she’s done. We are two decades away from 100-year anniversary and she continues to get better.
She’s wiser than most heroes and villains, seemingly unbeatable in combat, and a leader who leads by example and by order. Take her powers away and she’d be every bit as good. She’s proven this time and again.
Recently, she’s even been the reason there’s a universe left standing. In Immortal Wonder Woman, she defeated villainous beings that were destroying entire galaxies and managed to recreate the whole universe. This was centuries in the future when all hope was gone, but for Wonder Woman, there’s always hope. Maybe that’s what makes her the very best.
What do you think? There are certainly some names that could have gone on this list. Who would you have added? Let us know in the comments below.