Okay, everyone. We’re back for the second installment of Quintessential Comics. This time we’re going to be taking a look at female-centric comics that, either through plot development or thematics, highlight women. If you have ever found yourself dissatisfied with the lack of female representation in comics, or at the mishandling of female characters, this list might be the remedy.
If you’re looking for a comic series with a comedic element, look no further: “Giant Days” is here to scratch that itch. A series that focuses on three young women rooming together in college, this one is sure to bring a smile to your face due to just how relatable and endearing these characters can be. This is a comic that doesn’t need to rely on grandiose thematics. Follow Esther, Susan and Daisy as they stumble through life just like the rest of us.
Coming to us from Brian K. Vaughn, the writer behind “Saga,” “Paper Girls” is the only entry on this list that could be classified as a mystery. Well, a mystery involving aliens and time travel. Imagine “Stranger Things,” but with a band of early-morning paper delivery girls. Vaughn does an excellent job of writing the girls as multi-faceted individuals, rather than shoehorning in any typical female tropes. Equipped with their trusty bikes, a few tools and their wits, these girls are ready for any conflict. Displays of true friendship and heroism abound. If you are eager for an adventure that is pretty far out there, this one’s for you.
This entry is riddled with bold ideas and its fair share of controversy. Journey alongside young protagonist Laura as she engages with 12 reincarnated deities known as the Pantheon. As part of a 90-year rebirth cycle, these individuals are blessed with god-like abilities. The only drawback? They only have two years to live. Enjoy as you get to see a story so large in scope unfold through the eyes of a teenage girl. The winner of Best Comic at the 2014 British Comic Awards and nominated for multiple Eisner Awards, “The Wicked + The Divine” is sure to deliver. Are you ready to visit a world in which gods are the ultimate pop idols?
Now, while the protagonist of this entry is a man, the story is absolutely driven by women. After all the mammals possessing a Y chromosome are wiped out from a plague, save Yorick Brown and his pet monkey, Ampersand, he finds himself wandering the planet in order to find his fiancée. As civilizations across the globe struggle to remain intact, new paradigms for government and authority arise in the wake of a complete destruction of the patriarchy. Bear witness as Yorick struggles with his new role as the last man on Earth. If you’ve been looking for a comic in which the script is flipped, well, you’ve found it.
Okay, everyone. If you’ve made it this far then I think you might be ready to visit the “Auxiliary Compliance Outpost”. A space prison designed to hold “non-compliant” women, the ACO exists in a sci-fi/dystopian universe straight out of the mind of Kelly Sue Deconnick. Deconnick, a head writer at Marvel Comics, is also behind a lot of what’s going on with Carol Danvers (aka Captain Marvel) in the comic universe currently. You’ll see a wide variety of issues tackled with the same inspiring touch that Deconnick brings to her other projects. In a time when the world is literally run by a council of white males, femininity is in peril and the women of “Bitch Planet” intend to set things straight. This one explores the concept that authenticity and womanhood go hand in hand, or that one should be unapologetic in their femininity. I really can’t fit everything I’d like to mention about this one into one blog post, but if you’re ready for a wild ride, be sure to check this one out. Until next time, remain non-compliant.
Image credit: Sam Howzit, Comic Books via Flickr (license)
