Monday, December 26

Scarce Female Superheroes

We know plenty of male superheroes... Batman, Spider-Man, Superman, Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, and the list goes on and on. When it comes to Superheronies, there is just wonder Woman. Of course, there is Bat Girl and Supergirl but they are based on prominent male characters. The only independently created superheronie character was Wonder Woman, here in the United States and other countries. In Japan, it is Sailor Moon, who I will mention later. I really wish they had more recognition and were revived in some way.

 Wonder Woman
Created by a male feminist, she had a popular series starring Dana Carter in the 70's and got a new outfit recently. But her movie was canceled, movie plans have been going on for various years, even Joss Whedon is briefly attached but the Powers that Be nixed the idea. Many actresses coveted the role. Adrianne Palicki was signed up for a NBC pilot but it wasn't picked up, after fans were upset about the costume. Joss Whedon said in an interview that we don't only need Wonder Woman, we need Wonder WOMEN.

 Xena Warrior Princess
1995 spin-off series from Hercules, it was a big hit. The story was about Xena, who was a bad guy who went on a road to redemption along with her partner Gabrielle, fighting with a sword and fighting disc. But now she is virtually unknown to children and buried in pop culture. The only mention of her in pop culture was last summer's Thor short reference. I have not heard any plans to revive the series.

 Buffy the Vampire Slayer
In 1992, a film written and created Joss Whedon, but directed and creatively stirred by Fran Rubel Kuzui. The movie was a bomb but it was pleasantly revived by Joss Whedon in 1997 (to 2003) with the TV series that gained a cult following and has a comic that is still going. Kuzui announced two years ago she was planning a revamp of the franchise with a movie without Whedon, but thankfully we haven't heard a thing. The 'Vampire Slayer' concept continues in spoofs like Big Time Rush Halloween special in 2010 and Vampire Sucks, the Twilight spoof.

She-Ra Princess of Power
In 1985, She-Ra was a spin-off from He-Man, when He-Man was brought back in 2002, she wasn't. Recently they have released commemorative action figures of her. She is remembered but like all others, she is in the past and a small amount of people know of her.

Powerpuff Girls
Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup had their own series on Cartoon Network from 1998 to 2005 and was widely possible, spawning a movie that was a bomb and Anime Powerpuff Girls Z spin-off. It was created by Craig McCracken in 1992. They are known but not as known as Spongebob. Some kids know of them because of reruns on CN.

Sailor Moon
In 1992, Japanese comic book artist Naoko Takeuchi created Sailor V which eventually became Sailor Moon manga which Toei Animation made into a popular Anime from 1992 to 1997, which was been dubbed in 1995 in the United States. It has been dubbed all over the world, it has small cult following. In 2003, Toei made the live-action Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon TV series. In America, it was canceled and then the other 'seasons' were dubbed except for the last one. Some people still know about it. 2012 is her anniversary and Toei has been merchandising some Sailor Moon products in the US and Canada this year. Kondasha has been re-releasing the Manga as well.

Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders 
It is also known as Starla, was a 1995 series inspired by the Arthurian myths, produced by Bohbot Productions (now BKN) with association with Hong Ying Animation and internationally syndicated by Bohbot Entertainment. The 3rd season has been reportedly planned for the fall 1998 season, but apparently it was then canceled.  She is mostly forgotten.

Pop Culture:
In some other films, there has been fictional superheronies in their worls and
1985 Jim Henson's "A Christmas Toy" proceeded Toy Story and it was a NBC TV special, a spin-off series later popped up in the 90's on Disney. Meteora was a fictional sueprheornie doll, one that never excited. This is sort of the reason I made this post. On how in some films, they have superheronies that don't exist and not real. It is interesting.

Recently before The Muppets (2011), there is a short of Toy Story called Small Fry. It features forgotten fast food kids meal toys, the lead one Queen Neptuna was played by Jane lynch (Sue of Glee). She was said to be part of the mythical (borrowing a word from John Lascetter when speaking of Buzz Lightyear's TV show) show called The Mermaid Battle Squadron. I like her design and wish she really existed.