MONDOmagazine » Heroine Chic

Heroine Chic: What’s Spunk Got to do With It?

Comics — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 05:00:51 +0000

By Meghan O'Keefe

Despite what you may think, comic books are not just read by boys. In fact, there are a lot of girls out there who enjoy reading about killer robots and mutant superheroes. So we thought it was time to get a woman's perspective on an industry that is creatively dominated by males. Enter Heroine Chic: a monthly look at female comic book characters and the people who have created them, written by Meghan O'Keefe, a girl who reads X-Men just as voraciously as she reads Vogue. Recently, a friend and I developed an improv show about teenaged superheroes and I had to invent an original character to portray. This experience forced me to consider an issue that has been rattling around in my mind since I’ve begun to write this column. What makes a female character a GOOD comic book character? What strange alchemy of qualities much she have? For instance, why do I love Kitty Pryde, but can’t stand Jubilee? How can I like a character as demented and whipped as Harley Quinn? And even though I loathe her, why do I have a begrudging admiration for Emma Frost? [...]

Heroine Chic on Millie the Model

Comics — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 22:24:37 +0000

By Meghan O'Keefe Despite what you might think, comic books are not just read by boys. In fact, there are a lot of girls out there who enjoy reading about killer robots and mutant superheroes. So we thought it was time to get a woman's perspective on an industry creatively dominated by males. Enter Heroine Chic: a monthly look at female comic book characters and the people who have created them written by Meghan O'Keefe, a girl who reads X-Men just as voraciously as she reads Vogue. I mentioned last month that I am a huge fan of Marvel, but even I have to admit that lately they have been losing some of their mass appeal to a young female audience. DC has just launched Minx and Dark Horse has Emily the Strange and Buffy to lure girls into their readership. Yet, besides Mary Jane and Runaways (both of which are about to be put on the guidance of the incomparable Terry Moore!), Marvel doesn't seem to have a lot to offer the digest-sized, manga-loving audience that is teen girls. And yet, they are sitting on a franchise that could potentially be a goldmine: Millie the Model [...]

Heroine Chic on Alan Moore

Comics — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 22:19:33 +0000

Keefe Despite what you might think, comic books are not just read by boys. In fact, there are a lot of girls out there who enjoy reading about killer robots and mutant superheroes. So we thought it was time to get a woman's perspective on an industry creatively dominated by males. Enter Heroine Chic: a monthly look at female comic book characters and the people who have created them written by Meghan O'Keefe, a girl who reads X-Men just as voraciously as she reads Vogue. Alan Moore: Champion for the Ladies or Dirty Old Man? [...]