Who doesn’t love some badass fun females that can save the day or do some mischief with few being able to get in their way? Female superheroes are both inspiring as a model of a strong female character, and also pleasing to the eye as well. There’s really nothing not to like about them, and their huge popularity within the comics and superhero films fan cultures proves it. Since today is the 4th of July – and with Captain America and Wonder Woman serving as the patriotic superheroes everyone knows so well – we thought it would be a good time to talk about superheroes. We previously shared with you a list of the best and worst superhero vehicles. So, today, we created a list of the most popular female superheroes featured in movies.
1. Wonder Woman
Since we already mentioned Wonder Woman, let’s start with her. As most superheroes, she was initially created within comic book canon. For the most part, she has only been presented in comic books and magazines since 1941. This brunette superheroine, clad in the American flag, was created by psychologist and writer William Moulton Marston, at a time when the West was already preparing for the Cold War. Therefore, writers often depicted her character fighting the Axis military forces. Another detail that contributes to her popularity is the fact that her origins are those of an Amazon princess. She fights for gender equality. She appeared in several TV series and is also going to be a part of the upcoming Batman vs. Superman movie, scheduled for 2016. To this day, she remains to this day the most iconic of all female superheroes.
2. Catwoman
Historically a villainess, Catwoman has been an iconic bad girl turned good in lots of movies. She is deeply ingrained in the fan culture of superheroes. Many talented actresses portray her over the years. The most recent role was played by Anne Hathaway (pictured above). From all the female superheroes the fictional universes have to offer, she is the living embodiment of hotness and her name says it all.
3. Phoenix (Jean Grey)
Jean Grey was already awesome enough back when she was simply a powerful telepath, but when she is taken over by the Phoenix cosmic force, she becomes almost god-like. Or should we say, goddess-like? She becomes a tremendously powerful goddess with her red locks flowing in the currents of her power (extra awesome points). After the death of her partner, Cyclops, she falls into a deep sorrow that triggers her to become a Dark Phoenix avatar (pictured above) which threatens to destroy everyone and everything. What makes her story even more memorable is, of course, the touching unrequited love which Wolverine has for her.
4. Invisible Woman
The Fantastic Four wouldn’t be quite so fantastic without their now you see me, now you don’t figure, Susan, also known as the Invisible Woman. The beautiful Susan was initially a more damsel in distress type of character, when her passive invisibility was all she had, but later on she gained new powers which made her a force to be reckoned with. Her apparent frailty and gentle nature make her a wonderful addition to the top of awesome female superheroes.
5. Black Widow
There were a few other characters which deserved to be honored on this list of best female superheroes (like Storm and Rogue from X-Men to name only two), but the Black Widow, by her real name Natalia Romanova, was the best choice. Not because the other candidates would lack impressive skills or charm. On the contrary. What’s so awesome about Natalia is the impression she gives of being a self-made woman. Unlike other female superheroes (and male superheroes for that matter), she didn’t get superpowers thanks to genetics or some mutation. She is one of the only characters who worked hard for her combat skills. If that’s not worthy of admiration, then I don’t know what is.