Hello,
Back in the eighties, when I read the most comics, female characters were rather rare. Sometimes, there's one in a team but usually the heroes were male, and their opponents were male too. The heroins were indeed courageous but each time, it was underlined how much they were courageous 'for a woman'…
And then came Jean Grey.
The interview with M. Claremont is here, he is interviewed by a woman that started reading X-men comics when she was six. (In French, sorry, people…)
Jean Grey started her career as 'the girl of the team', quite respectable with a lot qualities but still classic:
That was before Claremont seized her and made of her the most powerful member of the team: strong and kind, she could be consider as a model for many girls.It was a delicious meal, Jean! Thank you for helping out on the cook's day off!
I was glad to do it, Professor! (Uncanny X-men #6)
Maybe, I was also influenced in my choice by this interesting article about Dark Phoenix Saga. Here is an extract:
So, it is for all these reasons why I chose her for this International Women's Day."You came to me when I was vulnerable. You filled the emotional void within me. You made me trust you. Perhaps even love you. And all the while you were using me!" is a statement I know a great number of women in the past and present can relate strongly to; any woman who has been marginalized, abused and enslaved at one point in their lives can definitely attest to the freeing strength of this kind of righteous rage which Jean exhibited at this point. …