The Rise of the GOOD Girls?

[Floyd Fenris]

In the 90's it was all about the BAD GIRLS... Scantily clad women with impossibly small wasp waists, crazy-long legs, with chests and buttocks jutting out at all angles. Some slaying all in their wake with blood spattered blades a la Shi, Avengeline, Razor and even the artsy Kabuki. Some so evil they were death at a touch, out for blood like Vampirella or out for your soul like Lady Death.

During the 90's there were (probably, as far as I know) more female led comics than any other time in comics history (or at least in my 30+ years of reading and collecting). But after that all settled down, a period came to pass where there were very few female led comics (at least certainly in comparison).

Now, there seems to be quite an upswing of late, but in a much different way. Even though a still relatively scantily clad (if less gratuitous) Goddess of War, one could make an argument that the most famous good girl of all is Wonder Woman. For the first time in a long while, Wonder Woman's main title has consistently held not just critical claim, but "on par" (sometimes better) sales than books like Green Lantern and Flash, while starring in two more titles (Superman/Wonder Woman and Sensation Comics), as well as being a constant member of the Justice League for the last 3 years. Also, she's finally being portrayed in a big budget DC box office release.

DC fans are currently in much anticipation for the new "Batgirl of Burnside" being released this week. With a whole new plucky look and stylish attire, doesn't she just look ready for a GOOD time?

Meanwhile over at Marvel, the fully clothed yet fun loving "All New" Ms. Marvel, Ms. Kamala Khan is having a blast with so many reprints of her first issue that Marvel's ran out of primary colors for that bar they insist on putting along the bottom of their comics.

And no matter how prepared they thought they were for Spider-Verse, your LCS is probably SMH-in' the crap outta themselves wishing they had more copies of the hooded Spider-Gwen's intro.

Yee lest us not forget the newest well-armored, hammer-wielding, blonde ultimate in WORTHINESS.

Hopefully the newest trend in female leads will have a little more staying power than the ones of the 90's and finally cut into the gender gap of our wonderful medium. I think they have a chance. BAD GIRLS are always cool for a tryst or two, but like "Mom" always tried to tell us...GOOD Girls are "where it's really at."

But what's changed the winds of 20 years ago nearly 360 degrees?
Who's YOUR favorite (Good and Bad)?
And which do you REALLY prefer?
Don't worry...
Mom's not listening

[Shawn Hopkins]

The funny thing is that even though it's called "Good Girl Art" it's not really the opposite of Bad Girl Art. It's just art with girls in it that's good. Heck, it's probably more sexist, cause at least the Bad Girls are take charge and confident. The good girls are often tied up or in submissive poses, or poses equally as suggestive as any Bad Girl ever struck.

[GOLGO 13]

Good cheesecake is good. Everything else is Liefield cake.