Divas, Dames & Daredevils

Madrid’s second book (following The Supergirls: Fashion, Feminism, Fantasy, and the History of Comic Book Heroines) is a comprehensively annotated collection of forgotten female comic book characters from the era of Golden Age comics. Each of the book’s four sections has an introduction, and a black-and-white comics story for each of the nearly 30 heroines featured. Covering everyone from Black Venus to Mysta of the Moon, the reprinted comics are sometimes magnificent and sometimes silly (and sometimes both), but they provide fantastic documentation of how many female characters were created during this era—some with surprisingly progressive personalities and stories to boot. The author’s passion for heroines and fascination with those who have been left behind are palpable. The volume touches briefly on how many women were creating these female-focused stories and whether that was an important factor in the progressive nature of the characters. Unfortunately, it’s an idea raised but not explored—while wholly enjoyable as an impressive, detailed collection shining a light on heroines long ago neglected, the volume is a bit lacking in analysis, which feels like a missed opportunity. (Oct.)