Honey Dripper’s Favorite Female Comic Characters
By: Anja Racke
In honor of Women’s History Month, HoneyDripper has been highlighting some of the amazing women in comics. In our last blog post, we discussed our favorite female comic artists, so now we are discussing our editors’ favorite female comic characters! These women may be fictional, but the impact that they’ve made in our lives is real. We hope you find these character’s just as inspiring as we do.
Editor-in-Chief Jackie’s Favorites
Mac Coyle from “Paper Girls”
Mac Coyle was the first girl to become a paperboy in the fictional town of Stony Stream. She struggles with a terminal illness and internalized homophobia, but has a great character arc learning to come to terms with her feelings for another girl.
Aurora from “Beautiful Darkness”
When Aurora’s community is exiled from their home, she takes on a leadership role to help the community survive the harsh woods. Aurora is subjugated and ridiculed by her peers at first, but learns to stand up for herself and be a true leader.
Broom Girl from “Never Satisfied”
Broom Girl is a transgender witch known for being kind and compassionate to her peers, in spite of the harsh hierarchical society she was raised in. She is always willing to fight and protect others even when it puts herself in danger.
Rolly from “Rock and Riot”
Rolly is a transgender girl living in the 1950s who is trustworthy, kind, and always stand up for her peers. Plus she has a killer fashion sense.
Associate Editor Anja’s Favorites:
Laurie Juspecyk from “Watchmen”
Laurie, aka Silk Spectre, is a superhero who was forced into the superheroing lifestyle by her controlling mother. Throughout the story, Laurie has to learn to overcome her rough relationship with her mother, her apathetic ex-boyfriend, and the legacy of her late abusive father, but she eventually discovers what truly makes her happy.
Wonder Woman from DC Comics
Wonder Woman is the most famous female superhero, and for good reason. Wonder Woman has become a symbol of female empowerment and feminism, because she’s always standing up for the underdogs and striving for equality.
Barbara Gordon from DC Comics
Barbara Gordon, a.k.a. Batgirl is a superhero sidekick, librarian, and computer scientist who isn’t afraid to take matters into her own hands when need be. She’s so dedicated to the superhero cause that even when she is gravely injured, she takes on the mantle of Oracle and continues to help Batman and Robin from the sidelines.
Alison from “Fun Home”
Alison Bechdel is the main character and creator of the graphic novel memoir “Fun Home.” It’s an inspiring story about Bechdel’s own coming-of-age realizing that she is gay, while also learning that her father was gay and had several extramarital affairs throughout her childhood and having to come to terms with that. Alison is extra special because she is the only character on this list who isn’t fictional.
Kate Kane from “Batwoman”
Kate Kane’s Batwoman was one of the first Jewish and openly gay superheroes. She is also a veteran who has to overcome a lot of trauma, but she is ultimately willing to do whatever it takes to save Gotham City.
Kamala Khan from “Ms. Marvel”
Kamala is an average teenage muslim Pakistani girl until she suddenly unlocks superpowers she never knew she had and becomes Ms. Marvel. Throughout the story, she has to learn to balance superheroing, high school, and family obligations, but she always manages to save the day in the end.
Harley Quinn from DC Comics
Harley Quinn was first introduced as the Joker’s female henchman, but as time went on she quickly grew into her own character and became a fan favorite. Harley is a complex anti-hero who is constantly a victim of the Joker’s abuse, but eventually realizes she deserves better and goes her own way.