Superheroines and Supervillainnesses

As a part of our definition of a superheroine, we specified that this being must be a female character that possessed special powers by birth or accident, which enables her to take on the job of saving humanity.� But from whom is she saving humanity?� The idea of the �other� is essential when considering the superheroine, especially when the other is also female.� Though superheroines fight both male and female enemies, the examination of the supervillainness beside the superheroine is an interesting comparison.� How are both groups different, and how are they the same?

The most obvious difference between superheroines and supervillainnesses is their goals.� The goal of a supervillainness is not necessarily to fight for good.� Yet many other characteristics are shared between the two entities.� Both factions are generally young, single, sexy, smart women.� In fact, the �qualifications� for female characters in comics tend to be more strenuous than their male counterparts.� There are no female characters who resemble monsters, nor are there any who are brainless.� Their occupations range from students in prestigious universities (Batgirl) and academies (X-Ladies) to botanists (Poison Ivy).� Neither superheroines nor supervillainnesses are permitted to engage in intimate relationships with their peers in most cases. Some of the more recent characters have received emotional dimensions to their daily relationship.� Xena is a mother, and Buffy, Storm and Rogue all have boyfriends.� Even though these relationships exist in theory, they definitely do not take the forefront of the characters� lives.� The moral dilemma presented by Superman (he falls in love with and marries Lois Lane) does not carry the same power with our superheroines and supervillainnesses.� They do not maintain many close friendships with �normal� people; their most intimate relationships that are acted out in the text/television show/movie tend to be with their peers in many cases.

Most of the origin stories of these super women are caused by some traumatic experience in their youth that has led them to be either good or evil.� Where some of their male counterparts are innately evil, the female super beings are portrayed as more sensitive.� In this way women are treated very similarly in comic books.� Where they differ is in the limitation of their actions.

Superheroines, although they are drawn as sensual beings, are not allowed to act upon their sexuality.� When they save lives, they use their bodies in agile ways.� Supervillainnesses, however, often times use their bodies as a distraction to their male opponents.� Their behavior coincides with the mother/whore dichotomy.� The actions of superheroines tend to be more nurturing, while their arc-rivals are more flirtatious. They make sure that those saved, or even their superhero counterparts are safe, and sometimes they must save the superhero.�� The supervillainness, however, is often a participant in the sexual tension that exists in the plot.� They are attracted to the superhero, which provides a more complex adversary for the other.� The interaction between Catwoman and Batman illustrate this tension.� In this scene, she punishes and tantalizes him with her whip simultaneously.� This same sort of attraction is denied the superheroine, however.�

Although they are diametrically opposed in their alignment with the forces of good or evil, the superheroine and the supervillainness can often be found working for the same causes. ��Catwoman, Rogue, and Mystique have occasionally formed temporary alliances to battle a common foe. �This creates an atmosphere of respect for their peers on all sides. �However, by nature they are still competitive, and continue to perpetuate the struggle between the forces of good and evil.