Top Ten Female Comic Book Characters

It occurs to me that I haven't done a fun post like this in a while. Let's jump right in, shall we?

Number 10 - x-23
Marvel - X-Men
X-23 was created originally as part of the X-Men: Evolution cartoon series on Kids' WB, and eventually got written into the comic with her own mini-series and everything. I didn't really get a chance to delve into her character until picking up New X-Men volume 3. As it turns out, she's almost more of a tragic hero than Wolverine is. She's got depth, moreso than almost any written-in publicity stunt character. Including her on the New X-Men squad was a stroke of genius and I love the way they write her.

Number 9 - Mary Jane Watson-Parker
Marvel - Spider-Man
MJ is awesome. She is possibly the strongest non-hero icon in the comic book universe. Nothing can prove a hero like her actions in the recent "One Last Day" storyline. Her constant support of Peter Parker is perhaps one of the greatest character traits ever written, and I'm very interested to see where in the world the "Brand New Day" retcon is going to go. The fact that she is no longer married to Peter is a huge blow to the series, but the sacrifice she made...well, that's something else altogether...

Number 8 - Jean Grey
Marvel - X-Men
To be honest, she almost didn't make the list, but I couldn't just put the original female X-Man off to the side. Jean's had her fair share of tragedy, and frankly, been killed and brought back to life more times than I would like. Her character is solid, though, and it's really not her fault that Cyclops became such a tool. Seriously, though, the whole Phoenix resurrection thing is getting kind of old. Please bring back Jean and stop using the Phoenix as a fallback mechanism. Thanks so much.

Number 7 - Ravager
DC - Teen Titans
Rose Wilson is a great tragic hero. True, most of this stems from daddy issues - although, it's Slade who has issues with Rose, not the other way around - but it doesn't keep her from being great. When volume 3 of the Teen Titans came into circulation, she was an excellent villain. After Infinite Crisis, her character had changed from demented psychopath to the classic Bond-girl-gone-bad-gone-good-again. The fact that Jericho is back should tone her down a little, though, and perhaps finally give her some peace and stability in her life...

Number 6 - Nico Minoru
Marvel - Runaways
One of the most consistent, yet convoluted characters of the Marvel Universe, Nico is and remains a teenager. One who takes up the role of leadership with confidence, but on the inside is still an uncertain little sorceress. She has a tendency to run to the arms of the nearest boy at the first sign of tragedy, but since her relationship with Victor Mancha started, she might actually be able to relax and settle down.

Number 5 - Donna Troy
DC - Wonder Woman
The original Wonder Girl, Donna was the heart and soul of the Titans. If anything, she could be compared to the role that Jean Grey served in the X-Men...to the point where they killed her and brought her back. Donna was one character I thought would stay dead, much like another character on this list. Her death was so sudden, so needless - much like the death of Omen in the same series (Titans/Young Justice - Graduation Day) - and to think that she had been around almost as long as Wonder Woman herself...it was unthinkable. Her death had one of the most profound impacts on the DC universe, and certainly is arguably the point that the Infinite Crisis actually began.

Number 4 - Black Canary
DC - Birds of Prey
If there's anybody you have to root for, it's Dinah Lance. She's the master of dozens of fighting styles, she's been a mainstay of the JLA, she worked for the Birds of Prey, and her heart's been broken by Oliver Queen more times than can be counted. Just look at her wedding day! It's Dinah's kindness and spirit that put her above all the rest of the heroines mentioned - she's got them in spades, and whenever she sees one of her friends threatened, she rises to the challenge. From getting her canary cry back in a Lazarus Pit to killing "Oliver Queen" on their wedding night, you can see why she's amazing, and why she continues to amaze.

Number 3 - Shadowcat
Marvel - X-Men
I remember getting my first X-Men graphic novel: The Dark Phoenix Saga. This tale introduced Kitty Pride, before she was Sprite, before she was Shadowcat. Just Kitty. A plucky little enthusiastic teenager with the power to walk through walls. And she was awesome. Every incarnation of Kitty has been pure awesome. She's saved the world in Days of the Future Past, she's trained with some of the best fighters in the world, and she's got the Dragon Factor: Lockheed. She's also kicking some major tail right now in all the X-Books. And FINALLY with Colossus. It's about time. Geez.

Number 2 - Gwen Stacy
Marvel - Spider-Man
She almost made number one. The truth is, I'm not sure any character has ever had such a profound effect on comics as a whole as much as Gwen Stacy. Her tragic death is remembered and referenced by any fan of comics as the end of the Silver Age of Comics. It was the first time that a character was so swiftly and needlessly killed - the first time the hero couldn't save the day. Furthermore, she is the only character in the Marvel Universe to not actually ever come back to life. As Gwen (not the clone, mind you) she has appeared only in alternate realities - in the House of M and in the Age of Apocalypse. Gwen is dead and she is never coming back. The effects of her death are felt in comics even to this day.

Number 1 - Barbara Gordon
DC - Birds of Prey
Barbara Gordon is Oracle. She was Batgirl. She runs the Birds of Prey. She became Batgirl in response to a world that wouldn't let her be a detective. The Joker took everything away from her with one gunshot, and still she rose from the ashes - she became Oracle, the eyes and ears of the entire hero community. She is a friend and a leader, without her the heroes of the DC universe would surely be lost. She is a self-made woman: she has no powers other than her vast intelligence and physical training. No powers, just exercise and study. In my opinion, there was really no other choice for the top female character in comics.