Its a great review of the super heroines, from the first bored socialites killing time until marriage, to a more balanced woman balancing home and work.

Its well written, well researched, and an enjoyable read. ( )

Chapters alternate being a progressing decades history and topics. The shift can be rather jarring as the topic chapter will cover the topic from beginning to present and doesn't concern itself with where the decade history is currently.

Overall it is a strong and informative offering. ( )

As a huge fan of comics, and of female comic characters in particular, I was very excited to receive "The Supergirls: Feminism, Fantasy, and the History of Comic Book Heroines." Overall I think this book does a fantastic job of introducing readers to the history behind some of the genre's most iconic female characters. However, if you're looking for in-depth literary analysis or an academic exploration of female super heroes from an interdisciplinary point of view, this book is not for you. Having said that, however, I very much enjoyed Madrid's thoroughly researched accounts of the origins of some of my favorite characters. An interesting book for new or old fans. ( )

Not what I was expecting, better. I really enjoyed learning the history of superheroines, and the author's in-depth study of the history and meaning of each generation and hero. I learned about a few new ones and a lot about why they have changed so much over the decades. ( )

I appreciated getting "The Supergirls: Feminism, Fantasy, and the History of Comic Book Heroines" through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program. While I had read the previous edition several years ago, I didn't have a lot of memories about it (in the book's defense, I think it was because it was part of an ongoing book binge while I was traveling, so all of the books started to blend together). What I did remember about the book was that it was enjoyable but a trifle problematic. This reactions remains true on reading the new edition, but I also have a greater appreciation for Madrid's work and scope.

As others have noted, the book delves into the history of heroines in comic books, with the chapters alternating between an overview of the different decades (from the 1940s to "2000 and Beyond") and chapters that take a more in-depth look at specific characters, including Supergirl and Wonder Woman, and trends, such as the relationships among the female members of the Legion of Superheroes. The chapters offer social and historical context and describe how these elements are reflected in the portrayals of the comic book heroines during this time, with the decade-based chapters providing an overview of the characters, their comics, and the social trends and conventions of the time. The character and trend based chapters take this analysis further through an examination of a particular heroine or group of heroines.

The book makes for an approachable and fun introduction to the history of comic book heroines, especially for those who don’t have a great deal of knowledge or experience on the topic. While the book can drag in places a bit, Madrid shows a great capability of describing the characters and the times in a way that is relaxed and enjoyable. For instance, “Supergirl and the Ballad of American Youth” juxtaposes the history and origins of Supergirl with the songs of pop singers. Although this seemed a little labored at first, Madrid was able to use this association to his advantage as he traced the evolution of Supergirl from the 1950s to the present day.

However, there are limitations with “Supergirls,” some of which are a direct consequence of its strengths. For instance, the analysis is somewhat limited; while the lack of depth or nuance makes the book a good fit for some readers, those looking for more substantive exploration of themes might be disappointed. The other notable issue is the tone that Madrid takes with the subject. While it is obvious that he has a great love for comic book heroines, his language and word choice become somewhat flippant, which can translate into an unexpected pettiness. A prime example of this is in the “Sirens and Suffragettes” chapter, where he explores the character of Ms. Marvel. When describing the 1970s incarnation of the character, he states that “she was written as a bit of a cold bitch.” Later in the chapter, when explaining a convoluted storyline involving Ms. Marvel and an alien who seduced and impregnated her, Madrid includes the rhetorical question, “Hmmm, sounds kind of like rape, right?” Although I think that this is Madrid’s way of calling attention to an awful storyline and situation while also keeping the narrative moving, it also seemed incongruous.

On a lighter note, it would have been helpful if there had been more pictures, which could have illustrated some of Madrid’s points and allowed him to limit his descriptions of the superheroines’ clothing choices. Although the costumes are important part of the characters, some of the descriptions further exacerbate the tone issues mentioned earlier. For instance, on the first page, Madrid describes the Phantom Lady’s costume in very sexual terms, including its skimpiness and its low-cut neckline. This does paint a mental picture for the reader, but it also undercuts the feminism stated in the subtitle.

Despite these complaints, I found “Supergirls” to be an enjoyable and enlightening read, and I’d recommend it to people who want to learn more about superheroines in comic books. However, I’d also want to make them aware of some of the book’s drawbacks so that they have an accurate idea of what they are getting into when reading it. ( )