The Geek Beat: Maybe Superheroes Can Break Glass Ceilings

I blame all this talk of Vice Presidents, political conventions, and glass ceilings because I immediately thought, why, it's because I was a girl! I wasn't encouraged to read comics! But, that's not entirely true. I was clueless about the world of comics, yes. My contact with the characters was via cartoons and movies – and while I vaguely knew that there were comics associated with those properties, it never occurred to me to look for them. (Oh, you lucky kids that are growing up with the Internet, Wikipedia, and eBay.) Also, my lack of a childhood hero stems from being a fickle lass, who was fixated on Batman, Catwoman, Storm, and Gambit in turn. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Star Wars took their turn as well – actually, I was obsessing about Star Wars when no one on my street even remembered who Luke Skywalker was. I was so uncool. Would I have been cooler if I had been reading Wolverine's Madripoor adventures at 11? Maybe. Would I have been derided for possessing them? Most certainly.

Because there's no doubt that girls aren't encouraged to read comic books or see comic book movies. It's why I spill a lot of ink discussing geek girls and superheroines, and why I will spill much more, because someone has to. I want a little girl to get so into Superman that she chooses a comic book over a life-saving Yoo-Hoo, as Meltzer did. I know there's a few out there already (Meltzer's infant daughter is being raised wearing the same Superman cape as his son was), but there needs to be more. We shouldn't be the feature of sniggering editorials or shocked surprise when we're in line for The Dark Knight. For that matter, my fellow women shouldn't be looking down their nose at this genre – if you don't like comics, that's fine, but don't sneer at the discussion of it and its movies as "unfeminine" or "fanboy oriented."

And don't say it's all a load of sexism, either. I continue to be of the opinion that Hollywood and the popular media lags behind the comic book industry, who may indulge in tight uniforms and huge breasts, but is writing more girl-friendly material than Hollywood is. (And yes, that is a rather sad thought.) I was very surprised and touched when I read one of this week's impulse buys -- #6 of Wolverine: First Class. This series needs to be given freely to young girls! Not only is it co-starring Kitty Pryde, the most refreshingly normal X-Girls ever put to paper, but it's cute and funny, without skimping on toughness and SNIKT action. It's also way more empowering than any girl-oriented movie, television show, magazine, or book that I've seen in ages. I never thought I would see the day when Wolverine was more sensitive to self-esteem issues than Teen Cosmo. (Actually, it's more of a surprise that Wolverine knows what self-esteem is than Teen Cosmo sucks – everyone knows chick magazines are just peddling misogyny, but who knew Weapon X was so sensitive?)

I don't believe girls need to be pandered to – I don't think anything you write or film for them has to be about crushes on boys, make-overs, and parties. I firmly believe that the same essential things that appeal and entertain a young boy appeals to a young girl, but girls still are coddled into a Victorian mindset that action and adventure aren't appropriate and feminine. That's why you aren't going to see Wolverine: First Class waved at any girls, even if the only thing separating it from The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants is the mutant gene. (I'm very curious what its male readers make of it – because if they are digging this series, it further proves my point.)

So, buy your daughters (and sons) an issue of Wolverine: First Class, and while they're reading it, go clamor on the Internet. Demand less Hannah Montana and more Kitty Pryde in your movies. (Incidentally, my new impossible wish is for Hugh Jackman and Ellen Page to do an X-movie together.) Because if we really want to shatter that glass ceiling, it isn't going to be entirely through political conventions -- it has to be a revolution in our very pop culture. We have to give girls heroes that will stick with them for life, be their shoulder to lean on, the imaginary bodyguard who silently helps them survive. And we don't have to reinvent the wheel – these heroes have existed for decades. There's nothing wrong with believing a man can fly – girls just have to know there's nothing stopping them from flying right there with him.