ABSTRACT

Depictions of women in comics, Michael R. Lavin notes, have ever since the early days been pervaded by the combination of power and sexual objectification and, he argues, this aspect of comics continues to be blatantly sexist and provocative (1998). Despite the female strength evinced by the many female fighters of the genre, they are almost exclusively made up in skimpy outfits and portrayed in a variety of sexually challenging poses. This importance placed on the attractive depiction of women is reflected in the fact that it has, as Roger Sabin notes, given rise to a concept of its own in comics draughtsmanship: ‘Good Girl Art’ describes the artistic ability of drawing sexy women (1993, p. 223).