Phoenix Rising, 2 of 6. Transformations: Changing Perceptions of a Female Hero
Marvel Girl’s role transforms over the years from the background to the foreground, from passive to over-dominant to self-reliant. Her identity changes from girl (60s) to sultry woman (Late 60s) to nearly all-powerful savior or destroyer of galaxies (Late 70s and 80s), and finally to capable and competent dynamic heroine (modern):
Jack Kirby (1963):
Jim Steranko (1968):
John Byrne (Late 1970s):
Walt Simonson (Late 1980s):
Bruce Timm (Modern):
Most Recent Artworks Index of Artists The Phoenix 6-Part Series: 1 2 3 4 5 6
6 comments so far
Leave a reply
OMG I’m so glad you posted this. When I scrolling down reading through your posts, I saw this and I stopped and thought to myself for a second and shouted “OMG THAT’S THE FIRST X-MEN COVER EVER!” Personally, I like Rogue more than Jean Grey
Thank you Wengistein. Yes, a whole post series could be done on Rogue also. Her character’s core power explores all the human relation concepts of how we attach to others when we come in contact with them, how we take on some of their powers and their strengths. Rogue’s first appearance in Avengers Annual #10 is one of the best single comic issues of all time. Claremont’s exploration of identity and sexual abuse, coupled with Michael Golden’s sensual, healthy men and women struggling for power and identity – a great character and mythology was revived.
Wow, great response.
I have to say I feel pretty sorry for her. I mean, no ability to touch, that would be pretty painful. I really love how that doesn’t hold her back, and all that power she has. When she took them from Ms. Marvel, the memories from her show it’s ugly head in Rogue and it kinda shows emotional torment, not to mention her past like you said. Now that she has the powers of Ms. Marvel, she can lift pretty much anything… she’s almost like the female Superman.
Great comments Wengistein. I look forward to what you might say next. If you knew my life’s story, you would understand why your last sentence is amazingly poignant.
Oh why thank you very much, I’m flattered.
I’m keen on what you’ll post next, too.
One more comment about Rogue. It is interesting that the Marvel writers eventually chose to have Rogue transform from a villain to a heroine.
In her original appearance (Avenger’s Annual #10) Rogue becomes aligned with the Brotherhood of Evil (the X-Men’s arch enemy group). She is initially thrilled, tormented, and consumed by the influx of power that she discovers she possesses.
But it is interesting that as she came into intimate contact with more people, men and women, and took on their abilities and memories, the effect on her was to want to become good. She does not choose Nietzsche’s supposed “Will to Power” as her priority, even though her abilities are perfectly suited to becoming all-powerful and invincible.
A common culturally promoted stereotype is: “The more intimate relationships and sexual partners a woman has, the more she becomes a whore, loose, without a backbone, etc.”
But Rogue’s intimate bonds transform her into a woman who is more understanding, empathetic, and therefore she stops pursuing excessive power (which she could obtain if she wanted to) and instead limits her powers and focus to help others.