The Women of DC

Tired of the Joker and Batman? Let’s take a look at the women of DC comics from the library and our digital comics collection in Hoopla!

Harleen by Stephan Spkecj focuses on Dr. Harleen Quinzel before she became Harley Quinn. A true origin story it shows us how she was manipulated by the Joker in Arkahm Asylum while working there. Though it does have the Joker throughout the story, ultimately the story is about her and really sets it apart from every other version of the Joker and Harley Quinn I have seen. Best part is it doesn’t require any previous knowledge to enjoy. Do be aware this is part of DC’s more adult label: DC Black.

Harley Quinn and the Birds of Prey is not required reading to enjoy the movie of a similar title but is a great way to jump into Birds of Prey the ultimate DC superhero team (okay maybe not, but its DC’s biggest women only team, which, lets be frank, is hard to come by). Follow these awesome women as they fight evil, perhaps not necessarily as superheroes, but not super villains either.

Leigh Bardugo’s novel Wonder Woman Warbringer is adapted to comic form by Louise Simonson. Wonder Woman: Warbringer  follows DC’s best known woman superhero. In saving a mortal, Princess Diana has broken Amazon law, but it is more than just a young mortal girl she saves – Alia is the direct descendant of Helen of Troy, and in saving her, Diana may have brought about the apocalypse. This story is a very different origin story and really excels in both formats – even if comic books are not your thing you can still enjoy the novelization!

Teen Titans: Raven, Shadow of the Batgirl, and Black Canary: Ignite are a whole bunch of middle grade and teen focused DC comics that are less dark and focus on the origin stories of some of DC’s younger superheroes. All are great reads and have a little something for everyone. DC has two youth focused labels DC Ink, which is for high school age readers, and DC Zoom, which is for middle grade readers. All excellent reads and gives a refreshing new take on these stories.

I am not a big Batman comics buff, and with approximately 9000 story lines and different titles to track, I tend to let the bat be to brood on a rooftop alone. I have rarely found a Batman related title I want to dive into especially given the decades of backstory I would feel obligated to read. However, enter The Oracle Code – Barbara Gordon enters rehab after a gunshot paralyzes her, but the rehab facility has its own mysteries – or is it a result of her own trauma? I love a woman focused Batman adjacent tale, and the premise sounds great, but this one is so new I have not gotten to read it yet! Let me know what you think!

~posted by Margrith