Women Kick Ass.

Take it from a guy who got punched in the face by a girl when he was 10 years old (in my defense, she was much bigger). While female characters are largely delegated to the boring role of love interest or sexy villainess, being a superhero isn't a boys-only club. Tony Stark isn't the only hero who can look good while punching terrorists, after all. So lace up your golden breast-plates, it's time to celebrate WOMAN.ca's Top 10 Superheroines.

10. Xena (Xena: Warrior Princess)



When I was young, I wanted to be Xena. This may or may not have been troubling to my parents, but I was too busy practicing the "Aye-ya-ya-ya" yell to ask for their opinion. What I find most fascinating is her loyalty to her sidekick, Gabrielle. Mess with her, and Xena will pop off. Beautiful, brutal, and possibly gay, I dare you to argue that Xena is anything less than the perfect role model.

9. Samus Aran (Metroid)



Testosterone-fueled gamers blasting through the original Metroid were in for the shock of their lives upon beating the game: disguised protagonist Samus Aran removed his helmet to reveal... a she! Whether book, movie, or videogame, science fiction's stoic killing machines are largely male. Metroid's Crying Game-in-reverse plot twist forced tweens everywhere to challenge their perception of gender roles in interactive media. Or, uh, maybe some of them wondered what Samus looked like in a bikini. Regardless, Samus was a trail-blazer, and should be recognized as such.

8. River Tam (Firefly, Serenity)



Joss Whedon's short-lived network show Firefly, and subsequent box office flop Serenity may not have set the world on fire, but it did introduce us (or at least, me) to one unique, ballerina-like spitfire: River. The product of a shady government experiment... program... thing, River is quiet and strange, but preternaturally deadly. Her evolution from meek side-character to a force of nature was truly something to behold. Her Reaver-slaying scene in Serenity had this superheroine appreciator welling up in adoration.

7. Faith (Buffy The Vampire Slayer)



Blondes can't say they have more fun when in the presence of Faith, Buffy's resident brunette bad girl. At first wild and murderous, but later remorseful and conflicted, Faith was used largely to explore the responsibilities of power and the importance of morality. Where most Buffy characters before her were painted in obvious blacks and whites, along came Faith in several shades of grey. She is, arguably, one of the most complex characters to hold a wooden stake. Plus, pretty.

6. Sarah Connor (Terminator)



Formerly portrayed by Linda Hamilton (Terminator), and currently portrayed by Lena Headey (Sarah Connor Chronicles), Sarah Connor is synonymous with "tough chick". She might not have psychic powers or a spandex costume, but Sarah's a superheroine all the same. Juggling the responsibility of saving the world from a cyborg apocalypse and raising an annoying teenage son? That's a superhuman power all on its own. Respect the Connor. Go with her if you want to live.

5. Ellen Ripley (Alien)



While Ripley and Sarah Connor might seem similar, in that they're both tough non-superpowered women in popular action movies, Ripley does have the edge in one regard. She died and came back to life. Just like any good hero has! You know a chick is tough when she can shrug off death as if she were temporarily caught in a revolving door. You could even make the argument that battling Lovecraftian aliens with acid blood is much more impressive than robots with glowing eyes. Either way, there's nothing more empowering than watching a woman set fire to a writhing slimy beast with no eyes, and I'm sure you can agree with me on that completely.

4. Kitty Pryde (X-Men)



Chances are you know her as "That Juno girl from X-Men 3", but in reality Kitty Pryde got her start as an ink-and-paper creation. A part of X-Men canon since 1980, Kitty can phase through solid matter, befriend tiny alien dragons, and repeatedly call Professor X a jerk without repercussion. This may not seem bad-ass or worthy of a spot on the list, but trust me, Kitty can wreck you. She's a trained martial arts expert, so she's a ninja. If she really wanted to, she could phase your hand into your brain, so she's also scary. If you're still not convinced of her bad-assery, read Joss Whedon's Astonishing X-Men, and witness for yourself one of the most courageous female characters to ever have a pet dragon.

3. The Bride/Beatrix Kiddo (Kill Bill)



Think you've had a bad life? Has your baby's daddy ever shot you while you were pregnant, killed all your friends, then left you for dead? If so, you should consider going on an epic rampage of vengeance like jilted bride Beatrix Kiddo did. It worked out for her, even if she left a trail of dead bodies behind her. I like The Bride because she's not perfect. We see her without makeup, we see her get her ass handed to her several times, we see her cry, etc. We've never seen Lara Croft cry. And we've definitely never seen Barbarella without her makeup. This, coupled with a very raw motivation to reunite with her child, makes Bea startlingly human. But that doesn't mean you can cross her, because you'll lose an arm. Or a leg. Probably both.

2. Wonder Woman



Yes, this goddess-like Amazon princess wears star-spangled panties, a golden bustier, and a matching tiara. Batman and Superman are dressed just as ridiculously, but Wonder Woman, being a woman, always seems to get the most flack. But focusing on her admittedly garish costume would be missing the point of the character. Being an icon, she's more than a fashion statement, and more than a woman. She's fierce, loyal, intelligent, and caring. Don't get me wrong, she's not a shallow distillation of positive qualities, but more of a portrait of the potential in every human being. If you're interested in reading her adventures (which have recently included super-intelligent gorillas), hop aboard Gail Simone's take on the character. It's interesting and accessible. Plus, gorillas.

1. Buffy Summers (Buffy The Vampire Slayer)



I had Buffy Summers in the number two spot of this list at first, but as I glanced at my Buffy DVD sets, comic books, posters, and action figures (not dolls), I realised that I wouldn't be doing my favourite superheroine justice. If you're a child of the 90s like I was, there's a chance you were similarly entranced with all the killing, punning, and vampire boinking that made Buffy the symbol of female power that she is today. Buffy isn't even the physically strongest woman on the list, but she's by far the most engaging. She might seem perfect, but beneath her pretty blondness is a mess of flaws. And you know what, flaws are interesting! Wonder Woman can't say she secretly resents her friends for resurrecting her from death. Ellen Ripley can't claim to have slept with not one, but two vampires. Two! I don't mean to disparage her, because Buffy is empowering for a reason. Her razor sharp wit, athletic prowess, and endearing vulnerability are what make her truly shine. For all those reasons, and so much more, Buffy is the number one superheroine. And that's real.

Andrew Albert
		About the author:
		Andrew Albert is the cunning, sole survivor of the planet Krypton. He was discovered in the wilds of Toronto, Ontario where he learned the fine art of eating sushi, reading comics, and watching bad reality shows. His superpowers include an encyclopedic knowledge of Buffy The Vampire Slayer, and a sharp eye for blog-able media train wrecks. Andrew is currently saving the world through his selfless act of braving Tyra Banks week, after week, after week.
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