While I understand how tough it would be to get those numbers of female comic books fans, I would love to actually know how many of us are out there. I have a very strong feeling we are being undercounted, and therefore underserved, but I have no real way of knowing. Just for the record, I have never seen a comic movie because of a guy, and usually I am the one who is dragging either a boyfriend, relative, or friend to any given showing.

There are a few things I wanted to comment on, and first is my utter surprise that it was Iron Man that was cited by so many in your poll as being the sexy, complicated hero that would entice more women to watch superhero movies. Out of all the superhero films – both great and not so great – it is Tony Stark who, despite his vulnerability, exhibits the most overtly misogynistic behavior. While he may have a soft spot for Pepper, he flirts with a female soldier, disparages a reporter before he sleeps with her, and then unceremoniously has her removed, has his female flight attendants perform an impromptu poll dance…and this is all within the first half hour of the film. The only other person that comes close - although not very close – is Christian Bale’s Batman. While he is seemingly in love with Rachel Dawes, he is also ok with treating women as disposable objects when necessary, as shown by the twins he cavorts with briefly in the film. No other super hero film seems to treat women so poorly; the first set of Batman movies didn’t even do this. It seems ironic that the film with the poorest treatment of female characters would be the one to usher in new female fans.

I am also confused as to how the Pepper Pots character is seen as being a great advance for female portrayals when we have had female journalists, doctors, a psychologist, and an attorney (among others). Michelle Pfeiffer already performed as the uber personal assistant, but she was also able to become Catwoman – fully fleshed out with her own plotline. While Jennifer Garner was only an heiress in the Daredevil film, she was an accomplished fighter, managed to come back from the dead, and had some of the most poignant scenes in the Daredevil film. Pepper Pots seemed to be a throw-back to the old gal Friday movies of old, but her role in the film seemed to be about as progressive.

I also wanted to say I was very happy that you all addressed the problem with female superhero films. It’s strange, because while these were certainly not the best films ever made, there are plenty of action films that were just as bad, if not worse, that made a very respectable amounts of money. And both the films you cited seemed to attempt to color the characters with some depth. And what about Supergirl? Perhaps we all just want to forget it, since I can barely remember the film myself. But I am surprised that it seems no other attempts are being made to bring a heroine to the big screen…at least I haven’t heard of any.

So thanks again! And I hope this is the beginning of the conversation that explores women & superhero movies (as well as superhero comics). I think there’s a lot to be discovered.