15. Grimm Fairy Tales
Want your childhood ruined? Fun fact: all those classic Disney movies are based off of darker, grimmer original stories. You think the real little mermaid actually got her prince? You think love really tamed the beast? Did Gepetto’s devotion really turn his son into a real boy? This comic series is gonna f*ck you up. Also, you might never look at your Disney princesses the same way again once you feast your innocent eyes on the graphics.
I don’t remember Snow White quite like this (not that there’s anything wrong).
14. Sonic the Hedgehog
We all know the blue speed demon himself. Mario’s biggest rival. Sega’s pride and joy that makes a ton of money from sh*t games (don’t get me started on Sonic Boom). An icon in both the furry fandom and Deviantart. And basically kicked Marvel’s ass and became the best hero movie of 2020 (managing to watch it in theaters before COVID happened). And one thing we know about the Sonic franchise: too many characters. A lot of female ones too.
13. Persepolis
Most people share their childhood trauma through books with too many pages and small text. For Marjane Satrapi, she shares hers with comics. Having grown up during the start of war in Iran, Marjana shares what her family has suffered. Fearing her rebellious nature will get her killed, Marjane’s parents send her to France where she spends most of her teen years up until early adulthood. Even in another country, Marjane learns that despite Iran’s chaos, she does not forget her background. And she carries her love for both her race and her newfound Western culture, which makes her the successful woman she is today.
Marjane Satrapi
12. Lumberjane’s
Five girls go to camp. But it’s not that stereotype, girly camp you often see depicted in film media. No, it’s for the natural and hardcore, a camp where girls can be themselves and actually learn something. Oh, yeah, and the supernatural is legit normal in this world. Furthermore, everyone seems to have feelings for someone.
11. Snotgirl
Fashion blogger and social media star Lottie Person seems to have it all: looks, confidence, and a large fandom of admirers. Well, that’s her on the surface. In reality, she’s self-conscious, especially given her allergies that are kept completely secret. Dealing with an ex, getting into trouble with a friend, and trying to find time to keep her nose in check, Lottie’s secret double life is about to come clean.
Someone get her a damn tissue...
10. Princess Jellyfish
Geeks stick together. Popular, prissy girls can go take a hike! At least, that’s what total geek-girl Tsukimi Kurashita stood by. A huge jellyfish fanatic, she moves to Tokyo into an apartment with other equally-geekish girls. And they’ve all held their ground, distancing themselves from the vanity-hungry, fashionista freaks of society known as the popular girls. But what happens to the status quo when Kurashita finds herself falling in love with one?
Jellyfish fanatic Kurashita (left) finally meets a real-life jellyfish.
9. Princess Princess Ever After
There was a princess trapped in a tower, waiting for someone to rescue her. Now you’ve heard this story a billion times: someday her prince will come. Well, that’s not the case when another princess actually saves her. Who needs a prince when you have a friend?
Finally, a fairytale story fit for the gays!
8. Sabrina the Teenage Witch
Being a teen is hard. Being a teen witch is harder. Like the life of a superhero, Sabrina has to balance between her teenhood and her growing into a witch. She hangs out with her mortal friends, while also delving into the immortal race that is her kind. Her aunts try to help her get the hang of it, but even they are at a loss for Sabrina’s half-witch powers. Along with her talking cat Salem, Sabrina makes her own adventures as a teenage witch.
F*ck the Netflix version.
7. Wonder Woman
One of history’s most iconic female DC heroes, Wonder Woman presents to us what it’s like to live in a man’s world. Despite being raised and sheltered on an island of women, Diana ventures outside to where the real, chaotic land lies. Where women live alongside man, and that not all men are savages as the stories claim. Watch her journey as she starts out as a single person in a dangerous yet exciting environment, right up to when she joins the Justice League, and becomes women’s proudest icon.
Wonder Woman, aka Gale Gadot
6. Faith
When it comes to female superheroes, you imagine tall, lean, and hourglass sexy. Well, that’s DC and Marvel. But ever imagined a female superhero who was short, tubby, and marshmallow sexy? Meet Faith, a girl who doesn’t make the comic about trying to lose weight, but about sharing what she loves. And how she loves is herself. As a hero. And as a person.
It’s not about weight. It’s about positive vibes.
5. Ms. Marvel
Kamala, a Pakistan-American teen, now holds the position as Ms. Marvel. If you remember what Peter Parker’s beginner days were like, Kamala’s are just as complex. But as a fanfic writer who enjoys making up scenarios involving Marvel heroes, every lesson is a new idea to jot down. Balancing school, family, and hero responsibilities, we don’t need powers to relate to Kamala.
A responsible teen.
4. The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl
Let’s play a game called “What is Marvel’s weirdest ideas?”! While we’re all Googling Batman’s most absurd villains (Condiment King is a big fave!), here’s a hero by the name of Squirrel Girl. Literally a girl who acts like a squirrel. Ears, bushy tail, best friend grew up with her on the same tree. And on top of that, an actual superhero. Now she’s taking on an actual social life as she attends college. Social life is an understatement when people can point out your tail and reputation from a mile away. And not everyone will view her the same way they view other heroes like Iron Man and Captain America.
ONE OF THEM.
3. Betty and Veronica
While they may constantly fight over Riverdale’s most popular guy Archie Andrews, keep in mind that these two are best friends! Sassy and super sweet Betty. And wealthy, fashion-devoted Veronica. Outside of going after the same guy, they have their BFF moments. Shopping, sports, school, and especially anything Archie likes! If you’ve seen the live-action Riverdale series first...yeah, the REAL Veronica and Betty aren’t like that. In these comics, this is the Betty and Veronica everyone loves.
It's too beautiful to eat!
2. Spider-Gwen
What if Peter Parker had never been bitten by a radioactive spider? What if Gwen Stacey had been the main character? In many different realities, the infamous scene where Spider-Man couldn’t save Gwen never happened. Spider-Man never happened. And in some of those realities, Gwen was the main hero. So what if she took over the Marvel, verse? How different could it be from the original? Maybe better?
Gwen in Into the Spider-Verse
1. Harley Quinn (the new 52)
We all know Harley Quinn as a former psychiatrist who somehow allowed herself to be manipulated by The Joker. She followed him around like a sick puppy, and even allowed herself to get the blunt of the danger just for her ‘Puddin’’. But not without being abandoned. More than once. It’s high-time Harley started living by her own rules. Cute, crazy, and very much a lover to animals, she actually manages to find a life among the weirdos of Coney Island. From becoming a roller derby chick to meeting familiar faces of DC history, Harley’s definitely not ‘clowning around’ anymore!
Jokes on you, Joker.
