Who knew power suits could be as popular among comic book fans as super human capabilities? While many of us are enamored with ladies on top of their game, publishing company Bluewater Productions didn’t realize just how much of a success their Female Force comic series, featuring the likes of Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama and — you guessed it — Sarah Palin would be.
Bluewater announced the books in October of 2008, during the election that kept us all on the edge of our seats. Hillary Clinton’s graphic biography was released first, just in time for the January inauguration. Then, the company dropped the bombshell: the Sarah Palin story. The book chronicled Palin’s rise from PTA mom to Vice Presidential nominee, and there were initially two versions of her story — one ending up with her in the White House. Thankfully, that version was scrapped, but the books were still a hit. The $3.99 comics went flying off the shelves. I wonder if their values will increase now that Palin might be done with politics for good.
“Despite our plan to overprint these titles, the demand greatly exceeded our projections,” said publisher Darren G Davis told The Guardian in March. “We had no clue how well these books would be received in the marketplace.”
Well, the Female Force — now a monthly release ? keeps on growing and more high profile women in powerful positions are having their life stories told in comic form by writer Neal Bailey. Last week, Caroline Kennedy‘s story was released and Bluewater recently announced that comics about Barbara Walters and Oprah Winfrey are coming up next.
“[Oprah] might not wear a cape, but she is some kind of super hero to a great many people, ” artist Joshua LaBello said on Bluewater’s site “Despite a childhood riddled with abuse and adversities, she turned her wounds into wisdom, grabbed hold of every opportunity, and reached a level of success that practically redefines the term.”
Walters’ story, due out in October, chronicles her rise from Today Show researcher to the anchor seat on a national evening news broadcast. Walters was the first woman ever to achieve that position in the U.S.
Hopefully, the series will continue to be successful and many more women will be added to the Female Force roster, as there is certainly no shortage of possibilities. I personally think Ellen DeGeneres should be next (the story would have to include both Anne Heche and Portia de Rossi to preserve its historical accuracy. Yes!)
Who would you like to see featured in a Female Force comic?
