Veteran comic book author Trina Robbins has spent the past 30 years battling against misconceptions in order to truly forge a place for super-heroines alongside their male hero counterparts. Robbins’ work on female-led titles like Wonder Woman and the first all-female comic, 1970’s It Ain’t Me Babe, as well as her books on other female comic book authors, have been a counterpart to the male-centric comic industry’s stereotypical vision of women.
Yep, we’re talking about outlandishly big boobs and hilariously saucy outfits.
“The big misconception about super-heroines is that once you acquire super powers your bra size increases by at least three sizes and you get this overpowering desire to dress like a slut,” laughs Robbins, who will make an appearance at Victoria’s Film Festival during the screening of the documentary film Wonder Women! The Untold Story of American Super-Heroines, in which she stars.
Robbins, one of the premier experts on women cartoonists, has documented the careers of many Golden Age female comic artists, and is featured prominently in the new film from director Guevara-Flanagan Kristy.
“There were far more women creating comics in the early 20th century than most people realize,” explains Robbins. “Nobody thought women couldn’t draw comics, because they did, or that girls didn’t read comics, because they did. Some cartoonists like Nell Brinkley were superstars, nationally known, and girls would collect their work in scrapbooks.”
Robbins, who will answer questions after the February 6 screening of Wonder Women! and also do a meet and greet at Legends Comics from 2-5 pm that day, says one of her career highlights was working on the iconic Wonder Woman title, depicting the trials and tribulations of one of the strongest comic book characters of all-time.
“I feel really good about the Wonder Woman graphic novel I wrote in 1990, drawn by Colleen Doran, The Once and Future Story. That one is about domestic violence, and I’m very proud of it,” she says.
Robbins finds it curious that, despite all of the recent Hollywood adaptations of comic book characters, one of her favourite characters has, so far, been all but ignored by the big screen.
“Women in the superhero movies tend to be part of a team, of which the rest of the team is mostly guys. But at least, because they are portrayed by real, live women, they don’t have those gigantic breasts and tiny waists that they’re given in the comic books,” she says. “But Wonder Woman, the most famous super-heroine of all time, is conspicuous by her absence on the big screen.”
As for the experience of seeing herself onscreen in the documentary film, Robbins was thrilled by it, especially with what, to her, was a surprise ending.
“I loved the film. I hate to use words like ‘positive’ and ‘empowering,’ but it was that,” she enthuses. “And I had no idea at the time that my tale of becoming a super-heroine would be animated at the end!”
Wonder Women!
7 pm, Wednesday, February 6
Vic Theatre (808 Douglas St.)
victoriafilmfestival.com