Whoever said that women can't get along in fiction clearly has never opened up a comic book. Over the years, the big two companies (DC Comics and Marvel, for comic virgins) have written some of the most fascinating and relatable friendships. Some the longest lasting of these partnerships have been between women. Forged in the middle of the battlefield, these heroines have bonded over their shared love of justice and penchant for tights. To celebrate these gal pals, here is a list of the top ten comic book friendships.
10. Batgirl and Supergirl
As one of the earliest female partnerships, Batgirl and Supergirl's friendship dates back to the 1960s when the pair teamed up to bust an all-female organization of thieves. In this Pre-Crisis continuity, Barbara Gordon and Kara Zor-El would band together several times until Kara's death in Crisis on Infinite Earths. Years later, Stephanie Brown fostered a friendship with Supergirl while she was using the Batgirl title, thereby keeping the legacy of girl power alive and well.
09. Marvel Divas
In 2009, Marvel published a four-part mini-series titled Marvel Divas hoping to draw in a larger female audience. This series was a play off of Sex and the City and featured the romantic misadventures of D-list heroines Firestar, Black Cat, Hellcat, and Monica Rambeau. While it failed to garner major critical acclaim, Marvel Divas emphasized the importance of female friendship and demonstrated just how far women will go for each other. The series itself is a must-read for any female readers.
08. Fire and Ice
The late-1980s saw the introduction of what is known as the Justice League International era. Largely spearheaded by J.M. DeMatteis and Keith Giffen, the JLI was a more light-hearted approach to superhero comics. At the centre of these books was the friendship between the heroes. One of the most notable was that of Fire and Ice. As complete opposites, the sassy Fire and the sensitive Ice were the epitome of what it meant to be girlfriends.
07. Stephanie Brown and Cassandra Cain
Much like Fire and Ice, Stephanie Brown and Cassandra Cain were polar opposites. The pair met back when Stephanie was Spoiler and Cassandra was Batgirl. These two became fast friends and would see each other through thick and thin. When Cassandra grew weary of being Batgirl, it was Stephanie who took up the mantle and continued her legacy. Truthfully, these two illustrated how teenage girls should treat each other -- with love and respect.
06. Jessica Drew and Carol Danvers
When Carol Danvers was brutally attacked by the mutant Rogue, it was Jessica Drew who saved her after she was tossed off the Golden Gate Bridge. This was the beginning of a friendship that would span decades. The pair have been on the Avengers together as Spider-Woman and Ms. Marvel and Jessica has made appearances in a supporting capacity in both Ms. Marvel and Captain Marvel.
05. Starfire and Donna Troy
While the cartoon may have made people think that the gal pals of the Teen Titans are Starfire and Raven, the reality is that it's Starfire and Donna Troy's friendship that has stood the test of time. When Starfire first came to Earth, Donna opened her doors to the alien and helped her adjust to life in New York City. She helped her get a job as a model and used her as her muse for many successful campaigns. Beyond that, Starfire and Donna would hold friendly competitions with one another in order to hone their skills. Their friendship was so strong that Starfire was one of Donna's bridesmaids at her wedding to Terry Long.
04. Huntress and Power Girl
Likely inspired by the partnership between Supergirl and Batgirl, the parallel Earth heroes Power Girl and Huntress became the best of friends in the pages of All-Star Comics. This friendship is one of the earliest examples of a permanent partnership between women in comics and would last until the events of Crisis on Infinite Earths. Over 30 years later, their friendship has been revisited in the pages of Power Girl/Huntress: Worlds' Finest in DC Comics' New 52 line. This title places their friendship at the forefront and makes it one of the only female-centric buddy comics in publication.
03. Storm and Jean Grey
Female empowerment and solidarity has long been a recurring theme with the X-Men. There are many notable female friendships which have occurred over the years, but none is as memorable or as touching as that of Storm and Jean Grey. The pair met for the first time when Storm and other new recruits rescued the original X-Men from the menace of the living island of Krakoa. After these events, Jean helped Ororo to adjust to life in America and this would blossom into a friendship that would outlast Jean's various resurrections.
02. Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy
As the only villains on this list, Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn prove that even bad girls can get along. Their friendship dates back to Batman: The Animated Series, where they teamed up after the Joker kicked Harley to the curb as his gun moll. Ivy subsequently took her under her wing and the pair became an unstoppable criminal duo. This was later brought over to the comics and their friendship has since become the subject of speculation that the two may be lovers. The important thing to take from these two is the need for love and support between women (even the bad ones).
01. Birds of Prey
When it comes to girlfriends, no comic book has ever done so much for female friendship as Birds of Prey has. The original series centred around the partnership between Oracle and Black Canary, but evolved to include the vigilante Huntress. Birds of Prey focused on the healing powers of friendship and the importance of companionship. Under the careful pen of Chuck Dixon and later Gail Simone, these ladies proved that when sisters do it for themselves they can accomplish a whole lot. This series has managed to be so influential that it has been cited as a gateway comic for many readers and has been the subject of many adaptations. If you haven't read Birds of Prey, I'd say it's about time to start!
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