Trending... GRAPHIC SCENES
A NEW WAVE OF COMIC BOOK HEROES IS SET TO HIT OUR SCREENS – AND THEY’RE ANYTHING BUT TWO-DIMENSIONAL
‘There’s a false narrative in Hollywood that women don’t love action,’ says Gina Prince-Bythewood, director and co-writer of Netflix’s new thrill-packed and star-studded The Old Guard (out 1O July).
‘But I want to see myself reflected on screen being heroic and kickass. Being badass has no gender. The leads are women, and one of them is Black. I want to show Black women as heroes the world can be inspired by and aspire to be.’ Based on the comic book series by Greg Rucka, the premise is simple: after centuries of protecting mankind, Andy and Nile (played by Charlize Theron and If Beale Street Could Talk’s Kiki Layne) lead a group of mercenaries on the run.
The Old Guard is at the vanguard of a wave of releases featuring female comic book characters. On the big screen, Wonder Woman 1984 sees Gal Gadot return to save the world in the blockbuster franchise this autumn. Then there’s Channel 4’s Harley Quinn, which follows the criminal queen pin of Batman’s Gotham City (out now). And, in comics, Marvel release Snotgirl, Volume Three is about a fashion blogger who appears to be living her best life (left, out now).
Why are graphic heroines having a moment? Prince-Bythewood says that, in tumultuous times, we have never needed them more: ‘There’s a comfort in believing there are people out there, blessed with powers, who are protecting us against all that is evil.’ Amen to that.