I hear ya about crazy sexists in comics fandom... I was just getting frustrated about that over in tabletop RP gamer fandom as well... it's like there's this enclave of early Victorian anti-feminist values in the geek world, and it needs to be destroyed, seriously.
Marvel I know less well, although the one comic I read, X-Men Legacy, seems to handle its female heroines pretty well generally speaking. I particularly like what they do with Rogue there.
DC: Birds of Prey: It's JUST started its new run, so it's a good time to get on board (but TPBs from the previous volume are also recommended). It's being written by Gail Simone who is an excellent writer IMO and handles the nearly-all-female cast extremely well. Currently stars Oracle, Black Canary, Huntress, Lady Blackhawk, Hawk, and Dove.
Gotham City Sirens: I see others have recced this as well; it's a villains/wild card book featuring Catwoman, Harley Quinn, and Poison Ivy; also tends to treat the characters well and with respect. Paul Dini (Harley's creator, IIRC) wrote the first several issues and the current writer is Tony Bedard who hasn't pissed me off yet, at least. He seems to be doing a good job so far.
I WOULD recommend Wonder Woman (and might suggest back issue/trades between 15 and 40 or so, or from the end of the previous volume when Rucka was writing it) but it's just been handed to J. Michael Straczynski, who is the 8,243,124th writer to decide to come along and completely re-do the continuity and promises TO FIX EVERYTHING REALLY. AND LOOK IT'S FEMINIST NOW BECAUSE SHE'S WEARING PANTS. *vows to shove Dan Didio into a shark's mouth someday. Anyway* Although... maybe at least take a look at #600 to see Lynda Carter's introduction, where she has a much more sane and inspiring discussion of what being a female superhero really should mean. For example, "She [Wonder Woman] is the "Secret Self" inside every woman--the beautiful, unafraid, tenacious, and powerful woman we know resides within us."
Other comics: I've seen recs for Girl Genius already and I would definitely second/third/fourth that, although I do get annoyed with some of the love interest stuff. But generally, well written, strong female characters.
I don't know if it's good right now, but if you're a Buffy fan, you might see what the Buffy comic is up to.
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Marvel I know less well, although the one comic I read, X-Men Legacy, seems to handle its female heroines pretty well generally speaking. I particularly like what they do with Rogue there.
DC:
Birds of Prey: It's JUST started its new run, so it's a good time to get on board (but TPBs from the previous volume are also recommended). It's being written by Gail Simone who is an excellent writer IMO and handles the nearly-all-female cast extremely well. Currently stars Oracle, Black Canary, Huntress, Lady Blackhawk, Hawk, and Dove.
Gotham City Sirens: I see others have recced this as well; it's a villains/wild card book featuring Catwoman, Harley Quinn, and Poison Ivy; also tends to treat the characters well and with respect. Paul Dini (Harley's creator, IIRC) wrote the first several issues and the current writer is Tony Bedard who hasn't pissed me off yet, at least. He seems to be doing a good job so far.
I WOULD recommend Wonder Woman (and might suggest back issue/trades between 15 and 40 or so, or from the end of the previous volume when Rucka was writing it) but it's just been handed to J. Michael Straczynski, who is the 8,243,124th writer to decide to come along and completely re-do the continuity and promises TO FIX EVERYTHING REALLY. AND LOOK IT'S FEMINIST NOW BECAUSE SHE'S WEARING PANTS. *vows to shove Dan Didio into a shark's mouth someday. Anyway* Although... maybe at least take a look at #600 to see Lynda Carter's introduction, where she has a much more sane and inspiring discussion of what being a female superhero really should mean. For example, "She [Wonder Woman] is the "Secret Self" inside every woman--the beautiful, unafraid, tenacious, and powerful woman we know resides within us."
Other comics:
I've seen recs for Girl Genius already and I would definitely second/third/fourth that, although I do get annoyed with some of the love interest stuff. But generally, well written, strong female characters.
I don't know if it's good right now, but if you're a Buffy fan, you might see what the Buffy comic is up to.