While DC and Marvel have done a better job of attracting the young female audience with their comics, their merchandise and properties have been consistently criticized by parents and older female comic fans as giving children a bad idea of what women can actually do.
However, DC may offer young girls a new opportunity to enjoy their favorite female heroes in a new way. DC has partnered with Mattel to create the new "DC Super Hero Girls" product line for girls ages 6 to 12. According to the press release, DC Super Girls will redesign DC's female superheroes and supervillains as "relatable teens." The series of products will feature popular heroes like Batgirl, Supergirl, Harley Quinn and many more in a new series of products that will include clothing, toys, graphic novels, TV specials and more. "'DC Super Hero Girls' represents the embodiment of our long-term strategy to harness the power of our diverse female characters. I am so pleased that we are able to offer relatable and strong role models in a unique way, just for girls," said DC President Diane Nelsen.
According to DC, "Each character has her own storyline that explores what teen life is like as a Super Hero, including discovering her unique abilities, nurturing her remarkable powers and mastering the fundamentals of being a hero."
DC plans on launching the new series of products this fall and will have a full line of DC Super Hero Girl products available by 2016.
