Superweek Weres Wanna Know: Why Do We Love Anti-heroes?

We had so much fun with the Superhero week we put together recently that we decided to do it again. (Plus, we still have a lot of superhero reads in our TBR piles.) All this week we're bringing you more super-themed reviews and features. Don't forget to enter our super giveaway!

Weres Wanna Know is a new discussion feature where we share a topic that's been on our minds and invite you to share your thoughts as well.

This week has been all about superheroes, but with a side of Alpha Showdown. I also finished season 2 of Daredevil on Netflix this week. Originally, I planned to post a review of the show today, but what the convergence of all these topics has got me thinking about is Alpha males and anti-heroes.

There's been a lot of discussion in the comment section and on Twitter about why Showdown voters nominate female characters but don't support them when it comes time to vote. Top-ranked Jane Yellowrock lost her first round match to the bottom ranked character and a lot of people voted for him because they think he's sexy. Gin Blanco lost to a lower ranked male character for the same reason. When we define the term Alpha male we usually use terms like strength, power, dominance, and even possessive or protective. In romance novels, they often seem to be men who make decisions for what they think is the good of others, usually women, without asking. They're prone to mansplaining and general assholishness. Why do we think that's sexy? I, for one, am not a big fan.

An anti-hero, on the other hand, is often sexy. They're rebels who follow their own moral code whether society agrees with it or not. This season of Daredevil was largely about Matt Murdoch deciding if he wanted to be a hero or an anti-hero. (Whiny, waffling Matt, not so sexy BTW.) He believed he was following a code by refusing to kill anyone. He believed he was selflessly defending his community from criminals. But was that really why he did it? Was his way any more effective or any more heroic than Frank Castle's? 

Castle is the epitome of the anti-hero. He probably killed hundreds of people in search of justice as he defined it, regardless of whether society agreed with that definition. But he also protected Karen throughout the season and in the end, he even saved Matt. He was arguably the most likable character in the show. He was also a major badass. If we had an Alpha Showdown for TV characters, I'm pretty sure he'd win. The other thing about Castle is that he could easily have been a hero. It was only after his family was murdered that he became an anti-hero.

Back to my original rant, woman can also be anti-heroes. I've been watching Wynonna Earp on SyFy. Wynonna drinks, sleeps around and generally engages in unheroic behavior. She kills at the drop of a hat. Like Frank Castle, she only kills bad guys (in her case they're demons.) But she does it not to keep the town safe, but in order to break her family curse. And like Castle, she might have been a hero if not for the wrongs done to her.

So why do we love these anti-heroes? There's even been some effort to make iconic heroes like Superman and Captain America darker and more like them. Is it because we sympathize with the trauma that made them that way or because we wish we could be more like them?

What do you think?
Let's discuss!

If you have a topic you'd like to see discussed in a Weres Wanna Know post, let us know in the comments, send us a Facebook message, or email goldiloxandthethreeweres@gmail.com.

Superheroes Week Review: Even Villains Play the Hero by Liana Brooks

We had so much fun with the Superhero week we put together recently that we decided to do it again. (Plus, we still have a lot of superhero reads in our TBR piles.) All this week we're bringing you more super-themed reviews and features.

Even Villains Play the Hero
(Heroes and Villains #1-3)
Liana Brooks
Release: August 3, 2015
Goodreads Amazon

We all have our favorite superhero stories – now it's the villains' turn to talk.

Zephyr Girl broke into Dr. Charm's lab looking for the affair of the century; she found happily ever after instead. But now, seven years later, Tabitha walks away with no warning, and Evan faces the ultimate decision: world domination, or the woman he loves? With their four loveable daughters, Evan sets out to rescue his wife—and his marriage—proving that Even Villains Fall In Love.

Hunted by The Company as a rogue hero, Angela, eldest of the quads, heads to California—because Even Villains Go To The Movies. When a gang of super-powered jewel thieves hit town, Angela must choose between lying low or helping a superhero who's too hot for his own good—in more ways than one.

In Even Villains Have Interns, Angela's sister Delilah hears rumors of big-game hunters in town and a mysterious drug that everyone—including The Company—is after. Teaming up with the spooky Spirit of Chicago, she aims to take down the dealers, the mobsters, the kingpin, and The Company. The only thing that might be difficult is doing it all without falling in love...

Review by Rose Red:

Have you ever been sitting in a superhero movie and thought to yourself that it would be better if it had more romance? Well, I have the book for you! Even Villains Play The Hero is a collection of three books that revolve around superheroes and villains falling in love. Sometimes it's one or the other and sometimes, as in the case for the first book in this bindup, it's the villain falling for the superhero.

This collection is everything I've ever wanted in a superhero romance! It's witty, funny, and full of action and memorable moments. I was literally on the edge of my seat the whole time reading each book. Since this book is an omnibus of a series, I'm going to take more of a Read This F@!%ing Book approach to tell you why you need to read this awesome collection.

The First Book Is A Romance Between A Couple Who Are Already Married
I adore romance in all of it's forms but romance tends to skew towards couples who had been single before getting together. Don't get me wrong. I love those kind of romances but it is so refreshing to read a romance where the couple is already married with kids. It changes the dynamic so much! I loved it! Dr. Charm is a super villain who must make the most difficult choice: world domination or the woman he loves. Especially when that woman is the superhero, Zephyr Girl. 

Being a married couple isn’t easy and I loved how the book explored this. I also adored how it looked at what happens when your significant other decides to go back to work and leaves you home with the kids. This is a hard thing normally but it's even harder when all of your kids are showing signs of having superpowers.

The First Book Is Amazing! The Sequels Are Better!
I was a bit hesitant to pick up the second book in this series because I didn't know how it would top the first one. I had high expectations going in and they were met! The sequels were just as fun and action-packed as the first book even though they are set several years later. 

In each book, we follow one of Dr. Charm and Zephyr Girl's now grown up daughters. The romances were swoony and it was fascinating seeing how superpowers play into how a relationship develops! It was also refreshing to read from the perspective of someone who doesn't have conventional superpowers. I loved each sequel but the third book is my favorite! Delilah is just awesome!

Also, each book has minions and they are one of the best parts of each book! They're not the little yellow kind that we're all familiar with from Despicable Me. Don't get me wrong. They're short and most are oddly shaped but each one is programed to do a specific thing. Plus, they range in color from red and fluffy to black-and-purple polka-dotted. Head Minion Hert is my favorite in all of his warty glory! Seriously. I need more of these minions in my life.

Did I Mention These Books Are Super Witty and Hilarious?
Guys! The wit and the banter is everything! Seriously! The one-liners are strong in this series! I found myself literally laughing out loud multiple times while reading. My favorite maybe the flirting that involves exchanging Shakespearean insults. My inner book nerd was so happy with the sly literature references! One thing I adored in the sequels were the notes and letters home written by the heroine at the first of each chapter. They were absolutely delightful!

Let me give you an example of the exceptional dialogue found in this series:

"I want you to get out of the house. You need friends."

 "I have friends."

"Minions don't count."

"If I can watch movies with them, they count." 

It's Not Just About The Romance.
These books are not just about the romance. Although, that part of each story is delightful! They're a cohesive look at a family whose members are growing and developing and coming into their own. This one just happens to be composed of both heroes and villains. Each character has their own unique attributes and powers and they each bring a lot into the story. I love that it's a story about family. I still get a kick out of Dr. Charm and his morally gray ethics. He is kind of the center of the series and you can't help but love him despite his questionable morality that is only kept in check by the fear of his actions upsetting his wife.

The romances are cute! The flirting is top-notch! The family dynamic is amazing! This series is a light, fun read perfect for the summer months! I'm going to keep my fingers crossed that we'll get books for the rest of the family. I need more of them continuing to confound the Company!

If you're looking for a delightful and fun superhero romance, look no further and go get your hands on this series!

    

  4 / 5 Stars!

 

Have you entered our Superweek giveaway yet?

Waiting on Wednesday (84)

We had so much fun with the Superhero week we put together recently that we decided to do it again. (Plus, we still have a lot of superhero reads in our TBR piles.) All this week we're bringing you more super-themed reviews and features.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. So here's this week's WOW pick: 

As much as I love to see an old favorite reimagined, sometimes I think it's more fun when authors create entirely new characters. Heroine Complex sounds a little like the superhero version of The Devil Wears Prada, which sounds kind of awesome. Add in the diverse cast and killer cupcakes, and you've got a must-read novel. Really looking forward to this one!

Heroine Complex
Sarah Kuhn
Release: July 5,2016
Goodreads Amazon

Being a superheroine is hard. Working for one is even harder.

Evie Tanaka is the put-upon personal assistant to Aveda Jupiter, her childhood best friend and San Francisco's most beloved superheroine. She's great at her job—blending into the background, handling her boss's epic diva tantrums, and getting demon blood out of leather pants.

Unfortunately, she's not nearly as together when it comes to running her own life, standing up for herself, or raising her tempestuous teenage sister, Bea.

But everything changes when Evie's forced to pose as her glamorous boss for one night, and her darkest comes out: she has powers, too. Now it's up to her to contend with murderous cupcakes, nosy gossip bloggers, and supernatural karaoke battles—all while juggling unexpected romance and Aveda's increasingly outrageous demands. And when a larger threat emerges, Evie must finally take charge and become a superheroine in her own right... or see her city fall to a full-on demonic invasion. 

What book are you waiting on?

Have you seen our Superweek giveaway? Enter here.

Superweek Review: Black Widow: Forever Red by Margaret Stohl

We had so much fun with the Superhero week we put together recently that we decided to do it again. (Plus, we still have a lot of superhero reads in our TBR piles.) All this week we're bringing you more super-themed reviews and features.

Black Widow: Forever Red
(Black Widow #1)
Margaret Stohl
Release: October 13, 2015
Goodreads Amazon

Enter the world of the Avengers’ iconic master spy…

Natasha Romanoff is one of the world’s most lethal assassins. Trained from a young age in the arts of death and deception, Natasha was given the title of Black Widow by Ivan Somodorov, her brutal teacher at the Red Room, Moscow’s infamous academy for operatives.

Ava Orlova is just trying to fit in as an average Brooklyn teenager, but her life has been anything but average.The daughter of a missing Russian quantum physicist, Ava was once subjected to a series of ruthless military experiments—until she was rescued by Black Widow and placed under S.H.I.E.L.D. protection. Ava has always longed to reconnect with her mysterious savior, but Black Widow isn’t really the big sister type.

Until now.

When children all over Eastern Europe begin to go missing, and rumors of smuggled Red Room tech light up the dark net, Natasha suspects her old teacher has returned—and that Ava Orlova might be the only one who can stop him. To defeat the madman who threatens their future, Natasha and Ava must unravel their pasts. Only then will they discover the truth about the dark-eyed boy with an hourglass tattoo who haunts Ava’s dreams…

Review:
Given the increasing unlikelyhood that Black Widow will ever get her own movie, I was pretty excited for her to get a book. And since it was a YA book, I originally thought it would be a prequel story about a teenaged Natasha Romanoff. It turns out Natasha's one of three main characters in Black Widow: Forever Red and the only one who's not a teenager. Some of her back story is revealed over the course of the book though.

After each chapter, there's a page from the S.H.I.E.L.D. file that began with the mission where Natasha was sent to kill Ivan and ended up rescuing Ava. Most of those pages are parts of a transcript from a D.O.D. hearing about a Line of Duty Death. Natasha's testimony reminds me of the scene in Congress at the end of Winter Soldier, which I loved. At first I was more interested in those pages than the chapters they separated, but I did eventually get attached to the characters and invested in their story.

Reading one of those transcripts early in the book, I figured out whose death was being investigated. I looked back later and it's not actually revealed. I just inferred it for some reason. But thinking I knew what was going to happen kept me from getting too attached to that character. I think the actual death, and really the whole book, had a lot less impact for me than it should have because of that.

I did really enjoy the action scenes. As you would expect, the book is full of them. And I was surprised by Alex's connection to the story. I had a theory, but it was way off. I also liked the fact that there are so many familiar characters in addition to Black Widow. Coulson shows up periodically to provide snark and mission support. So does a certain tech genius Avenger. I can't help but hear the actors who play them when I read those characters though, and they didn't always sound quite right. I admit, that's not really a fair standard to hold the book to though.

I was initially annoyed by how much the characters in the book seemed to mention The Avengers, and superheroes in general. But right after I finished the book,  I read a Tor.com article about growing up in the MCU, which is just as true for Alex and Ava as it is for Spider-man. It made me realize that it was world building and not just name dropping.

What still troubles me though, is the timeline, both in relation to the Avengers and within Forever Red. I was perfectly comfortable placing the events in Forever Red before Captain America: Winter Soldier even though the book released a year later. They would have to be since there are S.H.I.E.L.D. bases that would not have existed after the movie. But then there's a reference to Bucky Barnes. I know that the movies and the comics don't follow the same timeline and it makes more sense for the book to be consistent with the comics. But since I have only seen the movies, I automatically try to make it fit with what I know. I wish the book had an author's note or something at the beginning to give me the right context.

I also wish Natasha's back story had more (metaphorical) time stamps. Natasha is at most ten years older than Alex, who is seventeen, and six or seven years seems much more likely. That would make her a teenager when she rescues Ava at the beginning of the story. At that point, she was already a S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent. There's no mention of how old she was when she defected, but I can't figure out a way to make the math feel right. One of the hearing transcripts says that Natasha's date of birth is classified, which means I'm not probably not supposed to think about it so much.

So while I enjoyed Forever Red, I spent too much time trying to figure out its puzzles and not enough just watching the explosions. That's probably my fault just as much as the book's. I'm happy that there's going to be a sequel though. I'm really interested in where the story seems to be going at the end of the book.

    

3  stars

Did you enter our Superweek giveaway yet?

Read This F@!%ing Book (59)

Welcome to a feature we're going to post on Mondays called:

Read This F@!%ing Book!

This is a feature for us to push our favorite reads that just aren't getting enough attention!

We're also opening it up to anyone who would like to guest post. Do you have a book that you just LURVED but feel like its not getting the play it deserves? Email us to let us know and we'd be THRILLED to have you post about it here! Especially if its something we haven't reviewed yet - that's even better (but not necessary)! If you're interested email us: 

goldiloxandthethreeweres@gmail.com

 This week's post is a guest post from: 
Mark from Mental Megalodon!

Read This F@!%ing Book Post 59: The Reckoners by Brandon Sanderson

(Click book cover to go to Goodreads page)

We have a giveaway going on right now for a signed copy of Steelheart in honor of Superhero Week: The Sequel. You can enter that here. Now on to why Mark thinks you needs to read The Reckoners!

The Reckoners is one of my favorite series of all time, and if you haven’t at least read the first book, you really need to try it out for so many reasons. I could tell you about it all day, but since I think you should spend the rest of your day reading the books, I’ve kept my list to a few reasons.

It’s A Superhero Story.
Who doesn’t love superheroes? With Marvel and DC putting out so many movies and earning so much money, it’s apparent that pretty much everyone loves a good superhero these days. And while the movie and comic book industries are saturated with superheroes, there aren’t enough good superhero novels. The Reckoners fills that gap nicely.

But with a twist.

In The Reckoners, the superheroes are evil. They have taken over and largely destroyed the world, leaving only small cities behind ruled over by one Epic or another.

The first book focuses on Steelheart, the Emperor of Newcago (formerly Chicago). David’s father was killed ten years ago by Steelheart, and he has spent that time plotting, preparing to get his revenge. Recently, he’s heard rumors that The Reckoners, a shadowy, near-mythical group of ordinary people, some of the last who fight back against the Epics, have come to town. With their help, he might be able to murder the man who might be the most powerful person in North America, if not the world.

And that’s just the first book.

It’s A Completed Series!
Once you devour Steelheart, you aren’t going to be waiting around for years, or even months, to get your next hit. The Reckoners is a completed series, with the last book, Calamity, having been released this last January. All of the books are relatively short, as well, so it’s perfectly possible to binge the entire series in a weekend.

The series has an overarching plot and a very definite and satisfying ending. I truly envy anyone who starts the series now and can read the books back to back and get the emotional impact of all at once!

The Series Is Written By Brandon Sanderson. Enough Said.
If you haven’t read a Sanderson book yet… Fix that! The Reckoners series is a great starting point because it’s finished, quick to read, and so awesome.

Brandon Sanderson is known for two things: Awesome Worldbuilding/Magic Systems and Plot Twists. As a writer he excels at many things but he’s especially great at creating memorable characters, excellent at getting the story’s pacing perfect, and proficient at prose.

In The Reckoners, he’s built an amazing world. It’s a North America after the apocalypse with each book set in a different, fascinating city. As mentioned earlier, Steelheart is set in Newcago. The city that once was Chicago has been transformed entirely to a city made of steel. Additionally, Sanderson has brought his signature creative touch to superpowers which has lead to an incredible range of powerful Epics. Each one has their own portfolio--and a weakness. The whole backdrop of the series is just super detailed. If you enjoy having a solid setting for your story, The Reckoners is an absolute blast.

Plot Twists. Sanderson is amazing at finishing his books in a way that you will never predict. Without fail, 50-70 pages from the end, you’ll be wondering how Sanderson can wrap up even half of the threads and you’ll be unsure of whether or not you’ll be satisfied by the ending..

Hold. On. Tight.

By the end of every book, the majority of the threads will be tied up in ways that you would never have expected--but it’ll somehow be so much better than you could ever have anticipated. The range of emotions that these books will put you through to reach the end of the book is amazing! There really is nothing like reading a Sanderson book for the first time.

The Reckoners is no exception to this rule with each book getting better and better. All three books are more intense individually than even a series ender by other authors is. And the finale of the series, Calamity, is just so utterly amazing. I tear up at the ending every time.

The Series Has A Lovely Romance And Amazing Characters
I’m not typically the target audience for romance novels--I’d rather the characters pay more attention to beating up the villains and less to each other. But the romance that runs throughout this series is just so adorable and so sweet that I can’t help but loving it. Plus, the characters spend plenty of time beating up the villains.

There’s a side character in the second and third books that I really like. I won’t spoil who it is, but she’s awesome and super cool. Competent at what she does (mostly blowing things up), always upbeat, and genuinely nice, this character is my first book crush since Hermione Granger.

The fact that Sanderson has been able to achieve both of these things--a romance that I like, and a character I have a crush on--is nothing short of miraculous, and should be a pretty darn good reason to read the series.

Beta Reading...
This last reason might be cheating, but… I was a beta reader for Calamity and that experience has made this series even more special to me. It’s awesome to know that my name is in the acknowledgments at the end in every single copy ever printed. So go read the series and make sure to look for my name in the acknowledgements. :)

Have you read this series?

Let us know in the comments below!

Did we persuade you to add these books to your TBR mountain?

Superweek 2: The Sequel (and a Super Giveaway)

We had so much fun with the Superhero week we put together recently that we decided to do it again. (Plus, we still have a lot of superhero reads in our TBR piles.) All this week we're bringing you more super-themed reviews and features. And to kick it off we've got a super giveaway for you.

We're giving away a signed copy of Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson, a Captain America shirt (size L), an Avengers travel mug, tote, notebook and pens, a mjolnir key chain, and Iron Man candy. 

This one will be U.S. only because it will ship in two packages.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Superweek Spotlight: The Shatter Me Trilogy by Tahereh Mafi

Welcome to the first ever Superweek at Goldilox and the Three Weres, an entire week devoted to superheroes, supervillains, and superpowers! As part of our celebration of all things super, we're highlighting some of our favorite Super Reads that we've featured on the blog.

 

This series has one of the most unique and unusual writing styles I've ever read. Mafi gives us the main character, Juliette's, stream of consciousness, with or without periods and including those things you think or want to say but you keep to yourself or change at the last minute. And when Juliette changes her mind about something that thought gets crossed out. I originally thought it would be annoying but it ended up being really interesting. The thing I loved as the series progressed is that the crossed out sentences get fewer and fewer until they're gone. The beautiful thing is that they disappear as Juliette gets more confident and sure of herself. So it became a way to measure her character growth and I loved it so much!

For a series about teens with powers, there's not really a lot of action. This series has always been more about Juliette's self-discovery, her inner thoughts, her feelings for Adam and Warner, and her desperation to be something more. It's not an action packed urban fantasy. This is Juliette's story. With that said, there is a war going on throughout the series and enough of that action is shown for us to understand the fighting and the battles. We see Juliette gain control and learn how to use her powers throughout the series and by the end I loved seeing her confidence in herself and her ability.

This series is a beautifully written coming-of age story and I think the way it ended was perfect and complete. There is quite a love triangle and I must say that I didn't completely hate it. I'd recommend picking up the two novellas for this series as well because they provide you quite a bit of insight into the two love interests.

For more on this book, check out this post:

Goldilox's review of Shatter Me
Goldilox's review of Unravel Me
Goldilox's review of Ignite Me

Add this series on Goodreads.

Buy the book on Amazon.

Superweek Movie Review: Megamind

Welcome to the first ever Superweek at Goldilox and the Three Weres! It's an entire week devoted to superheroes, supervillains, and superpowers.

While Gretl has been wanting to start doing TV reviews here on the blog, I've been wanting to branch into movie reviews. So we decided superhero week seemed like a good place to launch the idea. Gretl wrote a fantastic review about Legends of Tomorrow that you should check out! As for me, I'm going to be reviewing the wonderful Dreamworks movie, Megamind! I saw it for the very first time over Easter break and I'm so sad that it took me so long to watch it! Feel free to share your thoughts on the movie in the comments!

 

source: rottentomatoes.com

 

I loved this movie SO much! It had everything that I look for in an animated movie: great humor, awesome characters, and top-notch animation. For me, Megamind was so enjoyable because it was both an homage to and a parody of Superman. In this version, not one but two doomed planets send a newborn son to Earth. One of the boys can fly, has super strength, and suave good looks. So of course after his pod crash lands on the property of a wealthy couple, he is the one destined to become the superhero, Metroman. The other boy has blue skin, a huge head, and a fish-like minion encased in a glass ball. He, of course, is destined to become the villain, Megamind, when his pod crashes within the confines of a prison and is subsequently adopted by the prisoners who teach him the ways of evil.

 

Metroman, voiced by Brad Pitt, and Megamind, voiced by Will Ferrell, spend their lives locked in the classic battle of good vs. evil with Megamind always losing and ending up in jail. On the day Metro Man is being honored by the city, Megamind breaks out of jail with the help of his talking fish named Minion and kidnaps Roxanne Ritchi, star news reporter voiced by Tina Fey. Megamind finally defeats Metro Man and takes over the city. He soon realizes that being evil is boring without someone good to fight against. And what does he do now that he's won?

 

Megamind is one of those animated movies that has a lot more going on than meets the eye and was utterly brilliant! This movie is perfect for the whole family. An all-star cast lent their voices to what was a hilarious and heart-warming story. My boyfriend, his daughter, and I all enjoyed it immensely! Personally, I loved how this story explored the concept of coming to terms with the fact that our real destinies and success in this life are not always what looks and circumstances dictate. I loved all the twists the movie took and the ending was fantastic and cute! If you haven't seen this movie, I highly recommend you doing so!

Have you seen the movie?

What did you think?

Have you seen our Superweek Superhero Giveaway? Check it out here.

Superweek Spotlight: The Unbound Series by Rachel Vincent

Welcome to the first ever Superweek at Goldilox and the Three Weres, an entire week devoted to superheroes, supervillains, and superpowers! As part of our celebration of all things super, we're highlighting some of our favorite Super Reads that we've featured on the blog.

You might have noticed that we're big fans of Rachel Vincent here on the blog. Unbound is her PNR series based on a group of childhood friends that have drifted apart. The first members of the group come back together to solve a murder that leads them into a dark world of organized crime syndicates and to a reunion with the rest of their friends.

Each of the main characters is Skilled. They have powers like Tracking, which is self-explanatory, Travelling, moving from one shadow to another, and Seeing, predicting the future. Two rival syndicates use the Skilled in their battle for control of the city, signing them into indentured servitude and controlling every aspect of their lives. Over the course of the series, the friends use their Skills to take down the syndicates and find their HEAs along the way.

For more on this series check out these posts:
Goldilox's review of Blood Bound
Goldilox's review of Shadow Bound

Add the Unbound series on Goodreads
Buy the series on Amazon

Weres Wanna Know: Do girls need their own superheroes?

Welcome to the first ever Superweek at Goldilox and the Three Weres, an entire week devoted to superheroes, supervillains, and superpowers!

Weres Wanna Know is our new discussion feature where we share a topic that's been on our minds and invite you to share your thoughts as well.

Have you seen the new DC Superhero Girls dolls at Target? They're teenage versions of Wonder Woman, Supergirl, Batgirl, Bumblebee, Poison Ivy, and Harley Quinn, done in a style similar to the Monster High dolls. They are super cute, but I wonder if they miss the point. 

The idea behind #WheresRey, and other similar movements, is not that there should be a line of Star Wars Barbies (though how cool would THAT be?) but that boys and girls should be able to play Star Wars together. And that, if they want to, boys can be Rey and girls can be Kylo Ren. The Superhero Girls actually attend Superhero High with teenage versions of Flash and Green Lantern, so why did they only make dolls for the girls? And why did Target, which just last year removed gendered signing from its toy departments, sign on to sell them?

Do girls need their own superheroes?

The toys are actually just part of the story. There's a website, a YouTube channel, an app, and a TV special which premiered recently. I watched the show and I like the "find your own superpower" message. It shows women in authority positions with Principal Amanda Waller, the female villain, and the students in leadership roles. But it seems like the school's population is at least 80% female. Beast Boy and Flash have just as much screen time as some of the girls, but they're the only boys who even speak. I guess it's taken the usual gender division in the superhero world and flipped it on its head. But what does that accomplish? We should be able to promote Girl Power without creating a No Boys Allowed world.

My four year old plays superheroes on the playground at preschool. I think it's bad enough that the world will tell her she can't be Superman, but Supergirl is pretty cool too. Are we now telling her that her best friend has to play on the other side of the playground because he's a boy? The superhero girls were already inside the clubhouse, they shouldn't need to build their own.

That said, I really do like some of the things the DC Superhero Girls are doing. These images are from the Twitter account @DCSuperHeroGirl. There are more supporting women in STEM and some with Wonder Woman supporting women as world leaders.

I also appreciate the fact that the girls aren't all blonde-haired and blue-eyed. (Though why Wonder Woman has blue hair is beyond me.) But I think the toys fumble the diversity ball as well by excluding Katana, one of the only two non-white main characters.

Superhero High would have been a perfect opportunity to create a franchise that appealed to both boys and girls. They could watch the show and play with the toys together, and each child could chose which hero they identify with regardless of gender. Wasn't that the whole point of removing the signs from the toy department, to remove traditional gender expectations and let kids define themselves?

What do you think?

Do girls need their own superheroes?

If you have a topic you'd like to see discussed in a Weres Wanna Know post, let us know in the comments, send us a Facebook message, or email goldiloxandthethreeweres@gmail.com.

Superweek Spotlight: Burn For Me by Ilona Andrews

Welcome to the first ever Superweek at Goldilox and the Three Weres, an entire week devoted to superheroes, supervillains, and superpowers! As part of our celebration of all things super, we're highlighting some of our favorite Super Reads that we've featured on the blog.

You all know that the ladies here at Goldilox and the Three Weres adore the husband and wife writing duo that makes up Ilona Andrews. So of course we were ecstatic when we got an Ilona Andrews book with SUPER POWERS! Burn for Me is not my favorite book of theirs but I still loved it and it set up a unique world that I want to explore more in future books.

This book has it all! I loved how the world is ruled by these magical families Houses and the powers were fascinating! I'm always up for more telekinetics, pyrokinetics, and others in literature. The characters were amazing and I instantly wanted more pages just to read more of their interactions. I could read a whole book about just the Baylor clan being together. It was a breath of fresh air to see a UF heroine with such awesome family dynamics. We need more of loving families in the genre. 

And like all Ilona Andrews books, the action started early and the plot just didn't quit. Nevada was an absolute delight and Mad Rogan was an interesting hero that I want to see more of even though I didn't like him at first. The romance is setting up to be a slow burn that gets hotter as the hero and heroine undergo some character development. I can't wait to get my hands on books two and three next year! Also, I'm excited for the upcoming cover change because this one does not represent the book at all!

For more on this book, check out this post:

Gretl's review of Burn For Me

Add Burn For Me on Goodreads.

Buy the book on Amazon.

Superweek Really Short Reviews: Gotham Academy, Vols. 1 and 2

Gotham Academy, Vol. 1: Welcome to Gotham Academy
(Gotham Academy #1-6)
Becky Cloonan and Brenden Fletcher
Release: June 17, 2015
Goodreads Amazon

Welcome to Gotham Academy, the most prestigious school in Gotham City. Only the best and brightest students may enter its halls, study in its classrooms, explore its secret passages, summon its terrifying spirits...

Okay, so Gotham Academy isn't like other schools. But Olive Silverlock isn't like other students. After a mysterious incident over summer break, she's back at school with a bad case of amnesia, an even worse attitude...and an unexplained fear of bats.

Olive's supposed to show new student Maps Mizoguchi the ropes. Problem: Maps is the kid sister of Kyle, Olive's ex. Then there's the ghost haunting the campus...and the secret society conducting bizarre rituals.

Can Olive and Maps ace the biggest challenge of their lives? Or are they about to get schooled?

Collects Gotham Academy #1-6

Review:

I have several friends who have been raving about how awesome Gotham Academy is for several months now. I grew up reading all of the Batman comics and watching the old Adam West TV series with my grandfather so I've been a fan for years. After reading the trade of the first six issues, this comic series went immediately on my pull list. What I love the most about this comic series is that it breathes new life into the Batman mythos and gives us a new viewpoint in which to look at my beloved and corrupt Gotham City. This is comic is targeted towards younger readers but it has widespread appeal for readers of all ages. I loved the diversity and the focus on female characters as well as the gothic/Scooby Doo and the gang feel of the whole story line.

We are first introduced to the protagonist Olive Silverlock as she and new student Mia “Maps” Mizoguchi are waiting for a meeting with the Headmaster of Gotham Academy. Olive is directed to show Maps around the campus while avoiding the North Hall. Rumors start to circulate about how the North Hall is haunted and, of course, Olive and Maps get involved in checking it out and assemble quite the ragtag gang consisting of Olive's maybe boyfriend (and Maps's brother), the school's mean goth girl and her nice guy boyfriend, and that one guy at school who can get you anything. Maps is a major RPG nerd and is sometimes too curious for her own good. And she immediately became my favorite! I loved her so much! I actually became quite fond of the whole gang by the end of the trade and I had fun identifying some of the characters who popped up along the way. The surprise guest that appears halfway through is one of my favorite characters from the DC universe!

Gotham Academy Vol. 1: Welcome to Gotham Academy is a trade that does not disappoint and lives up to its predecessors in the Batman mythos. Karl Kerschl's manga art-style gave the comic an unique anime-esque feel and was easily the best part of the trade. It fit so well with story that features ghosts, mysterious stalkers, strange afflictions, hidden passages, and hilarious role-playing references all in one place. It is a fun story that has a little something for everyone. I highly recommend it!

    1/2

  4.5 / 5 Stars

Gotham Academy, Vol. 2: Calamity

(Gotham Academy #7-12)

Becky Cloonan and Brenden Fletcher

Release: March 22, 2016

Goodreads Amazon

Gotham Academy is haunted!

At the beginning of the term, Olive Silverlock returned to Gotham Academy a shadow of her former self. But thanks to her new friendships and their Detective Club sleuthing, Olive was finally starting to feel whole again.

Then, abruptly, Olive’s mother died—or, she seemed to. In the weeks after the funeral, Olive begins seeing her mother around the school. An Arkham Asylum patient with a deadly dark side, Sybil Silverlock was a powerful and complicated woman. Could her spirit be reaching out from beyond the grave? And if so, is it motherly Sybil who haunts Olive—or her deadly alter ego Calamity?

Plus, the kids hunt a werewolf on campus and Maps teams up with the Academy’s newest transfer, Damian Wayne!

Collects Gotham Academy #7-12.

Review by Rose Red:

I am so happy to say that this trade was just as good as the first volume! I loved it so much! Olive is still the main protagonist but this volume focused more on Maps! I love that she's bound and determined to figure out every secret Gotham Academy has. And I need more interactions between Maps and Damian Wayne like ASAP! I loved them together! I was also excited to see that Map's brother, Kyle, had more of a role. Unfortunately, Pomeline, Heathcliff, and Colton didn't have as much page time in this volume but what they did have, I loved.

This volume continues the story from volume one and the Detective Club encounters things from cursed pens to werewolves. I really enjoyed the different mysteries that the gang has to solve. In my opinion, the story line was more coherent and just better than in the first issues but the art is still the best part of this series beyond the excellent characters. Seriously. It's absolutely gorgeous and it fits the feel of the series perfectly. I found it interesting to learn more about Olive's family history and most importantly the truth about her mother. While I enjoyed that part of this volume, the Maps and Damien part was my favorite. I will say the cameos from established characters in the Batman universe are still on point. The writers also deserve an A+ with the literature references and I loved how the gang got involved in the school's production of Macbeth.

This comic series continues to be a breath of fresh air and I'm so excited to read more about the future adventures and shenanigans of the Detective Club! I just picked up the single issues to continue the series because I don't want to wait for the next trade.

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley.

    1/2

  4.5 / 5 Stars!