Fictional characters are a reflection of ourselves. They’re an artist’s take on the world and humanity, and quite often, they feel just as real as the actual people in our life. A good character is a friend or family member. They grow up with us. They help us heal. For so many of us, they’re a vital part of our existence.
As women, it’s not always easy to see yourself reflected in media, which is why the female characters that do exist are so important. And they deserve to be celebrated! Luckily, a new book from Nerdist writer Rosie Knight is doing just that. Fierce Heroines, coming soon from Running Press Kids, pays respect to some of the most beloved female characters from anime, movies, video games, comics, books, and television.
The book features comic-style art from artist Arielle Jovellanos and provides information about 75 diverse female characters, both classic and contemporary. If you’re an anime or manga fan, look for tidbits on characters like San from Princess Mononoke, Usagi Tsukino from Sailor Moon, and Tohru Honda from Fruits Basket. Love video games? You’ll love learning more about Lara Croft from Tomb Raider, Samus Aran from Metroid, and Mina from Battle Chef Brigade. Comics fan? Get ready to soak in facts about Doreen Green from Squirrel Girl, Ripley from Lumberjanes, and Goldie Vance from Goldie Vance. The book also features information on characters like Hermione Granger, She-Ra, Valkyrie, Leia Organa, and so many more!
Running Press Kids/Arielle Jovellanos
Fierce Heroines uses a feminist lens to provide character profiles and origins, as well as fun facts about all of these special fictional women. It focuses on characters from around the world, and exists to encourage readers to be brave, kind, thoughtful, and powerful–all of these things these characters have been for us through the years.
Author Rosie Knight is a journalist and author from London who currently lives in Long Beach, California. In addition to her work for Nerdist, she also writes for The Hollywood Reporter, IGN, Slashfilm, the Eisner-nominated Women Write About Comics, Eisner-winning PanelXPanel, and Esquire.
Artist Arielle Jovellanos is a New York-based freelance illustrator, writer, and comic artist. Her work has been featured in the Eisner and Harvey-nominated anthology Fresh Romance and in magazines an comics. She recently drew variant covers for the Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Giles mini-series by Joss Whedon and Erika Alexander, was a featured cover artist for the Adventure Time comic series, and finished a nine month art residency with Redbubble in San Francisco.
Two amazing female artists writing and creating art about all these amazing female characters? What’s not to love? Fierce Heroines is a great way to introduce young readers and long-time fans alike to fictional worlds inhabited by these strong, powerful, and inspiring heroes. The book is set to hit shelves in September this year. Stay tuned for more updates and get ready to learn all about these important, iconic characters we all love.
You can pre-order your copy of Fierce Heroines right here!
Editor’s note: Rosie Knight is a writer for Nerdist.
Featured Image: Running Press Kids/Arielle Jovellanos