Lately it seems as though women have been viewed as the “weaker” sex, as though they aren’t as willing and able as men. In the comic “Bitch Planet”, by Kelly Sue DeConnick, feminism is presented throughout the story. The women in the story are presented as hero’s, but a different kind of hero. Because women have been constantly visualized as unable beings, the author of this story took a different approach and wrote about women in different environments, physical appearances and personal preference. 

The main character, Penelope, had grown up without a father and was removed from the custody of her mother when she was younger because her mother was “delusional and dangerous” (184,2). The comic flashed back and forth between Penelope’s present and past life, explaining the background of her childhood. The flashbacks also showed how she seemed to be a happy child and as she grew older she just became more and more angry. As a child, she went to a school where the disciplinary action was to be paddled by the teachers. Later, she worked in a bakery where people were always rude and critical, whether it was towards her or themselves. Penelope’s anger was triggered by how others treated her, spoke to/about her and the general society’s attitude. 

In typical comics, where the women are hero’s, they’re depicted as slim, beautiful and strong. In this comic, the hero, Penelope, is obese and black. By making the main character so much different from the typical female hero, it really shows how feminism can be found in any and every woman. Penelope worked in a bakery where white women would count calories, men would undermine and belittle her because of her looks and everyone acted as though they were so much better than the next. Penelope was angry with how she was treated, so she punched the man who was talking about how she was worthless due to her weight and color. Because she committed assault towards this man, she was taken to the “Bitch Planet.”

The Bitch Planet is a type of prison where the take noncompliant, female criminals. Here, they test the women and try to figure out why they are the way they are – manly, not beautiful, angry and noncompliant. When they test the women, “The Fathers” ask the women to think about how they envision themselves and how they want to look. The Fathers expect Penelope to want to look like the typical skinny, beautiful and strong woman, but she doesn’t. Penelope is proud of who she is, she loves the way she looks, how she was raised and the person she is, she doesn’t want to change. 

Feminism is depicted throughout this comic. The flashbacks of Penelope’s life show feminism because it proves that she always stayed true to herself even though she didn’t have any parents there for her. The bakery shows it because Penelope was independent and was able to open her own bakery, make her own money and he her own person. Finally, in the last scene, Penelope stands up to The Fathers, laughs in their faces at the fact that they think she wants to become someone she isn’t just because of outside ideals and preferences. Penelope may not be like the typical super hero who saves the city from the villains but she is a hero in the respect of portraying true feminism – she is strong, independent and does not want to change. 
