Strengths: High spirited, lighthearted, enthusiastic, eager, ambitious, flexible, fast in physicality and mind, nimble, smart, witty, funny, deductive, tenacious, intrepid, charming, helpful, adaptable, fun sense of style, a highly effectual and competent natural born detective.Weaknesses: Melancholy moments of self-doubt, making mistakes hits her hard, sometimes too quick for her own good, jumps to conclusions, impulsive, not adverse to manipulating others when solving cases, makes morally and even legally-questionable actions when solving cases, can take rebellion and rule-breaking too far.
Powers/Abilities: Sleuthing skills. Espionage and acting. Bike riding. Driving and racing any vehicle. Expert on cars.Will: Moderate to strong.Home/Place of Origin: Crossed Palms Resort hotel, Florida, USA.
Occupation: Crossed Palms Resort valet, self-appointed amateur detective alongside professional in-house detective, Walter Tooey.
Social Standing: Extrovert.
Ethnicity: Half-African-American (father's side), half-Caucasian (mother's side).
Sexuality: Homosexual.
Other Trivia: Graphic novels' newest teen girl detective from 1960s Florida. Her parents are divorced. Her father is the manager of Crossed Palms Resort where he and Goldie live, and her mother is a live club mermaid. Her friends include: the receptionist Cheryl who dreams of being an astronaut; Sugar Maple, her ex-childhood friend and rival (in racing as well as other things); Diane the record shop retailer and actress, and Goldie's crush and future girlfriend; and Walter the resort detective and head of security. The young sleuth's adventures of her own choosing, on which local mystery to solve, are as colourful and cartoony as she is. She is a biracial queer girl in a comic book series aimed at all ages. Her catchphrase is "Oh, flash!". She also really loves cars. Marigold "Goldie" Vance is altogether fabulous, if morally-grey, which just makes her more interesting and complex. A film based on the comic is in production.
Strengths: Energetic, headstrong, self-confident, ambitious, free spirit, brave, fierce, friendly, witty, extremely skilled in combat, goes her own way in achieving any task, does not let others define her.Weaknesses: Brash, highly impulsive, arrogant, impatient, aggressive, thoughtless, afraid of being alone and letting people down, self-esteem issues in light of the Avatar legacy and her living up to it, identity crisis between loving being the powerful Avatar (without fully understanding the duties and responsibilities that come with it), and hating the dangerous expectations placed on her because of it, sheltered upbringing, inexperienced with politics, has PTSD and episodes of depression, was a victim of the love triangle throughout seasons one and two.
Powers/Abilities: Avatar powers of bending - summoning and manipulating - all of the four elements: water, fire, earth and air (air is the most difficult element for her to master due to her physical, temperamental nature). Martial arts. Athletic and acrobatic reflexes and agility. The Avatar state. Metalbending. Energybending (bending restoration, and a deeply spiritual, cosmic connection). Mediator into the spirit world. Merging, transforming and becoming one with spirits, who come to her calling. Astral projection. Purifying spirits. Drives vehicles.Will: Moderate.Home/Place of Origin: Southern Water Tribe. Currently resides in Republic City.
Occupation: Avatar - who brings and maintains peace, balance and harmony to all the elements, and to the material and spiritual worlds.
Social Standing: Extrovert.
Ethnicity: Inuit descent.
Sexuality: Bisexual.
Other Trivia: Is the successive Avatar after Aang in Avatar: The Last Airbender. Among her many achievements in-universe and out, she is a rarity as a female POC protagonist in an animated children's action fantasy programme. And by the fourth and final season of The Legend of Korra, "Balance", she becomes the first canonically-queer woman of colour protagonist in western animated television history; as well as the first protagonist in children's animation to be confirmed as bisexual by her creators. Her adventures continue in comic book form in "Turf Wars", which focuses more on her relationship with her girlfriend Asami Sato than ever before (coming-out issues among family and friends are written in also, showing how different parts of the world of Avatar stand on the LBGTQ community), with the two sharing a couple of kisses. This is possibly one of the best, most daring ways of resolving a love triangle ever conceived - a guy dating two girls, who remain friends (no cattiness here!) and eventually they start dating each other. Their bond is one of unconditional, effortless trust and support. Additionally, Korra's suffering from PTSD and depression at the end of season three and throughout season four are issues that are rarely explicitly raised and depicted in children's animated television. She starts out as a brash, impulsive, conceited, and rather violent and trigger-happy seventeen-year-old Avatar, and slowly develops, with a lot of bumpy roadblocks along the journey, into a more mature, responsible, spiritual, and enlightened woman; a full-rounded advocate for peace. Her animal guide is Naga the polar bear-dog (the first of her species to be tamed).
Strengths: Highly intelligent, mature, well organized, well-read, savvy, common sense, modest, helpful, subtle sense of humour, surprising amount of physical as well as mental strength.Weaknesses: Often looked down upon (for her body), underappreciated, is easily frustrated, not ambitious (or confident) enough to rise above her station and grab a job that matches her smarts and competence, "I'm surrounded by idiots" syndrome.
Powers/Abilities: Organizational skills, giving good advice and information, self-defense and fighting skills.Will: Moderate to strong.Home/Place of Origin: The city of Townsville, USA.
Occupation: Mayor's secretary and assistant.
Social Standing: Low-key extrovert.
Ethnicity: Caucasian.
Sexuality: Heterosexual.
Other Trivia: Fact: she is the smartest person in Townsville. Her face is never shown as part of a running gag (except for once, very briefly, in the episode, "The Powerpuff Girls Rule!!!"). But while her conventionally attractive body is all we see of her, her voice and demonstration of her sophistication and high education on many occasions more than prove she is not just "a pretty face". She has helped, and even rescued, the Powerpuff Girls a lot of times - showing that superpowers and physical strength are not actually what make a female character a heroine. Especially a heroine to look up to and emulate. She subtly teaches young girls (including the Powerpuff Girls themselves in-universe) that brains are what make a woman truly inspiring. She clearly knows she's beautiful, and uses this knowledge however she deems it fit for any kind of situation, If only she'd put the dumbest person in Townsville, the Mayor, in his place once and for all; and take his job that she obviously deserves and is more than qualified for. In the 2016 The Powerpuff Girls reboot, she is written out of the show on her first appearance, under a misguided and misunderstood assumption that she is a bad role model for girls because of her body. Through her personality alone, she has always defied slut-shaming. Never shame a woman for any kind of body she has, kids.
Strengths: Smart, determined, assertive, tough, brave, highly motivated, tactical, observant, looks out for her team, high class fighter and ranger.Weaknesses: Highly temperamental, harsh, stubborn, pessimistic, narrow-minded, obsessive, clings to the past, stuck in the old (to her, from the 30th century) static ways of doing her job, afraid of getting close to people, can be socially awkward.
Powers/Abilities: Martial arts, hand-to-and combat, skilled with a blaster and other police weaponry, leadership expertise, detective and espionage skills.Will: Strong.Home/Place of Origin: 30th century, USA.
Occupation: Time Force police officer, Pink Power Ranger, leader.
Social Standing: Varies, for she can relax around her teammates and friends when she chooses to, when situations are not intense.
Ethnicity: Caucasian.
Sexuality: Heterosexual.
Other Trivia: The first and currently only pink Power Ranger to be the leader of the team. She is also a complete contrast to the usually-perceived, traditional "girly" pink ranger - she is a very serious, capable adult woman who is exceedingly good at her job. She finds she tends to lose the people she loves and cares about, reasoning her rather cold, closed-off attitude. Is her own strong, well-rounded female character even when in a love triangle; she is more than her complicated love life. Although strict, she is able to smile and blow off steam every once in a while with her more extroverted friends, trying out new hobbies and crafts.
Strengths: Determined, assertive, charming, friendly, helpful, caring, carefree, energetic, creative, hardworking, headstrong, adaptable, loves what she does for giving people a magical experience from watching her performances.Weaknesses: Overexerts herself, can be too eager and ardent for her own good, can be oversensitive, often disheartened in the face of competition, a little insecure and fears change and losing her connection to loved ones.
Powers/Abilities: Acrobatic skills, trampolining, trapeze training, swimming, daredevil feats in circus performances on stage.
Will: Strong.Home/Place of Origin: Japan. Currently lives and works in Los Angeles, California, USA.
Occupation: Acrobat, trapeze artist.
Social Standing: Extrovert.
Ethnicity: Japanese.
Sexuality: Asexual speculation, since she shows no real romantic interest in the series: the Kaleido Stage circus is her love. Her first love, at any rate.
Other Trivia: An idealistic youth who shows the meaning of hard work and rising up to a challenge so as to improve your talent in order to entertain and enrich the lives of others, not merely for the sake of competition and ego. This gives her more depth than the typical teen girl optimist lead in anime. If anything she is like a female version of the chaste, naive shonen hero, with a dream of becoming the next best =blank=. Orphaned at a young age, she loves the family who raised her very much, and will do whatever it takes to fulfill her dreams, as an individual. She makes multiple great female friends throughout the series, most notably with the Kaleido Star idol Layla Hamilton; in spite of their differences in class and experience, they form a deep bond in their partnership. They are each other's muses. Not rivals, but kindred spirits. She represents hope for the creative arts, as well as demonstrating the potential danger and sacrifices required in achieving them. As her name suggests, she will rise, positively soar, as high as the stars.
'Turf Wars Part Two' is very middle-book, with everything moving towards the conclusion in the next book, reaching no resolution on its own. There is less time for character development, and like the previous volume it is too short! The subplots are many as to make me wonder how each of them will possibly reach a real conclusion later on in such a mini-miniseries. There is less Korrasami as well, as this comic volume is mainly plot-driven (slowly-paced as it appears to be), but they do have a couple of nice scenes together. Hopefully it all leads up to something spectacular and mind-blowing in the finale, satisfying the needs of exciting, well-planned and well-thought out storytelling, and the needs of the passionate, progressive fanbase.
(The kidnapping plot at the end is cliche and predictable; a device that's a little lazy).
That being said, 'The Legend of Korra: Turf Wars Part Two' contains a lot to like about it. The Mako and Bolin scenes are funny and well-written - I think Bolin is receiving the most character development here. We see the devastating impact that both the industrialism and the turf wars are having on the spirit world, we learn more about how the turfs and gangs work, Lin Beifong is given more to do (albeit in her usual, impulsive, semi-competent style for a police chief) and so is Tenzin (at the expense of Kya, sadly), Zhu Li, now running for president of Republic City, is adorable and so is her oddball relationship with Varrick, and the artwork is as fantastic as ever. You can really see the tension on the character's faces, and their emotional state from their body language, and even their hair.
And same-sex relationships are still treated as normal. Bravo once again for a children's comic. Though the coming-out issues that were brilliantly, tenderly written in the previous volume, have become non-issues, at least for now, in the wake of everything else being jammed in.
I eagerly await 'Part Three'. How will it handle so much going on and with so many players? Whatever you think of 'Part Two', it will make you want to see what happens next immediately.
Final Score: 3.5/5
2021 EDIT: 'The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo' remains a fantastic, breathtaking and heartbreaking book. I did not want to put it down.A triumph.Brava, Taylor Jenkins Reid, brava.Final Score: 5/5Original Review:'The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo' is a brilliant gut-puncher. It is much, much more than the blurb suggests: An up-and-coming journalist, Monique Grant, who for mysterious reasons gets chosen to interview a seventy-nine-year-old Hollywood icon, named Evelyn Hugo, for an article concerning her auctioning off her famous gowns for charity and Breast Cancer Research, in New York. But the meetings are mainly about writing Evelyn's biography, revealing her truth, precisely and painstakingly in her own words. The subject of her seven marriages, and the various scandals over the course of her star-studded life, inevitably come up. Just not how Monique had expected.'The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo' is not about the husbands, but about Evelyn, and her relationship with her child and with those she truly knew to be her friends. And about her one true love.It is about Hollywood, and humanity, and growing up and around the judgmental, unforgiving spotlight from the 1950s to the present day, and it is everything that the contemporary audience - sick and tired of the same old predictable movie narrative - would dream of, in showcasing how far the Hollywood machine has come and still has far to go.It is about Evelyn, the survivor of Hollywood and the judgmental world. She has outlived everyone she ever knew and loved, and now the world will finally hear her story - the truth laid bare, no censorship, no tabloids, no Hollywood interference only seeing what they want to see. It is all about one human being, Evelyn Hugo: real name Evelyn Herrera, changed in order to downplay her Hispanic heritage in white Hollywood.'The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo' is my first five-star book of 2018, but it deserves a million. It has all the beautiful, complicated, tragic stars, making it to the top as one of my favourite books of all time. This year might start off promising.This exceptional novel is as addictive as hell. It flows cleverly yet effortlessly, fitting into the genre of the holiday beach reads as well as the genre of the serious, life changing reads (lifetime sounds too sanctioned, saturated and saccharine for something like this). Straight white male stories are most assuredly not the focus in this tale about Hollywood, either - the majority of the cast is POC, and there is bisexual representation and criticism of forcing people into simple boxes for someone else's comfortable narrative. Friendships between women, and between women and men especially, are also a huge focus in the book. 'The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo' celebrates the complexities of a lot of individuals - not to mention women who are allowed to be unlikeable and make hard decisions in an industry that will destroy them and cut them out of work for terrible, toxic reasons; such as daring to live to be over thirty.Evelyn is beautiful and knows it; knows that her looks are what got her where she is, her talent as an actress having started off mediocre at best. She is proud of her body and for daring to seek sexual pleasure for herself; walking the line between wanting to help people find themselves, and protecting them and herself from bankruptcy and violence for being unconventional, "different". Her relationships with people - but especially the husband who was also her best friend, Hollywood producer Harry Cameron, and fellow iconic actress Celia St. James - are beautiful and very, very real.The whole premise reminded me of the Satoshi Kon anime film, 'Millennium Actress', which is also about an old movie star sharing her life and career experiences in an interview in the present day. Plus it becomes clear sooner or later that the actress and interviewer are connected in some way, as Evelyn and Monique are in a twist at the journey's end that I doubt anyone would see coming, shocking and clever and strangely inevitable as it is. Although 'The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo' focuses more on the actress's relationships than her films. Her cutting her tooth from kissing her television screen when a lover won an Oscar is beyond cute. An Oscar: a reward she would win only later on in her aging career.This novel, this triumph, has something for everybody, whether you are interested in the Hollywood scene or not. 'The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo' made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me seriously think, it made me believe in love again. It made me fall in love with complex people who make mistakes, and that's fine, because it's human to keep making mistakes, be they selfish or selfless ones, in tragic consequence for hiding big parts of ourselves in conservative times. Evelyn's story is not about redemption or clearing her conscience, either, as we'll see, for she regrets nothing in the long run. It is about her truth serving to help others...The lives of two seemingly contrasting women, Evelyn and Monique, manage to include many subjects: sexism, sex as toxic power and control, toxic masculinity, abusive relationships, racism, homophobia, biphobia, and how these are perpetuated in Hollywood in its lies and hypocrisy. There is also journalistic integrity, negotiation, handling failed relationships and divorce, letting go of the past, mixed-race relationships, secretive but loving parents, euthanasia, and cancer. None of the issues presented are easy to talk about, and are extremely hard to pull off in one narrative in a sensitive, understanding depiction. But Taylor Jenkins Reid treated each with the respect they need without it seeming like she's cramming in too much in order for her book to be seen as "relevant" (though everything here is vitally relevant). She fits all the issues in in a way that comes together, like a puzzle, towards the end, in an ingenious stroke. It's not perfect, but neither are human lives, tragic as that fact is. If anything, the pacing is perfectly even, nowhere overcrowded.So for a great experience like going to the movie theater, but better since this is significantly real, featuring real, flawed people, unafraid to show that queer people, non-white people, strong women, and female relationships have always existed - and will be given the spotlight they have always deserved - read the deceptively-titled 'The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo'. There is a lot going on underneath the glittering, glamorous, "scandalous" surface.Fall in love as I have, you won't regret it.Final Score: 5/5
Strengths: Funny, smart, clever, inventive, enthusiastic, bubbly, brave, sweet, caring, loves animals.
Weaknesses: Peanut allergy, insecure, self-conscious, bullied in childhood, made to rely on her looks for television, while she is determined over what matters most to her she can be scatterbrained and easily distracted, falls into the Smurfette Principle trope.
Powers/Abilities: Genius inventor and scientist, her specialty being meteorology. Is a capable adventurer/explorer with good survivor skills, and looks to preserve all ways of life.
Will: Moderate.
Home/Place of Origin: New York City. Now resides on the Chewandswallow island in the Atlantic Ocean.
Occupation: Weather girl, reporter, meteorologist, inventor, conservationist.
Social Standing: Extrovert.
Ethnicity: Caucasian.
Sexuality: Heterosexual.
Other Trivia: A well-rounded, well-developed character in an animated slapstick comedy film celebrating creativity. Never mind that she's female (albeit the lone main female of the franchise), she fits perfectly in the Looney Tunes world, making her more than a mere love interest for the male lead, whom she is equal to in every respect. She also receives a reverse-makeover treatment - in that over the course of the film she learns to embrace her inner nerd and wear glasses and tie her hair in a scrunchie; this traditionally "before" appearance of a female character in films never changes, remaining even in the sequel. She fully accepts herself as she is, not caring what people think, and this is wonderfully embraced by the other characters and the creators. It is hinted that she had moved around a lot during her childhood in the Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs TV series, adding to her self-esteem issues and sadness over losing friends.
Strengths: Highly intelligent, extremely well-read, resourceful, assertive, composed, independent, clever, cunning, witty, discreet, quick-thinking, self-confident, almost fearless, physically as well as mentally and emotionally capable of daring feats, nothing stops her from getting a task done.
Weaknesses: Antisocial, withdrawn, stubborn, comes across as uncaring to others, strained relationship with her family, a product of her time only in that she views homosexuality as a sin.
Powers/Abilities: Vast knowledge from reading, a self-taught medical expert, a doctor and scientist in training, skilled in espionage and negotiating. She also sews - that is, she can sew her own wounds shut no problem.
Will: Strong.
Home/Place of Origin: 18th century England. Currently travelling all over Europe.
Occupation: Amateur doctor; against her family's wishes to be a lady-in-waiting attending finishing school.
Social Standing: Introvert.
Ethnicity: Caucasian.
Sexuality: Asexual (implied).
Other Trivia: Fifteen-years-old, and brilliant and light years ahead of her time. Is the bookworm of the 18th century teenage aristocratic trio containing herself, her bisexual brother Henry "Monty", and his biracial lover Percy Newton; her quick thinking gets the boys out of trouble on their adventures. Not merely the straight man (in the comedic sense) of the group, she is clever and riotously entertaining on her own original terms. She proves that female fragility and male dependence are not, and never have been, a thing, biologically or otherwise. Is set to be the lead in the sequel to the 2017 historical LBGTQ YA hit The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue, titled The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy, released in October 2018. Her character alone is enough for the high anticipation of this launch. She is simply outstanding and inspirational, like any real woman living in Victorian times, who, having no rights whatsoever, were forced to hide their intelligence and independence. Many were brave and tried to break the status quo, even then; however their personhood and efforts were deliberately ignored and outright erased from history by the patriarchy. Felicity Montague would definitely be one of them, as a scientist and pirate and all. No romantic attachments for her.
Strengths: Loving, caring, protective, brave, practical, determined, independent, funny, friendly, intuitive, clever, resourceful, modest, breaks boundaries, skilled fighter, family comes first for her always.
Weaknesses: Clumsy, awkward, late riser, impatient, not quick academically with all subjects, identity crisis, fear of disappointing loved ones, sensitive to what others think of her.
Powers/Abilities: Martial arts, swordsmanship, archery, climbing, horse riding, trained in the military and war effort.
Will: Moderate to strong.
Home/Place of Origin: Ancient China (Han dynasty).
Occupation: Soldier, Emperor's crest herald, martial arts trainer.
Social Standing: Extrovert.
Ethnicity: Chinese.
Sexuality: Bisexual speculation, at least in the Once Upon a Time TV series.
Other Trivia: The first Disney Princess to be a warrior and fighter, physically, in her story. Is part of the Princess merchandise even though she is neither royalty nor does she marry into royalty. Passes off as a boy to get into the Chinese army, and is "Ping" for the majority of her film, making her a crossdresser. She is also the first Disney Princess to have saved an entire country, cementing her heroine role. She manages to liberate her country of China and bring her family honour; both by being herself. Defies traditional gender parts (however, this doesn't stop Disney from continuously marketing her as a concubine/beauty doll and not a warrior), yet she has the loving feminine touch through and through. Uses her brains as well as her stealth and martial arts skills. She has three animal companions: Mushu the dragon, Khan the horse, and the Cri-Kee the cricket; plus a pet dog named Little Brother. Makes both male and female friends easily, for she is pure of heart. Is based on a legendary warrior woman - now she is considered a legend in feminist pop culture from the nineties. A live-action version of Disney's Mulan is yet to have an official release date.
Strengths: Caring, altruistic, funny, carefree when given the opportunity, savvy, brave, proud, will do the right thing by people, knows who she is and won't let anyone tell her otherwise.
Weaknesses: Insecure, self-esteem issues, just learning how to control her new powers, impulsive, easily triggered to anger, violent, fears losing her freedom, distressed over how others see her transgender identity - not just the hostile ignoramuses, brought up in domestic violence and abuse.
Powers/Abilities: As Dreadnought, she can fly, has super strength and speed, super hearing, X-ray vision, high endurance and near invincibility (as long as she can keep calm, find her center, and handle her emotional state as well). Can see and manipulate the "lattice" - an invisible network showing how reality and the laws of the universe work - if she concentrates.
Will: Moderate to strong.
Home/Place of Origin: New Port City, Northwest, USA.
Occupation: (Former) high school student, the world famous superhero Dreadnought (as part of a legacy), member of the superhero team Legion Pacifica, government-licensed superhero (whitecape).
Social Standing: Extrovert.
Ethnicity: Caucasian.
Sexuality: Homosexual.
Other Trivia: One of the most important representations in recent years - a transgender superhero. A lesbian transgender superhero at that. Part of the YA Nemesis book series. Dreadnought's powers also gave this tormented and abused teenager the body she always knew she was meant to have. Her trans identity is not her entire character, but she does face challenges, externally and internally - not only in fighting crime and saving people and the world, but in fighting the world's transphobic culture and society, including the TERFs (Trans-Exclusive Radical Feminists). Her story deals with her standing up to her abusive father, the pinnacle of toxic masculinity, as well as an assortment of misogyny and transmisogyny from people. It is also about the dangers of becoming corrupt with power and uncontrolled, unresolved anger issues, and ending up like her father. Luckily there are people who support her too, emotionally. She is young but extremely brave and talented. Her crime-fighting partner (and future lover) is the Latina Calamity, and her mentor is the awesome female scientist and tech wizard of Legion Pacifica, Doc Impossible. Loves to fly. Feels free to love feminine things such as nail polish and cute clothes and shoes. Is also a superhero fangirl with a crush on the Legion heroine Valkyrja.
