In Wonder Woman Unbound, Tim Hanley argued that where Silver Age DC was enmeshed in old-school sexism, Marvel was developing feminist characters even by the late 1960s. Even allowing for my personal bias as a DC kid, I don’t think that’s at all right.
Many years back, someone compared DC and Marvel love interests to choosing between Katherine Hepburn and Ingrid Bergman. Marvel’s love interests were Bergman in Casablanca, beautiful but ultimately willing to let Humphrey Bogart’s Rick make decisions for her; DC’s were closer to Katherine Hepburn’s tough-minded, capable career women.
I think there’s a lot of truth to that. Along with having a more impressive roster of female heroes (Wonder 
Woman, Supergirl, Batgirl, Hawkgirl—
—Mera, plus the women of the Legion of Superheroes), DC’s love interests include reporters (Iris West, Lois Lane), a CEO (Carol Ferris), a cop (Hawkgirl), a superhero/queen (Mera) and lawyer Jean Loring. Marvel’s included secretaries (Pepper Potts, Karen Page, Betty Brant), a general’s daughter who lived at home (Betty Ross), a nurse (Jane Foster, written less as a medical professional and more as a nice lady who does what the doctor tells her [and in one story quit working for Dr. Blake in favor of employment with a notorious sexual harasser]), the Atlantean Lady Dorma (who was willing to betray Atlantis because Namor once spoke harshly to her) and the Wasp who had almost no personality traits that weren’t gender stereotypes (she became a superhero because she was in love with Ant-Man, she’s flirtatious, into fashion, constantly complaining Hank doesn’t fuss over her enough).
Marvel did have some good female characters. The Black Widow made a formidable hero once she walked away from being a Soviet spy and even more formidable once she got a solo series.
Sharon Carter is impressive: a SHIELD agent, operating in the field, willing in one story to let Captain America, the man she loves, die so that she can complete their mission.
Then there’s Mary Jane Watson. As Hanley points out, she’s a dynamic free spirit quite different from any of the other Silver Age women. However she’s also presented as a shallow, frivolous character, the Bad Girl (more or less) to Gwen Stacey’s dewy-eyed sweetness. And Gwen, contrary to Hanley, was popular with fans: her death triggered lots of outrage. DC, on the other hand, had Adam Strange’s girlfriend, Alanna, who frequently got on the action and adventure, and Karel Sorensen, obscure, but completely independent and capable.
Keep in mind, if anyone asked me to recommend comics with good female roles, I wouldn’t recommend either company’s Silver Age output (maybe Karel in the Star Rovers strip); it’s very much a boy’s world. And that’s not even counting stories later in the decade that tried dealing with feminism, typically succumbing to the cliche that feminists are irrationally angry. As with the debut of Valkyrie—
or the angry feminists unleashing guard dogs on the villain at the end of Wonder Woman’s depowered era (to say nothing of the boobs-and-bondage shot of the blonde on the cover).
I give DC the win, but neither company deserves a prize.
#SFWApro. All rights to images remain with current holders. Comics art top to bottom by Ross Andru, Murphy Anderson, John Romita, Sid Greene, Herb Trimpe and Dick Giordano.
