Supergirl 20 

Stanley 'Artgerm' Lau created this digital rendering of Supergirl sometime in the 21st century. This piece participates in a long and complex lineage of representing female superheroes, often navigating a fine line between empowerment and objectification. Here, Supergirl is depicted in a classic pose of heroic flight. Yet, the contemporary twist lies in the hyper-feminine rendering of her features and costume. There's a tension between the strength implied by her superhuman abilities and the traditionally feminine attributes emphasized in her design. It prompts us to consider how female characters are visualized within the superhero genre, and the cultural expectations that shape these representations. How does Lau's Supergirl both uphold and subvert traditional narratives of female heroism, and how do these images shape our perceptions of gender and power?