8) Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Unlike the others on this list, Joss Whedon’s feminist icon Buffy the Vampire Slayer does not originate from comic books and is a screen original. Still, with her superpowers and status as the saviour of the world, she’s definitely a superhero, so we’re counting her here.
In 1992, Whedon’s script for Buffy the Vampire Slayer, acclaimed within the industry, was transformed into a movie that did not do his writing justice. Starring Kristy Swanson, Donald Sutherland and Rutger Hauer, it’s a fairly cheesy affair that’s just a footnote in the comedy horror genre.
That could have been the end of it, but thankfully, Whedon took his idea to TV. The result was a television icon that ran from seven seasons between 1997 and 2003 and has cast a huge legacy ever since. Not to mention it properly launched Whedon’s career – which eventually led to him directing The Avengers.