DC Comics has been creating iconic superheroes since 1938, so it's not surprising that they're responsible for some of the most emblematic female characters in all of comics.
From alien princesses with powerful energy blasts, to gutsy computer geniuses with a knack for crime fighting, to perhaps the most famous female superhero of all time, these DC superheroines are empowering pop culture icons in their own right.
In this list, I count down the best female DC Comics superheroes of all time and why they stand out as the best of the best.
10. Hawkgirl
Hawkgirl debuted in Flash Comics #1 back in January 1940 and was created by Gardner Fox and Dennis Neville.
As one of DC Comics's first female superheroes, she's been a member of the company's most important teams, including the Justice Society of America, the Birds of Prey, and the Justice League.
In the comics, Hawkgirl is a reincarnated Egyptian princess who owes her powers to a belt made of a mystical substance called Nth metal. This belt grants her flight, superhuman strength, acute vision, and superhealing.
Hawkgirl is one of DC's most popular superheroines, thanks in part to her appearance in 2001's acclaimed Justice League animated series. Since then she has appeared in a variety of popular shows, including Young Justice, The Flash, DC Super Hero Girls, and Legends of Tomorrow.
9. Vixen
Vixen first appeared in Action Comics #521 back in July 1981 and was created by Gerry Conway and Bob Oksner. She possesses the power to mimic any animal, whether living or extinct.
At the time of her introduction, she became DC Comics's second black female superhero, only after Bumblebee. Since then she has become an integral member of the Suicide Squad and the Justice League.
Before becoming a hero, Vixen experienced severe trauma when poachers killed her mother and then her uncle killed her father. But instead of using this as an excuse to become evil, she uses her powers to help others.
Vixen recently experienced a resurgence in popularity thanks to her appearance in the TV shows of the Arrowverse and her own animated series titled DC Comics's Vixen.
8. Starfire
Starfire first debuted in DC Comics Presents #26 back in October 1980 and was created by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez.
She's a powerful superheroine who gained prominence thanks to her association with the Teen Titans, appearing in a variety of popular TV shows including Teen Titans, Teen Titans Go!, and Titans.
Starfire is an alien princess from the fictional planet Tamaran. She possesses the ability to fly at supersonic speed, superhuman strength, durability, and is able to release powerful energy blasts called starbolts.
When her home planet was conquered, Starfire was betrayed by her sister and enslaved. She eventually used her powers to lead a rebellion and free herself and her fellow slaves from their captors.
From there, she found her way to Earth and joined the Teen Titans, a team she's been an integral part of ever since.
7. Raven
Like her fellow teammate Starfire, Raven first debuted in DC Comics Presents #26 back in October 1980 and was created by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez. She's a powerful magic user and a prominent member of the Teen Titans.
Raven is a cambian, which means she's half-demon and half-human. As the daughter of the mighty demon Trigon, she has immensely powerful magical and psychic abilities—but Raven refuses to embrace her demonic side and instead uses her powers to help others.
Raven's popularity exploded in recent decades as a result of appearing in several popular animated and live-action TV shows, including Teen Titans, Teen Titans Go!, and Titans.
6. Catwoman
Catwoman first debuted in Batman #1 back in the spring of 1940 and was created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane. Although initially a villain, she shifted into more of an anti-hero and a trusted ally of the Batfamily.
Just like the Dark Knight, Catwoman doesn't possess any superhuman powers, but her training and prowess make her one of the most formidable characters in DC Comics.
Catwoman is a master of acrobatics, disguise, and hand-to-hand combat, and is an expert with multiple weapons, including the bullwhip.
She's one of DC Comics's earliest and most iconic female characters. Throughout her long history, she's appeared in many successful movies, live-action TV shows, animated series, and video games, becoming one of the most recognizable female superheroes in all of comics.
5. Zatanna
Zatanna first appeared in Hawkman #4 back in November 1964 and was created by Gardner Fox and Murphy Anderson. She's one of the most powerful magic users of the DC Universe and has been an important member of both the Justice League and Justice League Dark.
Zatanna is part of the Homo magi species, a sub-race of magic-wielding humans. She's one of the most powerful and popular magicians in all of comics, possessing total control over both mystical and cosmic forces and able to manipulate reality according to her will.
She's an important part of the DC Universe, having appeared in a variety of TV shows, animated movies, and video games, including Justice League Unlimited, Young Justice, Smallville, and Injustice: Gods Among Us.
4. Black Canary
Black Canary first debuted in Flash Comics #86 back in August 1947 and was created by Robert Kanigher and Carmine Infantino.
As one of DC's earliest female superheroes, Black Canary has been an integral part of the company's most important teams, including the Justice Society of America, the Justice League, and Birds of Prey, having led the last two teams on multiple occasions.
She's one of the best fighters in the DC Universe and has defeated some of the world's best hand-to-hand fighters, including Batman, Wonder Woman, and Green Arrow.
Apart from her formidable fighting skills, she also possesses a superpower called the canary cry, which allows her to emit ultrasonic vibrations whenever she screams.
Black Canary is one of DC's most important superheroines, appearing in countless media adaptations like Justice League Unlimited, Smallville, Birds of Prey, Injustice: Gods Among Us, DC Super Hero Girls, and Arrow.
3. Supergirl
Supergirl first appeared in Action Comics #252 back in May 1959 and was created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino. Not only one of the most powerful superheroines of DC Comics, she's also the most recognizable.
Supergirl, also known as Kara Zor-El, is the biological cousin of Superman and possesses the same powers as him, including unparalleled strength, the ability to fly, super speed, enhanced senses, and heat vision.
Since her creation, Supergirl has had her own movie, her own TV show, and has appeared in some of DC's most successful media adaptations, including Smallville, Justice League Unlimited, DC Super Hero Girls, Superman/Batman; Apocalypse, and Injustice 2.
2. Batgirl
Multiple characters have assumed the identity of Batgirl, but the best and most recognizable is Barbara Gordon, the daughter of Gotham Police Commissioner James Gordon.
She was created in January 1967 by Gardner Fox and Carmine Infantino, making her debut in Detective Comics #359.
Just like Batman, Batgirl doesn't possess any superhuman abilities. However, she does possess a genius-level intellect and she's highly skilled in martial arts and hand-to-hand combat.
Following her paralysis at the hands of the Joker in 1988's Batman: The Killing Joke, she adopted the identity of Oracle, a computer expert who aids other superheroes in their fights against crime.
She remained as Oracle until the DC Comics reboot of 2011, when she officially took back the mantle of Batgirl.
Batgirl made her TV debut in the 1960s Batman TV series the same year she was created, and then appeared in countless media adaptations since, including Batman: The Animated Series, DC Super Hero Girls, Batman & Robin, and The LEGO Batman Movie.
1. Wonder Woman
No one else could be in the number one spot. Wonder Woman isn't just the best of all the female DC Comics superheroes or the most iconic female superhero ever, but one of the most popular female characters in all of fiction. Seriously, no one else is even close!
Created in 1941 by William Moulton Marston and Harry G. Peter, Wonder Woman has been a staple of DC Comics—and comic books in general—since her debut. She's one of the founding members of the Justice League and one of the most powerful characters in DC Comics.
Also known as Princess Diana of Themyscira, Wonder Woman is an Amazonian warrior whose powers were granted to her by the Greek gods.
Besides her incredible speed, strength, and invulnerability, she also possesses an arsenal of magical items, including the Lasso of Truth and indestructible bracelets.
Wonder Woman's popularity cannot be overstated. She has her own international day (October 21) and has even been named a UN Honorary Ambassador for the Empowerment of Women and Girls.
She's an icon, an empowering figure, and one of the most recognizable female characters of all time, so it shouldn't be a surprise that she deserves to be at the top of this list.