Super Queens: Comic Book origins

Character Histories below (in blue and pink boxes) are quotes taken from Wikipedia.

Batgirl is the name of several fictional characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, depicted as female counterparts to DC Comics superhero Batman. Originally created by Bob Kane and Sheldon Moldoff, the first incarnation of the character, the Bat-Girl—Bette Kane—debuted in Batman #139 (1961). Following the promotion of Julius Schwartz to editor of the Batman related comic book titles in 1964, the Bat-Girl character was removed from publication and subsequently replaced by the "new" Batgirl—Barbara Gordon—introduced in Gardner Fox and Carmine Infantino's Detective Comics #359 entitled "The Million Dollar Debut of Batgirl" (cover-date 1967, released late 1966). The Barbara Gordon version of Batgirl made regular appearances in Batman related comics from 1966-1988 and is described as one of the most high profile characters to be published during the Silver Age of Comic Books.[1] Following the editorial retirement of the character in Batgirl Special #1 (1988), Barbara Gordon is shot through the spinal cord and is left paraplegic by The Joker in Alan Moore's graphic novel Batman: The Killing Joke (1988). Editor Kim Yale and comic book author John Ostrander later reinvent Barbara Gordon as Oracle- the premiere information broker of the DC Comics Universe and leader of the Birds of Prey organization.

In the 1999 limited series Batman: No Man's Land, the Helena Bertinelli character, also known as The Huntress, assumes the role of Batgirl until she is stripped of the identity by Batman towards the conclusion of the story. In 1999, a new character introduced during the No Man's Land series named Cassandra Cain, created by Kelley Puckett and Damion Scott, becomes the third Batgirl under the tutelage of Batman and Oracle. Cassandra Cain was the first version of the Batgirl character to star in an eponymous monthly series, which was canceled in 2006, ending with Cain relinquishing her title as Batgirl. During the "Headhunt" arc of the Birds of Prey comic book series, the Charlotte Gage-Radcliffe character created by Gail Simone temporarily took the name of Batgirl, but is eventually forced to abandon the role by Oracle and subsequently adopts the alias "Misfit." Following the events of the limited series 52 (2006), the Cassandra Cain character has reclaimed her former identity as Batgirl.
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BATWOMAN
Batwoman (originally referred to as The Bat-Woman) is a fictional superheroine appearing in publications produced by DC Comics and related media, created by Bob Kane and Sheldon Moldoff as a female counterpart to DC's iconic superhero Batman. Batwoman made her first comic book appearance in Detective Comics #233 (1956). Originally named Katherine "Kathy" Kane, the character was introduced as a love interest for Batman to disprove allegations of homosexuality in response to the backlash from the book Seduction of the Innocent (1954). Although Batwoman made a number of appearances during the late 1950s and early 1960s, declining sales of both Batman and Detective Comics led to the editorial retirement of the character. When Julius Schwartz became editor of the Batman related comic books in 1964, he removed non-essential characters including Batwoman, Bat-Girl, Bat-Mite and Bat-Hound. Kathy Kane is later killed and her existence as Batwoman in the DC universe is retroactively erased by the conclusion of the 1985 limited series Crisis on Infinite Earths.

The most recent incarnation of the character, Katherine "Kate" Kane, first appears in issue #7 of the maxi-series 52 (2006), operating as Batwoman in Gotham City during Batman's absence following the events of the seven issue miniseries Infinite Crisis (2005). The modern Batwoman is written as being of Jewish descent and as a lesbian in an effort by DC editorial staff to diversify its publications and better connect to modern day readership. Batwoman's sexual orientation has been both criticized and praised by the general public and the character has been described as the most high profile gay character to appear in stories produced by DC Comics.
If you look at Batwoman and Batgirl in comics when the doll was being developed (in 1966 approx., I guess since it's dated 67) She has black hair. It wasn't until 1967 that the first Batgirl story as a red haired heroine appeared. Many questioned why the doll had black hair (including me) and her outfit was done in such dark colors and I think the answer is found by looking at the dates of when the characters first appeared in comics. Ideal seemed to use a mix of the comics and their own design for their Batgirl doll, because one can't be found just like the Ideal doll in comics during the time the doll was done by Ideal. They used the blue boots and gloves, mask and helmet from Batman's designs and gave her the hair of the original Batwoman and the rest a bit of Ideal... Which is all my speculation...
They gave the exclusive Sears doll blonde hair because, I believe the Batman tv show was doing well and might be why gave her lighter hair but couldn't copy the show's Batgirl, who had red hair like she did in her debut in comics and since Ideal didn't have the rights to the show they chose blonde instead of red, which is more of my own speculation again from looking at all I can turn up...  If anyone wants to add to this and knows more please let me know.

Comic Book CoverSUPERGIRL
Supergirl is the name of several fictional characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, depicted as female counterparts to DC Comics iconic superhero Superman. The first incarnation of the character—Super-Girl—appears in a story published in Superman #123 (August 1958). This prototype character led to the creation of the official Supergirl, Kara Zor-El—created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino as the biological cousin of Superman—who debuted in Action Comics #252 (May 1959) entitled "The Supergirl from Krypton." As Supergirl, the Kara Zor-El character plays a supporting role in various DC Comics publications, including Action Comics, Superman, Adventure Comics and several other comic book series unrelated to Superman. Supergirl also stars in an eponymous comic book series which debuted in 1972 and ran until 1974, followed by a second monthly comic book series entitled The Daring New Adventures of Supergirl, which ran from 1982 to 1984.
An editorial mandate, the 1985 limited series Crisis on Infinite Earths depicts the death of Supergirl and DC Comics subsequently reboots the fictional continuity of the DC Comics Universe, reestablishing Superman's character as the sole survivor of Krypton's destruction. Following the conclusion of Crisis on Infinite Earths, several different characters written as having no familial relationship to Superman have assumed the role of Supergirl, including the Matrix, Linda Danvers, and Cir-El. Following the cancellation of the third Supergirl comic book series starring the Linda Danvers version of the character, a modern version of Kara Zor-El is reintroduced into DC Comics continuity in issue #8 of the Superman/Batman comic book series entitled "The Supergirl from Krypton" (2004). The modern Kara Zor-El stars as Supergirl in an eponymous comic book series, in addition to playing a supporting role in various DC Comics publications. A pop culture icon, the Supergirl character has been adapted into all media relating to the Superman franchise including merchandise, television, animation, and feature film.
Action Comics 252 is my favorite comic that I own and this is a good excuse to put it on the web.  Supergirl's first cover looks just like the Ideal doll.

WONDER WOMAN
Wonder Woman is a fictional character, a DC Comics superheroine created by William Moulton Marston and one of the three characters to be continuously published by DC Comics since the company's inception in 1944.[1] Marston's wife Elizabeth Holloway Marston, and Olive Byrne, who lived with the couple in a polyamorous relationship[2], served as exemplars for the character and greatly influenced her creation.[3] Wonder Woman first appeared in All Star Comics #8, published in December 1941. She is a founding member of the Justice League.

In addition to comic books, the character was featured in the 1975 to 1979 television adaptation starring Lynda Carter, as well as the Super Friends and Justice League animated series, and a forthcoming animated feature.

Princess Diana is a member of a fictional tribe of Amazons, based on the Amazons of Greek mythology. Her name is reflective of the mythological character, Diana or Artemis. Her mother is Hippolyta, queen of the Amazons. When Diana leaves the Amazons to travel to the world outside, she is known as both Wonder Woman, and as Princess Diana. As Wonder Woman, she was awarded several gifts by the Olympian gods, including the Lasso of Truth created from the Golden Girdle of Gaea and indestructible bracelets formed from the shield Aegis. For several years she was described in the splash page of each story, as "beautiful as Aphrodite, wise as Athena, swifter than Hermes, and stronger than Hercules."
Above: a comic cover that shows Diana (Wonder Woman) wearing the outfit the Ideal doll is based on. The shield is a bit of  mystery, along with the odd bracelets but overall you can see where ideal got the idea for the Wonder Woman dolls design.   I'm just curious why they didn't include her lasso of truth but thought of giving her a shield and even a pitch fork in the prototype design. Wonder where that came from? Again Ideal does a little bit of  their own design for Wonder Woman like they did with Batgirl IMHO.  The design they use for Wonder Woman is years before the time when the doll came out in the late 60s. By the late 60s Wonder Woman was wearing boots but I see they used her older designs for her doll. I wonder why they gave her brown hair though? I always thought black was right for WW and brown could have been used for Batgirl, if they wanted them all to have different colored hair for the 4 main dolls.

MERA

Mera is the former queen of Atlantis and ex-wife of the DC Comic book super hero Aquaman. A red-haired and blue-eyed humanoid alien coming from a watery dimension, she befriended the King of Atlantis in one of her first adventures, eventually falling in love and marrying him.

The trauma of losing her son at the hands of Black Manta drove Mera to leave her husband. Briefly stuck in the hellish dimension called the Netherworld she has since returned. She remains estranged from Aquaman, despite hints of lingering affection, and reigns as the Queen of Atlantis after Aquaman's exile. However she is merely a puppet queen for the new Sorcery Elite, and was recently punished by the sorcerers of Atlantis by being turned into an air-breathing human maiden.

After the "One Year Later" event Mera regained her water breathing abilities, if not her full strength, and became the leader of a small rebel army, taking under her protection some refugees from the lost Atlantis, and the new Aquaman.  
Right: 60's Aquaman Comic that features Mera getting married to Aquaman. I loved the old comics that had Mera in them. The box shows Mera holding a baby with Aqualad on her side and Aquaman in the background. Looks like the box is showing Mera as a new mother even though it doesn't say it.


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