With Birds Of Prey: The Fantabulous Emancipation Of One Harley Quinn scheduled for release in 2020, female comic book team-ups have never been more prevalent in popular culture. Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel have paved the way for superheroines in mainstream media, with Black Widow getting her own movie in 2020 and an A-Force movie being teased in a popular all-female fight scene in Avengers: Endgame.
There are a plethora of popular female team-ups from Marvel and DC Comics for their live-action counterparts to adapt. Some have become iconic supervillainesses with successful series' of their own, whereas others have fought for truth and justice, demonstrating exceptional power. Whether friend or foe, these women are a force to be reckoned with. Here are ten iconic female team-ups from Marvel and DC Comics.
10 Gotham City Sirens
Gotham City Sirens first debuted in 2009 and featured three of the most popular female villains in Gotham - Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, and Catwoman - teaming up together for the first time. The trio has become iconic, with many fans urging DC to make a live-action adaptation for the DC Extended Universe.
Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy are a great duo of their own, but Catwoman's addition in Gotham City Series humanizes the villainesses. Catwoman tells her teammates at the end of the series how she sees the good still within them before they disband and go their separate ways.
9 Birds of Prey
This popular all-female DC team is getting an installment in the DCEU, but with Harley Quinn at the helm instead of Barbara Gordon. In the comics, the Birds of Prey was founded by Oracle and Black Canary, with the first comic debuting in December 1995.
The team has since expanded to include other superheroines such as Huntress, Katana, and Lady Blackhawk. The upcoming live-action adaptation Birds Of Prey will be released in 2020 and will follow on from the events of 2016's Suicide Squad, the Clown Princess of Crime joining forces with the Birds of Prey to protect a young Cassandra Cain.
8 A-Force
The all-female team A-Force first debuted in 2015 as part of the Secret Wars crossover. The series had strong feminist themes, with each woman having her moment to shine. There is a possibility that an A-Force film for the MCU could be in the works.
The team consists of She-Hulk and Captain Marvel amongst other popular and powerful superheroines of the Marvel universe. A similar team-up involving Valkyrie, Pepper Potts, and Scarlet Witch had a fan-pleasing moment in Avengers: Endgame.
7 Jean Grey & Storm
Both core members of the X-Men, Jean Grey and Storm's friendship is one of the most touching in Marvel comics. Their unparalleled power makes them valuable members of the team and they have proved the strength of their friendship several times throughout their many comic book series.
Storm remains at her friend's side as Jean struggles with the aftermath of her actions as Dark Phoenix. Her friendship with Storm and the rest of the X-Men inspires Jean to keep going during her darkest moments.
6 Lady Liberators
The Lady Liberators originally debuted as a poor joke in response to the feminist movement of the 1970s, with the Enchantress controlling the minds of superheroines. They have since been revived and rebranded with She-Hulk leading another all-female Marvel team against Red Hulk.
In the 2008 series, She-Hulk leads a team consisting of the Invisible Woman, Storm, Valkyrie, Thundra, Spider-Woman, Tigra, Black Widow, and Hellcat. With many members already existing in the MCU, a similar live-action team-up is possible.
5 Fearless Defenders
The Fearless Defenders series debuted in February 2013 and featured a team of female superheroes led by Valkyrie and Misty Knight. Marvel's Norse mythology is a central focus of the series, with Valkyrie taking Misty to Asgard.
Valkyrie and Misty make a surprisingly effective duo, balancing each other with their skill sets and personalities. A live-action partnership is possible but remains unlikely given the current status of the Marvel Netflix shows.
4 Batgirl & Black Canary
Barbara Gordon and Dinah Lance haven't always seen eye-to-eye but their friendship has endured all struggles. The two heroines of DC founded the Birds of Prey and have worked together several times in the comics.
Barbara and Dinah feature in a DC Rebirth comic series of their own titled Batgirl and Birds Of Prey. Joined by Huntress, the trio struggle to get along at times but still overcome their differences to save the day.
3 Female Furies
The Female Furies are a group of superpowered villainesses who appear in DC Comics. They were created by Jack Kirby and first debuted in 1972 in the comic Mister Miracle #6.
The Furies are the followers of Darkseid and serve as the devastating forces of Apokalips. The original members included Bermadeth, Big Barda, Lashina, Mad Harriet, and Stompa, who were each other forces to be reckoned with.
2 Daughters of the Dragon
The Daughters of the Dragon is the formidable duo of Colleen Wing and Misty Knight, first appearing together in 1977's Deadly Hands Of Kung Fu #32. The two heroines, both exceptionally skilled and martial arts, have become iconic figures in the Iron Fist series.
Misty and Colleen's comic book partnership was reflected in the Marvel Netflix shows, with Misty gaining her trademark bionic arm in the second season of Luke Cage. Colleen's character debuts under the pseudonym Daughter of the Dragon in Iron Fist.
1 Harley Quinn & Power Girl
The duo of Harley Quinn and Power Girl is relatively young, debuting in the comics during DC's New 52 relaunch. The two shared a series in 2015 - 2016 which saw Harley step away from her villainous roots and embrace a more heroic persona.
This was a logical decision considering Harley Quinn's mass appeal and popularity with fans. Her emancipation from the Joker symbolizes her finding her agency and teaming with Power Girl shows her deciding what to do with it.