This Barbie is super, not strumpet

The newest Barbie - named after the DC Comics character Black Canary - stirred quite a bit of controversy last week clad in fishnet stockings, a black leather jacket, and Daisy Dukes.

The turmoil bordered on ridiculous, but it's an example of how something powerful and positive can be demonized based on a narrow and stereotypical view of something so innocuous - fishnets and leather.

Last week the U.K.-based group Christian Voice released a statement that was picked up by the British newspaper the Sun. The statement referred to Black Canary's ensemble as "a children's doll in sexually suggestive clothing." The organization went on to call Mattel irresponsible and referred to Barbie as a tart.

The three-paragraph article was picked up here by Fox News. It then became the lead story on several regional TV stations and online news sites under the headline "S&M Barbie." Bloggers took potshots at Mattel, and Elisabeth Hasselbeck of The View tried to rip a run in Barbie's fishnets with her sharp two cents.

Hold up one runway minute.

At first glance we'll admit Black Canary Barbie's outfit - it did earn the character the nickname the Blonde Bombshell - is racy, but it's not kinky. (That would require a whip and handcuffs.)

The $34.95 Black Canary Barbie is a collector's item marketed to aficionados older than 14, not 6-year-olds who want to play dress-up.

And the Barbie action figure is part of Mattel's nod to DC superheroines, who also include Justice Leaguers Wonder Woman, Supergirl and Batgirl.

Why do we shortchange our kids? A little girl who knew the history of the doll would have Barbie use superhuman strengths to beat up bad guys, not use her Corvette to - well, you know.

"They are all fun, female role models and really powerful characters," said Liz Grampp, director of marketing for Barbie Collector. "All of these women do good in the world of DC Comics."

Black Canary was created in the 1940s by writer Robert Kanigher as a woman with a killer karate kick and a sonic scream so powerful it shattered objects and weakened adversaries, fishnet hose withstanding.

"This is a typical superheroine outfit," explained Wendy Smolen, editorial director of New York-based Toy Wishes Magazine.

"No one looks at Wonder Woman and says, 'Oh my goodness, she's wearing a spandex.' It's body-conscious, yes. But it doesn't suggest she is standing on a street corner."

Black Canary is not nearly as well known as the other members of the Justice League because she was written out of the organization in the 1950s. Later, it was explained that she got married.

Since then, her appearances in pop culture have been spotty, including a portrayal by Lori Laughlin in the 2002 series Birds of Prey. Alaina Huffman played Black Canary on the CW's Smallville.

Little girls should stay little girls for as long as they can. I advocate no makeup before 15, and little girls shouldn't wear all black.

But for 49 years, Barbie has been about imagination. We've seen Barbie evolve from a beach babe to a working mom to an executive. She's been a princess. She's driven a Winnebago. She's gotten married, and she's broken up with Ken. She's even changed skin color - Barbie is now multicultural.

Each year Mattel releases about 80 collectors' editions, Grampp said. Recently the company has partnered with designers including Badgley Mischka and Kimora Lee Simmons. This year there will be a Juicy Couture Barbie as well as a Vera Wang Barbie. The company also released a Barbie dressed in salmon pink and mint green to celebrate 100 years of the first African American sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Inc.

Also this year a collection of Barbies will be released based on the musical Grease, featuring Sandy, Frenchie and Rizzo, who had a teen pregnancy scare in the movie.

Once we get beyond her inhuman proportions - 34D and a tiny waist - Barbie represents everything a girl can and wants to be: good, sexy, smart, fit and pretty.

And there is nothing wrong with a grown woman in black leather and fishnets. It's a strong and powerful statement, like Black Canary.