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Introduction and User Guide
Addicted to Heroines:
A Thesaurus of Powers Exhibited by the Female Superheroes of Marvel Comics

Introduction

In the last twenty years interest has grown dramatically in female representation in comic books. The AACBW has always been a progressive organization, especially in what was once a male-dominated field, and feels it can contribute greatly to the creation and scholarship of comic books if due attention is paid to the many sides of the action comic book world. “Addicted to Heroines” is Module I in a series of monolingual thesauri meant to assist writers and researchers interested in the female aspects of action comic book character creation and development. Female superhero modules to follow (dictated by funding and/or interest) may include: devices, origins, occupations (other than being a superhero), and suits. Please note that for the purposes of this collection "superhero" includes the entire spectrum from good to evil.

The Association of Action Comic Book Writers (AACBW) is a North American-centred organization of writers (from novice to professional) dedicated to promoting the interests of writers of action comic books. It was formed in the 1980s with the help of many of the field's greats, including “Psionic” Sam Johnson, Wendy “Wristband” Peters, and Pat “Projectile” Chavez. AACBW now has members throughout the United States, Canada, South America, the Caribbean, Europe, and Australia. However, all official communication is done in English (including the web site, newsletter, and e-mail discussion lists).

Members receive many benefits including our bi-monthly newsletter packed with valuable comic book writing and market news; informative e-mail bulletins; and keys to the invaluable "Members Only" area of this web site. In addition, AACBW members can take advantage of exclusive networking opportunities in private areas of various online services.

Anyone who can demonstrate a serious interest in writing action comic books may join AACBW as an Affiliate member. If you are a non-writing professional (such as a bookseller, agent, illustrator, editor, or librarian), you may join as an Associate. However, only those meeting AACBW's criteria for professional writing in the genre may join as Actives with full voting privileges.

For more information about the benefits of membership, and instructions for joining AACBW, please read ABOUT AACBW, or check out our complete Membership Regulations.

N.B.:

AACBW does not sell, buy, or publish stories, electronically or otherwise.
In accordance with the Association’s founding members, the AACBW maintains a particular affinity to Marvel Comics. Although this is meant in no way to inhibit membership or activity, it means that endeavours with Marvel elements will have priority when being considered for sponsorship or participation by the Association.

User Guide

Module 1: Powers

The first module of this thesaurus is focused on superhero powers. The thesaurus is flexible and allows for the inclusion of new powers as new heroines are created or discovered. The thesaurus is based on the ANSI/NISO Guidelines for the Construction, Format, and Management of Monolingual Thesauri, for more information about the application of the Guidelines in our thesaurus please go to the Indexing Language page.

How to use the thesaurus:

Step 1: Decide on your concept. Think of ways in which what you are looking for could be described, make a list of keywords.

Step 2: Look up your keywords in the thesaurus. All concepts included in the thesaurus are listed in alphabetical order. Concepts with more than one word use natural language, for example look for VOODOO POWERS not POWERS, VOODOO. There are three types of terms in the thesaurus: descriptors, non-preferred terms, and node labels.

Descriptors – these are the terms that can be used to describe an indexed item. Descriptors can be made up of more than one word, but they are a single concept. They are represented as all upper case. Example:

SHAPESHIFTING
SN:   The power to change one’s body into any form, either animate or inanimate.
UF:   metamorphosis
        morphing
BT:   SELF ALTERATION

Non-preferred Terms – these are terms that cannot be used to describe an indexed item. They are included in the thesaurus to guide the user toward the synonymous preferred term, the Descriptor. Under each non-preferred term the preferred term is indicated through the abbreviation USE. Non-preferred terms are represented in lower case letters. Example:

strength
USE: SUPER HUMAN STRENGTH

Node Labels – these are terms that cannot be used to describe an indexed item. They are included in the thesaurus to collect a set of like descriptors together. They are represented in angle brackets (<>). Example:

<POWERS>
     NT:   DEFENSIVE POWERS
             DETECTION POWERS
             ELEMENTAL POWERS
             ENERGY CONTROL POWERS
             MAGIC POWERS
             MIND CONTROL POWERS
             PHYSICAL ENHANCEMENTS
             SELF ALTERATION
          <TRAVEL POWERS>
             WEATHER CONTROL

Step 3: When you have found a descriptor that looks likely, use the following information to decide whether the descriptor is suitable for your purposes. All descriptors have a variation of the following information.

Scope Note (SN) – a description of the definition and limits of the descriptor. Indicated by the abbreviation SN:. Ask yourself does it describe my concept? Example:

EARTH POWERS
SN:   These are powers that relate to the earth as one of the four elements. They would include the ability to communicate with rocks, make the earth move, or create things out of earth matter.
BT:   ELEMENTAL POWERS

Used For (UF) – this is the non-preferred term for this concept. The non-preferred terms are not to be used to describe an item in the index. Ask yourself are these terms synonymous with my concept? Example:

CLAIRVOYANCE
SN:   The power to see things that are either too far away for a non-powered person to see, or that are from another time.
UF:   intuition
BT:   MENTAL ENHANCEMENTS

Broader Term (BT) – this is the descriptor that is one level broader, or more general, in the hierarchy than the current descriptor. It is possible for a descriptor to have more than one broader term. The broader term is indicated by the abbreviation BT:. Ask yourself would my concept fit under this term? Consider checking the broader term to see if another narrower term is closer to the concept you are looking for. Example:

SPIDER CLIMBING
UF:   adhesive powers
BT:   ANIMAL MIMICRY
      <TRAVEL POWERS>
RT:   WEB CASTING

Narrower Term (NT) – this is the descriptor that is one level narrower, or more specific, in the hierarchy than the current descriptor. Descriptors can have many narrower terms. The narrower term is indicated by the abbreviation NT:. Ask yourself are these narrower terms parts or types of my concept? Or are any of these narrower terms closer to my concept than the current descriptor? Example:

NEURAL MANIPULATION
SN:   The power to affect the target’s mind. These powers are scientific rather than magical and they are limited to the target.
BT:   MIND CONTROL POWERS
NT:   DREAM MANIPULATION
        EMOTION CONTROL
        HALLUCINATION
        PARALYSIS

Related Term (RT) – this is a descriptor that is similar to the current descriptor. A descriptor can have more than one related term. It is used to guide the user to other descriptors that have similar meanings. Ask yourself are these descriptors similar to my concept? Should I use one of them instead? Example:

ANIMAL COMMUNICATION
SN:   The ability to communicate (verbally, telepathically, etc.) with animals, insects, or birds.
BT:   MENTAL ENHANCEMENTS
RT:   ANIMAL MIMICRY
        ANIMAL TRANSFORMATION

Step 4: If you are a searcher, click on the chosen descriptor to view the records associated with it. If you are an indexer, apply the chosen term to the heroine being indexed and enter it in the database.

Scope:

The Addicted to Heroines thesaurus currently consists of 76 preferred terms and 31 non-preferred terms.

Association of Action Comic Book Writers (AACBW)

This page is not affiliated with Marvel Comics. Marvel, the characters and images on this page are TM and copyright Marvel Entertainment Group, and are used without Marvel's permission (although we tried to get it and no Marvel representative replied, probably because this is for education purposes).

K. Guest, T. Grundig, L. Little-Wolfe
LIBR 512
School of Library, Archival and Information Studies
The University of British Columbia

	Descriptors – these are the terms that can be used to describe an indexed item. Descriptors can be made up of more than one word, but they are a single concept. They are represented as all upper case. Example:
	SHAPESHIFTING SN: The power to change one’s body into any form, either animate or inanimate. UF: metamorphosis morphing BT: SELF ALTERATION

	Non-preferred Terms – these are terms that cannot be used to describe an indexed item. They are included in the thesaurus to guide the user toward the synonymous preferred term, the Descriptor. Under each non-preferred term the preferred term is indicated through the abbreviation USE. Non-preferred terms are represented in lower case letters. Example:
	strength USE: SUPER HUMAN STRENGTH

	Node Labels – these are terms that cannot be used to describe an indexed item. They are included in the thesaurus to collect a set of like descriptors together. They are represented in angle brackets (<>). Example:
	<POWERS> NT: DEFENSIVE POWERS DETECTION POWERS ELEMENTAL POWERS ENERGY CONTROL POWERS MAGIC POWERS MIND CONTROL POWERS PHYSICAL ENHANCEMENTS SELF ALTERATION <TRAVEL POWERS> WEATHER CONTROL

	Scope Note (SN) – a description of the definition and limits of the descriptor. Indicated by the abbreviation SN:. Ask yourself does it describe my concept? Example:
	EARTH POWERS SN: These are powers that relate to the earth as one of the four elements. They would include the ability to communicate with rocks, make the earth move, or create things out of earth matter. BT: ELEMENTAL POWERS

	Used For (UF) – this is the non-preferred term for this concept. The non-preferred terms are not to be used to describe an item in the index. Ask yourself are these terms synonymous with my concept? Example:
	CLAIRVOYANCE SN: The power to see things that are either too far away for a non-powered person to see, or that are from another time. UF: intuition BT: MENTAL ENHANCEMENTS

	Related Term (RT) – this is a descriptor that is similar to the current descriptor. A descriptor can have more than one related term. It is used to guide the user to other descriptors that have similar meanings. Ask yourself are these descriptors similar to my concept? Should I use one of them instead? Example:
	ANIMAL COMMUNICATION SN: The ability to communicate (verbally, telepathically, etc.) with animals, insects, or birds. BT: MENTAL ENHANCEMENTS RT: ANIMAL MIMICRY ANIMAL TRANSFORMATION