First female superhero

Two fictional females vie for the title of first female superhero, depending on the definition of a "superhero". The first female character to appear in print as a superhero was Fantomah, the "Mystery Woman of the Jungle", created by Barclay Flagg (a pseudonym of Fletcher Hanks, USA) for Jungle Comics #2, published by Fiction House (USA) in February 1940. Fantomah was a shape-shifting ancient Egyptian princess who defended the jungles of Africa from poachers, slave traders and various other nefarious characters using her supernatural powers, which included flight, telekinesis, hypnosis and whatever else suited the storyline that particular week.

The first masked and costumed superheroine (and of "natural" birth) was The Woman in Red, created by Richard Hughes and George Mandel (both USA) for Thrilling Comics #2, published by Standard Comics in March 1940. The Woman in Red was the alter-ego of policewoman Peggy Allen, who tackled crime after hours disguised in a red hooded cloak and mask. The more famous comic heroine Wonder Woman, created by William Moulton Marston (USA), made her first appearance almost two years later than Fantomah in All-Star Comics #8 (December 1941).

NB, the character of Ma Hunkel is often quoted as the first female superhero, and indeed she made her debut in June 1939 in All-American Comics #3; however, she was not presented initially as a superhero - this occurred later, in #20 (November 1940), when her alter-ego, Red Tornado, made her first appearance.