Eternally Bad: Goddesses with Attitude [Paperback]

Trina Robbins (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 11, 2001

In this wickedly funny, irreverent tribute to mythological “bad girl” goddesses from around the world, Trina Robbins tells 20 nasty, bitchy, utterly enjoyable tales. Her goddesses sleep with dwarves, slip drugs into drinks, have catfights with their sisters, kill, get even, and generally raise hell. Readers meet Innanna, the Sumerian goddess who plies the god of wisdom with beer so she can steal his powers; Norse goddess Freya, the original Snow White, who is after a diamond necklace; and Lilith, created by God to be Adam’s equal, but hungry for more.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Speaking of attitude, women looking to get in touch with their inner bitch will revel in Eternally Bad: Goddesses with Attitude, by award-winning feminist cartoonist Trina Robbins (From Girls to Grrrlz), which features a self-test for readers at the end. Looking at long-ago cultures from Ireland and Greece to Japan, Robbins profiles 24 kick-ass babes who are "not your mother's New Age goddess!" While Isis and Artemis do make an appearance, she also introduces less familiar ones, like Inanna, a Sumerian goddess who got her grandfather, the god of wisdom, drunk and convinced him to give her all his magical powers. Author tour in Northern California and New York.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 220 pages
• Publisher: Conari Press (July 11, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 157324550X
• ISBN-13: 978-1573245500
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,266,186 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A book with an attitude!, October 13, 2002

By 

Daniel J. Hamlow (Narita, Japan) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Eternally Bad: Goddesses with Attitude (Hardcover)

An international cast of bad girl goddesses star in this irreverent treatment of mythology. Isis from Egypt, Osmotar from Finland, Freya of the Norse Gods, Maeve of Ireland, Judith and Jezebel from the Middle East, Lilith from the Garden of Eden, and Kali from India are among the featured players in Trina Robbins' collection.

The overarching theme that Trina Robbins puts forth in her arch, humorous stories about these goddesses is assertive females. Well, she's a feminist so that's no surprise, but they form a different perspective compared to the traditional way goddesses in mythology are portrayed.

Here's an example of her biting humor when she tells of Elisha telling Jehu he could be king. "Guess what? Jehovah just told me that you can be the next king of Israel. All you have to do is slay that sl-- Jezebel and her grandson. Jehu went, 'Cool,' and gathered an army to invade the palace. Today we call this a military coup, but Jehu simply insisted that God was on his side."

On extraordinary feats performed by Osmotar (how she created the various creatures) and Kannaki (how she destroyed the city), Robbins accurately writes: "Warning: do not try this at home."

In most stories, there is a small postscript telling of similar situations or an expansion of the theme. For example, after telling Lilith's story, Robbins explains that Lilith was left out of the Bible because, guess which sex wrote the Old Testament? One guess, and it isn't women. Also, guess what sanitized story evolved out of Freya and the dwarves who owned the diamond necklace she wanted so bad? Hint: can you sing, "Hi ho!"?

Oh, and for those of you wondering who Pele is as in Tori Amos's Boys For Pele album, you'll find that answer here.

Definitely not on the scholarly side, but maybe this book will get people without a previous inkling about these goddesses to find out more about them. Those familiar with them will get a laugh. Maybe.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Goddesses behaving badly, February 10, 2004

By 

L O'connor (richmond, surrey United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Eternally Bad: Goddesses with Attitude (Hardcover)

This book is a refreshing antidote to the rather soppily sentimental view of all goddesses as kind, nurturing mother figures. Here you will find stories of goddesses being cruel, vengeful, lustful, greedy and cunning, and enjoying themselves thoroughly. Trina Robbins tells their stories in a brisk, breezy style, and the book is delightfully illustrated. Great fun.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Naughty Girls Need Love too!, November 24, 2001

By 

Nyx (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Eternally Bad: Goddesses with Attitude (Paperback)

Nothing like an informative AND irreverent book about Dark Goddesses to slip into your Holiday (silk) stocking. I recently came across Trina Robbin's tongue-firmly-planted-in-rouged-cheek, book, "Eternally Bad: Goddesses
with Attitude" and fell in...lust. Although those who are very serious and straightlaced about their goddesses (yawn) may not like how these familiar myths and stories are presented, the rest of us know a good thing when we see it! If you like similiar books in this genre like "Uppity Women of the Ancient/Medieval/Renaissance World(s)," this one will blow your skirt up and tickle your fancy for sure!

I've read a great many goddess/mythology and woman's spirituality books. At the bottom of the author's wit and whimsy are the wonderful empowering stories of goddesses and heroines told in a fresh and delightful way. Sometimes you find just as much wisdom in humor than in pedantic sholarship or esotericism.

And really, who could resist that cover image of a Goddess "Girls' Night Out"--priceless....and don't forget to do the Bee-otch Goddess Quiz at the end!

Enjoy it folks!