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When last we left America’s favorite plastic female icon — no, not Paris Hilton — she was in the throes of the great toy scare of Aught Seven, and things were bleak. Barbie’s accessories, furniture, even her pets were being recalled for lead-paint content.

But this September, Barbie is back, and things are heating up before the collector’s edition “Black Canary Barbie,” based on the DC Comics superhero character, has even been released. From the back of the box:

“Black Canary is dressed in her black motorcycle jacket, fishnet stockings, black gloves, and boots. This is truly one hot chick!”

And after a 50-year career in every occupation that an 11-and-one-half-inch-tall girl could dream of — from bride of Elvis to U.S. president, stewardess to space shuttle pilot, homemaker to obstetrician — Barbie, in the eyes of some beholders, looks like she’s joined the world’s oldest profession. Starts with “h,” ends with “o.”

“What kind of a message are we sending to little girls?” asked Mark Dice of the Christian watchdog group The Resistance. “These dolls should be melted down and recycled. What’s next, a drug-dealing Ken doll?”

In fairness, Mattel’s target demographic isn’t little girls who play with dolls — not at $44.95 for the “Black Label” edition, a line of Barbies specifically marketed to adult collectors.

And in actuality, the doll is a somewhat faithful recreation of the DC Comics character, who was a love interest in the 1970s Green Lantern and Green Arrow series, a woman of action whose secret weapon was her high-pitched shriek.

But a call girl?

“That’s ridiculous,” said John Hitchcock, local comic book authority and owner of Parts Unknown. “The character is always portrayed as a fighter for truth and justice. I’m just glad she doesn’t have a whip.”

As did the Halle Berry-esque Catwoman Barbie. Who, it should be noted, was better dressed than Cher Barbie, reprising Bob Mackie’s famous gownless Oscar gown.

From the beginning, Barbie has merely held up a hand mirror to American pop culture and design.

As such, argues one Barbie aficionado, society places too heavy a burden on her adjustable vinyl shoulders. If she simply stays current with celebrities, why blame Barbie?

“She’s not supposed to be a role model. She’s a TOY,” said Bradley Justice, who designed last fall’s popular Barbie retrospective at High Point’s Doll and Miniature Museum.

“You want to talk about role models? What about Mr. Potato Head? He sits around and doesn’t do anything. Then you put his angry eyes on, and he’s angry. Maybe he should come with his own Prozac.”

Which is one way of suggesting that we’re overthinking the whole Barbie phenomenon. But sometimes overthinking leads to real progress.

Remember “Oreo Fun Barbie?” She was meant as a merchandising tie-in to the Nabisco cookie, but was recalled for unfortunate connotations.

Then there was the forced redesign of Barbie’s dream house, after it turned out that Share A Smile Becky’s pink wheelchair was too wide to use Barbie’s elevator.

And of course, Teen Talk Barbie, who uttered the stereotypical dizzy blonde comment, “Math class is tough!” That is, until the American Association of University Women complained.

And if you want to know what university women were doing playing with dolls, you just don’t get the Barbie thing. She’s not just a toy, she’s a social engineer. And one hot chick.

Contact Lorraine Ahearn at 373-7334 or lorraine.ahearn@news-record.com