This is an interesting thread which I haven't contributed to - so I'll bring it back to life for a bit by posting my own piece.
My ideal -
1. What's their attitude? Appearance.
As with Minion, no brainwashing, please - free will is important.
Misplaced self confidence. Basically cowardly. They are not particularly bright.
Ruthless, greedy, lazy. Crime is a short cut for them to the big money, and they're not fussy about how they get it. Some also get a thrill out of law breaking, some are bullies, some are cruel and sadistic (others just callous/indifferent to the suffering they cause). They aren't trustworthy/loyal to their criminal employer, they would readily sell out their own side for personal advantage.
They are Caucasian, physically tall, none are overweight (I don't care for hefty villainesses) - rather trashy looking, often wearing too much makeup. I only "like" Caucasian villainesses - I've no idea why that is....I'm white myself! Though attractive they look hard, their mean characters can be read on their faces. That being said they should look different to each other - I much prefer it when you can identify individuals, the zakos not resembling peas in a pod. That's one of the problems I have with manga.
Attitudes - heartless and totally unethical, assassin henchgirls are seen here jeering at their seemingly helpless and trapped prey in the 1967 comic strip "Jet Dream".
2. What's their uniform?
They don't have to have a uniform, though I prefer tight form fitting clothes, pants, not skirts. Preference for leather or PVC. Catsuits and spandex are good. Not keen on faces being covered or headgear in general as I like to see them properly. Being vain and not overly bright, they go for sexy over practical - eg they will wear heels so high they are not practical for combat situations. In my own stuff I deliberately contrived some situations where they'd be in bikinis (heh!)
The very evil, murderous Devil girls had great outfits in the 1940s comic, "Rulah".
The bad girls from 1964's comedy "Carry on Spying" had a very fetching sort of uniform.
Nothing to do with zako, but these gold pants dancers from the 1964 UK film "Pop gear" (aka "Go Go Mania") wear stuff I'd love to see on henchwomen. I wish girls were still this cute.
3. What weapons do they use?
Guns. They could not use a weapon which demands a high level of skill and training - not with any effectiveness anyway. As to guns, they know where the trigger is, but they aren't particularly capable in the use of these either.
RAVEN thug with gun and uniform - from MR X
4. How skilled are they?
Pretty useless. They rely on their firearms/numbers and their opponents lacking these advantages.
As they have "bad habits" like smoking, drinking too much at times, and in some cases recreational drug use..., and they are too idle to exercise, so they are nothing like as fit as the heroine(s).
They will at times inadvertently blast away their own side when they miss their intended target.
The bad girl deprived of her gun hasn't a hope. Rulah socks a vicious Devil girl in the 1940's comic.
5. Do they survive?
Sometimes. A mix is good. As I like both a body pile and an arrest scene.
RAVEN assassins beaten by 2 Dragon agents - ready for prison and the cemetery - done by MR X.
"Policewomen" from 1974 - one of the henchgirls defeated by the heroine is cuffed, arrested, and heading for jail.
Captured henchgirl fink...and fate! From the 1960s Batman newspaper comic strip.
One of the 3 bad girls in the pay of the villainess, who tried to help her murder heroine Jet Dream. In defeat, their hands tied, the henchwomen are taken by the counterspies to the plane, to be delivered into custody - this girl is facing a very long jail term. She's the one who jeered they has "got" Jet trapped, a cinch to be drilled by their bullets.
From the 1967 "Jet Dream" comic.
6. What's their age range?
Mid 20s to mid 30s. Not too young. They're not kids, but hardened criminal types.
7. Do you care about their background?
They have backgrounds as underworld floozies, gangster's girls, call girls etc. They should be ruthless criminals, totally without ethics, selfish and greedy. This makes it much better when they get defeated, either fatally or otherwise. For their comeuppance is not be regretted in any way, it's well deserved.
Gangster floozies from the Batman cartoon. The types who would make up my zako.
ATTACKER /ENEMY
1.What's their attitude?
Brave and resourceful. Very contemptuous of the criminals. Not sadists, but that's not to say they can't get some thrills out of fighting and enjoy beating up on their evil opponents. Kill only when necessary.
2. What's their gender?
Female
3. What type of equipment do they use?
Maybe nothing - just their own unarmed combat skills. There could be improvised/makeshift weapons or special ninja style weapons like sais, shurikens etc.
A Dragon agent ninja tooled up - by MR X.
4. What's their fighting style/skill level?
Very high skill level. Martial arts expertize. They have no superpowers, but their abilities in unarmed combat and in use of martial arts weaponry is rarely surpassed - and needs to be so, given the odds they're often up against. They are very courageous, quick witted and at the peak of physical fitness - in contrast to their opponents.
Martial Dragon agents, using unarmed combat skills and martial arts weaponry, turn the tables on a mob of armed RAVEN assassins.
The army of gun toting hooker assassins are no match for a skilled female opponents in Saints Row 3.
5. Do they survive?
Usually.
6. What's their age range?
Early 20s to mid 30s. Having a very young heroine take down a lot of older women is quite appealing for me.
7. Do you care about their background?
They are generally of Asian descent and physically much smaller than their enemies. They should have a back story in law enforcement, stunt work, or are possibly vigilantes who have taken up crime fighting after having suffered in some manner at the hands of violent criminals...like Bruce Wayne!
8. Describe your perfect zako scenario.
Assassins/robbery.
I actually prefer it a little when the henchwomen are seen actively doing something villainous rather than just being "taken out" as guards. Thus they could be ambushing the heroine(s) who turn the tables on them. Or they could be staging a robbery. They might have a kidnap victim at their mercy when the heroine(s) busts in on them and ruins their scheme. This sort of thing identifies them as villains straight away, gives the chance for them to be portrayed acting and maybe speaking viciously/ruthlessly - establishing their very unpleasant personalities.
The henchwomen will be taken on by one or more heroines - whatever the case, the good side will be heavily outnumbered. Some of the henchwomen will be seen losing their guns - the moment the gun drops, or is sent flying from her hand, this sort are essentially helpless, and they know it - so the look on their face when it happens is nice to see.
The combat will be in good clear light, not the all too familiar semi darkness where its hard to make out the characters properly, or know what the heck is happening. With at least some of the henchwomen the heroine should really mete out some notable punishment, like a severe face pummeling, rather than just a quick knockdown/out . Humiliating them is nice, so the heroine grabs 2 of them and slams their heads together, does some literal ass kicking etc. She can use henchwomen as human shields who take the bullets instead of her, or one of them gets flung into a bunch other henchwomen, incapacitating them. Or, when being shot at, the heroine avoiding being drilled, instead boots her gun toting opponents over a high drop to their deaths.
I like Maltsan's scenarios/action on pixvic. I enjoy the many different ways he has the protagonist dispose of opponents. His work is VERY violent and bloody, with bad, gun wielding girls being sliced in half, decapitated, and otherwise cut to pieces and left in bloody heaps - usually all by a lone heroine. His cartoon violence is okay for me, but I don't care for the more realistic looking gore/torture. Killing isn't a requirement for me, but it's okay at times - at least if some survive you might get a fun arrest scene. I'm not particularly fond of the look of manga characters - they appear a bit too young, cute and "generic". I like the villainesses to look a bit older and meaner. I really don't like any overt sexual element, or sexual violence, in these things.