Sunday, July 4, 2010

“Go in peace my daughter. And remember that, in a world of ordinary mortals, you are a Wonder Woman.”

I guess I’m a little late on the bandwagon with this, but it was shown to me sometime during the week. Unfortunately it hasn’t been until now that I’ve been able to sit down and actually form a complete opinion on the re-vamp.

Yes, I’m talking about the new Wonder Woman design.


Now, I haven’t been a die hard Wonder Woman fan. I don’t think I really read any of the comic books--being too busy trying to catch up on Batman and X-men sagas to get involved in another epic superhero arc.

The idea behind the character is fantastic, I love me some strong female leads. However, this wasn’t enough to draw me in and perhaps that’s why writer J. Michael Straczynski decided to re-write her origin story line and change up her style. I can understand wanting to update the look of what is generally a glorified bathing suit. However this? I don’t think anyone was expecting this.

First of all, it’s not exactly less revealing being skin tight. But in a world of superhero spandex it’s not to be unexpected. In an attempt to update her look they’re actually dated her with a jacket straight of the 80s. Yes, the attempt is decidedly less patriotic for those of us who are non-Americans, what with the stars and stripes removed (but for the nice subtle touches on the shoulderpads). However that was part of Wonder Woman’s schtick.

I guess the biggest problem here is that this can hardly be described as a costume. Instead of a woman, we have a decidedly less strong, teenaged version. It’s almost as if I’m just waiting for her to lean against her locker, swooning that she hopes Superman asks her to the prom.

Sure you can’t judge a book by it’s cover and until I see her in action I suppose I cannot completely be certain whether she’d be able to kick some ass. This is, after all, a revamp but instead of a Dark Knight, we have Wonder Woman: the teenage years.

Thankfully by the sounds of the origin story, it seems that even DC and the writers aren’t really thinking this is going to work. With a timeline/alternative universe story that could be reversed with little to no damage of the original series. The problem seems that no one has the balls or genius to know what to do with the Amazonian.

Hurry, someone get Whedon in here. Stat!

Over all, this isn’t my Wonder Woman. Sure, she was in a glorified bathing suit, but at least she was a woman. (image via: DC's source/Topless Robot)

4 comments:

  1. It would be interesting to see his take on Wonder Woman (re: Buffy, Dollhouse---awesome). Mix in a little sexiness from Inara, personal strength from Buffy and overall badassness from Echo.

    I sometimes think that trying to make Wonder Woman interesting is almost as difficult as making Superman interesting. Yes they both have troubled pasts and have identity issues (somewhat) but overall, they aren't that interesting. Interesting fast fact: Her suit is designed in respect to the most powerful nation of the world. It has nothing to do with patriotism :P

    Unless I'm wrong, which is entirely possible. Any takers?

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  2. *Ammendment* I think her suit is designed to reflect her host nation. Yea, that sounds more right.

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  3. Well, funny you should ask what Whedon's Wonder Woman would look like as there has been a reveal:

    http://splashpage.mtv.com/2010/07/06/joss-whedons-wonder-woman-designs-revealed/

    Sure, it's just costume design but I'm even more curious now to see what he would have done.

    Good point about the Superman analogy. The more I think about it the more I agree. I guess she just doesn't have that x factor to draw a "darker" or more complex version of her. Either way, I can't say -that- much on the matter seeing as I'm not a fan to begin with. If only we could get R here. She'd own both of our asses.

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  4. -She`d own both of our asses.- That`s what she said :P

    The redsigned Wonder Woman at the Top left and bottom left are actually quite decent. The top left one is pretty much the same except the addition of the skirt. It makes it just enough to be different while being overall the familiar Wonder Woman we all imagine her to look like. The bottom left I like too. Wearing jeans-pants, says something about the inner strength of women. The whole, 60`s revolution. Women don`t have to wear skirts-tights cause that`s what society thinks they should wear. They can be just as sexy, and a femme fatale wearing pants. Very modern update for an old character such as her.

    You should ask R the next time you see her. It`d be cool to hear what she thinks on the whole matter. Seeing as I don`t think I`d see her again for a looong time.

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