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This week has been a interesting one for Wonder Woman. The 69-year-old superheroine, published by DC Comics, has been granted a new (and rather less revealing) costume and is also enjoying the publication of issue no. 600 of her monthly comic series, the Guardian reported yesterday.
The new costume ties into an alternative history for Wonder Woman, devised by J. Michael Staczynski, the new writer for the Wonder Woman series, and into a quest by DC Comics to cast a new critical and creative spotlight on the heroine – who stands with Superman and Batman as one of DC’s most popular and long-lasting superheroes. Straczynski states that:
‘She [Wonder Woman] has been locked into pretty much the exact same outfit since her debut in 1941. If you’re going to make a statement about bringing Wonder Woman into the 21st century, you need to be bold and you need to make it visual. I wanted to toughen her up, and give her a modern sensibility… and what woman only wears one outfit for 60-plus years?’
Given that Wonder Woman is one of very few female characters in the largely male realm of superheroes, her looks and dress have always been …
… a matter of more than just casual interest to both men and women, so the 2010 overhaul is going to be controversial. Out go the kinky red boots, the booty shorts and the red bustier, in comes a more demure jacket, dark red top and leggings -– I’d say that flesh on show is reduced by about 80%.
When I first read about this I thought this was a bit of a heinous crime, tampering with Wonder Woman’s iconic outfit. But then, thinking about this some more, perhaps a change of clothes is a way to introduce some 21st century empowerment to Wonder Woman -– a way of retaining her female strength and dynamism as a character without having her clothes screaming ‘Hey guys! Sexy superheroine over here!!’
Updating is inevitable -– and the concept of superheroism is in a constant state of flux anyway, due to its very nature. Wonder Woman is a strong female character with a vibrant identity, in the domain of comics –traditionally dominated by males. If a makeover is what it takes to give the character, and her comic, the attention that it deserves, they why not give her a pair of trousers? Let’s face it, the iconic Wonder Woman isn’t going to be forgotten anyway -– it’ll live on forever at fancy dress parties.
What do you guys think? Is it a good or a bad thing that WW has had an image overhaul? How important are costumes to superhero characters and their identities – would Superman be the same without the classic ‘pants over tights’ combo?!
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I like the costume update. In the picture, the top and the gold belt WW is wearing reminds me of the way knights were depicted by painters and the like in 17th and 18th centuries; a chest of steel; long, powerful legs; confident posture; and a look on her face that could freeze fire.
But, I’m not a comic book reader, so my opinion is based solely upon her looks. I would be interested to know how people who are comic book readers, or WW fans, feel about the new look.
I love the new look. She looks a bit more “bad ass” rather than bouncy and campy, you know? I would take Wonder Woman more seriously in the second outfit than I would in the first. As far as updating, so long as you try to update in a good, logical way, fine. Updating IS inevitable, and we’ve all seen the different incarnations Batman and Superman have had. I like the new outfit, and hold out high hopes for the continuation of the comic.
I like the new outfit, too. She definitely looks like she could kick far more ass in the new one.
I don’t like the new look, the picture on the left is a horrid one I will admit, she looks like a grumpy teenager who wants to be part of the X-Men on the right.
Does everyone remember Electric Superman?
No?
Good.
I predict they switch back to normal in a year or less.
I had never heard of Electric Superman, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving me that laugh.
Also, WW’s had makeovers before, including one in the 70s…and you know who put a stop to it?
Gloria Steinem! She wanted the classic boustier-panties look back.
You’re drastically oversimplifying the 70’s costume change controversy. When she was revamped then, she was put into a jumpsuit and was relaunched without powers. The feminists of the day saw it as an attack on women with power, which is ironic because DC was trying to turn her into a real person who could kick ass and wear more clothing in a vain attempt to appease the same people they wound up offending.
This is really, for the most part, JUST a costume change. Superheros get new costumes all the time. It’s not really a big deal.
It was just supposed to be a fun fact but if you want to put on the nerd alarm and suit up then bring it ON
Gloria Steinem seemed to take it totally personally–in fact, SHE created the panties look, prior to that it had been skirt or shorts–which I just find completely amusing.
This ISN’T just a costume change, because when one of the Big Three (Supes, Bats, WW) undergoes a “costume change” it’s because they’re making major modifications to the character. It’s an alternate timeline where…well, I don’t want to spoil it, but this is shaping up to be a very interesting take on Wonder Woman.
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