Wonder Woman.
Everyone knows Wonder Woman. She’s an icon as recognisable
as Batman or Superman. And she’s been around for a while.
I’m not going to pretend I know a lot about Wonder Woman - I
don’t. Her history is varied. I do now at one point she owned a mod boutique
and was also made from clay. I know she had an invisible plane - which is
always fun to imagine. And I know she has been an enduring symbol of feminism
when she was released. In fact, I think that was the point of Wonder Woman. She
did everything the superhero men did – but she did it while being in possession
of a vagina.
I know she has been relaunched a few times, the most recent
of which was the new 52 - which is what I’ve just got as a present from one of
my friends.
And it’s good! Blood is a collection of the first six
issues, and so far I like what i'm seeing.
You probably already know the basics about the relaunch -
that she’s now being written as the bastard daughter of Zeus - and no longer
birthed from a wish on clay. This is now just a cover story that Hippolyta used
to protect her daughter from god-driven machinations.
Wonder Woman is a bit younger, a bit less all knowing, a bit
more impulsive. She’s fierce, and can be a bit scary. She’s still well known –
but her plans don’t always work – which is great!
There's a strong emphasis on mythology - and that's what really sucked me in. I love the greek gods, and these interpretations of them are fresh and interesting.
The story starts in media res, with an introduction of the
antagonist (well, one of them) and then following a young girl - Zola - who
suddenly finds out she is pregnant with another of Zeus’ bastards.
That god gets around.
The main conflict in the story is really about the gods’
affairs. Zeus disappears, leaving his brothers Poseidon and Hades trying to
take his throne. Zeus’ unloved wife – Hera - spends the first six issues rampaging
around in a peacock feather cloak, taking revenge on all Zeus bastards -
including Zola. Hermes entangles Wonder Woman by asking her to take care of
Zola - then she is further entwined by the revelation that Zeus is her father.
Wonder Woman spends the first six issues trying to sort out the whole “who
should be sitting on the god throne” thing - and also dealing with her mother’s
lie, and the fact she suddenly has a family of gods and demigods. And is a
demigod herself.
That’s a big change. Though events in the book, Wonder Woman
must align herself with her “new” family - the gods, instead of the Amazons. I
know she’s left the Amazons in other timelines - but still that changes her
character in a big way. I can no longer think of her as an Amazon – and a major
event in the book removes that option – I now think of her as Zeus daughter.
Hercules’ half sister...
Weird. But weird doesn’t equal bad.
Another big change in character is the addition of male
heritage to Wonder Woman - and Hippolyta - who had become a perfect feminist
icon.
 |
| on the cover of Ms. |
I’ve been reading a few forums where internet peeps are
questioning this – implying that adding the father, in fact giving her any male
relations, reduces the impact she has as the perfect Amazonian.
Let’s just think about that. It's a little misguided.
Wonder Woman didn’t become a feminist icon because she was made
of clay and a wish – she became a feminist icon because she believed in good
over evil – she fought for good, over evil – and was a woman.
It shouldnt matter that she is somehow "tainted" by the seed of a man. Being an amazon or a demigod doesn't have to affect her core character. Because being a pure amazon isn't what made her act the way she acts.
She should be the same basic character with a few tweaks.
Give her a chance in this new relaunch, let
her prove herself to be what you expect. If she falls short - she does. I mean it's not like she hasn't had a few stumbles over the years ...
...but she remains a strong character. This new series is
exciting because not only is Wonder Woman in the middle of an interesting story,
she’s a strong character, who just
happens to be a woman.
I love that.
TAKE MY MONEY, DC. I WANT THE NEXT ONE.
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