I love Wonder Woman. If you’ve ever met me, you’ve probably noticed. My sweatshirt, my notebook, my watch, my ringtone… all profess an undying love for this magnificent superhero. You might even call me obsessed (but I’d deny everything). The thing is, I didn’t grow up watching the show or reading the comics… so why the love?
The answer is simple. I don’t have a lot of choices. io9 wrote a great rant about this a while back. Wonder Woman is one of the only heroines that isn’t just a female version of a male superhero. I don’t want my favorite heroine to be just a clone of some guy. Wonder Woman has her own genesis, her own story… rich in Greek mythology, and her own personal mission. And while she may not have the best super gadgets (invisible plane, lasso of truth) she still manages to kick some ass. She’s strong, brave, and shares a lot of my values
But, as the io9 rant talks about, these strengths may also be Wonder Woman’s weakness. And probably the reason her movie got dropped and her upcoming TV show looks a little sad. Her story is stuck in the 40′s, in WWII politics and patriotism. In a time so very different from today. And she just doesn’t seem relevant anymore.
But like most obstacles you encounter when writing a story… the problem can be the solution. What happened to Wonder Woman is the exact same thing that happened to this country. She is the voice of our optimistic past. But our wars did not create peace. Our economy did not keep growing without limit. Our government officials did not keep our trust or their promises. So the people of the United States became disillusioned. And if Wonder Woman was real…if she’d chosen to leave her home and her family in order to make this world a better place… she would be disillusioned too. Heartbroken, probably. Just like so many people are now.
So I ask, if Wonder Woman reflected the voice of the people during the time of her creation, why can’t she reflect our voices now?
A patriotic rah-rah superhero is not what we need. We need a Wonder Woman that feels our pain and disappointment. Who looks around her and wonders what happened. We need someone that understands what is happening in our world and still, against all odds, manages to see hope. Because that is what I’m trying to do. That is what we are all trying to do.
So… DC, NBC… in case you’re listening… that is the super hero I’m looking for. Complex, damaged, but still ready to fight for her dream.
That’s the Wonder Woman that I want.
6 Comments
you know, it’s not often that i wonder about superheroes and how they reflect our culture and the way we think. mostly i read them to escape, but today your post really made me very pensive. not just about “the government sucks” or “wonder woman would kick congress’ ass”, but about why we need superheroes to look up to, and why we feel we need someone to save us from ourselves. and maybe, what we can do about it on our own.
that, and maybe DC can get their collective butts together and do *exactly what you said* for wonder woman. ;)
Who are these people writing Wonder Woman’s modern day story? She’s a kick ass heroine, and with the right writers could be quite relevant. With a great character, anything is possible in revision.
Words to live by Edith! And I’m glad I’m not the only one thinking this:)
What do you mean she didn’t have the best super gadgets? We ALL pretended we were riding the invisible plane, using the lasso of truth, not to mention deflecting bullets with our wrists. What did anyone else have?? Okay, Spidey had the web shooters; we played we had that, too. And Underdog had the pill in the ring; that was neat. Um . . .
Anyway. The point is, SUPER COOL.
(But I agree: we could do wonders with Wonder Woman!!)
Tony, I think constantly about the effect hero stories have on us. Specifically, on “us” vs. when we don’t see ourselves reflected. (Again, bringing us back to Sara’s point: C’mon, Wonder Woman! Reflect us!!)
Ok… the bracelets are pretty damn cool:)
I love what you guys are saying about superheroes and their place in our narratives. It’s the quest of YA and kidlit to reflect all the faces and voices out there… and comic books and superheroes fit into that same category. So let’s all chant it together!
Reflect us! Reflect us!
Dearest D-I-L: You are my heroine! I think of you and of the path you are on (together), and the gratitude spreads across my face in a smile.
I continue to “Marvel” at the pristine intentions you carry, and how well you bear them!