Wonder Woman FAQ

[artemisboy]

I´ve read "Challenge of Artemis" and it was great, thanks Artemisboy :-)

Not a problem. I love those stories! They're actually what made me start collecting the comic. :)

- Peter

[Jeff O.]

BY Bored at 3:00AM

WHY DID SHE LOOK SO DIFFERENT DURING THE SIXTIES?

With sales in the toilet, DC decided to try something completely different with their flagship super-heroine. And by completely different, I mean completely the same as a more popular female icon at that time—Emma Peel of the hip British spy show, The Avengers (no relation to the Marvel super-team). As written by Robert Kanigher, Princess Diana suddenly lost her Amazon powers, quit the Justice League and became Diana Prince, a kung-fu fighting chick in mod mini-skirts and form-fitting jumpsuits.

This radical new direction only lasted a few years....

I have a quick correction.

The Emma Peel-style Wonder Woman of the late 60s was the work of Denny O'Neil and Mike Sekowsky under editor Jack Miller. They replaced Robert Kanigher, who'd been writing the strip since Dr. Marston's death and editing the book since '58. Kanigher took back over briefly after the bosses ordered Diana back into spandex but his retro approach failed to recapture the title's lost audience.

As you may all know by now, the latest Oddball Comics Column spotlights WONDER WOMAN No. 185, from that "kung-fu fighting chick" period. There is also a poll about the comic here.

[Mia]

I'm really digging Wondy in the current JLU. Is she as cool in the book?

[GUTB]

There was some flirtation there, but I believe that possible relationship was settled in JLA in which both of them realized that it could never work out. I think that resolution is all whooie myself though. I quicky wrap-up ending due to The Powers That Be not wanting to rock the boat. My feeling is that sometimes you HAVE to rock the boat sometimes in order for anything to actually happen. Relationships come and go. If fans start complaining (which they weren't) then you just have them brake up. Simple as that.

I can't recall any flirtation of any kind between Batman and WW. I don't deny there may have been some really bad JLA issue in which that may have happened but I assaign that sort of thing to crap writing like when Arsenal slept with Huntress. The only place this pairing ever happens is the animated series -- and even then, it's pretty much one-way (Diana has a "thing" for both Bruce and Clark, leaning more towards Bruce with neither one of the two guys returning any of it). Needless to say I dislike this "triangle of one" which makes her look kind of pathetic.

No. Diana was never in love with Superman. It simply isn't in Diana's character to pursue a man who is married to another woman.

Sorry, but this is false wether you like it or not. Early in her 2nd series (starting in '87) there were a couple of refrences to Diana having at least a crush on Superman. Besides the clear refrences, there were many instances in which she clearly is very concerned about his opinion of her, etc. She has stated outright that she finds him attractive. All of this is present not only in team books and crossovers, but in her own series.

In addition, Superman also admitted to himself in a thought bubble that he "almost fell for her" in a crossover issue of WW.

Since then, various writers have always made refrences and allusions to this romance that never happened. I can cite several scenes in the last two years alone in regular DCU continunity in which the subject is broached and no one denies it.

How it's always been played is this: If there was no Lois, Superman would have probably gotten into a relationship with WW. Otherwise they are aware of an attraction but would never act on it.

[Stanlos]

Sorry, but this is false wether you like it or not. Early in her 2nd series (starting in '87) there were a couple of refrences to Diana having at least a crush on Superman. Besides the clear refrences, there were many instances in which she clearly is very concerned about his opinion of her, etc. She has stated outright that she finds him attractive. All of this is present not only in team books and crossovers, but in her own series.

Diana did first have a crush on Superman. But that was resolved after Action #600 and the follow-up in WW#17. Now they are merely good friends.

In addition, Superman also admitted to himself in a thought bubble that he "almost fell for her" in a crossover issue of WW.

Since then, various writers have always made refrences and allusions to this romance that never happened. I can cite several scenes in the last two years alone in regular DCU continunity in which the subject is broached and no one denies it.

How it's always been played is this: If there was no Lois, Superman would have probably gotten into a relationship with WW. Otherwise they are aware of an attraction but would never act on it.

Many tabloids in the DCU have stories about the two being an item. While it may have been the greatest couple that never was, the important part is that it never was. The two realized soon after their 'first date' that they were not right for each other and that they should be friends. Now Diana is a good friend of Lois and Clark's and has given Clark the nudge to go after Lois on several occasions.

[blue13]

I can't recall any flirtation of any kind between Batman and WW. I don't deny there may have been some really bad JLA issue in which that may have happened but I assaign that sort of thing to crap writing like when Arsenal slept with Huntress. The only place this pairing ever happens is the animated series -- and even then, it's pretty much one-way (Diana has a "thing" for both Bruce and Clark, leaning more towards Bruce with neither one of the two guys returning any of it). Needless to say I dislike this "triangle of one" which makes her look kind of pathetic.

wow, someone is biased. and short-sighted.

the flirtation between batman and ww occurred during kelly's JLA run. and no, it's not "crap writing" just because YOU don't like it.

in the animated series, diana does NOT have a thing for clark. DOES NOT.

i don't know what you're watching, honestly.

Sorry, but this is false wether you like it or not. Early in her 2nd series (starting in '87) there were a couple of refrences to Diana having at least a crush on Superman. Besides the clear refrences, there were many instances in which she clearly is very concerned about his opinion of her, etc. She has stated outright that she finds him attractive. All of this is present not only in team books and crossovers, but in her own series.

In addition, Superman also admitted to himself in a thought bubble that he "almost fell for her" in a crossover issue of WW.

Since then, various writers have always made refrences and allusions to this romance that never happened. I can cite several scenes in the last two years alone in regular DCU continunity in which the subject is broached and no one denies it.

first, there was an attraction when they first met -- YEARS ago. 1987 was over 17 years ago.

but there's definitely no attraction now. please cite the several scenes in the last two years. please.

greg rucka, who writes ww, has said that clark and diana are like siblings. that bruce and diana are even closer, because of the similarities that they share.

diana even offered to let lois use the lasso on her regarding her attraction to clark. you can't hide the truth from the lasso. in joe kelly's JLA run, diana laughed, almost hysterically, at the notion of her and clark.

matt wagner, in trinity, was intrigued by the idea of batman and ww.

in JLU, probably the most mainstream version, there's a focus on bruce and diana. NOT clark and diana. and why is that? because anything clark and diana is in the past, and it's boring, cliched writing.

outside of their powers and color schemes for their costumes? what do clark and diana share? nothing.

gee, they're the strongest people...let's put them together!!! PLEASE. use a little imagination.

all this is TRUE, whether YOU like it or not. i know you have your own opinion on this, but don't mix up past continuity that's been retconned to make things fit your view.

Since then, various writers have always made refrences and allusions to this romance that never happened. I can cite several scenes in the last two years alone in regular DCU continunity in which the subject is broached and no one denies it.

How it's always been played is this: If there was no Lois, Superman would have probably gotten into a relationship with WW. Otherwise they are aware of an attraction but would never act on it.

says who? says YOU. save it for the fanfics.

notice how i gave examples -- rucka, wagner, JLU -- whereas you're speaking from opinion. who are these "various writers"? cite examples.

[Stanlos]

diana even offered to let lois use the lasso on her regarding her attraction to clark. you can't hide the truth from the lasso. in joe kelly's JLA run, diana laughed, almost hysterically, at the notion of her and clark.

Ooooo!! Can you tell me the issue number! I didn't know about this one!

[Dr. Simian]

Personally, I liked Grant Morrison's idea that there was an unspoken romantic tension between Diana and Aurthur (Aquaman). Too bad that went nowhere.

[wwfan84]

diana even offered to let lois use the lasso on her regarding her attraction to clark. you can't hide the truth from the lasso. in joe kelly's JLA run, diana laughed, almost hysterically, at the notion of her and clark.

Ooooo!! Can you tell me the issue number! I didn't know about this one!

It's in WW #170.

[GUTB]

Sigh. I hate this subject.

Okay, time for some schooling. Amongst the relevant writers (ones who worked on WW, team books, and the various Superman books) you could say there is a pro and anti camps in the WW/Supes pairing. Rucka happens to be in the anti camp. Perez (the guy who rebooted WW post-Crisis) was in the pro camp. Lately, Geoff Johns, being one of the more influential writers at DC, has been tilting the balance clearly over to the pro side. Not to mention Austen has proven himself, in very short order, to be in the pro camp as well (who is reported to have wanted Diana in his recent sub-plot with the straining relationship with Lois but was told No and so used Lana instead).

I'll also admit that there are one or two writers which were WW/Bats, but these are (thankfully!) in the tiny minority. Why would anyone want to get in the way of Batman/Catwoman? That is possibly the most legendary romance in comic books. I also dislike the animated Justice League take on the relationship, which makes Diana look pathetic after Bruce clearly rejected her and Clark remains utterly uninterested.

However. I'm not against a WW/Bats relationship in JLU, as the characterizations are different enough to allow for it. But if they do it, they really ought to make Clark an antagonist in that relationship -- I believe all proper romances should have an antagonist.

[Mia]

Why would anyone want to get in the way of Batman/Catwoman? That is possibly the most legendary romance in comic books.

Because it's rediculous? How many times has he blown her off already? Catwoman is a fun character but she's way too low for Batman. Batman needs a woman with class. All she does is rub herself up against him. Why would a man like Batman want to be with a woman like that full time?
Batman and Catwoman are bed buddies that's it. They get together and screw each other once in awhile (Catwoman 32) that's it. That's not love that's lust.

[GUTB]

So it's your opinion that Hush should be disregarded?

[Mia]

So it's your opinion that Hush should be disregarded?

Not at all. Not in the least. The most satisfying momment during that story was at the end when, Batman saw her for what she truly was, and kicked her to the curb. Ah! What joy!

[blue13]

Why would anyone want to get in the way of Batman/Catwoman? That is possibly the most legendary romance in comic books.

Because it's rediculous? How many times has he blown her off already? Catwoman is a fun character but she's way too low for Batman. Batman needs a woman with class. All she does is rub herself up against him. Why would a man like Batman want to be with a woman like that full time?
Batman and Catwoman are bed buddies that's it. They get together and screw each other once in awhile (Catwoman 32) that's it. That's not love that's lust.

wow, judge much?

he doesn't "blow her off". and he didn't "kick her to the curb" at the end of hush.

it's just he has different priorities. and romance or a relationship would only distract him.

all she does is rub herself against him? she basicly sacrificed her life in hush to keep talia away from lady shiva.

one of the best things about brubaker's run was how batman and selina are almost soul-mates. they understand each other like no one else can -- two tortured, tragic characters.

you can ignore all this if you want, but that doesn't mean it's not true.

[blue13]

Sigh. I hate this subject.

Okay, time for some schooling. Amongst the relevant writers (ones who worked on WW, team books, and the various Superman books) you could say there is a pro and anti camps in the WW/Supes pairing. Rucka happens to be in the anti camp. Perez (the guy who rebooted WW post-Crisis) was in the pro camp. Lately, Geoff Johns, being one of the more influential writers at DC, has been tilting the balance clearly over to the pro side. Not to mention Austen has proven himself, in very short order, to be in the pro camp as well (who is reported to have wanted Diana in his recent sub-plot with the straining relationship with Lois but was told No and so used Lana instead).

I'll also admit that there are one or two writers which were WW/Bats, but these are (thankfully!) in the tiny minority. Why would anyone want to get in the way of Batman/Catwoman? That is possibly the most legendary romance in comic books. I also dislike the animated Justice League take on the relationship, which makes Diana look pathetic after Bruce clearly rejected her and Clark remains utterly uninterested.

However. I'm not against a WW/Bats relationship in JLU, as the characterizations are different enough to allow for it. But if they do it, they really ought to make Clark an antagonist in that relationship -- I believe all proper romances should have an antagonist.

first, geoff johns is pro clark-diana? no, he's not. i haven't heard ANYTHING even resembling this, GUTB. give me a link where you saw this.

second, austen is obsessed with soap opera. not a criticism, just pointing it out. and even austen acknowledged that diana had a "thing" with bruce recently.

how is ww/bats in the minority? more people watch JLU than read comics...and when they what JLU, what do they see?

and bruce didn't reject her. he just pointed out the cons of dating within the team. if you watched the episode, you'd know that he even sacrificed his dignity for her -- that took a lot. :D

great episode.

and again, i don't know what you're watching -- but it's not that clark isn't interested, DIANA isn't interested. seriously, she's shown ZERO interest in clark on JLU.

it's one thing to read too much into things, it's another to see things that aren't even there.