The Current State of Wonder Woman

[Splat24]

This is my issue with Wonder Woman, and her current state in comics. I have no desire to pick up the title beyond a quick flip through at the shop simply become she has become so impervious to nearly anything.

Remember back in the day when Wonder Woman could actually be overpowered occassionally? Remember when there was a sense of danger? Shes damn near untouchable now, except for some rare bloody beatdowns (I mean that literally), which are always unpleasant to look at. For Gods sake, knock her out cold once in awhile, like in the old Wonder Woman show!

I'm all for a strong heroine who can handle herself, but one that is damn near infallible is of no interest to me. Check out www.sleepycomics.com for all the instances of Wonder Woman actually getting knocked out back in the day; it happened all the time!

[dreyga2000]

Here's an pic from a very recent issue of Wonder Woman... In fact it's from the arc that the title is currently on....




Problem solved....

[Splat24]

Not at all. Did you read my first message? Thats a literal bloody beatdown. Shes covered in blood. That never used to happen back in the day. What we had then were drugged drinks, chloroform usage. Stuff like that. Ah, how I miss the days when we didnt have to brutalize our heroines and beat them to within an inch of their lives to show the power of a villian.

[Splat24]

Oh, and in that pic, shes not knocked out. Shes speaking. Problem def not solved.

[Alex Smith]

If you don't like powerful characters don't read them. Complaints like these always amaze me. Wonder Woman does have trouble, she's not untouchable at all. None of the characters that get that complaint are.

Anyway, what's the difference between this and her getting knocked out? Seems like a weird line to draw to me.

[Thok]

Not at all. Did you read my first message? Thats a literal bloody beatdown. Shes covered in blood. That never used to happen back in the day. What we had then were drugged drinks, chloroform usage. Stuff like that. Ah, how I miss the days when we didnt have to brutalize our heroines and beat them to within an inch of their lives to show the power of a villian.

Apparently applying date rape tricks to a prominent female character are more appealing to you than having her use physical force. Good to know. (I acknowledge this post is somewhat trollish, but the ickiness of your point of view needed to be pointed out.)

Wonder Woman has had her current power level since the post Crisis on Infinite Earth's Perez run, in other words for over twenty years. It seems weird to complain about it now, given it's been her de facto status quo for so long.

[WorstThingUS]

Apparently applying date rape tricks to a prominent female character are more appealing to you than having her use physical force. Good to know. (I acknowledge this post is somewhat trollish, but the ickiness of your point of view needed to be pointed out.)

Not at all. I felt the exact same reading this. This doesn't sound so much like "I want less-omnipotent heroes" as it does "I want to see Wonder Woman rendered helpless more, like in the old days when it was damn near a fetish comic."

[Splat24]

Its not a question of being a sicko. The mere fact that a site like www.sleepycomics.com exists and has thousands of views each week should show you that my POV is a relevant and prevalent one.

To be blunt, yes, I wouldnt mind seeing it go back a bit to the old days. Back when Wonder Woman was still a very strong heroine, but also one that didnt need to be beaten with the blunt end of an ax to be knocked out. Lets approach this from a strict continuity standpoint. How is it that back in the day Wonder Woman could be chloroformed or easier to overcome, and now if someone were to try that, it would most likely never work.

I know that shes considered a goddess and all, but she was then as well and these things happenend all the time. Im not pushing for a fetish comic here. God knows there are places to go to get that if I wanted, which I most def do not. I'd just like a bit of a throwback, thats all. Maybe not even the early, EARLY days. How bout the 60's or 70's type Wonder Woman? I wasnt around then, but I've seen those comics, and I'm a fan of that type of storytelling.

Gail Simone is a fantastic writer, but she seems to have brought Wonder Woman to a place where she could go toe to toe with Doomsday and wipe the floor with the guy.

[Thok]

Its not a question of being a sicko. The mere fact that a site like www.sleepycomics.com exists and has thousands of views each week should show you that my POV is a relevant and prevalent one.

Just because a thousand people have a certain point of view and a website doesn't make it mainstream or right. Almost any point of view can set up a website with that many views. That's also likely less people than who actually read the current WW series (especially since one person can generate multiple page views) and certainly much less than say the JL/JLU television show.

To be blunt, yes, I wouldnt mind seeing it go back a bit to the old days. Back when Wonder Woman was still a very strong heroine, but also one that didnt need to be beaten with the blunt end of an ax to be knocked out. Lets approach this from a strict continuity standpoint. How is it that back in the day Wonder Woman could be chloroformed or easier to overcome, and now if someone were to try that, it would most likely never work.

Your old days haven't existed since Crisis on Infinite Earths, and that covers a fairly significant period of time (1986-present, with possibly a bit before 1986 depending on when stuff like the I Ching era Wonder Woman ended.) If you read Rucka or Perez or Jiminez or any postCrisis Wonder Woman you'll get roughly the same portrayal of strength level.

Do you have a desire to see Superman knocked down to the Golden Age power levels (faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, but not much more powerful than any of those statement imply?)

I know that shes considered a goddess and all, but she was then as well and these things happenend all the time. Im not pushing for a fetish comic here. God knows there are places to go to get that if I wanted, which I most def do not. I'd just like a bit of a throwback, thats all. Maybe not even the early, EARLY days. How bout the 60's or 70's type Wonder Woman? I wasnt around then, but I've seen those comics, and I'm a fan of that type of storytelling.

There are other female superheroes. If you want street level strength you can try searching for them. I'd suggest Black Canary, if I didn't think the current writer was a hack (although you might like his writing.)

Gail Simone is a fantastic writer, but she seems to have brought Wonder Woman to a place where she could go toe to toe with Doomsday and wipe the floor with the guy.

As I've mentioned above, this strength level has very little to do with Gail and very much to do with how every writer post-CoIE has portrayed her (and the JL/JLU cartoon for that matter.)

[WorstThingUS]

Gail Simone is a fantastic writer, but she seems to have brought Wonder Woman to a place where she could go toe to toe with Doomsday and wipe the floor with the guy.

Given she's got a Superman power-level but with fighting skills he doesn't possess, she actually should be able to kick his ass.

[_OM_]

Its not a question of being a sicko. The mere fact that a site like www.sleepycomics.com exists and has thousands of views each week should show you that my POV is a relevant and prevalent one.

...Yep. A whole bunch of basement dwellers screaming "Whip me! Beat me! Tie me to a chair with a golden rope and call me Wonder Woman!". That's a relevant and prevalent POV.

[Geeky Cheeky]

I'm dropped WW because I feel the opposite. Since the relaunch she's too human. Secret identity, taking orders from the government, dating a puny human male. She's not even an ambassador anymore. Bring back the embassy.

[Splat24]

...Yep. A whole bunch of basement dwellers screaming "Whip me! Beat me! Tie me to a chair with a golden rope and call me Wonder Woman!". That's a relevant and prevalent POV.

Thats def not the POV I'm trying to get across here. I'm not gunna try to explain it again when I plainly stated it before in depth.

[Splat24]

Thok, you mention the JL/JLU cartoon at the end of your post. If you watched the cartoon, you'd notice Wonder Woman is knocked out MANY times. Shes gassed in the premiere, and throughout the multiple seasons portrayed very beautifully and powerfully, but also suceptible to defeat. Look it over again and you'll c I am right.

But the comments you made on your last post were actually very insightful and helpful. I didnt realize that post Crisis On Infinite Earths her power levels were changed and increased. Your suggestion of me catching up on Black Canary might be a good idea, but from what I've seen in that comic lately she's suffering from the Wonder Woman syndrome as well.

[Vic Vega]

Wonder Woman is supposed to be second only to Superman in power.

If anything I don't see how she isn't destroying 99% of her rogues.

If Wondy can take a shot from a nuke, what is Cheetah supposed to do to her? Bleed on her?