Grant Morrisson has some more thoughts on Wonder Woman

[DarkKnghtJared]

Sexuality is always good, but I don´t think it´s the key element that is lacking from those early days.

What I do think is missing is the sense of FUN that those books seemed to have.

I thought that was kind-of part of the fun, but I can see what you mean. It can't ALL be just softcore bondage pr0nz, after all. Bringing in "the moxie," as I heard it before, should also be paramount.

[lariatofhestia]

He talks about WW as if Superman and Batman have no baggage. One comes across as repressed and asexual no matter they say about him and Lois and the other a man who has homosexual overtones with his young protege. I think you could find subtext anywhere you want.

So if Grant does not get WW ( it's okay Grant, you don't have to get her at all cause some don't get Superman or Batman) is he saying his idea of WW is what is going to be better that what he feels has been written? Not necessarily.

Well let's see what he can do. But he can be very good or very bad. I just don't get his insistence that Superman and Batman don't have issues.

[americanwonder]

Wonder Woman without the borderline irreverent sexiness is fine ... it really is.

I like your use of the phrase "borderline irreverent sexiness" much better than Morrison's use of "slightly strange sexuality."

Sexuality is always good, but I don´t think it´s the key element that is lacking from those early days.

What I do think is missing is the sense of FUN that those books seemed to have.

I agree. More "moxie," as DarkKnightJared and others put it, can be a very good thing.

And while I think Morrison can do wonders with WW, he always seems, imo, to over-focus on the sexuality thing in interviews, almost as if it's the only thing that should define the character. Does he really think that "reindeer games" is going to get a modern audience to take WW seriously?

[T Hedge Coke]

And while I think Morrison can do wonders with WW, he always seems, imo, to over-focus on the sexuality thing in interviews, almost as if it's the only thing that should define the character. Does he really think that "reindeer games" is going to get a modern audience to take WW seriously?

It is a major component that has been sort of shushed for the character and it's a big part of life, in general. Remember when everyone was up in arms because of his statements re sex and the Fantastic Four or Jimmy Olsen? Well, 1234 and All-Star turned out pretty beautiful and not at all salacious, didn't they? And, yet, the sex stuff is still there, still integral.

Heck, the last two times Morrison has used Wonder Woman, he's put the bondage stuff upfront and did great with it, even if she not a major character in either story.

[carabas]

He talks about WW as if Superman and Batman have no baggage. One comes across as repressed and asexual no matter they say about him and Lois and the other a man who has homosexual overtones with his young protege. I think you could find subtext anywhere you want.

Again, the difference between Wonder Woman and Superman or Batman is that the latter two, at best, have subtext. Possibly. With Wonder Woman the sexual stuff that might be present with Batman and Robin (and seriously, that onn's telling more about the reader than the writer) is very clearly on the page. Text, not merely subtext.

[vaffrey]

But it's like a Superman story that doesn't acknowledge his Apollo/Christ byline

Actually, he's got a Moses thing going on (baby ferried away to a lesser place where he will become great). The one with the most Christ-like allusions is Wonder Woman: a divine virgin birth who leaves Paradise to change our hearts and make us better than we were. Etc.

I doubt Morrisson can handle the material. He would emphasize the sexy kink of Marston but I doubt he would link it to the philosophy of Marston.

[BnL]

I agree. More "moxie," as DarkKnightJared and others put it, can be a very good thing.

And while I think Morrison can do wonders with WW, he always seems, imo, to over-focus on the sexuality thing in interviews, almost as if it's the only thing that should define the character. Does he really think that "reindeer games" is going to get a modern audience to take WW seriously?

This is my thinking, too. Yes, I'd love to see a Wonder Woman who is sexually liberated, but when I think of the things that matter most about Wonder Woman, "kinkiness" is not anywhere near the top of that list. The emphasis on this aspect in Morrison's comments about Wonder Woman, while other aspects (which I think are much more important to the character) are de-emphasized, kind of makes me worry that a Morrison Wonder Woman story might wind up being borderline soft porn. Might make an okay Elseworlds story or something, but it's certainly not going to elevate the character, IMO. If anything, a more sexually adult-oriented take will only marginalize her further. And I doubt we'll see WB wanting to adapt such a story for a DTV animated film, or live action movie, and promote it as a "definitive take" on Wonder Woman, as they did with All-Star Superman.

[T Hedge Coke]

f anything, a more sexually adult-oriented take will only marginalize her further. And I doubt we'll see WB wanting to adapt such a story for a DTV animated film, or live action movie, and promote it as a "definitive take" on Wonder Woman, as they did with All-Star Superman.

Who said anything about "more adult" though? And, in a Cry for Justice world what does that mean, exactly? Both his recent Batman and Superman have been more sexualized or at least have dealt with sexuality more than contemporaneous comics from others, but they weren't "adult."

He even makes sure to say in that link that it would be not prurient.

[BnL]

Who said anything about "more adult" though? And, in a Cry for Justice world what does that mean, exactly? Both his recent Batman and Superman have been more sexualized or at least have dealt with sexuality more than contemporaneous comics from others, but they weren't "adult."

He even makes sure to say in that link that it would be not prurient.

Content that deals with sexual fetishes and kinks is "adult" in nature, as far as I'm concerned. That's what Morrison's referring to when he mentions the "strange sexuality" Marston brought to Wonder Woman. I think it's a subject that could very easily become exploitative and sensationalistic. I'm approaching it with a healthy dose of skepticism, but not a totally closed mind.

As for Cry For Justice, that's a widely hated series, so it's probably not the best example of well-done "adult" storytelling in action. It also focused on characters that don't share the status of the likes of Batman, Superman, or Wonder Woman.

Anyway, I'm just giving my own impressions, based on what Morrison has said. It's still a project (assuming there's actually anything on the way) that interests me.

[DOOMsword]

Grant Morrison isn't just a big name writer. He's THE comic writer of the moment. Like Moore before him. Sure he's done some wacky stuff, but Morrison on his off day is better than a slew of other writers. Putting Morrison on a Wonder Woman book would be great. He has a respect for the character and if he took her on there is no reason why it shouldn't be fan-freaking-tastic.

I mean, there is no reason he has to embrace the character like he has Batman but at the very least people would take notice. And sustainable interest from the company is all DC would need to make Diana into the next Barry Allen.

[Halo Jones]

I'm a big fan of Morrison, but didn't like the idea of him doing Wonder Woman. I don't care what anyone says, his use of her in FC and his JLA showed me he simply wasn't the right person to be writing the character. But after FC when he gave that interview and 'apologized' for her role in FC, and how it was meant as a way to flush away his negative feelings for the character gave me a strongly renewed faith in him tackling the character.

As far as the sexuality is concerned, well, I don't know. At the very least it shows him putting some thoughts in some of the things of the past and history of Wonder Woman (something that feels seriously lacking in today's crop of writer's who tackle her). I'm up for whatever he tries. I just hope to God he tears away some of the warrior characterizations the character carries around.

[zryson]

i would love Grant Morrison to take on wonder woman. imho it couldnt be any worse than the crap dc does

[T Hedge Coke]

CAs for Cry For Justice, that's a widely hated series, so it's probably not the best example of well-done "adult" storytelling in action.

The only reason I brought up Cry for Justice is that it was marketed as all-ages fare and was po-faced idiotic attempts to be mature and challenging and gratuitous as could be. Neither truly adult or remotely all-ages.

Morrison, on the other hand, has managed to write relatively mature work about superheroes, including the Big Three of DC, and he hasn't turned them into porno jokes, so the idea that he's somehow going to try turning in a seventy page OGN of Wonder Woman being perverted is a silly fear.

[AaronJ]

Grant Morrison isn't just a big name writer. He's THE comic writer of the moment. Like Moore before him. Sure he's done some wacky stuff, but Morrison on his off day is better than a slew of other writers. Putting Morrison on a Wonder Woman book would be great. He has a respect for the character and if he took her on there is no reason why it shouldn't be fan-freaking-tastic.

I mean, there is no reason he has to embrace the character like he has Batman but at the very least people would take notice. And sustainable interest from the company is all DC would need to make Diana into the next Barry Allen.

Yes. All that is true. But you're ignoring the fact that WW fans are hateful of anything, anytime. It could say that Alan Moore and Phil Jimenez are going to do a run on WW, and people would be crying foul, screaming about sexism, and tearing the run to shreds before a single issue had been written.

Forget the fact that Morrison has written some of the most fascinating comics of our day. Forget the fact that he is as talented as anyone who as ever worked in the medium. Forget the fact that he could bring a massive amount of coverage to Wonder Woman, coverage that she has desperately needed for a long time.

Forget all that.

He's Grant Morrison. He's bad. He wrote Final Crisis, so he should be castrated.

That's the typical WW fan reaction.

[Halo Jones]

Yes. All that is true. But you're ignoring the fact that WW fans are hateful of anything, anytime. It could say that Alan Moore and Phil Jimenez are going to do a run on WW, and people would be crying foul, screaming about sexism, and tearing the run to shreds before a single issue had been written.

Forget the fact that Morrison has written some of the most fascinating comics of our day. Forget the fact that he is as talented as anyone who as ever worked in the medium. Forget the fact that he could bring a massive amount of coverage to Wonder Woman, coverage that she has desperately needed for a long time.

Forget all that.

He's Grant Morrison. He's bad. He wrote Final Crisis, so he should be castrated.

That's the typical WW fan reaction.

Well, to be fair, FC really was pretty awful with the character, and it's not difficult to see how fans would react negatively to it. If anyone but Morrison had written that, even the most 'I hate Wonder Woman fans and all their stupid nonsense because they're apparently more awful than any other fanbase' people would have probably went after them in varying degrees, or at least not defended it as vehemently as they did (and some still do, strangely). Though, I will agree, no one should ignore his words after that, which to a large degree, was essentially a large apology to the "her fans" (his exact words) because of that.

And, I don't know, a lot of people seem to agree her role in ROBW was fairly bawlin'. So, yeah, no need for pessimism outside the usual caution optimism you should always take when any writer comes onto anything.