Wonder Woman and mythology: How much is to much.

[Zak213]

I dont mind mythological trappings, i just want a good story with likable characters.

[Shimarenda]

At the end of the day, this is a superhero comic, not D'aulaire's Book Of Greek Myths. I think there needs to be variety in Wonder Woman's world, and I think there's already a good ratio of villain types in her rogues gallery. Some are characters directly taken from mythology, like Ares, Circe, and Cronus. Some are contemporary mortals with touches of mythology, like Cheetah, Dr. Poison, Nikos Aegeus, and Helen Alexandros' Silver Swan. Others are more straightforward, traditional supervillains, like Dr. Psycho, Angle Man, and Dr. Cyber. There is no need to pigeonhole Wonder Woman by weighing her down in all myth, all the time. She should be able to fight Deimos and Phobos in one story, and Giganta in the next. And no, not Giganta re-imagined as a mythological giant.

This is how I feel. The only thing I would add is that it's not so much a question of quantity as execution. If a story is well done, I enjoy it.

[Comics_Addict]

Never have read WW stories before so take my opinion with some skepticism but I think that a character like her benefits greatly from shaping the world around her on Greco-Roman Myth.

That doesn't mean however that they should keep her limited under this flavor much like as a Superman fan I don't want all of his stories to be about alien threats, even if they may be fun, but mix it up with his daily 'trappings' so to speak.

In short I have indeed being enjoying this book and can't wait till the next issue comes out.

[pippl]

One of the striking things about the Golden Age stories is how little the gods actually appear. Marston basically boiled down the whole complex Greco-Roman pantheon to Aphrodite and Mars, who essentially stood in for old-fashioned Judeo-Christian good and evil.



Lots of mythological characters appear in the stories, but Marston usually twists them to his own very weird purposes which is why, for example, his Amazons aren't much like the Greeks'. He was too busy creating his own mythology to lean too heavily on others'.

[Boonciaver]

Love Diana showing off her Wisdom of Athena power in this scan (as well as her loving compassion) .

[Comics_Addict]

To pippl I'll use the following example to better illustrate my point and why I respectfully disagree with what I think your implying there. I am a big fan of Superman and while his origins have always been sic-fi based his early stories had nothing to do with science fiction per se. Even his most recent depiction of the "ultimate immigrant" as exemplified during New Krypton &Secret Origin are later additions to the layers of the character.

Just because WW originally didn't had much to do with the gods shouldn't mean that there s no compelling reason to exclude them from her mythos if they can provide gravitas that people like me feel Azz & Chiang spin on her brings. Doesn't mean however that your point would be any less valid for the record.

[Eliseu Gouveia]

True, but did mythological threats even attack Man's world before Wonder Woman had entered into it?

Doesn´t matter either way, but I actually would prefer they hadn´t.

Maybe there´s a recent surge the likes of which mankind has never seen before, an influx of mythical threats that the human world can´t deal with.
Suddenly, there´s not enough Jason Bloods and Zatannas and John Constantines in the world to deal with this influx of new threats posed by Zeus and Circe and the like.

But off from a mythical island populated by immortal women comes the ultimate mythbuster, tailor made to face the mythical threats of the XXI century.

Yeah, that could work for me.

[CaptMagellan]

If it were up to me I'd tie her into the magical side of the DCU as much as possible.

I agree as well. Especially the way Azz and Chiang are doing it.

[Mecegirl]

I think that she can work both sides. Her skill set is broad enough. I would love to see her as a guest on JLD on occasion. I would also like to see an enemy, any enemy of hers be a earth shattering threat in a cross over (that isn't Amazons Attack ick). Using a reworked character from Greek Myth to that effect could be cool.

[Eliseu Gouveia]

I think that she can work both sides. Her skill set is broad enough. I would love to see her as a guest on JLD on occasion. I would also like to see an enemy, any enemy of hers be a earth shattering threat in a cross over (that isn't Amazons Attack ick). Using a reworked character from Greek Myth to that effect could be cool.

WW editorial needs more people like you.

[Mecegirl]

What so I could go crazy trying to work with those people...

It's not hard right? Nothing that anyone has suggested in this thread is an earth shattering idea. It's like totally simple and basic stuff. And I think that fact makes the fact, that certain ideas have not been used to full effect more mind boggling.

[Outside_85]

As long as it is well done and entertaining, an ocean of the stuff wouldn't be enough.
Especially when the only alternative seems to let her be a secret agent...which never made any sense to me, especially in the recent years where Supes can get away with basic theatrical tricks of big clothes, slumping his shoulders, pitching is voice differently (like Bale...just not to that degree) and a pair of glasses, whereas Diana gets a figure hugging suit, seemingly no change in pose, a hair bun and a pair of red tinted glasses. Sry...got of track...

[Fused]

Being a mythology geek, comic book geek and action girl geek, it was natural Wonder Woman would slide into my all-time favorite character slots. I don't think it was ever mythology that brought her book down in past couple volumes.

I like Jurassic Park both on the island and in L.A. Same goes for Wonder Woman's mystical beasties. That's why I thought her animated movie struck a nice balance from Paradise Island, Hades and Washington DC.

Ultimately I don't think there can ever be too much mythology/magic in her book and am in full agreement with the OP.

[dumbstruck]

The mythology aspect is what makes WW so good. When writers move away from that is when I start to lose interest.

[Imraith Nimphais]

No amount of mythology is too much when it's Azzarello and Chiang on Wonder Woman.

Quoted for absolute veracity!

...and then I can read WW in good ol' superheroes vs villains combat alongside Superman and Cyborg and Bats in JL.

It's the best of both worlds.