Can Wonder Woman breath Underwater?

[Jabare]

I read Aquaman #16 today and the issue seems to imply she can along with Superman. Or at the very least she can hold her breath for a really really long time.

Is this new or has it always been like this? Or am I misreading the issue?

[Rob_Olivera]

I read Aquaman #16 today and the issue seems to imply she can along with Superman. Or at the very least she can hold her breath for a really really long time.

Is this new or has it always been like this? Or am I misreading the issue?

There are old pre-crisis issues that stated that she can hold her breath for over an hour, but of course.. that was then. This is now. Since NU52 has basically erased most old continuity we don't know such things or may never find out.

[jack-be-nimble]

Silver Age WW had a re-breather earring, no?

Morrison WW fought a white martian in (near) outer space for a while before beating her. While she couldn't breathe in outer space, she certainly held her breath long enough to defeat a white martian.

Nu-WW is a demigod. I'm happy to believe she's got incredible lung power, especially since she Wonder-Breath'd a simple torch to set funeral pyres ablaze.

[Boonciaver]

Silver Age WW had a re-breather earring, no?

I thought that was so she could breathe in space?

[UsagiTsukino]

Her earrings allowed her to both breath underwater and space.

[RandomFalls]

I didn't think that her being able to hold her breath for an incredibly long time was new. I always assumed that she could.

Will she get the bends from surfacing too quickly?

[Seant]

The earrings were specific to one issue for use in outer space (#62 I think), and I don't remember them being mentioned that frequently, if ever again, and not for breathing under water. There was a late Silver Age issue (#170?) where it was noted she had gills grafted behind her ears by Amazon science to breath underwater, but again, it was mentioned once and never again.

When Diana fought against-- and lost-- the contest to Orana, one of the challenges was a battle under the sea, where the contestants had to stay underwater for 12 hours, only allowed to take a breath once an hour (WW #250). She was sort of a reverse Aquaman.

I remember a recent issue of Brave and the Bold where Diana tells Mera she can breath underwater due to her earrings from Poseidon, but since the gods are less benevolent these days, I doubt that'll happen anytime soon.

[slvn]

There are old pre-crisis issues that stated that she can hold her breath for over an hour, but of course.. that was then. This is now....

True, but we do know from #3 that New 52 Wonder Woman has very powerful lungs. (Remember the pyre blowing incident?)

[Rob_Olivera]

True, but we do know from #3 that New 52 Wonder Woman has very powerful lungs. (Remember the pyre blowing incident?)

If you took that at face-value, sure! But I think that Azzarello and Chiang were going for a more symbolical act with that scene. It was done for the sheer beauty of the moment. At least that was my take on it. If that were real, it would be considered "Super-Breath" a'la Superman.

[slvn]

If you took that at face-value, sure! But I think that Azzarello and Chiang were going for a more symbolical act with that scene. It was done for the sheer beauty of the moment. At least that was my take on it. If that were real, it would be considered "Super-Breath" a'la Superman.

Symbolic, sure--but it was still part of the story; it' s not like it just happened on a cover or some kind of an ornamental splash page separate from the story. I think it happened--though I don't expect Azz to have characters talk about her "wonder breath" any time soon. Like gods and mythic heroes, she just does things that are larger than life but might not be neatly categorized.

However, we do know, come to think of it, that the power of her lungs is impressive but not unlimited--or at least it wasn't unlimited when she was 12:

[Rob_Olivera]

Symbolic, sure--but it was still part of the story; it' s not like it just happened on a cover or some kind of an ornamental splash page separate from the story. I think it happened--though I don't expect Azz to have characters talk about her "wonder breath" any time soon. Like gods and mythic heroes, she just does things that are larger than life but might not be neatly categorized.

However, we do know, come to think of it, that the power of her lungs is impressive but not unlimited--or at least it wasn't unlimited when she was 12:

Oh, it happened alright! I just don't think it happened in the same way that "God-Mode" happened. She actually accomplished something that contributed to the story with "God-Mode". She beat Artemis, and that meant something.. at least enough to have it be brought-up at the celestial pool-party.

The Super-Breath moment did happen too, but it served no purpose other than for visual effects. At any rate, I think that moment belongs in the same drawer as the God mode thing. I don't trust either one until I see it/them used a 2nd time. Out of the two, I think God-Mode is more likely to make a return than the 'super breath'.

A curious question: Has there been any child of Zeus with a mortal woman (in real world literature) whom died of old age? A Demigod.

[Superman Priime]

Oh, it happened alright! I just don't think it happened in the same way that "God-Mode" happened. She actually accomplished something that contributed to the story with "God-Mode". She beat Artemis, and that meant something.. at least enough to have it be brought-up at the celestial pool-party.

The Super-Breath moment did happen too, but it served no purpose other than for visual effects. At any rate, I think that moment belongs in the same drawer as the God mode thing. I don't trust either one until I see it/them used a 2nd time. Out of the two, I think God-Mode is more likely to make a return than the 'super breath'.

A curious question: Has there been any child of Zeus with a mortal woman (in real world literature) whom died of old age? A Demigod.

Perseus maybe?

[SNascimento]

Oh, it happened alright! I just don't think it happened in the same way that "God-Mode" happened. She actually accomplished something that contributed to the story with "God-Mode". She beat Artemis, and that meant something.. at least enough to have it be brought-up at the celestial pool-party.

The Super-Breath moment did happen too, but it served no purpose other than for visual effects. At any rate, I think that moment belongs in the same drawer as the God mode thing. I don't trust either one until I see it/them used a 2nd time. Out of the two, I think God-Mode is more likely to make a return than the 'super breath'.

A curious question: Has there been any child of Zeus with a mortal woman (in real world literature) whom died of old age? A Demigod.

I was wondering this. Has it been said if Wonder Woman is immortal on this run? And would Hippolyta even be considered a mortal woman in the first place?

This immortaly thing confuses me. The answer I can be happy with is that Diana is potentially immortal, but each writer can choose how to explore the concept.

[slvn]

Perseus maybe?

Maybe. I didn't know of any stories of Perseus' death, but, Wikipedia cites Hyginius' Fabulae as saying that he was killed by his cousin Megephentes, and then made immortal and placed among the stars. But that was Latin, and I don't know if this was a tradition from the Greeks, or if it was every widely accepted.

I was wondering this. Has it been said if Wonder Woman is immortal on this run? And would Hippolyta even be considered a mortal woman in the first place?

Azz's Wonder Woman 3 seems to imply (through the words of a priestess) that the Amazons are gifted with eternal life (though they can be killed).

I think Hippolyta is human but gifted with immortality; but I wonder if she's actually going to turn out to be the daughter of Ares (again). It's interesting that Hippolyta wears bracelets like Wonder Woman's (whereas the other Amazons wear flimsier-looking ones). And somehow I have a feeling that Wonder Woman discovering that she is War's granddaughter might fit the story.

[Gaelforce]

Maybe. I didn't know of any stories of Perseus' death, but, Wikipedia cites Hyginius' Fabulae as saying that he was killed by his cousin Megephentes, and then made immortal and placed among the stars. But that was Latin, and I don't know if this was a tradition from the Greeks, or if it was every widely accepted.



Azz's Wonder Woman 3 seems to imply (through the words of a priestess) that the Amazons are gifted with eternal life (though they can be killed).

I think Hippolyta is human but not gifted with immortality; but I wonder if she's actually going to turn out to be the daughter of Ares (again). It's interesting that Hippolyta wears bracelets like Wonder Woman's (whereas the other Amazons wear flimsier-looking ones). And somehow I have a feeling that Wonder Woman discovering that she is War's granddaughter might fit the story.

Based on her older siblings, I'll have to go with immortal - or at least slow aging. Lennox is over a hundred years old I think?