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Wonder Woman wardrobe change

#1

Cajungal

Cajungal

I don't really keep up with comics that much, so this is the first I've heard of this.

BBC News - Superhero Wonder Woman gets trendy make over
DC Comics has hired a new writer, J. Michael Straczynski, to give Wonder Woman's life a new direction.

Mr Straczynski told the New York Times that it had been time to bring the iconic character into the 21st Century.

"She's been locked into pretty much the exact same outfit since her debut in 1941", Mr Straczynski said. "What woman only wears only one outfit for 60-plus years?"

He said the redesign of Wonder Woman's outfit had been his priority when he took on the job.

"I wanted to toughen her up and give her a modern sensibility", Mr Straczynski said.
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There's a picture of the outfit in the article. I don't like it.


#2

R

Raemon777

I think that looks pretty decent, but I was never attached to Wonder Woman so I'm not having my childhood abused by the change.


#3

ElJuski

ElJuski

She looks like she's less of an excuse for neckbeards to jerk off. That's a good thing.


#4

Cajungal

Cajungal

Yeah, me neither, Raemon. But I think she looks like some biker dude's "old lady." My dad's not going to be pleased.


#5

Dave

Dave

She looks like a twenty-something bar skank.


#6

tegid

tegid

Gilman Chatsworth said:
She looks like she's less of an excuse for neckbeards to jerk off. That's a good thing.
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This. I don't like the conventions for designing superheroines' outfits.


#7

sixpackshaker

sixpackshaker

Tweak a classic outfit. Don't just throw out the Babe with the bathwater.

The last time they totally changed her look the comic nearly failed.


#8



Wasabi Poptart

I don't like it. :'(


#9



Matt²

Wasabi Poptart said:
I don't like it. :'(
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yup.


#10

sixpackshaker

sixpackshaker

Dave said:
She looks like a twenty-something bar skank.
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maybe a Be-Dazzled Black Canary.


#11

Cajungal

Cajungal

Dang, sixpack, you're right. It doesn't help that I just borrowed a WW comic from someone where she teams up with Dinah. How "tough" and "modern" are we talking, anyway? I kind of like that Diana's a little detached from everyday modern society in the stuff I've read and seen. It doesn't mean she's not tough when she needs to be.


#12

R

Raemon777

The thing with the speedo is that it DOES make sense for a guy who spends his life going swimming to wear a swimsuit. It also makes sense for a guy with a huge, deformed muscular body who probably can't even feel the clothes he wears and can't fit most clothes over himself to not bother wearing clothes that he doesn't need. By contrast there is no particular reason for Wonder Woman to be wearing a leotard.

The other thing is that saying "make 'em all equally (a)sexual", as if men and woman currently ARE subject to the same standards and fixing one female hero without fixing all of them is somehow sexist, ignores the fact that... well, men and women ARE bound to different standards, women ARE objectified more and defined by their looks more then men are, women superheroes almost universally wear ridiculous outfits that are not sexually exploitive, the men in the "equivalent" outfits usually AREN'T sexually objectified (I mean, I'll grant Namor, but seriously, how many people jerk off to the Thing and the Hulk?).

Compare Hulk to She-Hulk. One is wearing spandex underwear because he's big and muscular and changes size all the time. The other wears underwear because.... she's hot and they want to show it off. She doesn't seem to change size that much, she doesn't even get muscular like she should. One is clearly sexually exploitive and one clearly isn't. And this pattern is not unique.

She looks like a twenty-something bar skank.
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Because clearly, that is worse than what she looked like originally.


#13

Cajungal

Cajungal

I just think that men and women need to be equally objectified in comics. MORE MAN THONGS, I say!


#14

Hylian

Hylian

Can't say I am liking this new outfit


#15

ElJuski

ElJuski

There is a huuuuge difference between Namor and Wonder Woman, on a vast array of levels, both from practical character perspective to demographics to cultural gender issues that are apparent through all aspects of media, but clearly represented here.

I will honestly say though, that sure, there is a place for characters to be dressed fun and sexy and what not. Yet, I don't think that was WW's original plan. And, from a man-dominated business industry, where does the line blur between "fun and sexy" and "let's draw sexy women so we can get our rocks off and fuck how this might affect women readers perceptions?"

BUUUUUUUUUUUUT...fuck it. Instead of trying to go into the delicate double-standards, hypocrisies and other such fine differences between genders, I'm going to throw my hands up in the air and give up, because I don't have time today to get into these arguments.


#16

Tinwhistler

Tinwhistler

I often wonder how much Marston (Wonder Woman's creator) was into BDSM/alternative lifestyles. Nearly every issue he created had a full-page bondage panel, and he had a wife (and 2 kids) a mistress (and 2 more kids) and they all lived as one big happy family.




hmmm


#17

ScytheRexx

ScytheRexx

Okay, I don't think the costume is horrible, but it does have a few things that really bother me.

Her bullet deflecting bracers look utterly stupid as one of those semi-gloved arm stockings where only a little section hooks between the middle and index finger and nowhere else.

If they are going for a "modern, strong woman" type feeling, why did they give her a collar? I understand it is a fashion statement for some people, but this is Wonder Woman, not some emo/goth/punk/biker chick trying to be hip.

What happened to her circlet? They went to all that trouble to cover her up, but then trimmed down the circlet so much you can barely even see it. The circlet was one of the defining characteristcs of Wonder Woman's design for me.

Also, Wonder Woman should never, ever wear a frivolous jacket. I hate when they add a jacket to a character when it's never actually used like a jacket, but more of a accessory. You know they are never going to close it up, as that prevents the rest of the design from being seen, so it will just sit on her shoulders every issue for no reason.

Really, if they took away the top part of the gloves hooking between the fingers, removed the jacket and collar, increased the size of the circlet, and turned the pants into shorts (It does not have to be a leotard again, but Wonder Woman without legs is not Wonder Woman) I think it would be a fine design close to the original but distinct enough for a modern take of the character.


#18

sixpackshaker

sixpackshaker

You'd be surprised to know what Wonder Woman started off as...



Something for young boys to jerk off to, and for young girls to emulate, a bondage queen.


#19



Cobra Star

Cajungal said:
I just think that men and women need to be equally objectified in comics. MORE MAN THONGS, I say!
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They're called Romance Novels:


:p


#20

ScytheRexx

ScytheRexx

A lot of good points and yes, where are her damn legs?!
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I even noticed in this thread that her original version wore shorts, rather then a leotard. Why not just make the shorts a little longer and go back to that? No one is asking for the return of the leotard, as that would look silly for a "modern reboot", but some lean crime fighting shorts can work just fine.


#21

Tinwhistler

Tinwhistler

This isn't her first wardrobe change to go with the times, for sure...
HowStuffWorks "Wonder Woman's Dirty Secrets"


#22

drawn_inward

drawn_inward

I think JMS is a great comic-writer, but the outfit isn't all that great. I think the character could use an update, but the new outfit is too far removed from the classic one that I wouldn't recognize the character unless I was told that it was WW.


#23

ElJuski

ElJuski

That's a solid point, Ame. I mean, if the character portrays good characteristics, and isn't just porn thinly disguised as a comic, then hell yeah go for it.


#24

Covar

Covar

That's a nice costume Donna is wearing...

wait, that's Dianna you say? :Leyla:


#25



Disconnected

Dave said:
She looks like a twenty-something bar skank.
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I lean towards this comment. she looks like wonder girl not wonder woman. I do like the stark red midsection with gold belt and 'w' in the neckline. or boobline.
I expect an amazonian wonder woman to have more presence.

guess that's why it's a makeover.


#26

figmentPez

figmentPez



When did Wonder Woman start branding bad guys with a W?

---------- Post added at 12:50 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:47 PM ----------

And, to quote Linkara who knows a lot more about WW than I do: "I don't even care that much about the costume except that they TRIED this look already in the 90s. It didn't stick."


#27

sixpackshaker

sixpackshaker

I liked the look they did a few years back that made her outfit look even more Greek. Basically the same but the bustier looked more like armor, then there was the shield, spear and cape. Really elegant and pretty.



#28



Cobra Star

figmentPez said:


When did Wonder Woman start branding bad guys with a W?

---------- Post added at 12:50 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:47 PM ----------
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The artist should watch more mythbusters.....


#29

KEM

KEM

Amorous Eyes said:
Dear God that is awful.

From that same article:

What was wrong with this, though?

It shows her as a very strong-willed woman, decently covered, and not posing as some sex-goddess.

She looks good. She's an Amazon after all. From Paradise Island. Why should she suddenly cover up her body. Global warming turned out to be a sham and another Ice Age is coming?
"Brrr! It's getting cold, I better close my jacket.. NNNGGH! Dammit! It won't close!"
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I'm not sure about the costume as it's kinda hard to get past the fact that she looks like a male bodybuilder in drag in that picture.

As for her new costume, I find it interesting that they make a point of 'covering her up' but they still give her pretty huge breasts for a strong, athletic woman. Seriously, she must have some major back problems lugging those two things around.


#30

Cajungal

Cajungal

Not only that, but those "pants" aren't so modest. Her legs look colored-in, not covered. :p


#31

GasBandit

GasBandit

It just doesn't look right. Besides, they pretty much had it down right before.




---------- Post added at 03:30 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:22 PM ----------

Oh, and I meant to post this one along with it too.

"Redesign Wonder Woman's Costume??"



#32

SpecialKO

SpecialKO

It's not the worst costume I've seen, but it doesn't feel like WW to me, just another femme fatale-style superhero, of which we have dozens already. Shouldn't WW always, er, stick out?

Plus, with the general design, I'm terribly afraid they're going to bring back mullet-cowls and criss-crossed utility belts. Some things in comics need to stay dead, dammit!


#33

ElJuski

ElJuski

You said mullet, and suddenly it all made sense:



The Wonder Woman franchise is going to turn into Streets of Rage. Nice!


#34



Dusty668

The new outfit makes her look like she's late for her job in Littany's Tavern on The Green.

It just dosen't say "Super" to me, sorry.


#35

ElJuski

ElJuski

Dusty668 said:
The new outfit makes her look like she's late for her job in Littany's Tavern on The Green.
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?: |


#36

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

Yep, I don't like it, either. Darwyn Cooke did a GREAT design on the classic look. Alex Ross designed her to look like someone who could benchpress a buick. I think she works best when she's muscular.

This? Ugh. I don't get the idea of the anklet things. Or the fingerless glove bracelets. Or the leather jacket. The latter, especially, which was used before in the 90s and worked even less, then.

I give this thing 6 months to a year.

Still, there have been worse total redesigns:



#37

Gusto

Gusto

:heart:

Straub Tapped for Iron Man Redesign

Marvel Comics announced a radical redesign of its popular character Iron Man, tapping cartoonist Kris Straub for the new look that would carry the 46-year-old character into the second tenth of the 21st century.

“I’m very excited about cropped jackets, and I figured this would be a good way to use a cropped jacket from the late eighties or early nineties,” said Straub, veteran of newspaper comics Chainsawsuit and Starslip. “It’s dumb to think a wealthy, vain industrialist would only have one costume without any kinds of accessories!”



The more streamlined Iron Man armor includes a half-mask exposing Tony Stark’s jaw. “I just decided that it was time to let Tony show some emotion with his face,” said Straub. “Plus it’s just a more relaxed look for him. Like he could wear this in battle, or in the boardroom, or on a hot night out.”

Iron Man creator Stan Lee offered his full support for the new direction. “Every great character design in the last twenty years has had a cool jacket: Dazzler, Rogue, the Heroes Reborn Bucky. And I like that it looks like the jackets I wear.”

“I really like tight cropped jackets to spice up character design,” added Straub. “Maybe they’ll let me work on the Avengers and I can give everyone some cooler-looking casual costumes.”

“I don’t know though, I’d probably just throw on a cropped jacket.”
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#38

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

The previously mentioned "90s outfit":


Also, really good roundtable discussion on her history of costumes:
The ComicsAlliance Roundtable: Wonder Woman's Costume Change - ComicsAlliance | Comics culture, news, humor, commentary, and reviews


#39



Dusty668

Stirrup pants. Feh.


#40

Calleja

Calleja

Why why why whyyyy do they keep adding jackets, gorram it!?


#41

Cajungal

Cajungal

Maybe they're chilly.


#42

Zappit

Zappit

Eh - too biker - not bad, but not great. Avengers did jackets - didn't work. Same with the X-Men. I bet artists will hate having to draw those W's on the wristbands for the four months the costume sticks around.


#43

Calleja

Calleja

Jackets are so 90s, though.


#44

Cajungal

Cajungal

I certainly haven't worn one for 10 years.


#45

Calleja

Calleja

dude, it's 2010, I haven't worn one for TWENTY years.


#46

Cajungal

Cajungal

:confused: Shit, I keep forgetting it's 2010. Smartass fail.


#47

Calleja

Calleja

Exactly. You should ALWAYS assume I'm ahead of my times.


#48

Cajungal

Cajungal

Ok so wait. They're so 80s or 90s? When did jackets become part of a specific decade?! Gragh, I'm confused.


#49

ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

Did they even HAVE jackets in Mexico twenty years ago? I mean, they just got the internet last year. *ducks!*


#50

Calleja

Calleja

We have used burro-powered mainframes since AT LEAST the mid 1990's, thankyouverymuch :humph:


#51

LittleSin

LittleSin

I really like it. Black Canary has basically the same out fit except skankier.

I hope it sticks.


#52

Cajungal

Cajungal

I say JACKET OFF.


#53

Calleja

Calleja

Take off your pants and jacket?


#54

Cajungal

Cajungal

Eeeeeheheeeeeee.

/childish giggling


#55

Calleja

Calleja

I stole it:



#56

AshburnerX

AshburnerX

Didn't some of the Justice League (Cartoon Network one) episodes feature her in like some nice armor and a winged helmet? Why not just do that, give her a sword, and play this as her becoming more violent due to Blackest Night or something? In other words, instead of making her into something modernly fashionable, do the reverse and make her more in touch with her roots as an Amazon? At least THAT would make sense.


#57

Green_Lantern

Green_Lantern

The worst of this? I actually liked, why? Because when I saw it I first assumed that was one of the Wonder Girls, this costume would be perfect to her, hell, the new background story would be PERFECT to Troy/Wonder-Girl 1, and they could have a great story arc dealing with Wonder Woman and "Urban Wonder Woman" relationship and different views.

but no, they couldn't do that.

They just had to make a big change in the WW mythos, with different background, just to cause Internet Backdraft and "There is no bad publicity".

Bastards.


#58

Zappit

Zappit

Wonder Woman One More Day.


#59

sixpackshaker

sixpackshaker

Cajungal said:
:confused: Shit, I keep forgetting it's 2010. Smartass fail.
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You live in LA, you don't need jackets. A raincoat maybe...


#60

KEM

KEM

sixpackshaker;408389][QUOTE=Cajungal said:
:confused: Shit, I keep forgetting it's 2010. Smartass fail.
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You live in LA, you don't need jackets. A raincoat maybe...[/QUOTE]Rain? In LA? If it rained in Southern California then LA wouldn't have to import it's water from Colorado...


#61

Cajungal

Cajungal

Louisiana


#62

GasBandit

GasBandit

AshburnerX said:
Didn't some of the Justice League (Cartoon Network one) episodes feature her in like some nice armor and a winged helmet? Why not just do that, give her a sword, and play this as her becoming more violent due to Blackest Night or something? In other words, instead of making her into something modernly fashionable, do the reverse and make her more in touch with her roots as an Amazon? At least THAT would make sense.
Click to expand...

That was her "Dress Uniform" for Superman's funeral.

---------- Post added at 11:20 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:10 AM ----------

Found the clip of it (in some guy's AMV). Around 1:43:



#63

sixpackshaker

sixpackshaker

I still feel it is wrong to take the ORIGINAL Super Heroine and make her a DERIVATIVE character. She looks like every other female brawler character in DC.

I told my room mate about the costume change, and his first words were mine, "You tweak a classic uniform, you don't start over...?


#64

KEM

KEM

Cajungal said:
Louisiana
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Well, hell, why even bother with a rain coat in Louisiana? You're gonna get wet no matter what.


#65

Cajungal

Cajungal

KEM;408496][QUOTE=Cajungal said:
Louisiana
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Well, hell, why even bother with a rain coat in Louisiana? You're gonna get wet no matter what.[/QUOTE]

Truth. I swim through the air here.


#66

sixpackshaker

sixpackshaker

This will go over as well as, if Coca-Cola would change its flavor to taste more like Pepsi...

Because no one would be that stupid.


#67

CynicismKills

CynicismKills

WW also wore an armor set in Kingdom Come, but honestly it's a bit too Hawkman/Hawkgirl (had wings, a big bird-ish helm, etc). I think the new look is good, but Zappit makes some good points. If it's too detailed artists are going to hate working on a WW book.


#68

figmentPez

figmentPez

Linkara twittered a link to a whole page of better Wonder Woman costume redesigns... Okay, not all of them are better (one of them looks more like Big Barda than WW) but some of them are pretty damn awesome.


#69

Hailey Knight

Hailey Knight

There are a few bad ones and a few drab ones, but I adore some of those redesigns. The first three you see are great, and there's one farther down with a shoulder plate that's also awesome.


#70

R

Raemon777

Love the cowgirl one.

---------- Post added at 02:02 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:01 PM ----------

Also: The Non-Adventures of Wonderella » Archive » Where Angels Fear To THREAD

(The strip in question is pretty good and you should start at the beginning though)


#71

Hailey Knight

Hailey Knight






#72

CynicismKills

CynicismKills

The last one with boots like the first one would be great, I think.


#73

Green_Lantern

Green_Lantern

Raemon777 said:
Love the cowgirl one.
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INVISIBLE HORSE!


#74

phil

phil

figmentPez said:
Linkara twittered a link to a whole page of better Wonder Woman costume redesigns... Okay, not all of them are better (one of them looks more like Big Barda than WW) but some of them are pretty damn awesome.
Click to expand...

Some of them are ok, but most make it look like she got kicked off of American Gladiators.


#75

sixpackshaker

sixpackshaker

phil;410282][QUOTE=figmentPez said:
Linkara twittered a link to a whole page of better Wonder Woman costume redesigns... Okay, not all of them are better (one of them looks more like Big Barda than WW) but some of them are pretty damn awesome.
Click to expand...

Some of them are ok, but most make it look like she got kicked off of American Gladiators.[/QUOTE]

You say that like it is a bad thing.


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