Wonder Woman (character)

Wonder Woman is a comic book superhero who has been a feminist icon and one of the cornerstones of the DC Comics universe since her debut in 1941. Created by psychologist and author William Moulton Marston, Wonder Woman was originally conceived as a princess of the Amazons, a race of warrior women prominent in ancient Greek mythology. Armed with a pair of bullet-deflecting bracelets and her Golden Lasso of Truth, Wonder Woman has tangled with a vast array of dangerous enemies ranging from Nazis to intergalactic imperialists during her long and varied history. Typically a crusader for love, peace, justice, and gender equality, Wonder Woman has undergone numerous reinventions over the years, some of which have led to depictions that stand in stark contrast with her traditional core values. Regardless of these occasional creative foibles, as well as the criticism her franchise has often endured because of its controversial treatment of gender-related themes, Wonder Woman has remained a popular character who has transcended the comic book pages to become a film and television icon and a popular culture phenomenon. Wonder Woman received renewed attention in the popular media upon the release of the critically acclaimed DC film Wonder Woman, starring Gal Gadot as the titular character, in 2017.

Origins

The character of Wonder Woman was, in effect, created as an experiment. When comic books first became popular among young readers in the 1930s, they were often ripe with graphic depictions of physical and sexual violence. As the comic craze spread, a growing number of critics began to express concern that comic books had a negative influence on children and would inevitably lead to delinquency. Faced with this mounting criticism, All-American Publications founder Maxwell Charles Gaines sought to defend himself and the comic book industry by hiring a consultant who could disprove the critics' claims. His choice for this job was William Moulton Marston, a respected psychologist who believed that comic books actually had great potential educational value. After conducting some preliminary research, Marston concluded that "comics' worst offense was their blood-curdling masculinity," and he suggested that the best way to prove the critics wrong might be to introduce a strong female superhero. Intrigued by this idea, Gaines asked Marston to helm the creation of America's first superheroine.

The result of Marston's work was Wonder Woman, a warrior princess from a society of liberated women called Amazons who lived on a long-hidden isle known as Paradise Island. Based on the female warrior race of the same name from ancient Greek mythology, the Amazons developed superhuman physical and mental powers after they freed themselves from the chains they formerly wore as the slaves of men. In reality, Marston, himself an ardent feminist, meant for all of this to serve as an allegory for the women's rights movement that was quickly taking hold throughout the United States at the time. When Gaines approved of Marston's first draft of his proposed script, Wonder Woman was born.

In Comic Books

Wonder Woman officially made her debut in All Star Comics #8 in December 1941 and subsequently appeared on the cover of the inaugural issue of Sensation Comics, a new series that began publication in January 1942. Dressed in a gold tiara, a red bustier, a short blue skirt with white stars, and red leather boots that stretched up to her knees, Wonder Woman struck a decidedly patriotic chord as she proudly left her native home on Paradise Island to join America's war against fascism and the evil Nazi regime. Joining Batman and Superman as one of the newest headliners of the recently formed DC Comics company, Wonder Woman, who also used the name Diana Prince as an alias, was an immediate hit.

Throughout much of the golden age of comics and under Marston's direction, Wonder Woman continued to be written as a strong heroine who successfully used love as her primary weapon. Although critics frequently decried the series' regular depictions of bondage and other imagery deemed to be overly explicit, Wonder Woman was popular with readers.

After Marston's death in 1947, the Wonder Woman series underwent a number of drastic changes. Throughout the 1950s, Wonder Woman transformed from a warrior princess into a comparatively domesticated woman who worked variously as an actress, model, and romance editor, among other occupations. She also became increasingly submissive toward the dominant male characters who surrounded her. In the 1960s, Wonder Woman experienced another dramatic character shift, this time becoming a James Bond–inspired spy with a host of gimmicky gadgets that included an invisible plane. Ultimately, Wonder Woman did not begin to return to her roots until the 1970s, when she once again became a strong superheroine who struggled to reconcile her need to rely on violence in the name of justice with her deep commitment to pacifism—a characterization that continues even in modern depictions.

In 2016, as the character underwent something of a surge in popularity due to live-action film appearances, Wonder Woman was made an honorary ambassador for the United Nations (UN). Although other fictional characters had previously been given such status, the appointment drew considerable controversy. Some critics felt it was a frivolous marketing move. Others, including UN staff members who staged a protest, felt that the character's idealized and even sexualized physical appearance—likened to a pinup model—was inappropriate for outreach to women and girls around the world. Even after the ambassador role was withdrawn, debate continued to simmer over whether Wonder Woman advanced or undermined feminist goals.

In Film and Television

Wonder Woman's popularity, though perhaps not as strong or widespread as that of some of her male counterparts, was great enough to ensure her character's transcendence into other mediums. The character was the subject of a live-action television series that aired from 1975 to 1979 and starred former Miss World USA Lynda Carter as the titular superheroine. In the years that followed, Wonder Woman also appeared in a variety of animated series and features, including Super Friends (1973–86), Wonder Woman and the Star Riders (1993), Justice League (2001–04), and Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths (2010).

In 2013, it was announced that Wonder Woman would finally make her live-action feature film debut in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), which was to be the precursor to Wonder Woman (2017), Wonder Woman's first solo film appearance. Israeli model and actor Gal Gadot was chosen to portray the character in this cinematic universe, which DC Comics and Warner Bros. Pictures hoped would rival the critically and commercially successful interconnected film franchises of Marvel Comics. Feminist issues were once again raised when some fans publicly derided the casting of Gadot based on her physical appearance. However, Gadot's relatively minor role in Batman v Superman was generally regarded by critics as a bright point in an otherwise poorly-received film.

In contrast, the Wonder Woman film was hailed by critics and fans alike, making it the most universally acclaimed entry in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) to that point. Helmed by director Patty Jenkins, it starred Gadot alongside Chris Pine as Diana/Wonder Woman's ally Steve Trevor and Robin Young as Amazon general Antiope, set during World War I. It earned roundly positive reviews and became a major box office success, earning more than $748 million to become one of the highest-grossing films of 2017. In keeping with Wonder Woman's feminist background, the film also set several records: it was the first major studio superhero film directed by a woman and featuring a female lead, it became the highest-grossing film of any kind with a female director, and it set a new domestic gross mark for DCEU films. This resounding success led many observers to speculate that Wonder Woman would open the way for more diversity in blockbuster filmmaking, both behind and in front of the camera, and even have a positive social influence as audiences grow more accustomed to strong female roles.

Gadot's Wonder Woman next appeared in the DC film Justice League (2017), an ensemble film which also featured Ben Affleck as Batman, Henry Cavill as Superman, Ezra Miller as the Flash, Jason Momoa as Aquaman, and Ray Fisher as Cyborg. The film was reviewed poorly by critics. Wonder Woman made another solo appearance in the 2020 sequel Wonder Woman 1984, again starring Godot. The film fared better than previous DC film ventures, however, it was criticized by critics and casual reviewers for several problematic themes.

Bibliography

Berlatsky, Noah. Wonder Woman: Bondage and Feminism in the Marston/Peter Comics, 1941–1948. New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 2015. Print.

Dockterman, Eliana. "Wonder Woman Breaks Through." Time, 19 Dec. 2016, time.com/4606107/wonder-woman-breaks-through/. Accessed 13 July 2017.

Lepore, Jill. The Secret History of Wonder Woman. New York: Vintage Books, 2015. Print.

McClintock, Pamela. "Box Office: 'Wonder Woman' Holding Better that Any Superhero Movie in 15 Years." The Hollywood Reporter, 13 July 2017, www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/wonder-woman-box-office-superhero-movies-1020621.

Pollitt, Katha. "Wonder Woman's Kinky Feminist Roots." Atlantic. Atlantic Monthly Group. Nov. 2014. Web. 24 Feb. 2016. http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2014/11/wonder-womans-kinky-feminist-roots/380788/

Romano, Aja. "How Peace-Loving Wonder Woman Became a Goddess of War." Daily Dot. Daily Dot. 9 Aug. 2015. Web. 24 Feb. 2016. http://www.dailydot.com/geek/history-of-wonder-woman-grant-morrison/

Wittmer, Carrie. "Why 'Wonder Woman' Matters to Women—And is Already Changing the Movies We Watch." Business Insider, 3 June 2017, www.businessinsider.com/wonder-woman-matters-to-women-movies-2017-6. Accessed 13 July 2017.