July 12, 2010, - 3:55 pm
Masculinized Wonder Woman Becomes . . . Michelle Obama?!
Since I’ve previously written about the changing, ever-more-butch images of “Wonder Woman,” a number of readers asked me what I thought of the newest incarnation. My feelings are mixed, though mostly I hate it. First, I think the outfit on the new version is ugly and not superhero-esque. The black skinny pants are stupid, and the whole outfit doesn’t look patriotic at all, which was the whole idea with the “Wonder Woman” costume. It’s dark and drab and the garb of a trapeze artist or someone headed out to a night at a club. There’s no bright red or blue. It’s singed and sullen, like what a drug addicted supermodel wears before she’s found dead from OD’ing.
New “Wonder Woman” Ain’t Wonder Woman
On the other hand, if you compare the newest “Wonder Woman” with the most recent ones–several versions of what looks like a man on steroids with long hair (see below)–I like the newest one far better. It’s far more feminine. And “Wonder Woman” is supposed to be feminine, not Women She-Man. The masculine “Wonder Woman” versions are ugly and unappealing. This one is better, but past versions were the best. Think the comic strip version of the Lynda Carter. It’s trite but oh so true: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. And who said “Wonder Woman” was broken?
But the worst version of “Wonder Woman” is the one above, which the Detroit Free Press created, supposedly a mixture of two loony wacko-ettes, Michelle Obama and Katy Perry. PUH-LEEZE. Considering either of these fiends–not to mention, both–as “Wonder Woman,” is taking the woman out of “Wonder Woman.” And the wonder, too. Sorry, but “Wonder Woman” doesn’t sing songs about being a lesbian, and she isn’t engaged to an unfunny comedian who dresses up as Bin Laden and hates America.
Check out the changing “Wonder Woman” images, below, which I’ve posted on this site before. What do you think of the new and unimproved “Wonder Woman”? . . .
From Feminine to Masculine: The Changing “Wonder Woman” . . .
(from Schlussel Wonder Woman collection)
(from Schlussel Wonder Woman collection)
(from Schlussel Wonder Woman collection)
Tags: feminine, Katy Perry, masculine, Michelle Obama, New, old, Superheroes, Wonder Woman
Slightly tickled that the only other blog I read to affirm a fanhood of WW and post on this change is a far-left gay history prof who blogs at Center of Gravitas.
Robert on July 12, 2010 at 4:02 pm