Criticized for years for fighting crime in effectively a one-piece swimsuit — often considered either sexist or simply impractical — the DC Comics icon has a new costume as of this week’s Wonder Woman #600, and it’s one considerably less revealing, complete with long pants and a jacket. Signature elements such as the character’s bracelets, tiara and magic lasso remain. The costume was designed by acclaimed penciler and DC Comics co-publisher Jim Lee.
DC Comics announced the change Tuesday evening.
“It’s a look designed to be taken seriously as a warrior, in partial answer to the many female fans over the years who’ve asked, ‘how does she fight in that thing without all her parts falling out?’” said incoming series writer J. Michael Straczynski.
“It reflects her origins in both the outside world and the world of Amazons: tough, elegant…a street-fighter’s look which also incorporates elements of her classic design,” Straczynski said. “It reflects the two sides warring for ultimate victory, and underscores the path she must take.”
It’s also a versatile outfit, according to Straczynski.
“She can close it up to pass unnoticed … open it for the freedom to fight … lose the jacket or keep it on … it has pockets (the other fan question, “where does she carry anything in that outfit?”), it can be accessorized,” Straczynski wrote in DC’s official release. “it’s a Wonder Woman look designed for the 21st century.”
Straczynski noted to DC Comics that the new outfit is Wonder Woman’s “first significant change in her appearance since the character debuted in 1941,” with the notable exception of a mod bodysuit briefly sported in the ’60s.
With the new costume comes a new direction for the title: Thanks to some time-shifting by the Olympian gods who created Wonder Woman, the superheroine’s history has been changed so she grew up in a modern, urban environment, with little memory or conection to her mythical origins.
“This is Wonder Woman reborn, literally and metaphorically: fast, elegant, tough, smart … the savior of her people, their guardian and protector … avenging the fall of Paradise Island, searching to discover why Paradise Island was abandoned by the gods,” Straczynski told to the publisher. “In the end, what she discovers will change her life and the world forever…and she will come face to face with a decision that will mean life or death for the entire human race.”
SOURCE: CSMonitor
Posted on June 30th, 2010 at 1:11 pm by Lin McNulty
0