There has been a lot of debate about the picture of Gal Gaddot released at San Diego Comic Con. Some fans of the decades old heroine are reeling with fiery anger about her appearance. Some are claiming that she’s too thin, not tall enough, or not ethnically approriate to play the Amazonian princess of power. Others are extremely pleased with the remade costume saying that it screams warrior and exudes girl power. As the differences clash there has been one thing that has become completely evident, DC comics better be stepping on eggshells to make sure that this famed female hero is done right.
For those of you who do not know the history of Diana, it is that of the most thrilling, empowered roller coaster that you have ever encountered. Her first appearance was in 1941 in All Star Comics #8. She was created by American psychologist William Moulton Marsten, who consequently is responsible for creating systolic blood pressure test. This invention would lead directly to the creation of early lie detecting machines. She was created in the heart of World War II, creating a sense of empowerment to women who were working men’s jobs in the factories while they were at war. She was an all powerful Demi-God who kicked ass. She sported the golden lasso which if by chance an individual was bound by, they were forced to tell the truth. What most people are not aware of is that when the men came back fro, war and the women took their places back at home Wonder Woman lost her powers for a decade. Her novels became glorified romance novels and gender roles took place in full effect of the times. It took the women’s rights movement in the sixties harassing DC comics repeatedly to make sure that she got her powers back. For a very long time Wonder Woman was not as powerful as she was in the original comics, some may even say that even today she is not as powerful, but that is neither here nor there. The point is that she has gone through quite the transformation. Currently in DC comics new 52, she is yet again a love interest. Even though it is Superman that she is wooing, she is being dulled down to a romantic female character.

Jim lee

Comics and cartoon shows aside Diana’s last screen appearance was portrayed by Lynda Carter in the Wonder Woman television show in the mid seventies. This was a trying time as well for a female heroine on screen due to the fact that the entirety of television was male character dominated. However if you look, Lynda Carter was not very toned, tall or amazon looking. It was the message that she was sticking to television at the times. That is what iconic Wonder Woman is. It’s not related to sex appeal of that certain decade, it has nothing to do with what she wears, it has to do with what she is representing.
So what’s the real issue that fans are getting at? While everyone is nit picking about appearance and costume change (clearly she’s less patriotic), what is it that we’re really worried about? We as avid Wonder Woman fans are scared that DC will make her appear weak. If in fact Gal Gaddot was casted as a pretty face then Wonder Woman is just as doomed for screen as Joss Wheadon’s failed fox series featuring her. If DC in any way makes her a love interest, she will be casted out as a hero. Everyone can agree that we want her to be a beacon of power, standing for not only the rights of women, but also humanity.