Gaith does Wonder Woman

[Gaith]

So, I've never cared about Wonder Woman, partly because her outfit sucks:

Let’s start with a basic problem, the character’s look. Wonder Woman’s costume, much like Superman and Batman, hasn’t really changed that much since her Golden Age appearances... The shorts have become more a star-spangled leotard and the bustier designs are slightly different, but that’s it. This is something of a problem.

While the original, Golden Age Wonder Woman comics expressed little more than a wistful desire for something like a feminist movement (with spankings!) to happen, Feminism has become a real-world concept between then and now. Women dress differently now, for different reasons, and ideas about what a woman’s outfit expresses have changed.
In the '40s, a woman in short-shorts was telling you she was no housewife! She was going to go out and do all kinds of unladylike things that involved exercise and possibly building muscle. In the 90’s, a woman who’s rolling into battle wearing a leotard resembles… um… nothing so much as an extremely angry underwear model.

I gotta agree. I mean, this? Really?

Anyhow, I was surfing around online, and came across this image while looking for a WW with pants:

A big improvement, but still not cinema-ready, imho. So, I took a crack at it myself, darkening up the suit, removing the USA-style stars (a nonsense fashion choice for an Amazon - and yeah, helping WW2 Allies, yadda yadda, don't care) covering up some skin, reducing the knockers to a believable size and replacing the tiara with a headband. Now, imagine the following as X-style leather, not lycra:

Before anyone protests that "that's not how she's supposed to look", the way I see it, WW fans can get a live-action movie with a redesigned suit, or the status quo (jack, and an underperforming animated movie that won't get sequels). Besides, this approach worked for the X-Men, who are much more popular, so there's already a solid and successful precedent.

Now as Blind Squirrel commented on the above Topless Robot article, WW should also totally be a lesbian, and a non-ridiculous suit wouldn't guarantee a movie in of itself, but it'd be a good start. (And yes, I read the recent rumor that a movie's already being developed, but after all these years I'll believe it when there's a script and actual names attached.)

Well, whaddyou guys think? How'd I do?

 

[Nerys Myk]

Looks like something Oliva Newton John wore at the end of Grease. (aka bad 70s spandex)

 

[Nick Ryder]

Well if you look at some of the more modern "battle wear" its more akin to ancient Greco-Roman styled battle armor. With an armored skirt, greves that go over the thighs, tall metal boots that go over the knee and arm armor. With a more heavily armored looking 'WW' over her chest and a wider belt.

But I think you could easily get the same effect with maybe a dark navy blue 'leather' pants thing, a muted dark red almost burgundy boot with maybe a gold armor piece in front. The top could be like 2 pieces. A red leotard with straps or even a halter, and then the WW breast plate and a matching gold 'girdle' belt. Forearm covering bracelets and maybe bands on the biceps as well - so it'd be a bit on the Xena side, but it'd be more golden. The tiara does not have to change. I would just take off the prominent stars on the panties lol. The red star could remain or turn it blue to avoid 'commie' comparisons.

I think she'd need to show SOME skin - but yeah she doesn't have to be in basically her underwear. Although maybe as a little 'nod' to the original she could later have the traditional uniform leotard under her leather outfit, something she could wear when she's just relaxing.

WW could be made very well and given that we've had WW-esque characters on tv and in movies as comparisons, we've got better ideas that'd be far less cheesecakey.

 

[Nerys Myk]

I'd go with the armored look. Though there's nothing wrong with WW's current costume that not drawing the shorts like crotchfloss couldn't solve.
My quick sketch

 

[C.E. Evans]

IMO, one the biggest problems with Wonder Woman is that DC has been trying for decades to find that right balance of political correctness, femininity, and something that will bring her more readers. Sometimes they have it, sometimes they don't. Leaning too far in any one direction eventually brings about a reset back to basics.

Wonder Woman's outfit has changed periodically to be less sexy even once ditiching the costume altogether in favor of more practical everyday attire, but it never lasts very long because her sales start dropping after awhile. I believe Wonder Woman's biggest audience has never been women.

They may play around with her costume periodically--and in recent years, she has been seen frequently sporting very protective Greek-style battle armor when going up against a really big bad guy--but I think the now established bustier and briefs will never go away as far as her basic costume goes...

 

[Joel_Kirk]

Of course, Beyonce was one of the names to come up for the now-defunct Joss Whedon film. However, I think Charisma Carpenter would have made a very sexy Wonder Woman...

In a fan-short done a few years back, a Pacific Islander actress (who had the build and the look) portrayed Wonder Woman.

Terry Ferrell, who vaguely reminded me of Lynda Carter, would have been interesting just to see in the suit, but she has no star power...and(as much as I like her as an actress) I don't think she would be able to carry a film. Also, she doesn't necessarily have the build for the character; at least the way we see her currently.

As for the comics, I never was really a WW reader. I actually tried to read some recent ones, but couldn't get into it. Although, I understand that last WW animated movie was interesting, and had some pretty adult themes in it...i.e. violence, adult language, etc...

 

[Hermiod]

IMO, one the biggest problems with Wonder Woman is that DC has been trying for decades to find that right balance of political correctness, femininity, and something that will bring her more readers. Sometimes they have it, sometimes they don't. Leaning too far in any one direction eventually brings about a reset back to basics.

That's not just a problem with her costume, but as a character in general.

I don't think it's a coincidence that of the so-called Holy Trinity, it's the woman who lives like a monk.

 

[C.E. Evans]

IMO, one the biggest problems with Wonder Woman is that DC has been trying for decades to find that right balance of political correctness, femininity, and something that will bring her more readers. Sometimes they have it, sometimes they don't. Leaning too far in any one direction eventually brings about a reset back to basics.

That's not just a problem with her costume, but as a character in general.

I don't think it's a coincidence that of the so-called Holy Trinity, it's the woman who lives like a monk.

True that. Bruce and Clark and go have fun, but Diana has to stay pretty much virginal and chaste.

IMO, Wonder Woman is only part of DC's "Big Three" because she, Batman, and Superman are the top three DCU characters with the longest-running solo titles (despite numbering resets). Otherwise, Wonder Woman can't even support a second ongoing title like Bats and Supes can...

 

[DarKush]

If Kim Kardashian could act, I think she would make a fine Wonder Woman. Back in the day, I would've liked to see Monica Bellucci in the role, but the suits probably consider her too old. I read that Morena Baccarin had been in the running when Whedon was over the WW movie project, hopefully she still is. She might not have the build (not too many women outside of female body builders do), but she does have the looks and the acting chops.

 

[Jetfire]

I am not seeing the problem with this one.

Something like this...

or this



and this...



I think Erica Durance looks great in.

 

[Shazam!]

 

[Hermiod]

True that. Bruce and Clark and go have fun, but Diana has to stay pretty much virginal and chaste.

It's a bit odd that the supposed symbol of powerful women isn't actually allowed to be the second part.

 

[Icemizer]

^ I could live with something like that for a movie. Maybe a tad large on the bracelets for everyday wear but going into battle that would work for me.

 

[Hermiod]

If Kim Kardashian could act, I think she would make a fine Wonder Woman. Back in the day, I would've liked to see Monica Bellucci in the role, but the suits probably consider her too old. I read that Morena Baccarin had been in the running when Whedon was over the WW movie project, hopefully she still is. She might not have the build (not too many women outside of female body builders do), but she does have the looks and the acting chops.

Diana isn't She-Hulk. She's not overly muscular since her powers are supernatural.

It's the "most beautiful woman in the world" part that's tough to cast.

 

[JRS]

Of course, Beyonce was one of the names to come up for the now-defunct Joss Whedon film. However, I think Charisma Carpenter would have made a very sexy Wonder Woman...
In a fan-short done a few years back, a Pacific Islander actress (who had the build and the look) portrayed Wonder Woman.

Here lies the biggest problem of casting Wonder woman:
They have to find an actress that has both the looks, the figure..and the acting skills to portrait the character( Lynda Carter had both)
You just cannot hire some random model for the role
As for the costume goes, the one in the pic that Shazam! posted is a pretty good place to start
I mean, they have made good looking Batman costumes..and they even updated the classic Superman look nicely for Superman Returns.
So I dont really see it as a problem, per se..

 

[Jetfire]

Here lies the biggest problem of casting Wonder woman:
They have to find an actress that has both the looks, the figure..and the acting skills to portrait the character( Lynda Carter had both)
You just cannot hire some random model for the role
As for the costume goes, the one in the pic that Shazam! posted is a pretty good place to start
I mean, they have made good looking Batman costumes..and they even updated the classic Superman look nicely for Superman Returns.
So I dont really see it as a problem, per se..

I think the one Erica Durance is wearing looks better. IMHO.

I don't know why it is hard to find a lovely dark-haired woman that can act and fill out the costume nicely...there are plenty.
I think the problem is writing a story that is compelling and does the character justice...an actress and costume are not that big a deal.

 

[saturn5]

WW is a strong, intelligent, positive female role model whose body is sexual perfection and dresses like an ultra-patriotic S&M hooker whilst tying men up and breaking them to her will.

What's not to love? Something for everyone, little girls, horny teenagers, lipstick lesbians, camp homosexuals, dominant women, submissive men, the list goes on...

 

[Hermiod]

What's a 'S&M hooker' ?

 

[saturn5]

What's a 'S&M hooker' ?

A lady of the night who specialises in slap and tickle (and chains, whips, thigh boots etc)

 

[Greg Cox]

What's a 'S&M hooker' ?

A lady of the night who specialises in slap and tickle (and chains, whips, thigh boots etc)

There's actually a company down the road from me called "S&M Paving." I admit I snicker every time I drive by.

No idea whether it's run by leather-clad Amazons . . . .