If Not Wonder Woman...Then Who?

[Vendikarr]

In the 70s DC had a back up series in the Lois Lane book, Rose and the Thorn.

Rose Forrest was a blond haired, blue eyed woman who ran a flower shop. She lived in Metropolis, and pretty much stayed out of everyone's way. Her Father was a detective murdered by a criminal organization called The 100.

His death caused something to break in Rose. In the evening after she would fall asleep, she would rise and wear a brown haired wig and green contacts, and wage war on The 100 as The Thorn.

While not a flagship female character, I think the Jekyll/Hyde situation would make for an interesting film.

 

[Thestral]

Stargirl/Starwoman has lots of potential, especially if they go with a version that's post Jack Knight Starman's retirement. I've always liked Courtney's character.

Give her Jack's badass longcoat and aviator goggles to go with the Staff?

The question then becomes...why not just do Jack Knight? In all honestly, there should have been a Starman TV series along time ago. Hell it would be perfect for the CW.

Yeah, it's a fair question. I don't think we've seen, aside from the brief glimpse and ocassional story, an adult Courtney have we? Her whole story in the comics thus far (unless changed in the New 52?) has been growing up. Could work for a movie, but she'd still be Stargirl presumably.

I like that idea of a Starman TV series... and with a large supporting cast you could introduce Courtney.

 

[Technobuilder]

Give her Jack's badass longcoat and aviator goggles to go with the Staff?

The question then becomes...why not just do Jack Knight? In all honestly, there should have been a Starman TV series along time ago. Hell it would be perfect for the CW.

Yeah, it's a fair question. I don't think we've seen, aside from the brief glimpse and ocassional story, an adult Courtney have we? Her whole story in the comics thus far (unless changed in the New 52?) has been growing up. Could work for a movie, but she'd still be Stargirl presumably.

I like that idea of a Starman TV series... and with a large supporting cast you could introduce Courtney.

Well hell. I'm all for a Jack Knight Starman TV series, but let's do it on HBO and it would ALSO feature The Shade!

 

[JD]

I could see a Zatanna or Catwoman movie working. Sadly, I can't really think of any other solo female DC heroes who aren't a spin-off of one of the men.

I realized after I posted this that Zatanna and Selina aren't stand alone characters either. Zatanna is a spin-off of her father, and Catwoman is a Batman spin-off. Is there a DC female hero other than WW who isn't a spin-off of one of the men?

 

[Christopher]

Is there a DC female hero other than WW who isn't a spin-off of one of the men?

Other than the various Wonder Girls?

A non-comprehensive list:

Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld
Angel O'Day (of Angel and the Ape)
Black Canary (technically originated as a guest character in Johnny Thunder backup strips, but quickly spun off on her own)
Black Orchid
Cameron Chase
Isis (although her comics incarnation was tied into the Marvel Family due to her TV origins as a companion show to Shazam!)
Madame Xanadu

And that's not counting women who are part of mixed-gender team books, such as Starfire, Raven, Saturn Girl, Fire, Ice, Vixen, Katana, etc.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

Giving her an airplane would be like giving Thor a motorcycle

When he needs to go really fast he puts the hammer down...

 

[Nerys Myk]

Wonder Woman is a weird character with a weird origin story and weird powers. She worked in a cheesier time, but for her to work now, I think her backstory would have to seriously be re-designed. Daughter of the Gods? Invisible plane? Magic lasso that makes you tell the truth? Just too goofy. I can barely suspend my disbelief when she pops up in cartoons anymore.

I think Catwoman could work well as a live-action series, as she is also a fairly independent character that wouldn't require shoehorning Batman into the story (not that you couldn't).

DC is a boy's club. There are plenty of female Marvel characters that could support their own series, but unfortunately you just don't have that many if you're exclusively looking at the DC Universe.

Most of Marvels female characters can't even support a comic book series, much less one on TV. Have any had the success of Wonder Woman, Catwoman or even Birds of Prey? Marvel has made some strides lately in introducing books starring women, but DC ha been doing it for decades.

 

[Greg Cox]

If we're talking name-recognition value, Storm is arguably Marvel's most famous heroine.

Who else is there? She-Hulk?

 

[Agent Richard07]

Does she have her own version of The Batcave or Fortress Of Solitude?

Not that I know of. If she had a plane, it would have to take off and land like a Harrier jet.

If we're talking name-recognition value, Storm is arguably Marvel's most famous heroine.

Who else is there? She-Hulk?

I think She-Hulk is your best bet. She's a fascinating character.

And she strikes me as Marvel's equivalent to Wonder Woman.

Found this... Had to post it.

 

[Greg Cox]

^ No! That's all wrong!

Why would Wonder Woman be in a dentist's chair?

 

[Gaith]

And what's with all this nonsense about putting badass women in heels? Do some people really think chicks in boots can't be hot? 'Cause I've been to Boot Camp and several military bases, and they totally can.

 

[Hound of UIster]

Peter David thought She-Hulk had the potential to be bigger than WW. Of course he then got her book cancelled.

 

[Guy Gardener]

I think the book was already cancelled and they just gave him the tailspin to run amok in.

I might have to pull them out because I have no recollection of those stories.

 

[Nerys Myk]

I have no recollection of any She Hulk solo stories. Probably because I never bought them.

I did like her in FF and the Avengers.

 

[Guy Gardener]

The Dan Slott stuff was wow, and John Byrne during the tun of the 90s with all that Breaking the Fourth wall was hilarious... Santa Clause spent 20 pages hitting on her until in the end the wife shows up and drowns Jennifer's office in Reindeer pellets.

 

[Hound of UIster]

I think the book was already cancelled and they just gave him the tailspin to run amok in.

No. The book crossed over with Secret Invasion so someone clearly had hopes at keeping the book afloat.

 

[Set Harth]

Is that from an episode of Rizzoli and Isles?

 

[Agent Richard07]

^ Funny you should mention that. Check out this old thread.

 

[Professor Zoom]

Is that from an episode of Rizzoli and Isles?

I would watch THAT version of the show.

 

[DarKush]

Wonder Woman is a weird character with a weird origin story and weird powers. She worked in a cheesier time, but for her to work now, I think her backstory would have to seriously be re-designed. Daughter of the Gods? Invisible plane? Magic lasso that makes you tell the truth? Just too goofy. I can barely suspend my disbelief when she pops up in cartoons anymore.

I think Catwoman could work well as a live-action series, as she is also a fairly independent character that wouldn't require shoehorning Batman into the story (not that you couldn't).

DC is a boy's club. There are plenty of female Marvel characters that could support their own series, but unfortunately you just don't have that many if you're exclusively looking at the DC Universe.

Most of Marvels female characters can't even support a comic book series, much less one on TV. Have any had the success of Wonder Woman, Catwoman or even Birds of Prey? Marvel has made some strides lately in introducing books starring women, but DC ha been doing it for decades.

Both of the major comic companies-heck, just about all of the US comics companies, are boys' clubs. But DC has a much better record regarding supporting their female characters than Marvel has, as NerysMyk pointed out.

For one, they've got the greatest female superhero Wonder Woman, and they've long put out solo and team books starring women, like Birds of Prey, Gotham Sirens, Batgirl, Supergirl, Powergirl, Catwoman. Even Voodoo got a shot in the New 52. So has Amethyst. And there's a new one coming with Katana. Female characters have also played major roles on many of the team books.

Marvel doesn't have a comparable record, especially when it comes to book solos. As Greg Cox pointed out, Storm is their most recognizable female character and yet has never had a solo series. Maybe a miniseries or two, but even with Marvel NOW her character seems to be used to grace book covers but no more. And now you have Captain Marvel, Sif, Red She Hulk, Fearless Defenders, and the all female X-Men squad, but DC is league's ahead of Marvel in putting out books like this. Mostly Marvel's female characters have gained prominence by being parts of ensemble casts.

Granted Marvel has put some female characters out there in solo books or miniseries (Black Widow, Elektra, She-Hulk, Spider Girl, Storm, Ghost Rider, Wolverine's Clone), but the record to me doesn't show they've been as strong about supporting them as DC has. Now we can debate the quality of the works DC has put out, but you can't knock them for at least making the attempts and continuing to make the attempts where female characters are concerned. Though I should give credit to Marvel for seeming to finally be getting on board. However a Storm solo is something they really should've done, especially when the first X-Men movies came out.