In 1942, psychologist, William Moulton Marston (under the pseudonym Charles Moulton) adhered to his beliefs from an interview he gave two years prior that comics could be used as an educational tool for the youth of the era.
Marston, wanted to create a new breed of superhero that not only was a fighter, but a compassion person as well. It has been documented that his wife Elizabeth was the one to have said, “Fine, but make her a woman.” Marston originally called his character, Suprema: The Wonder Woman which All-American Publications shorted to simply Wonder Woman.
The character was inspired by First Wave Feminism and Marston’s polyamorous lifestyle that heavily involved sadomasochism.
This week as we continue to celebrate the 75 Years of Wonder Woman, DC Comics and Warner Bros. Pictures are releasing a new annual and of course the Wonder Woman movie.
DC Universe Rebirth Annual: Wonder Woman #1:
In this 80 page spectacular, writers Greg Rucka, Vita Ayala, Collin Kelly, Jackson Lanzing and Michael Moreci all work with artists, Stephanie Hans, David Lafuente, Claire Roe and Nicola Scott in telling several short stories involving the DC Trinity, a fight for justice and Amazonian monsters.
Each story was contained to no more than 8 pages, all telling a separate, unique and compelling tale that followed Marston’s original vision of a majestic, powerful heroine who could fight with her body, mind and heart. The various creative team showed these aspect of Wonder Woman that might have been forgot at times when she was “depowered” in the 1970s and again in the 1990s.
My favorite of the stories is the first by Rucka and Scott. Batman gets away with being a complete jerk to Superman and Supes just smiles through the insults. It is a brief introduction in how Wonder Woman met the Dark Knight and Man of Steel, violating the prior in having her lasso reveal what was in each of their hearts before venturing off on her own.
Wonder Woman the Film:
Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman saves the DCEU with some of the best fight scenes ever to be shown on the big screen. Robin Wright was so utterly perfect as Antiope that I forgot she was in the movie. Chris Pine added levity to an incredibly emotional story that dealt with the horrors of World War I, but it was Gadot that embodies the character.
When she was first cast in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, I thought that her being physically too thin would be an issue for playing a physically intimidating Amazon, but my nerves were eased in that film and completely obliterated with this one. Gadot has picked up where Lynda Carter left off and it only took 40 years to find a proper replacement.
The movie is about 30 minutes too long and has a cliche final battle that could have been saved for the sequel, but there is no doubt Wonder Woman surpasses Captain America: The First Avenger in storytelling, especially when it involves.
It was great that Allan Heinberg was able blend in a variation of Marston’s origin story with the retcon version of the New-52. Director Patty Jenkins truly captured the essence of the first super heroine in this film and I am sure it will shatter any record set with a female lead teamed with a female director. In fact, I’m going to be seeing Wonder Woman again early next week.
Wonder Woman Annual #1 is out today online and at your local comic shop, while Wonder Woman the movie comes to theaters this Friday, June 2, 2017.
For a full detailed review of the Wonder Woman flim, check out Sean Mulvihill’s review by clicking here: ‘Wonder Woman’ Swoops in to Save DC Movies
