Wonder Woman Holiday Wish List
The Holidays are here! Shopping for comic book fans is a ton of fun, but finding high-quality items can be a challenge. Here is my handy-dandy wish list for 2017 to give you lots of ideas for that special Wonder Woman fan in your life.
Wonder Woman Asymmetrical Moto-Jacket ($79.99)
I have an obsession with coats and this one is so hot! This awesome jacket is a classy, subtle addition to a Wonder Woman fan's wardrobe. I was lucky enough to see it as a fit model and I am thrilled that it was released in time for the Holidays! It's a unique design that can be dressed up or down, and would be appropriate for work or play! It's a great option for the comic-fan who doesn't always want to wear four-color designs.
Wonder Woman Kisslock Purse ($37.42)
I love the design of this purse! It can be carried as a handbag or hung over the shoulder. The muted red and blue colors along with the metal accents are stylish, but unmistakably inspired by the Amazon Princess. I especially love the detailed stitching that echoes the armor that Wonder Woman wore in the movie.
Wonder Woman with Horse Q-Fig Max Vinyl Figure ($29.99)
This adorable figure captures the spirit of the Wonder Woman film perfectly! Her and her noble steeds faces are fixed in expressions of pure determination. Together, they are charging off to fight for those who cannot fight for themselves.
Wonder Woman Scarf ($14.49)
This vibrant red scarf is covered with gold Wonder Woman logos. It's a stylish accessory for any outfit that is clearly for the Diana fan. It will go with a wide variety of styles and is great for close friends or casual acquaintances.
Wonder Woman Lasso of Truth Raglan Shirt ($29.00)
Based on the stunning artwork of one of my favorite artists, Sho Murase, this shirt has a bit more style and a better fit than a lot of the geek t-shirts out there. It's being carried by a few different geeky sites, but this seems like the
Wonder Woman Barbie ($49.99) or Wonder Woman Barbie-knockoff ($14.99)
These dolls are stunning! As a kid, I would have freaked out about these dolls! They have a great level of detail and have been updated from the 12-inch dolls I played with years ago. They can strike great poses and come with their own swords and shields! If you're buying for an adult, spring for the more expensive collectors edition Barbie. Kids will love the less expensive brand and you can hardly tell the difference!
Fight For Peace Makeup Bag ($21.99)
What Amazon Princess doesn't need a makeup bag that will keep all her supplies safe while she is fighting for truth and Justice? Based on the retro designs that have been brought into DC products by the Bombshell comics, this bag looks like it was pulled from a rally poster for a World War. It would also be great to hold school supplies, keeping things organized in a travel bag, and more!
Wonder Woman Denim Jacket ($129.00)
The Hero Within is a great company that makes designs for geeks, by geeks. Originally a company that focused on creating great fashion options for the underserved male geek fashion community, they have now branched out and design great things for nerds of all types! This subtle Wonder Woman design is unisex! It caught my eye ages ago and I wear mine all the time.
Justice League Animated Series Statue ($32.89)
Many Wonder Woman fans first fell in love with her while watching Bruce Timm cartoons and this statue captures his style perfectly. It's a little small when compared with the other statues in this series, but as a stand-alone gift it is great.
Sideshow Collectables Wonder Woman Statue ($449.99)
If you want to go all-out and earn the undying gratitude of a Wonder Woman fan without worrying about the price tag, this gift is for you. Sideshow Collectables are the primer statue company in the nerd world and this stunning statue is no exception. They actually have a TON of jaw-dropping Wonder Woman statues (all of which I hope to own someday!) but this one is the current jewel of my personal collection. With a spear slung over her shoulder, Diana looks every bit the bad ass warrior she has trained for centuries to become while wearing her classic costume from the comics.
Wonder Woman Rebirth Year One & The Lies ($16.99 each)
The Wonder Woman film has taken the world by storm! A lot of new and old fans are trying to jump into reading her comics. These compilations are where they should start reading the current run of Wonder Woman. Year One is a retelling of Wonder Woman's origin story with STUNNING art by Nicola Scott and The Lies is DC's way of clearing up the clutter of lose threads left by Wonder Woman writers in the last 10 years, illustrated by Liam Sharp. Greg Rucka, a respected Wonder Woman writer with many great titles under his belt writes for both.
These are just some of the incredible Wonder Woman items that you can find online for the holidays! I hope this helps you get the perfect gift for the nerd on your gift list, whether they were naughty or nice!
Do you have a great Wonder Woman item that I missed? Post it below in the comments!
Wonder Woman Comics: Where to Start?
Wonder Woman has taken the world by storm! People all over the world want to know more about the Amazon Princess, but with over 75 years of history it's hard to know where to start. Maybe you've seen her new movie, watched one of her numerous animated appearances, or loved the Lynda Carter TV show as a kid. Regardless, here is a handy guide to starting becoming a Wonder Woman comic book aficionado!
Comic Book Runs:
Wonder Woman #1 by George Perez, Len Wein, and Greg Potter (1986)
In 1986, after many missteps in the 1960's and 70's, DC wanted to get their premiere heroine back on track. George Perez and his team were chosen for the task, and they created the modern version of Wonder Woman that we know today. They redid her origin story and brought her back to her roots in the Greek pantheon with a strong sense of cultural identity that most other comic book characters lack. Diana is a true hero and beacon for humanity, and we follow along as she learns the joys and harsh realities of the world while protecting it from a collection of mythology-inspired villains. They created a new backstory for the Amazons that is a poignant and powerful statement to the history of women throughout the ages, and perfectly explains their solitary island existence. This is also when Diana's home was named, Themyscira, the actual name of the Amazon's home in Greek mythology, instead of just Paradise Island. With a multiracial nation of Amazons and an almost all female supporting cast, even after Diana comes to "man's world", Perez & Co. pushed the boundaries of 1980's comics, and were rewarded by being honored as one of the greatest comic runs in DC Comics history. It is the gold standard that all other Wonder Woman comics are measured against. It is also the Wonder Woman that I first discovered as a child, and the source that Patty Jenkins pulled from the most when she created the Wonder Woman movie.
Get issues #1- #14 as a single book on Comixology, Kindle or order a printed version on Amazon! (Ignore the horrible cover art they picked for this printing! WTF were they thinking??) Individual issues are available digitally or through the DC Comics app. Perez himself was the artist on issues #1- #24, but continued as a writer on Wonder Woman until issue #62. As with all comic series, jump in and stay for as long as you want. There is no "end" so it's easy to just read until the story arch that you like ends.
Wonder Woman: Year One by Greg Rucka (2016)
This is the most recent reboot of Wonder Woman by A-team creators Greg Rucka, Nicola Scott, and Liam Sharp. It is part of Rebirth, a complete DC reboot that was designed to give DC movie fans a clean starting point to jump into reading the comics. It brings Wonder Woman back to the roots that George Perez's team created in the 80's, but with some modernizations to both Amazon culture and man's world. Rucka and Scott have wildly successful histories with Wonder Woman comics, and both are able to capture her joy, compassion and power with their exceptional work. No big changes to her backstory here, although another type of milestone is reached when Diana is FINALLY shown to be involved a same-sex relationships on Themyscira. Because duh. It makes perfect sense that a character who is all about love would be able to like women and men, and Rucka deals with this in a classy, matter-of-fact way that feels genuine. As a major Wonder Woman fan and purist, I loved this retelling of her origin story and highly recommend it for someone just starting their Wonder Woman journey.
Reading this run is a little tricky, because Rucka alternates between Diana's origin story in even numbered issues, and her life many years later in odd numbered issues. I suggest new readers start with reading her origin story issues first, which you can get as a single book called Wonder Woman Vol.2: Year One. This run is only a year old, so once you catch up you can easily pick up new issues as they are released at your friendly local comic shop or digitally!
Graphic Novels:
Graphic novels are stand alone stories that aren't (usually) tied to the stories happening in a character's main comic runs. Sometimes they are completely different takes on a character than will ever appear in the series of the comics. The biggest advantage is that you get the whole story in one place!
The Legend of Wonder Woman Vol. 1: Origins by Renae de Liz (2016)
This is a stunning reimagining of Diana's origins on Themyscira and her arrival in man's world during World War II. It's not "canon", which means that other comics don't use or recognize this story as Diana's past, but it is really enjoyable to read and captures the heart of Diana beautifully. This story takes a lot of time to focus on Diana's childhood in a society where not all of the Amazons are immortal. I would have liked to see a bit more racial diversity with the Amazons, but I really love how they incorporated Wonder Woman and the Greek gods into World War II. Renae de Liz is both the writer and illustrator for this story and she knocks it out of the park! Sadly, although this limited series became a hit, DC decided not to move forward with the planned Vol. 2. It's still an amazing story with a lovely conclusion. I wish the source of her powers in this story WAS canon! Get the full run as a single book on Comixology or Amazon!
The Hiketeia by Greg Rucka (2003)
One of the most acclaimed Wonder Woman graphic novels ever written, this story was Rucka's first shot at writing Wonder Woman and it earned him a spot as one of her greatest creators. Teaming up with artists J.G. Jones, Wade Von Grawbadger, and Dave Stewart, Rucka explores the strange path that Diana walks as the sole member of an ancient culture in our modern world. It is NOT her origin story, but is a slice of her life after she is an established hero in man's world. We see Diana balance her role as a super hero with her responsibilities as the Themyscirian ambassador and representative to the United Nations. It gives you a perfect taste of Diana without going through her backstory again. Compassion is the force that drives her in all things. Batman is a featured character in this story and acts as Diana's opponent when they take opposite sides in a case involving the crimes of a young woman. It's an interesting exploration of what super heroes might do when faced with moral gray area... with some supernatural elements mixed in!
Since it's original version is out of print, you will have to pay a hefty price for a paper copy of it. It is available digitally in a compilation of Greg Rucka's Wonder Woman stories called Wonder Woman by Greg Rucka Vol. 1 for a much better price. It is the first story in the book, so it's easy to find.
DC Superhero Girls: Finals Crisis by Shea Fontana (2016)
Based on the successful cartoon, this graphic novel is drawn by Yancey Labat and written by Shea Fontana (who will be taking over Wonder Woman's Rebirth run after Greg Rucka leaves after issue #24). It's not normally what I'd recommend, but I think it's really important to have options for younger fans on this list! It's a group story about teenage DC characters, including Harly Quinn, Batgirl, Supergirl, Katana and more, but Wonder Woman features prominently. The story takes place in Superhero High School where the group faces challenges related to their education and villains that show up to crash the party. It's lots of fun and DC fans will love seeing kid-friendly incarnations of their favorite characters, including my favorite, Principal Amanda Waller. I really appreciate that DC is finally channeling energy into creating high quality content that is meant to inspire kids, especially young girls. You can get this in digital or paperback and it seems to be the first of many such books!
Wonder Woman will do Wonders for the UN
On Wonder Woman’s 75th anniversary, the United Nations appointed the super heroine as an Honorary Ambassador for the Empowerment of Women and Girls. It seemed like a great public relations move for the UN and for Warner Bros., who made sure that Wonder Woman movie star Gal Gadot and TV star Lynda Carter were on hand for the ceremony. As an unabashed Wonder Woman fan, I was thrilled.
Not everyone was so excited.
Over one-hundred UN staffers protested the appointment at the UN, and over one-thousand have signed an online petition against the fictional superhero receiving the honorary appointment. They cited Wonder Woman’s body proportions, revealing outfit, and race as reasons that the heroine was not an appropriate choice for the post.
"It is alarming that the United Nations would consider using a character with an overtly sexualized image at a time when the headline news in United States and the world is the objectification of women and girls," they declared on the petition. They argued that it was inappropriate to nominate a fictional character when there were many real women to represent and speak out for women and girls. The American flag themed outfit was also mentioned in their issues.
I understand their issues with having Wonder Woman as an ambassador, but let’s look at the issue more closely.
Wonder Woman is not the first fictional character to be named an honorary ambassador. The UN has been nominating fictional characters to honorary posts for almost twenty years. Winnie the Pooh, Tinkerbell, and Red, the leader of the Angry Birds in the mobile game, have been named Honorary Ambassadors. I think it can be argued that Tinkerbell’s outfit is just as skimpy as Wonder Woman’s, and she’s just as white. Diana's image has been used as an international symbol for women’s rights, breast cancer awareness, and countless other female causes. Why is she less worthy than a red bird from a mobile game or a bear who struggles to spell “honey” correctly?
Since the early 1950s, the UN has named “prominent personalities” (read: celebrities) as ambassadors to highlight key issues and draw attention to their efforts. They have named Nicole Kidman, Emma Watson, and Ann Hathaway as official Women’s Goodwill Ambassadors. They are all icons of beauty, and are all very, very white. The idea behind nominating famous individuals is to draw attention to the issue. Despite speeches and trips, their real power is in their ability to generate headlines. I would argue that Wonder Woman, despite being a fictional character, has that same power. How many young girls, comic book fans, and curious internet wanderers paid attention to this event simply because it was Wonder Woman? How many MORE people paid attention because of this controversy? I’d be willing to bet that more people became aware of the UN’s support for women’s rights because of Wonder Woman’s appointment than due to any other ambassador they’ve named for that cause. The whole point of naming “honorary” and “goodwill” ambassadors is for the PR, and Wonder Woman has already been wildly successful at drawing attention to this issue.
I think, of all the arguments these protesters have made, the one about her outfit upsets me the most. Different cultures have different ideas of what is acceptable and what they believe is beautiful, but shouldn’t the idea of female empowerment include a woman’s right to not be judged by what she wears? A woman in a bathing suit should be as respected as a woman in a business suit. Saying a character isn’t a good representation of female empowerment because of her clothing runs completely counter to how true female equality works. The power should be with the woman, not those around her to observe and judge.
This character was designed as a feminist icon from the beginning. She was the first prominent female superhero that was completely original and not a derivative of a male character, such as Supergirl and Batgirl. Her character biography has changed over the years, but she’s always been able to go toe-to-toe with the world’s most powerful heroes and emerge victorious. She represents a thriving all-female culture that isn’t in need of male saviors or caretakers.
These protesters should look past her star-spangled briefs (now updated to a Roman-inspired leather skirt) to what the character really means to her fans. I’ve walked the convention floor dressed as this character. I’ve seen the excitement on little girls’ faces when they see me. They proudly wear their tiaras and flex their muscles with me. In a world that is dominated by love-obsessed Disney Princesses, Wonder Woman shows young girls that they can save the world.
Wonder Woman & DC's Rebirth
The (latest) reboot of DC's universe, called Rebirth, is designed to gear their comics more towards their new cinematic universe. It was only a few years ago that we rode the emotional rollercoaster of the New 52 relaunch, so most DC fans have been waiting for details with great anticipation. Finally the time for answers came at WonderCon this last weekend.
Lots of changes are coming! Old characters are returning, new characters are being added, and the inevitable costume redesigns are happening. Titans is a new book (not replacing Teen Titans) with a more mature cast of characters, including the reunion of Donna Troy and Nightwing as teammates. Batgirl & the Birds of Prey has an all-female creative team, and I'm digging Huntress' redesign by Yanick Paquette. Superwoman is adding a new female character to DC's lineup and will be headed by Phil Jimenez, one of my all-time favorite Wonder Woman artists. And speaking of Wonder Woman...
SHE GOT THE DREAM TEAM!!! I am so excited!
Greg Rucka is going to return to DC as the writer for Wonder Woman. He wrote Wonder Woman: The Hiketeia, one of the best Wonder Woman stories of all time. The Hiketeia completely nailed the conflict between Diana's roles as an ambassador, hero, and leader of an ancient culture living in the modern world. He spent three years successfully writing Wonder Woman's regular comic and it was a huge success. Based on his previous runs, I am totally confident that Rucka can lay a great foundation for Wonder Woman by incorporating elements from her comic book history and new additions from the cinematic universe. He also wore a Hamilton hoodie on stage at WonderCon! Just when I thought he couldn't get cooler...
Veteran artist Nicola Scott will be returning to draw the Amazon Princess. You may have heard my squee of joy all the way from WonderCon at this news, because I'm a HUGE fan of her work. Her Diana is athletic, capable, beautiful, and expressive. Scott's panels show a woman who can comfort a child in one moment and then go toe-to-toe with Superman the next. It's a challenging task and Scott has proven herself many times over with her work on Wonder Woman, Secret Six, Birds of Prey, and Earth 2. She has also successfully partnered with Greg Rucka on Blackest Night: Wonder Woman, and Black Magick #1 by Image Comics. They both seem to have a talent for creating strong female characters, and I can't wait to see how their partnership works on a longer run of Wonder Woman.
Liam Sharpe will be partnering with Scott to bring Diana's image to life on the page. His resume is Marvel-heavy, but he has done work for DC with both Superman and Batman. He isn't an artist that I've followed before, but when I saw the images he created for Wonder Woman I was blown away. His art reflects the iconic images from George Perez' run of the Amazon princess but with a more modern style. I love that he draws Diana in a way that exudes confidence and strength.
This team will be taking a unique approach to Wonder Woman with two storylines running simultaneously. Odd-numbered issues will be done by Rucka and Sharpe, and will tell the adventures of Diana in the present day. The even-numbered issues will be created by Rucka and Scott and will describe Wonder Woman's origins approximately ten years in the past. Two Wonder Woman comics will come out a month, one from each timeline.
Rucka reportedly has plans for at least 24 issues, so we should be able to enjoy his work for at least the next year. After the disappointment of Meredith and David Finch’s takeover of the series, it's good to know that Diana will be in trusted hands.
Letter from a DC Fangirl
Dear DC Comics,
I know this is harder on me than it is on you. I am just one woman among countless fans, and it's starting to be pretty apparent how much you care about your fans. So, after more than twenty years of loyalty and love, I'm going to be frank with you. Our relationship is in trouble.
I was so young when my cousin introduced us, and I'd sneak looks at you until I was old enough to get an allowance and have you for myself. I loved your late 80s and early 90s style. I still have some copies of Wonder Woman, The New Teen Titans, Justice League (America, Europe, International, and 
even Task Force), and Batman & the Outsiders to remember the good times. Through all the changes, I stood beside you. I was there when Eclipso attacked, when Gotham was declared No Man's Land, and I hung in there for every "crisis" you could come up with. I watched Superman die and Metropolis try to cope with his loss. I followed along as Dick finally took up the cowl, and then put it down again. So many stories. Some were good, some were bad, but through it all I still felt like part of something wonderful.
Then you had some work done. The new 52 hit, and you became a hot ticket item. Suddenly, my friends who had never read comics before had a lot to say about you! It was nice to feel like my passion was spreading to new people. Like always, some stories were great and some sucked, but there were a lot of our old friends who weren't happy. I went to bat for you. I defended you to my friends and family! I pointed out all your good qualities, and whitewashed the bad because I wanted you to do well. Sadly, it was soon obvious that you didn't care about my feelings.
Great characters never reappeared, and fan favorites started acting completely counter to their normal behavior. Quality character arcs fell by the wayside in favor of shock value and company profit. It was clear that the bottom line and the big bosses' ideas were more important than treating your creators well. Lots of amazing creators disappeared for a variety of reasons which reflected very badly on your management. Your choices didn't make sense and started driving away the writers and artists who kept us reading! Fans read a comic when the character they love is well written and drawn. Your talented creators make your company, not the other way around.
Most upsetting is your overall attitude 
towards women readers and female characters. Comics have always been over-sexualized, but your unending trail of insults over the last few years has gone beyond what we've come to expect, even from this industry. Many great characters' personalities were tweaked and flattened so that they can fit into what you thought was a sexier mold. The fact that you assume that women need a Superman/Wonder Woman Twilight-inspired romance to become interested in comics is just one recent example of how your female stereotyping has reached ridiculous levels. Finally, when you asked thousands of amateur artists to draw one of your most prominent female characters about to commit suicide in a bathtub, it's flat out insulting. Can something like that 
be part of a tasteful storyline? Sure, but asking non-professionals to take on such sensitive subject matter is inappropriate. I cringe just imagining some of the entries you must have received. AND THEN some of your big-wigs took to social networking to make excuses and play down the incident. Jim Lee (who I basically hate at this point) blamed US for not waiting around to see the rest of the story. I don't care how the panels fit into the (unexplained) context of the story, you could have easily gleaned their drawing abilities from a more appropriate panel. You picked a horrendously irresponsible topic for this contest. It's downright disgusting. Apologize like an adult, hire a PR department, and move on.
Grow up. Stop blaming your audience for not liking your choices, and start making choices your customers will like.
I don't really know where this leaves us. I'm embarrassed to admit that I'm still with you when I'm in public. I've always flirted with Marvel, Dark Horse, and others, but now I'm seriously considering ending my monthly commitment to you. It breaks my heart, but even the good memories from our early days aren't enough to make up for the choices you are making. Shape up, or it's over.
Sincerely,
Kimi
A DC Fangirl
www.goldenlasso.net
Batgirl's Doctor is In: Dr. Andrea Letamendi
Andrea Letamendi is one of the most interesting figures on the convention scene. She holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, and puts her knowledge to geeky use by speaking about the psychology of Superheroes, Science Fiction, and Cosplay. When she isn't speaking on panels, Andrea works as a researcher at UCLA, does work for Marvel and DC, and creates amazing cosplays of her own.
Kimi: You’re known as @ArkhamAsylumDoc on twitter, do you have a favorite Arkham inmate in the Bat-verse?
Andrea Letamendi: Oh yes, I have many favorite Arkham Baddies. I can’t deny the power that the Joker has psychologically–he is such a mesmerizing and puzzling character because his acts of villainy and destruction do not always seem rationale or explainable. My favorite villain from Gotham’s Rogue Gallery is the Penguin, because of his tragic story. He seems to frequently try to reach out and connect with others, perhaps just looking to be understood, and that is incredibly relatable.
K: You were recently depicted in Batgirl #16 as Barbara Gordon’s clinical psychologist. Why did Gail Simone immortalize you as part of DC cannon?
AL: Last year, before the Batgirl annual, Mrs. Simone reached out to me to ask some questions about trauma recovery. Essentially she was writing about an important time in Barbara’s life during which she was recovering–both physically and psychologically– from the severe injury from a gunshot wound when the Joker attacked her (See: The Killing Joke). As a Batgirl reader and DC fan, I was more than thrilled to answer anything she wanted to know. My background in treating soldiers who have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan with psychological and physical injuries best prepped me to give anecdotes and explain the relationship between the therapist and the healing client. Little did I know that Mrs. Simone would not only write some of my suggestions into her comic, but also include me as a character! It was truly a surprise– and I feel the honorary gesture was not just toward me but for the psychology community as a whole.
K: In addition to being an adviser for Marvel and DC, you are also well known as a cosplayer. What pushed you to start cosplaying?
AL: I have essentially been cosplaying since I was a teenager, if you count “dressing up as a Jedi character that you made up” cosplay. I’ve always felt drawn to dressing up as characters I love, but it truly wasn’t until I started attending conventions in 2006 that I initially became involved with cosplay and the cosplay community.
K: Which costume is your favorite to wear to conventions?
AL: My favorite costume is probably my Steampunk Huntress costume, although I have a Battlestar Galactica costume in the works and it may quickly become one of my favorites!
K: You’ve found a way to bridge the gap between your love of psychology and your love of comics, are you trying to do the same with psychology and cosplay?
AL: I’ve found that my love of cosplay has led me to ask questions like “what draws us to certain characters?” and “why do we feel fulfilled or content when we’re wearing someone else’s clothes?” I also believe there’s something empowering and psychologically inspiring when we dress up as a superhero that we look up to, even if they are fictional. In my mind, it was inevitable that these two universe’s collide, which is why me and my colleague created a Cosplay Survey and plan to continue exploring the motivations, expressions, and backgrounds of cosplayers. I also believe that we can use real-world data to debunk or disconfirm myths about cosplayers. I feel as though psychological science can tell a story that allows people to see how adaptive, healthy, resourceful, and social cosplayers really are.
K: What conflicts have you faced between your geeky hobbies and your career?
AL: Actually, even though I initially felt distanced and a bit misunderstood in my field, I’ve recently discovered that people are generally interested–and even quite inspired–by some of the work I’m doing in the comics and cosplay community. I have to say that I was surprised by this and it reminds me that people just want to get to know you and that the field of Psychology can be particularly open and supportive of these other hobbies. I’d like to think that goes with other social sciences disciplines.
K: Briefly, what have you learned about the Cosplay community through your surveys and your Psychology of Cosplay panels?
AL: We have learned that cosplayers represent a very diverse and social group. I think the single most important thing we have learned is that we simply do not have any evidence that cosplayers share any one feature or characteristic beyond their passion for costuming and performing. Stereotypes about cosplayers, therefore, are not currently supported by anything other than bullies on the internet.
You can visit Andrea's blog at Underthemaskonline.com or follow her on Twitter @ArkhamAsylumDoc.
Superheroine Costume Controversy
An adorable collection of illustrations have had the cosplay and comic community in a tizzy this week! They are by Michael Lee Lunsford and show female comic characters with redesigned outfits that are much more modest. The skimpy clothes that female characters wear in comics have long been a controversial topic, especially among female fans. Some fans feel that the skimpy clothes are a way to pander to the young male demographic. Others feel that a woman should be free to wear whatever she likes and that there is nothing wrong with skimpy clothes. These pictures have rekindled the debate on how females are depicted in comics, and in turn, how cosplayers represent those characters in the real world. As an avid comic reader and cosplayer, I also had a very strong reaction to them.
I agree that women have the right to wear whatever they want, but most comic book characters are being designed and drawn by men. There is no women's choice involved. The lithe female character poses and convenient camera angles of many panels only serve to further objectify the female characters in a way that simply doesn't happen with male characters. The impracticality of the designs is what annoys me the most. Yes, it's easier to do gymnastics in a leotard, but is it the most practical thing to wear when you are being shot at? It's really the last straw when you see a design as ridiculously exaggerated as Catwoman's unzipped suit. Is it really that important that her breasts are exposed as she's trying to sneak through Gotham unseen? WHY THE HELL WOULDN'T SHE JUST ZIP IT UP? In an era where many male characters are moving from spandex to body armor, it's hard to continue to excuse the amounts of skin showing on many female characters.
Cosplayers are a completely different situation because they are REAL PEOPLE and who can make their own choices. If someone makes a woman wear a skimpy outfit without any choice, she becomes objectified and loses power. If a woman chooses to wear that same outfit because it makes her feel good, she has the power. The freedom of choice makes all the difference! The element of choice is why I have a problem with male artists designing skimpy female outfits, but do not have an issue with cosplayers creating and wearing those outfits. I often see cosplayers of both genders tweak character designs to be more flattering or comfortable for them to wear in public. Sometimes their self-expression means adding fabric to make it more modest, sometimes it involves showing more skin. Neither choice is "better" because it all depends on the individual cosplayer. Original designs are just as valid a form of cosplay as exact replicas of character outfits.
These pictures are a great artistic exercise, and I love the conversation they have started on this topic. That said, I'm not a huge fan of all the designs. I think Electra is amazing and easily my favorite, with Psylocke coming in a close second. Many of the designs are very interesting, but I'm not a fan of the baggy look that many of them are sporting. The khaki pants on Wonder Woman don't seem to match the rest of her design, but I really like how he altered the upper half of her outfit. Michael has a great artistic style that shows the unique personalities and beauty of each character, without focusing on their ass-ets.
Happy Birthday, Professor Tolkien!
Known as the father of "high fantasy," Tolkien has been on of the most influential figures in many geeks' lives. Even if you aren't an elf-obsessed Tolkien fangirl (like me) your favorite RPG, comic book, movie, or fantasy series probably was heavily influenced by the works of Tolkien. Hell, with the release of The Hobbit, even your Denny's breakfast is Tolkien themed. But who was he, and why are crazy people people so crazy for his books?
I am a scholar (read: overzealous fangirl) of Tolkien's Middle Earth, a fantasy history of our own world which laid the foundation for all fantasy works that have followed. The enormity and depth of Middle Earth is astonishing, and it includes countless maps, illustrations, histories, races and species of beings, and multiple native languages which are completely flushed out and translatable. For every story that was published during his lifetime, there are countless other tales that he wrote only to give his published world a back story. It's overwhelming and inspiring. So, here is a handy guide to my favorite of Tolkien's Middle Earth writings.
The Hobbit
A children's tale about a funny little creature that lived in a hole and was tricked by a wizard into going on a great adventure. It's a classic, and I have my class read it every year. I love it because it introduces the reader to the lighthearted side of Tolkien's writing. There is a great joy in the simple adventure story, but there is a definite disconnect with the feel of Tolkien's other writings. This book was written to be a stand-alone piece, and was actually retconned to make Gollum more evil in a later publishing to fit with Lord of the Rings. Still, it's a great introduction to Middle Earth, and is a great piece of literature on it's own. Everyone should read it at least once.
Lord of the Rings
Tolkien's largest work, and the only other book besides The Hobbit that was published during his lifetime, takes a much darker look at Middle Earth. Tolkien captures the weight of time beautifully in this story. The reader enters a world that is ruled by the pale echos of long forgotten civilizations, being abandoned by the elves who have protected it since before time began. Humans, the youngest and arguably least qualified of the great races, are left to defend the world against the horrors of an ancient demi-god. History and the reoccurring problems of the world are a huge theme in this book. There are no "happy endings" in history, there are good times and bad times, and Tolkien mirrors that in Middle Earth. The people who face the hard times do what they can, and sometimes they succeed against insurmountable odds, even if they are only a hobbit.
The Silmarillion
This is my favorite of Tolkien's works, and was actually not meant for publication. It was compiled from Tolkein's notes after his death. This is basically the bible of Middle Earth and documents the history of the world and the elves. I love the different tales of the elves because they do everything on a much more epic scale than humans. They are wise beings by the time of the Lord of the Rings, but they earned it through ages of betrayals, mistakes, love, and loss. My favorite tale is the story of Beren and Luthien, the elven princess who fell in love with a mortal man. Arwen and Aragorn are 
but a pale shadow of this story. If Arwen and Aragorn went hand in hand to face Sauron alone (and Arwen was a bad ass fighter and magic wielder), you might have some idea of the epic scale of this love story. It defies the ages and death itself, and Tolkien even had the names Beren and Luthien engraved on the headstone that he shared with his wife of fifty years.
Many people cannot make it through The Silmarillion, but I encourage people to look at it like they would a history book or bible. It's not really meant to be read through to tell a singular liner story. Think of it as a collection of stories, and if you find one you aren't interested in, skip it. There are some great parts and some very dry parts.
The Book of Lost Tales I & II
These are the earliest versions of the tales that eventually became the other stories based in Middle Earth. They are a fascinating read for any Tolkien fan(atic), but might not appeal to the general audience. I love reading these stories and comparing them with the final versions that appear in the published books. The names are different, and he even called the elves "gnomes" in these early drafts, until realizing that the term had very different meaning for most readers. These books were also compiled and edited by Christopher Tolkien after his father's death.
The Children of Húrin
This story might be the most tragic in the entire history of Middle Earth. It tells the tale of Húrin Thalion and his offspring. Húrin was tortured by Morgoth himself (that's Sauron's boss for LOTR fans) to reveal the location of a hidden elven city. Húrin refuses, and his line is cursed by Morgoth for all time. He is placed on a mountain top and is magically able to witness the sorrows that befall his wife and children. If you're a fan of Romeo and Juliet, or Othello, this story could be right up your alley.
Letters from Father Christmas
This book has nothing to do with Middle Earth, but it is a truly magical book. These are a collection of letters and pictures that were created between 1920 and 1942 for his children. They are written from Santa or his trusty elf secretary and tell enchanting stories about life at the North Pole. It also is a wonderful collection of Tolkien's original artwork, which is very charming and impressive and too often left out of modern publications of his work. It's a favorite of mine each Christmas.
In the wake of the modern popularity of films based on Tolkien's work, I highly encourage everyone to read the original stories. It's easy to lose the magic of his genius in the commercialized hype. To forget that it's the characters that make the tales meaningful, rather than the overblown special effects.
Happy 121st Birthday, Professor Tolkien. Don't worry, we won't tell the Sackville-Bagginses.
Goodbye Gail Simone
This past weekend, comic book writer Gail Simone let the news drop on Twitter that she had been removed from DC's New 52 Batgirl title. It's shocking that DC would give Gail the boot after the acclaim that Batgirl has received since the reboot, but the most shocking part of this story is how they broke the news to Gail. The fired her VIA EMAIL.
On Wednesday of last week, new Batgirl editor Brian Cunningham informed me by email that I was no longer the writer of Batgirl.
— GailSimone (@GailSimone) December 9, 2012
I have been a DC fangirl since before I can remember. Batman and Wonder Woman helped to shape my childhood and created a lifelong loyalty to Detective Comics. I've followed the story lines of every major event, each retcon, each death and inevitable resurrection, and I even stood by them through the New 52 reboot. Hell, I DEFENDED them to scores of my fellow fans. I kept the faith!
I cannot express how disappointing it is to learn that DC has less class than some of my asshole ex-boyfriends. At least they had the courtesy to pick up the phone to end things.
Gail has done an incredible job with Barbara Gordon for many years. She created an incredibly strong character in Birds of Prey who rose above her physical disability and continued to be a hero. As Oracle, Barbara showed the world that knowledge and smarts were the most powerful tools a crime fighter had, and she became an icon for fans with disabilities themselves.
When DC rebooted their universe, Gail was given the chance to write Barbara again, but there was a catch. Barbara was to be returned to her original role as Batgirl, and taken out of her now-trademark wheelchair. Fans were in an uproar. Some were thrilled to see Babs' red hair under the cowl again. Others were furious to lose an idol with an incredible story of courage that impacted so many characters in the DC universe. Amid this controversy, Gail wrote 
Babs brilliantly. She embraced Barbara's history, and wrote Batgirl to show the struggles of someone recovering from life changing injuries and PTSD. Gail even researched Barbara's conditions by seeking the advice of Dr. Andrea Letamendi, an avid comic book fan and doctor of psychology (and my cosplay friend!), to insure that Barbara's recovery was accurately depicted. Gail's incredible respect for Barbara won over fans in both camps and turned Batgirl from one of the most hated reboots in the New 52, into one of its best selling titles.
I'm a huge fan of Gail's writing, her outspoken views about how women are depicted in comics, her support of cosplaying, and her amazing relationship with her fans. I've only met (read:seen) her briefly in line at conventions, but she is always smiling and kind to her fans... and she liked my steampunk Batgirl cosplay!! It's hard to think that she was so difficult to work with that they had no other option than to fire her. It makes me sad to think that she may never write my favorite DC heroines again.
No official reasons for her termination have been released. I can see her refusing to put "women in refrigerators" despite what her DC superiors wanted, and indeed, there have been some tweets hinting that is exactly what led to her getting fired. Regardless of the reason, after an average of 40,000 Batgirl copies sold each month, DC and Brian Cunningham (the new editor of Batgirl) owed Gail a phone call at the very least.
Shame on you, DC.
UPDATE 10/21/2012: Today, Gail Simone has announced that DC has rehired her as the writer for Batgirl. I think it's safe to say that the fan's voices were heard on this issue. I wonder if they notified her via email...
DC's New 52: Who is Wonder Woman?
DC can't seem to make up its mind about Wonder Woman. It took their artists a few months to unify her costume design across all their titles, and it seems like Wonder Woman and Justice League take place in completely different universes, but that isn't my biggest problem with the rebooted Amazon princess. My biggest problem is that Justice League can't seem to give Diana any personality at all! As someone who has been a die-hard Justice League fan (Europe, America, International, all of them) since I was a kid, it's really pissing me off.
Now, it can be argued that there are problems with a lot of the newly rebooted characters in Justice League, however at least they are stand alone characters. Justice League's Wonder Woman is completely defined by her male relationships, starting with Steve Trevor. At first, she was an ignorant meat-head looking for a fight and eating ice cream. Only Steve was able to keep her from smashing everything Hulk-style, despite the fact that none of the other heroes need a handler. Why does a character as smart as Diana (should be) need a man to constantly remind her that it's not ok to go wandering around swinging a sword in public? Even after growing up on Paradise Island, she should be able to figure that out after a few days. Somehow they managed to make her vastly powerful and completely dependent on a non-super-powered man, all at the same time.
Unlike the Diana in Brian Azzarello's Wonder Woman run, the Justice League Wonder Woman seems to be completely lacking in emotional depth. Azzarello shows us an edgy Diana who likes to hang out at rock concerts, is bitter about being teased as a child, cares deeply for her companions, and bravely faces the gods to protect the innocent. The only thing we have seen from her in Justice League is a sudden, desperate concern for Steve in Issue #11, which seems to come out of nowhere despite their prior relationship. Diana has shown almost no emotion on the matter up to this point, unlike Steve, who has been driven to drink because of their breakup. Why is it that a side character without powers, and who has been in significantly fewer panels than Diana, has so much more emotional depth? We have gotten more personality information out of Green Lantern's one liners than from all of Diana's lines combined, but we are CONSTANTLY reminded that all the men in the world envied Steve for being Wonder Woman's boyfriend. Her defining characteristic, and certainly her most mentioned attribute, seems to be her hot body.
Now she is hooking up with Superman. The relationship makes sense from an outside standpoint, but it has completely baffled many people who are actually following the comic. A few panels before the now-infamous kiss, Diana was desperately trying to save Steve, then decided to put even more distance between them to keep him safe. There have been hints that she cares about Steve and that she only left him to protect him from her dangerous lifestyle, but this tiny bit of character development is thrown out the door. BAM! The same night that they get home and Steve is laying in the hospital, Diana ends up making out with Superman on a rooftop. Can we say "pathetic PR stunt?" I'm not against a Superman/Wonder Woman relationship. I LOVED them in Kingdom Come, however this time they didn't bother with the character development to back it up. We've all suspected they'd become an item since the reboot because they were both suddenly single, but there should be flirtations, hesitations, lingering glances, emotional commonalities... SOMETHING to back it up. A two page conversation about how they are different than normal people because of their powers, which I believe is the first one-on-one conversation between them since the reboot, and then a dramatic final panel kiss is just lazy writing and bad character development. But DC got tons of press, so who the hell cares about the characters, right?
I think the worst part of the Justice League reboot (yes, worse than the only female character's complete lack of personality or ping-ponging her from man to man) is that this Diana is so inconsequential. She is completely reactionary, like so many female comic book characters before her, and seems to serve little or no purpose other than being the token woman of the group. She never comes up with ideas or shares opinions. She doesn't stand up for the weak, or worry about the civilians when the team is busy leveling cities to take out bad guys. She hasn't displayed any powers or characteristics that are indispensable to the team, and, despite devoting her life to warrior training, Batman still makes all the tactical decisions. There was a time when Diana was an undeniable part of DC's trinity, but now even I, a life-long Wonder Woman fan, have to admit she'd be the first one I'd cut if I ran the team. Azzarello's Diana faces the gods single-handedly, and you really believe that she could win. He even threw in some new powers to match with her electrifying new back story. Like the changes or not, at least she is bad ass enough to stand on her own.
I am constantly surprised by Azzarello's Wonder Woman run, and although I don't like all the changes he has made, am really enjoying the unexpected darkness of his universe. His Wonder Woman is an edgier Diana, who has some surprises up her sleeves... or bracelets! She is smart, complex, and proactive. Even without mentioning her powers, she is an interesting character. I hope that the Justice League writing team takes their cues from Wonder Woman and starts to rethink their approach to the most famous female character in comics.