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!

 


The Amazons' New Clothes

Wonder Woman was a  huge success for Warner Bros. With a gross income of over 800 million dollars worldwide and a final score of 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, it breathed new life into the struggling DC Cinematic Universe. The empowering depiction of the film's female characters, including the fighting technique

Amazonian warriors from Wonder Woman (left) and the picture Snyder shared of Amazon Warriors from Justice League (right)

and stylized culture of the Amazons, were one of the things fans loved most about the movie.

Which is why Zack Snyder caused an Amazonian uproar on social media when he started sharing pictures of Amazons from Justice League in leather bikinis.

This abrupt change of direction is a shock and these outfits look like generic barbarian women from a game of Dungeons and Dragons. They completely lack the unique flavor of the Greco-Roman-inspired armor ensembles that Lindy Hemming put so much thought and historical research into creating for Wonder Woman. The Wonder Woman designs received acclaim from fans and costume fanatics alike. They were clearly inspired by the Amazon's origins in the Mediterranean and were feminine but very functional. Why mess with perfection?

Oh, right. The all-male team of directors and executive directors wanted women to fight in bikinis.

More bikini warriors from Justice League

Wonder Woman began filming in 2015, the year before Justice League started filming in 2016. The Amazons'  design was finalized and most of the costumes completed while Justice League was still in pre-production. That means that there were discussions about what the Amazons should wear into battle in Justice League and the epic designs from Wonder Woman were rejected in favor of leather bikinis. Let that sink in. They rejected already finished costumes to redesign and remake the armor so that more skin would be showing.

They rejected already finished costumes to redesign and remake the armor so that more skin would be showing.

Feel uncomfortable? You should. This isn't a new formula for comic books, films or TV shows. All these fields are dominated by white men and their creations reflect their own ideals. Women in films are four times more likely to be shown in sexy outfits and three times more likely to show some nudity. Zack Snyder's ideal female warrior wearing about the same as a Victoria's Secret model on the runway is not a new concept, it's just disappointing and insulting in 2017.

Amazons wearing soft leather outfits (good for showing off boob curves) while warriors from Atlantis and Man's World are in full armor. smh.

Fans have been trying to come up with theories to rationalize the dramatic shift in costumes for the all-female civilization. Memes are making the rounds on social media speculating that the barbarian outfits are from thousands of years ago, or that it is another tribe of Amazons. Not knowing the movie's full plot, I can't say if this was the intention. I guess the theory is that the Amazons didn't know how to make armor when everyone else on earth did... because girls? (insert eye roll) I reject the idea that the Amazons were ever ignorant enough to wear these garments into battle. They have all the knowledge of the ancient world and the Greek pantheon, but based on the production pictures, it looks like the men from Atlantis and man's world had figured out armor while the Amazons were still dressing like bad Conan clichés. There are also plenty of pictures of "modern" Amazon armor that is still leaving their midriffs completely unprotected. An evolution of style would be appropriate but the Amazons would not plan to go into battle with their vital organs exposed.

Amazonian actress and CrossFit champion Brooke Ence wearing her battle outfit from Wonder Woman (left) vs. her battle outfits from Justice League (center & right)

To be absolutely clear, my issue is not with the lack of modesty. The Amazons in Wonder Woman wore sports-bra-like outfits when they were not in battle and I think that is very realistic for a society that lives in a Mediterranean climate. My problem is a millennia-old military culture wearing bikinis into battle because they are women. My problem is a wise civilization that was created by the gods to protect the world thinking that soft leather is armor. I have a problem with a really great design being thrown out in favor of something that would excite the cis male gaze.

I have a problem with a really great design being thrown out in favor of something that would excite the cis male gaze.

The positive reception of Wonder Woman was a major blow to Zack Snyder's vision and forced Warner Bros. to course correct their failing DC Cinematic Universe. Joss Whedon stepped in as director after Snyder and a massive number of reshoots began. Many of the reshoots were reportedly to add more screen time to characters from Wonder Woman. I hope that some of these changes include more of Hemming's complete armor design.

(Special thanks to fellow Wonder Woman fan Wonder Bira for helping me track down some of the pictures I used in this article!)

 


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 Movie Review

(This review is in two parts. The spoiler free review is at the top, with a clearly labeled section with spoilers following after it.)

I have followed Wonder Woman's development since Warner Bros confirmed that she would be brought to the big screen in October of 2013. Watching the creative process was discouraging due to directors leaving the project and  the crushing disappointment of all the other DC films so far. I had lost all hope in this film being any good until we started seeing stunning footage and amazing trailers. Despite being burned before, I couldn't help but begin to believe that my favorite hero might get the movie that she deserved.

I was not disappointed. Wonder Woman is an excellent movie.

Patty Jenkins did what so many others said was impossible. She brought Wonder Woman to life in a way that will please comic purists and general movie-goers alike. It has everything that the other DC movies lacked: color, genuine humor, and most importantly, appropriate pacing that gives us time to form emotional connections to the main characters. I have no idea how she managed to herd all the cats at Warner Bros into doing things her way, but I will be eternally grateful to her. She managed to make a super hero movie that is action packed but has a distinctly feminine tone to fit with a female protagonist. AND it somehow still makes sense in the dumpster fire of a cinematic universe that Snyder created. Miracles CAN HAPPEN!

Gal Gadot knocked it out of the park as Wonder Woman. She does an excellent job of contrasting Diana's vast ancient Amazonian knowledge with her naiveté of man's world. She stays true to the character's comic book roots by caring deeply for others, while also being an incredibly kickass fighter. We follow her as she discovers the extent of her own powers, cheering for her successes and mourning her losses. I'll admit I had serious reservations about Gal when she was first cast. Her un-athletic body type and lack of acting credits worried me (getting your ass groped in Fast and the Furious isn't exactly confidence inspiring) but her Diana is charming, relatable and strong.

The Amazons are one of the highlights of the film. They are pulled directly from the pages of George Perez's Wonder Woman run, which should make a lot of purists very happy. Through excellent costume design, on-location shoots, and casting scores of real athletes, the production team creates a vivid culture that sets the tone for Wonder Woman's personality throughout the film. Hippolyta (Connie Neilson) is a wonderful mother to Diana and magnificent Queen of the Amazons, but Wonder Woman's badass aunt, General Antiope (Robin Wright), is sure to be the fan favorite. The action sequences with the Amazonian army are incredible, with some of the best fight choreography and horsemanship I have seen in recent years. I got goosebumps watching an army of incredible, multi-ethnic female fighters in action. You will too.

The supporting cast does an excellent job of helping the story along, while keeping the focus on Wonder Woman herself. Chris Pine balances Steve Trevor's roles as a leading man, love interest and side kick. He is a capable, cocky American soldier who's heartfelt need to end the terrible war that is ripping the world apart inspires Diana to join in the fight. I haven't been a big fan of his before, but he does a great job in Wonder Woman. The rag-tag bunch of fighters he assembles to help them win the war are less compelling. They are multiracial, which is great, but they are mostly two dimensional and not always very well acted. There are a lot of set ups without much payoff, leaving us with the feeling that some of their story was cut on the editing room floor. Lucy Davis plays Etta Candy, an often forgotten character from early Wonder Woman comics, and is a fun addition to the film, although their shopping sequence is a bit drawn out. She is a stark contrast to the Amazons, but a welcome female presence in the male dominated culture of man's world.

The movie's biggest weakness is its villains. They are canon characters from the Wonder Woman comics, but for the most part they seem underwhelming. There is some doubt as to how big a threat they pose, and the ending is predicable. The final battle slips into Snyder-esque visuals that could have been cut and pasted from the Doomsday battle in Batman v Superman. It's a change in style from the rest of the film, but I suppose that we had to see Snyder's fingerprints somewhere on this project. This is probably the least damaging sequence where he could rear his ugly head, and there are still some really great moments in there that show Diana's true character.

Wonder Woman is easily as good as any of the Marvel origin story movies, but doesn't quite reach the level of The Avengers or Guardians of the Galaxy. It is easily the best DC movie since Nolan's The Dark Knight. It is also the first of the recent DC movies that I'd feel comfortable sharing with children. Over all, the film is a wonderful triumph after so many years of cynics saying it was impossible and I look forward to watching it again and again.

 

WARNING: End of spoiler-free review. DETAILS AND SPOILERS AHEAD!!! CONTINUE AT YOUR OWN RISK!

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As a longtime reader of Wonder Woman comics, I am thrilled that they didn't sanitize Diana's backstory to make her "more relatable" for movie audiences. She is still the only child of the Amazons, sculpted from clay by Hippolyta and brought to life by the Greek gods. They tweaked the Greek mythology a bit, but Diana's basic story stays intact, along with her super powers and Lasso of Truth.

Wonder Woman starts with an unnecessary modern day intro, which unfortunately reminds us of its ties to Batman v Superman, but the real movie starts on Themyscira. We follow Diana as she grows from an overprotected child-princess into a trained warrior with an idealized view of combat. Young Diana (Lilly Aspell) is delightful, with witty lines and impressive horsemanship. Jenkins takes the time to develop the Amazons and their relationships with each other. Their battle on the beach is a sand and sandals action sequence on the scale of any in 300. Watching the Amazons triumph over their invaders is amazing, but it is also heartbreaking to watch them discover the deadly power of guns and General Antiope, one of the best characters in the film, is killed. In these moments we watch Diana learn the harsh realities of war, and the horror of it starts her on the path to man’s world. Some critics are calling this portion of the movie a “slog of a backstory,” but from a storytelling perspective it lays the foundation of Wonder Woman’s character for the rest of the film. I think this was time well spent and it is my favorite section of the movie. (Considering that the trailers for Justice League have shots of the Amazons in battle, I think it’s probably setting the stage for a lot more than just this movie too!)

The movie uses Steve Trevor to bridge the gap between the audience and the more far-fetched aspects of Diana's origin. It is an effective tactic, which was also used in the Wonder Woman animated film of 2009. Gal and Chris have great chemistry and they manage to make some fairly campy scenes work. The best example of this is a scene on Themyscira where Diana walks in on Steve Trevor while he is bathing, and there is an “above average” elephant in the room. We later learn that while Diana has never seen a man, she is very well read on the subject and is unsurprised by the features of Steve’s anatomy. There are some delightfully awkward moments between them that successfully lend humor and humanity to what could have been a very severe story.

Unlike Lois Lane and Superman in recent DCEU films, Diana and Steve Trevor have a surprisingly balanced relationship. When they first meet on Themyscira, he is the charming "fish out of water" who is completely ignorant of Amazon society. However, when they travel to man's world the roles are reversed and Diana is the one forced to navigate a completely foreign culture. They learn from the each other and it becomes clear that each has their own strengths. Diana is in a different league as far as her fighting skills and education, but Steve uses his street smarts and connections to help her reach her goals. The best thing about their romance is that it takes a back seat to Diana's larger mission. Their connection helps Diana learn to understand the nature of mankind, but their romantic moments are just sprinkled in between larger events. Both characters are motivated by their drive to end the war, not their budding feelings for each other. It's a huge relief that Wonder Woman avoids the trap of becoming a story about their romance. Steve plays his part, but it stays Diana's story.

The movie does suffer from being predictable. Anyone who knows classic comic book or movie formulas will guess what is happening pretty quickly. Dr. "Poison" Maru (Elena Anaya) is under utilized. The movie tries to set up General Ludendorff (Danny Huston) as Ares, the Greek god of war and Diana’s ultimate foe, but the minute we see David Thewlis as Sir Patrick we guess that there is more to him than meets the eye. It is revealed that he is actually Ares and the climactic battle that ensues is the least inspired part of the film. They move away from the acrobatic method of combat that Wonder Woman uses through the rest of the film into a Batman v Superman style big blast battle that levels everything around them. It's a little desensitizing and there are a few points where I wonder if keeping stuffy Sir Patrick's face and mustache on the God of War was a good creative choice. There is also a fair amount of monologue-ing as Ares tells Diana that she is a young god/demi-god (which finally explains New 52 style electronic blasts that we see her use) and that Zeus created her to defeat Ares. (WHY WOULD YOU TELL HER THAT? DUMB SUPER VILLAIN!) It is an interesting tweak to the reason that Zeus brought her to life, and also explains why Hippolyta was so worried about her becoming a warrior. I like these details, but wish they’d been revealed in a more elegant way.

The most interesting thing about this fight was that we see Diana finally let loose. It is awe-inspiring and a little terrifying. She momentarily gives up on humanity out of sorrow and anger, and her feelings are understandable. Jenkins does a superb job of setting this up throughout the movie. The gradual creep from losing her aunt Antiope and other amazons on the beach in Themyscira (possibly the first deaths she has seen since the amazons are immortal), to her seeing the horrors of trench warfare and the deaths of innocent people at the hands of modern weapons, and finally the loss of Steve Trevor all takes its toll on her. We understand Diana’s fury and frustration and the devastation of WWI is the perfect backdrop for it. As an audience, it is especially tragic because we know that Ares’ comments about humanity ring true. The “War to End All Wars” is really the birthplace of modern combat techniques and weaponry. These factors make it all the more inspiring and uplifting when Diana overcomes the trauma and, because of the wisdom and love she has gained from her time with humanity, turns on Ares and defeats him.

With Diana’s comments about “walking away from the world” in Batman v Superman, I was very worried that this movie would end with Diana giving up, but the movie ends on a note of hope. The war is over and people are celebrating in the streets. Diana has suffered many losses, but she loves humanity and has not lost her belief that they can learn to be better than they are. The last real shot of the story shows Diana FLYING to the rescue as the world’s first superhero. She has discovered her purpose, grown into her powers, and will continue to protect humanity. It’s really amazing and it was one of many points in the film where I teared up because my inner geek-girl was so happy…

Too bad they HAD to bookend the movie with another modern scene that includes Batman. It doesn’t ruin the ending, but doesn’t really add anything either.

Despite its flaws, Wonder Woman is a really enjoyable movie. It stayed true to the legacy of one of the world's most recognizable icons. Fans of her comics, animated features, or even Lynda Carter's TV show will recognize the hero that they love, and a  new generation of Wonder Woman fans will be born.


Wonder Woman & DC's Rebirth

rebirth (1)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...

Screen_Shot_2016-03-26_at_1.19.18_PMSHE 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 Womanand 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.

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Image by Liam Sharp

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.

 


Comic Creators vs. Cosplayers

3008112-pat_broderickLast Thursday, Pat Broderick, a comic artist best known for his work in the 1980s and who recently returned to DC comics, posted this on his personal Facebook page:

todays heads up. If you're a Cosplay personality, please don't send me a friend request. If you're a convention promoter and you're building your show around cosplay events and mega multiple media guest don't invite me....You bring nothing of value to the shows, and if you're a promoter pushing cosplay as your main attraction you're not helping the industry or comics market..Thank you..

He is only the most recent example of comic creators blaming cosplayers for the changes in modern comic book conventions. (See the idiotic comments by Tony Harris and artist Dave Dorman's wife.) I get it. They are frustrated with the convention scene and cosplayers are easy targets. We put ourselves out there, are a little "different", and hold very little real power at conventions so there is really no risk to them when they bash us. But it really hurts when the people whose work we idolize blame us for everything they dislike about conventions, especially when their accusations are unfounded and inaccurate.

I'd like to break down some of the claims that were made by Mr. Broderick. (Please note that I have copied and pasted his statements directly from his Facebook page, errors included. There are too many errors to [sic] every one.)

Statement #1: "You bring nothing of value to the shows"

What about my money? Is that not good enough? When going to a show, 99% of cosplayers pay their own way like any other fan. We pay for tickets to get into the event, we pay for travel and lodging, and we buy stuff like prints, signatures, and face-time with our favorite artists and celebrities. Raymond Lui, a vendor at conventions added a comment to the Facebook thread:

I sell Japanese toys & collectibles at shows, but I've noticed that cosplayers, who one would assume are my target audience, buy the least amount of stuff from me. The regular attendees not in costume are much more reasonable and willing to support the industry...

WWcovers
This is my complete collection of Brian Azzarello's Wonder Woman run, with most of the variant covers. #cosplayersAREfans

This is a ridiculous claim. Does he think that cosplayers wear their costumes 24/7? It is difficult to wear a costume in crowds, and carrying bags of merchandise makes it even harder. Most cosplayers take off their costumes at some point and walk the convention floor in comfortable clothes to do their shopping. I can be seen walking the floor in jeans and a tee-shirt at every convention I attend. Unless you are taking a cosplay poll of every customer who walks in your booth, there is no way to tell if someone is a cosplayer or not.

We love this industry. We buy comics, autographs, prints, pictures, clothing, and everything else you can think of when we attend conventions. How is that "nothing of value"?

Statement #2: " cosplay are just selfies in costume, and doing multiple selfies is about the highest expression of narcissium,,,,,"

Mr. Broderick posted this as a comment later in his Facebook thread. Frankly, it's just mean. Is there showmanship and narcissism (notice the correct spelling of that word) involved in cosplay? Of course, but we also cosplay out of love for the characters and to have fun. Most of us will never make any money on it, and we just enjoy bringing the characters to life as best we can. Many of us make appearances at charity events in costume for free! Why is it necessary to attack a group of people for enjoying a hobby? Especially a hobby that celebrates the creative work of comic, anime, and other artists?

Statement #3: "The problem as I see it is the combination of both cosplay and multiple media guest at show. "

225px-Batman_the_Animated_Series_logoThis was another comment Mr. Broderick made in the comment thread. What I think Mr. Broderick and many other artists fail to realize is that MANY modern fans were introduced to comic books through other media! I am in my 30s, and I first became a fan of a comic book character through Batman the Animated Series. It's what made me curious about comic books in the first place, and most people my age have a very similar story. We are fans of comics, but we are also fans of other media, and the TWO THINGS ARE LINKED! Why do you think that comic book movies are the highest grossing films in theatres now? Because we love EVERYTHING related to the characters and we have money to spend! We want to go to events where we can see our favorite Batman artists, Batman voice actors, and Archam Asylum video game designers. Having a variety of media increases the appeal of an event.

Professional cosplay guests are just a smart move on the part of conventions because they cost the convention very little money (if any money at all) and they make fans happy. What fan isn't excited to see their favorite character come to life? Disneyland figured that out long ago! What's important to realize is that less than 1% of cosplayers are professionals who get any support or help from the convention. Most of us are just dorky fans paying our own way just like everyone else.

I will say that I agree that comic books are getting less and less space on convention floors, and I don't like it. There needs to be a balance of media, and while I know that the big studios can afford more space than any individual artist, I hope that conventions will start spreading out the space a little more evenly in the future.

Starfire_HRStatement #4: "To those offended cosplay characters participating in these events, while I admire the efforts and time spent in producing your costumes, well done, but keep in mind that these shows started and continue to be GP rated family friendly events so consider the children who attend with their parents and the uncomfortable position you're putting the parents in with your designs. " - This comment was part of a larger response that Mr. Broderick posted on Saturday

OUR DESIGNS?? The last time I checked, most cosplayers were bringing the designs of comic/anime artists to life! If the designs are not family appropriate, than how can a comic convention be "family friendly" in the first place? While I do think that cosplayers have a big responsibility to younger fans when they are at a convention, you cannot blame the DESIGNS on us.

Golden Lasso Cosplay Wonder Woman New 52 2Statement #5: "To those who antiquate their time and investment as an equaled effort to the years artist and writers have put into their trade, that's just wrong and untrue."

Art is art. I have been sewing and creating costumes for over a decade. If I wanted to, I could sell commissioned work. How is that any different than an artist who is drawing for a living? What you do with pencils, we do with sewing machines. It takes lots and lots of practice. I can't wait to see what I am capable of making after practicing for 40 years like Mr. Broderick. Is my time and effort equal to his? Not YET, but I'm working on it.

 

I think the comic industry is undergoing a major transformation. Is it for the better? There is no way to tell, but I understand that it can be scary for people who depend on comics to make their living. Some creators, such as Gail Simone and George Perez, have embraced their cosplaying fans, and their careers are stronger for it. Part of staying relevant in the industry is learning to adapt to the changing convention culture. In an era where most comic collectors are turning to Ebay to completed their collections, conventions are becoming driven by the personalities that are attending and who can draw fans to an event.

You will catch more convention flies with honey than with vinegar, Mr. Broderick.

- - - - - - - -

UPDATE: A few hours after this article was posted, Pat Broderick posted this as part of a longer announcement on his personal Facebook page:

I am now officially announcing that next year I will be sponsoring the first of what I hope to develop into a 4 show convention circuit. And I can assure you that it will be a con devoted to the industry of comics, I will bring creators and collectors together and promote it to fill the halls.
Now I was planning to make this announcement the first of the year, But anyone who has ever worked in advertising knows that with this I can ride the tide of conversation going on right now... Watch the boards starting in January for more announcements and web site direction. It will truly be family friendly and of course I intend to have a spectacular cosplay event.
Pat Broderick...... Game is on...

Sarcasm? A sudden change of mind? I guess we will have to wait and see.


Michelle MacLaren will Direct Wonder Woman

MovieWonderWomanThe official announcement of Wonder Woman's solo movie was a horribly anticlimactic moment for fans around the world. Warner Bros. released a list of ten upcoming DC titles, and Wonder Woman just happened to be on that list. No press event. No formal announcement at NYCC, which was only a few days prior. The world's most well-known female comic book hero and universal symbol for female empowerment had her movie announced in a list that included Shazam and the Suicide Squad. No offense to them, but they don't really belong on the same billing as Wonder Woman. Needless to say, I was seriously concerned for the fate of the Amazon Princess on screen and so disappointed I couldn't even bring myself to blog about it.

Then the announcement came that Michelle MacLaren would be directing Wonder Woman, and I was suddenly filled with hope.

MichelleMIs it because Michelle is a woman? Absolutely not. I honestly don't think that gender can foretell how a writer or director will bring a character to life. There have been many male writers who have perfectly captured Diana on the page. George Perez is responsible for rebooting Wonder Woman and bringing her into the modern age of comics. Without his run, I don't think the Amazon Princess would have stayed relevant in the genre. Greg Rucka also springs to mind. I love his take on Diana and his graphic novel The Hiketeia is one of my favorite Wonder Woman titles. Most recently, Brian Azzarello rebooted Diana again for the New 52. Although his changes were controversial, his Wonder Woman was powerful, intelligent, and ground breaking. He brought Diana out of the shadows and made Wonder Woman one of the most successful titles in DC's new lineup. However, all good things must come to an end. The current FEMALE writer of Wonder Woman, Meredith Finch, is already drawing criticism for her rendition of Diana only one issue into her run. It's about respecting and understanding the character, not what reproductive organs the writer has.

MacLarendirectingMichelle is a very talented director with a knack for crafting impressive action sequences. She is best known for her directorial work on Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad, and The Walking Dead. Very few directors can bring the graphic sword fights of Game of Thrones to life and also create well-done shoot outs for Breaking Bad. THIS IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT! She has successfully navigated the fantasy/historical realm and the modern setting, both of which are necessary to bring Diana to life on the big screen.  I think this makes Michelle uniquely qualified to take on the Amazon Princess, who must straddle the ancient traditions of Themyscria and the mean streets of man's world in the same film.

Considering that DC's movie universe is being overseen by the ass-hat who considered Sucker Punch a story of female empowerment, many Wonder Woman fans have been concerned about her film adaptation. Wonder Woman has been a symbol for female womenGOTempowerment for decades, and it is vital that she is depicted as such in the movies. This is another area where Michelle shines. She has directed the female characters on Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, and X-files, all of which are unique individuals with complex motivations. Any director who can capture the spirit of Arya Stark, the noble warrior nature of Brienne of Tarth, and the intelligence of Dana Scully has the potential to hit Wonder Woman out of the park.

Only time will tell, but this is definitely a step in the right direction.
UPDATE: 4/13/15 - Michelle MacLaren has dropped out of directing Wonder Woman due to what the parties involved are calling creative differences. It is unclear whether MacLaren's departure will affect the movie's scheduled release — it has been slotted for 2017.  


Dawn of Justice: Wonder Woman Rumors

Rumors about the Batman vs. Superman movie, now called Dawn of Justice, have been flying around the internet for months. I was thrilled that Wonder Woman was rumored to be in the film, then had a mixed reaction with the official casting, but I've always known it would be the outfit that would really make or break my hope for this film. Now, thanks to JoBlo.com, we may actually have some hints at the direction they are taking Diana in the DC movies.

Wonder Woman’s costume:

Rainfall Wonder Woman
Costume design from the Rainfall Films Wonder Woman Short

The reports of Wonder Woman wearing the pre-new52 jacket and leggings outfit are inaccurate. Completely. The description of the outfit from our source uses the term “badass” on multiple occasions. This Wonder Woman is ripped right from the comics and has a “traditional, yet sleeker” costume that’s “battle ready.” She’ll have a blue leather skirt, silver-armored cuffs that reach to her elbows, golden tiara (with a design of some sort in the center, possibly the red star) and a variation of the traditional-looking red top (no word on additional armor on it). Her overall appearance is described as “Amazon warrior princess” and definitely not an urban reimagining. She’s there to kick ass and that’s readily apparent. Word is that WB is getting a VERY positive response on her appearance to those they’ve shown it to.

HALLELUJAH!!!! THIS MAKES ME SO HOPEFUL AND EXCITED!!! This sounds very similar to some of my favorite Wonder Woman designs, but it also may give us more hints about the movie. A "traditional" and "battle ready" design suggests that they may be keeping her back story intact, which is hugely important to fans. It also sounds like she is going to be a powerful fighter herself, rather than eye candy to hang on Superman's arm.

Wonder Woman’s weapons:

That’s right, not just a golden lasso here. Wonder Woman will have no less than FOUR weapons, including shield, sword, spear, and of course, the traditional lasso. It’s also noted that she will wear the shield on her back,surrender Captain America style, when not in use.

Did you read that?!? GOLDEN LASSO!! If these rumors are to be believed than this is another sign that they are staying true to comic book Wonder Woman! It is also a great sign that they are arming her with the most common weapons that she is portrayed with in the comics. Now to wait and see if the lasso retains the magical properties it traditionally has.

Wonder Woman’s screen time in the film:

Her character will be introduced as “Diana” in the film initially before we ever see her as Wonder Woman. She will have a fair amount of screen time and will team up with Batman and Superman for the final battle against an un-named villain who may be working or controlled by Lex Luther. Her origin will be intentionally vague, but she is brought into the fold to show that there are other superheroes in the universe other than Superman.

This part I am taking with a grain of salt. I've worked on enough movie projects to know that things change drastically between the script and the cutting room floor. It's nice to hear the whispers that she will be more then a small cameo, and it's GREAT to hear that she will be fighting in the big final battle. Hopefully, they don't have her end up being Lois Lane 2.0 and just a new pretty face for Superman to save over and over.

JusticeLeagueLeaving her origins vague may mean that they are planning on giving her a solo movie later to explain things, but I'm guessing it's due more to pacing and trying to keep the movie shorter than Gone with the Wind. They are introducing A LOT of heroes in this movie. It initially focused on Superman and Batman, but now the confirmed cast includes Wonder Woman, Lex Luthor, Cyborg, Aquaman, and possibly even Nightwing. That's a lot of explaining to do if they are even going to briefly touch on everyone's origin stories, and introducing that many characters in a film will cut drastically into the screen time of any individual character. This makes me nervous, because I want Diana to get the screen time she deserves as part of DC's trinity.

Dawn of Justice has to do well for Wonder Woman to get her own film. These rumors give me hope, but we have a long way to go before we see the final product.

Wonder-Woman-Comci-Book-2


Do-it-Yourself: Costume Helmet (Big Barda)

big_barda_by_jack_kirbyI have always loved Big Barda's design. Over the years it has changed significantly, but her samurai-inspired helmet has remained a trademark of her look. I decided early on that I wanted to go with a more real-world design for the helmet, but make sure that it was still clearly recognizable. Who am I to improve on Jack Kirby's work? Despite the sleek design of the helmet, this was easily one of the most complicated cosplay projects that I have tackled.

I started with a practical base, which came in the form of a child's toy Dodger helmet that I picked up at the thrift store for $2.50. I cut the bill off of it and used it for the foundation of Barda's Helmet. I then used craft foam to measure, design, and test the a few different designs for the back of the helmet that comes down around the neck. I had to be careful that I could still turn my head without trouble, but still have it come down as far as possible.

BardaHelm1Once I finalized the pattern for the back of the helmet with the cheap craft foam, I traced it onto Worbla and made the final version. I used industrial glue to cement the new Worbla piece to the Dodger helmet.After the glue dried, I used my heat gun to bend the Worbla into exactly the shape I wanted. This included adding a slight curl to the bottom of the helmet, and making sure it was symmetrical. Finally, I used Bondo to smooth the seam and make the Worbla and Dodger helmet look like one item. My little detail sander is a godsend for working with Bondo on small or detailed items like this. GET ONE!

BardaHelm2Adding more details with Worbla was the next step. Barda has very distinctive patterning on her helmet, and this is where Worbla really shines. It's so easy to cut a small strip and then bend it to fit along the edge of almost any shape. It attaches to itself when heated, but I also used glue since I'm not sure if it would have securely attached itself to the Dodger helmet and Bondo.

Then I used Gesso to make it completely smooth, by adding a thin layer then sanding, then adding another layer and sanding. Barda's helmet needs to look completely smooth and very futuristic. The Gesso and sanding made the parts of the helmet completely level and smooth, and also insured a uniform texture for the primer paint to attach.

BardaHelm3After what felt like endless hours of sanding, I added the smaller details to the helmet with Worbla. In the picture to the left, I painted the details from the previous step black so you could see the difference. The Worbla attached to the Gesso, and is always incredibly easy to use on details like this. I used Gesso where the strips of Worbla met to make the details seamless and to avoid the gaps that can sometimes show on the final process.

BardaHelm5
Paint job not finished

Now it's time to paint the helmet. Big Barda's helmet is a shiny smooth black, so this took a while. The technique is to lay a thin coat of spray paint over the whole helmet, wait for it to dry COMPLETELY, then use extremely fine sandpaper lightly on any areas that aren't perfectly smooth. After that's done, you do it again. A lot. Eventually, you will get a nice smooth finish that doesn't look like spray paint.

Barda's helmet goes all the way down to her shoulders, and like many comic book outfits that defy logic, she can still turn her head. Physics doesn't work like that for me and so I had to come up with an alternative. I used black scale maille around the neck to extend the look down to give the illusion of the helmet reaching my shoulders. It ended up matching perfectly, and is one of my favorite details on this cosplay. I created the scale maille piece and attached it with Velcro to the inside of the helmet. The fact that it was removable made painting and finishing the helmet easier.

BardaHelm6Clear coating can be one of the most stressful parts of a project. I  wanted maximum shine on my helmet, so I used a high gloss clear coat. I highly recommend that you use the same brand of paint throughout a project (if possible), and ALWAYS test different paints together on scraps before using them on your work in progress. Nothing is more heartbreaking than having something almost finished and then watching the paint bubble or flake because of a chemical reaction. I carefully added multiple clear coats, leaving many hours between each coat to insure that it was completely dry when the next was added. THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT!

I used copper leaf to add the metallic shine. As always, practice leafing on scraps before working on your final piece, and take your time. Fine paintbrushes are very helpful for leafing corners and edges. It can be really tricky to get it looking right. After I finished leafing the main helmet, I added more layers clear coat. This iBardaHelmetFinisheds a vital step after leafing and prevents the metal from tarnishing or peeling off.

Now the majority of the helmet was done, and I could create the decorative front. I wanted it to have some weight and depth to it, so I used Kamui Cosplay's tutorial and sandwiched a layer of craft foam between two layers of Wonderflex. The Wonderflex should be larger than the craft foam so that you can heat seal it around the edges. I molded these pieces with heat to perfectly fit to each other, and to the finished section of the helmet. After these pieces cooled, I painted them or copper leafed them just like I did the other parts of the helmet. To finish it off, I used industrial glue to attach these pieces to the rest of the helmet.

BigBardaGoldenLassoCosplay

 


Magic in Marvel Movies

Doctor_Strange_6534The internet is buzzing with rumors about the casting of Marvel's Doctor Strange. While some really great names have been linked with the role of earth's Sorcerer Supreme, there is another reason that I am thrilled to hear that Stephen Vincent Strange will be appearing on the silver screen.

It means REAL magic will be appearing in a modern comic book movie universe for the first time.

Yes, I know that Loki has been using his hologram-like tricks since his first appearance, but Marvel has been very careful to explain away magic. Asgardians aren't gods, they are super advanced aliens who occasionally come to earth to pretend to be gods. It's not a Soul Forge, it's a Quantum Field Generator. Jane Foster lays it out for us when she explains, "Magic is just science we don't understand yet." While they have been pushing the envelope with each new film, there still hasn't been anything that has been expressly described as magic. Doctor Strange's power is completely based on magic and I don't think that they will risk the wrath of fans to try to explain it away with some advanced science. The technology-ruled Marvel movie universe is officially going to cross the line that they've been so careful to tiptoe with Thor.

wonder womanThis is a huge deal when many people claim that some characters, like Wonder Woman, can never appear on screen with their magic-based powers and backstories intact. These people argue that the modern audience won't accept magic in comic book movies, and so these iconic characters must be altered to fit neatly into the expected norm. It's refreshing that Marvel doesn't agree.

This adds a huge number of amazing possibilities for upcoming DC and Marvel movies! Scarlet Witch, Wonder Woman, Zatanna, John Constantine (for real this time), Enchantress, and so many others now have hope of appearing on screen intact. While adding a few technological advances to the Amazons might smooth the transition (maybe a cloaking device hides Paradise Island instead of magic?), I believe that the magical foundation to Wonder Woman's powers and her magical items can succeed on the big screen. DC's movies have had a very different tone than the Marvel movies, but I believe that they can build upon the foundations laid by the successful Marvel franchises. The average moviegoer isn't going to separate the DC and Marvel movies into exclusive categories. If they accept Loki and Doctor Strange in an Avengers movie, they will accept Wonder Woman or John Constantine in a DC movie.