Maybe after so many years, even superheroes need a change?

 

Wonder Woman, a celebration of 75 years. provides the reader with a very brief but sweeping look at this unique character's personality, role, and appearance as it's been shaped over time. Each era adds, removes, or clarifies different aspects of her person and story.

Kind of like all of us? Don't we all change, at least a little bit, with the times?

Reading this volume, we are immediately given the usual golden age origin and typical old timely stories. We squint to see the details of panels forced tightly together to accommodate oddly complex tales with outlandish features, such as temporary gorilla bodies, and a future president who insists on wearing a swimsuit to work. Nothing new here, typical golden age stuff, just move along please.

The oddest thing about this era's Wonder Woman is her insistence that happiness comes from obeying loving authority. The implications are further complicated by the only loving authority presented is female authority. Now, maybe the writer was just telling kids to listen to their mothers, but I can't help but 'wonder' if this is really a call out to society to put aside the macho power man authority and let women and the values, we associate with women guide our culture.

IS IT EVER REALLY ABOUT THE FICTIONAL CHARACTER?

While the volume is about Wonder Woman, we can't help but notice her changes seem to reflect society's views of women in each era. Starting out as a lone woman making her way in a man's world, to a mod-dressed 'modern' woman with a career and a mission to today's warrior for peace, in each iteration we have to ask why THIS Wonder Woman at THIS time? How have society's views of women changed (or not) over the many years? Because the stories were often written by men, it might be more accurate to ask how have men's views and expectations of women evolved.

One might ask, if the character seems to change this often, how is it this the same character? I believe that most of the writers and artists have kept certain core elements in every iteration, providing a fluid character with a solid core. Again, isn't this really what we all do? Don't we all shift and change but keep our core intact so as to not 'lose ourselves?'

My hope is that as you read this Celebration, you'll notice Diana's core values of helping those in need, and providing hope are always present. My ultimate challenge is to identify and keep my core values while temporarily giving up my tiara and finding new ways to relate the world around me.

May God grant the Church the ability to stay true to Christ, by prioritizing love and proving hope.

Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ DC Comics; Illustrated edition (October 4, 2016)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 300 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 140126512X
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1401265120