schmevil

If I was writing a Wonder Woman movie I'd borrow from Perez, Rucka and Simone, and start the film with a lengthy Star Trek-like prologue/action sequence that introduces the audience to the Amazon's mission and lifestyle, and Diana's place in that world.

So we'd open on an ancient Greek battlefield, historically accurate save for the fantastical elements (giant serpents, a Pegasus or two), with the Amazons battling an army whose champion is Hercules. Close on Hippolyta and her closest warriors, all of whom are suitably impressive. We get some sense of the history between Hercules and Hippolyta. Later we see the founding of Paradise Island, the Queen's guard and the birth of Diana. All of this before the credits. This way we emphasize the importance of Diana's culture and of her sisters.

Then I'd go the traditional origin story route: Steve Trevor's crash, the contest, Diana's trip to Man's world, her battle with Ares. Incorporating elements of Rucka's pantheon, rather than just going the Perez route. I'm torn on whether or not to include the Kapatelis family. I might close with Diana being appointed Paradise Island's Ambassador to the UN, to set up for Ferdinand et al.

So not too different from the recent cartoon, but subtracting all of its Steve Trevor Is A Dick, Battle of the Sexes shenanigans, and incorporating some of Rucka's and Simone's additions to Diana canon. I'd like Steve to be an ambiguous love interest - hinted at but nothing terribly explicit. Instead I'd emphasize Diana's friendships with Steve, Etta, and Vanessa, as the means to her learning about Man's World and appreciating different parts of it.

What would your Wonder Woman movie look like?

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io9 -- Why is Captain America ruling our screens and not Wonder Woman?

On the face of it, both heroes are about equally dated. They both seem like examples of the kind of big, brassy jingoism that made sense in World War II, and doesn't really "click" now. And they're both very much "gee golly"-style Golden Age heroes, who are best suited to fight villains whose heads are red or giant, or both. Unlike Superman, who's been updated a lot, and Batman, whose roots are more noir/pulp, Cap and Wonder Woman are indelibly products of the Big One.

But Captain America already has a huge new movie, which flaunts the World War II setting in a kind of Private Ryan-style war movie with supervillains. And meanwhile, David E. Kelley shopped around a Wonder Woman TV pilot to every network, with no takers. (Although Kelley insists the show isn't dead, and he's going to try again.) And Entertainment Weekly had a huge feature a couple months ago, in which luminaries including would-be Wonder Woman director Joss Whedon talked about the difficulties bringing the princess to the screen — with Whedon saying that we need more wonder women, but not necessarily more Wonder Woman.

Why is Captain America ruling our screens and not Wonder Woman?Image via JD Hancock on Flickr.

So why is one World War II hero bigger than ever, while the other is languishing in biker-chick-redesign land in the comics? It's not just because Steve Rogers is a dude. It has to do with how easy they each are to bring out of the era that spawned them.

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Week continues to suck. What to do? Wonder Woman picspam OMG!

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The first issue of my Wonder Woman subscription came today, freakishly on time. I'm going to have to describe DC's subscription system as customer-unfriendly overall, especially in comparison to Marvel's. They use a really weak cardboard backing and soft plastic wrap to ship their books. The issue came through fine, but I worry about the days it comes in with a bunch of magazines and other mail. I'll be flattening that shit out for hours.

Good issue. Weird issue, but good.

Of the bad: I hate Diana's Norse outfit, with it's random metal panties and metal leg bracelets. Just - why?

Of the good: Gail Simone's characterization of Diana and Etta continues to be good, and she's started another interesting story arc. I'll say this about Simone, she's one efficient writer. Since she took over we've had The Circle and the Nazi thing, the wee Khund arc and now this. I'm just not used to this kind of turnaround in my comics. At least not anymore - oh Bendis.

I also like that Diana and Etta really seem to be friends, instead of just people who occupy overlapping timespace. They have in-jokes and history and the kind of easy comic timing that only comes with years of practice. And Etta herself. So much awesome there. This Etta is a fantastic mortal BFF for Diana - she's a professional badass, as well as being a reasonable and kind human being.

As long as the Crisis of the moment doesn't totally derail Simone's story, I have a feeling that very soon this book will be one of my favourites. I'm even enjoying the Secret Agent Prince bits, now that Etta's around to question it. She's already got me on board with this Nemesis-is-not-all-he-that-seems story, although admittedly that was an easy sell, considering how ill-used the character has been.

I'll be happy when the inevitable transition from DOMA, back to full time superheroics happens, but in the meantime, Simone's moving it to a place that actually works for the character. ( spoilers for Wonder Woman #20 )There isn't another book I'm reading that even approaches this level of easy joy. Diana is entirely lovable, and it's absurdly comfortable to root for her. Kind of refreshing, what with the unrelenting angst that She-Hulk, Iron Man and the rest of my precious fan-things are putting out lately.