What Would Wonder Woman Do: Canon Events

Often, when I engage with superhero media, I find myself thinking about Wonder Woman and how it—the story or characters or concept—could apply to her. How would she respond to a certain conflict or deal with a particular character? What would she do or contribute if she was in a given story?

Naturally, watching 2023's Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse sparked a lot of thoughts and questions for me.

As discussed in the previous post, I wondered what would be considered her Canon Events.
But going further down that road, the question of what Wonder Woman would do if she was faced with the dilemma Miles, Miguel and the Spider-Society faces in the film regarding Canon Events—namely, are they as set in stone as Miguel insists? Are they worth preserving, even if the Event in question is painful? Where would Diana stand if confronted with these questions?

Thinking about it, when considering her character and backstory, I actually believe Wonder Woman would have a very interesting perspective on the matter.

Wonder Woman's Canon Events

In 2023's Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, a crucial portion of the plot revolves around the concept of Canon Events.
According to Miguel O'Hara, the Spider-Man of 2099 in the film, these are particular events or patterns that occur to every variant of a given person, uniting them through the multiverse. Meaning, to put it simply, there are moments that will or should "always" happen to every version of someone (here, a Spider-Person) no matter which universe they exist in.

In the case of Spidey, things cited as Canon Events include:
- gaining powers from a spider bite
- the death of an uncle, leading to a lesson about power and responsibility
- the death of Gwen Stacy (or in Spider-Gwen's case, the reverse where she becomes a Spider and Peter Parker dies)
- an encounter with a symbiote
...among other examples. 

According to Miguel, these events are what define a Spider-Person across the multiverse.

Personally, I found the idea fascinating. I brought up something like this with my post on Kitana's various adaptations. There are certain beats which define a character that need to be addressed or considered when adapting them to other media or rebooting them. The building blocks that make a character who they are and allow them to remain that character in essence if not literally, even when re-imagined from one medium to another. 

Spider-Verse simply gave it a name and made it an in-story issue.
It's a clever nod to the fourth wall, and from a writing/audience stand-point, it's interesting to see what elements of a character become essential and what can or has been changed between the various incarnations. Part of the fun of a multiverse or Elseworlds story is seeing all the ways these variants remain the same or diverge.
Within the movie, it led to conflict among the heroes, as Miguel has a rather ironclad perspective on Canon Events and believes they absolutely must happen and be preserved for better or worse (whether he's right or wrong about that is a topic for another time).

As I often do when engaging with superhero media, I got to thinking about Wonder Woman and how it might apply to her—in this particular instance: what are or would be considered Wonder Woman's Canon Events?

Flashpointing the DCEU

So...the state of the DC Extended Universe.

After a rocky and divisive start, with Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and Shazam!, the DC movies seem like they may be finally finding their stride. So naturally, many wonder where they go now with their shared universe and if any planned crossover movies should be expected.

As of this writing, I understand the plan is to back off on continuity for now. They're just going to focus on solo movies and not really worry about how or even if they fit into one another.

And for the record, I think that's wise.
Better to just let these characters have their own movies moving forward, I don't need the story of Wonder Woman 1984 to be dictated by what might happen in a future Superman or Batman film, and personally, I would not lose sleep if we never see another Justice League movie any time soon.

Having said that, not too long ago, there was talk of using the Flash's movie—titled Flashpoint at the time—as a way to reboot the DCEU or, at least, erase the more divisive elements.
For those who don't follow comics, Flashpoint was a big event crossover involving time travel and history getting rewritten, leading to DC's New 52 reboot.

A while back, I was thinking about how they could fix or soft-reboot the DCEU with Flashpoint, and it occurred to me there might be an easy way to do it.

In Defense of Venom

So I have a confession to make: I'm a big Venom mark. Specifically, the original Eddie Brock Venom. He is, for all intents and purposes, the character that got me into comics, and to this day, if I was to rank my favorite characters, he would probably remain on top.
Yes, as much as I love Wonder Woman, and even though I've devoted several essay-length blog posts to her, Venom might always be my number one.

So what's the big deal? After all, Venom has been widely popular since his introduction and remains one of Marvel's most iconic and famous characters.

Thoughts on "Justice League"

So Justice League has come and I have thoughts.

I'll preface this by saying I haven't seen the movie, nor do I plan to anytime soon. Everything I'm going to write here is based on spoilers, word of mouth and reviews, which I'll admit might not be fair or entirely accurate.
Some may believe that automatically disqualifies anything I say, but......meh. This isn't a review, and I'm not looking to sway people who loved the movie. If I'm completely off the mark here, then that's fine. Hell, I might even be relieved.

[UPDATE: Yes, I did eventually watch it on TV. I stand by everything I say here. In fact, it was even worse than I heard. So...yeah. If nothing else, I'm glad this movie landed with a wet thud and will most likely be ignored, assuming the DCEU even bothers continuing its continuity.]

If nothing else, I want to get this off my chest while it's fresh. Spoilers ahead, obviously.

Summer of Wonder

So what a summer it's been for Wonder Woman, eh?

Yeah, I'm pretty late to the party, but I thought I'd chime in with some thoughts on the movie. Especially since all my previous posts on the matter were from before the film's release, so I thought an update was warranted.

This won't be a scene for scene review—just thoughts on certain key points and whatnot. Spoilers, obviously, for those who care.
So let's get cracking...

Screaming Chicken Armor: Wonder Woman & Kingdom Come

Superhero comics are a unique genre in that most of its characters exist in a relatively ongoing-yet-static state, but are defined by hundreds of different writers and artists. So although most characters have some kind of foundation of who/what they are supposed to be on paper, that base is subject to the interpretation or reinterpretation of whichever creator is using the character in any given story.

If a character is around long enough, or achieves enough popularity/exposure, he or she will have stories that define them in the eyes of fans and other creators. Tales that will cement who they are and what they're about, or perhaps reinforce who they are and what they're about if the character had strayed too far or had been deconstructed in some capacity.
Or sometimes they're just really good stories that fans and creators embrace and, from then on, will point to and say: "There! THAT is what this character is all about!"

And sometimes there will come a story that redefines a character and changes the way they are seen. A deconstruction, a reconstruction, or maybe the creator just saw something in the character no one else ever had.
Sometimes it might be unintentional and even detrimental to the character.

Arguably, one of the best examples of a defining story that permanently shaped (or re-shaped, depending on your point of view) a character would be Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns. The impact of that title on Batman is still felt to this day. See also Year One.
Another less radical example might be Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely's All-Star Superman—a tale many fans I've seen point to as a perfect encapsulation of everything Superman is, should be, and represents.

And Wonder Woman?
She's certainly had strong, defining stories over the years. If asked, most fans will point to the runs of George Pérez, Greg Rucka, and Gail Simone or specific stories like The Hiketeia.
But there's one book that has influenced how she is regarded in the eyes of fans and creators since its release that usually isn't included when people discuss defining Wonder Woman stories. Largely because it isn't really a "Wonder Woman" story to begin with.

That would be Mark Waid and Alex Ross's Kingdom Come.

Usually, when this story is discussed, it's more in regard to Superman and maybe Batman. Superman especially is very much the heart of the story.
But Kingdom Come is a seminal and defining work for Wonder Woman, even if it wasn't intended to be. It marks a significant turning point for her—both in her portrayal, and her place in DC as a whole—and for better or worse, has defined her in many people's eyes. Whether they realize it or not, it has colored the way Wonder Woman is presented, and its impact on her remains to this very day.

All The World Is Waiting For You

It's a-comin'....

So here we are, one month away—as of this writing—from Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice. Not only that, but we've also gotten info on Wonder Woman's own individual movie, which has already begun filming.
So with the home stretch upon us, I thought I'd offer some thoughts on recent information regarding our Amazon heroine and her upcoming film debut.

Let's get rambling....

...uuugggghhhh...

Shortly after I first started this blog, I made a post discussing Wonder Woman's powers—specifically her endurance and stamina.

In this post, I discussed how Wonder Woman's ability to take/endure damage is often portrayed inconsistently and how that's a real problem with the character.
In particular, when it comes to poison gases or toxins, and I mentioned how there's something ludicrous—and extremely lame—that we have a god-like character who can go toe-to-toe with the likes of Superman, but can get knocked out cold by sleeping gas or chloroform.

So then there's THIS bullshit I happened to stumble across today....

Movies, Doomsday, & Salt

Heyyooo...figured I'd get some thoughts out about recent developments in the land of Wonder Woman. No real united theme or point, just catching up on recent stuff and news.

So let's get rambling...

The Movies

I suppose the appropriate place to start would be on Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, what with the San Diego Comic-Con and I haven't touched on the subject since they cast Gal Gadot.

First...how she'll look in the movie. Quite a few months ago, we got the first official image of Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman:

Defying Gravity

Hey, it's been a while since I've prattled on about Wonder Woman.

Looking back, for all I've written about her, one topic which tends to divide fans—and jackasses who don't know anything about Wonder Woman but seem to think they know how she "should" be portrayed—that I've kind of overlooked is her ability to fly.

There's just no end to controversial Wonder Woman topics, is there?

Words Fail Me

Well actually, one does spring to mind. But anyway...

This is a page from an issue of Superman/Wonder Woman coming out later this week.

From Aphrodite to Athena: Wonder Woman & Her Sword

As time passes, long-running characters have to evolve in order to remain fresh and relevant. Characters like Sherlock Holmes, Dracula, and most comic book superheroes have lasted as long as they have, and remained pop cultural icons, exactly because they've evolved over time.

But a frequent issue when reinventing or adapting a long-running character is finding the balance between innovation and staying true to who/what the character is. Change and innovation is essential, but if one goes too far, or strays too much from the source, you run the risk of...well...

This was a major sticking point in Man of Steel. People that liked it felt it was a necessary and needed re-imagining of the character. Others felt it went too far and betrayed many of the core principles of Superman.
A more extreme example would be Rob Zombie's Halloween films, which changed Michael Myers from a silent, unknowable embodiment of pure evil to a grunting, white-trash brute with mommy issues.
J.J. Abrams's Star Trek movies, the recent Sherlock Holmes films...the list goes on.

Often times, when debating the matter, people look to the original creator(s), and what he/she/they intended for the character and/or story. Because one thing most people seem to agree on is if the re-imagining or adaptation can at least stay true to the spirit or principles of that original intention, then maybe you're okay.

Perhaps the Joker didn't fall into toxic waste in The Dark Knight, and his clown face was merely scars and make-up. But Heath Ledger captured the essence of the character—the nihilistic, "life is a cruel joke, and I'm going to show everyone what a cruel joke it is" core of the Joker.
That's what mattered (for most people, anyway).

So let's have a look at William Moulton Marston and Wonder Woman.

Counting Down

And thus, the Sword of Damocles has come that much closer to finally dropping.

Having threatened us with it since 2008, although no official release date has (yet) been made, Grant Morrison's Wonder Woman: Earth One—now titled, Wonder Woman: The Trial of Diana Prince—is going to be released this coming 2014.

And just writing that statement made my stomach churn. Not since Mortal Kombat 9 have I anticipated something involving a character/property I love with such cringing, soul-crushing, fatalistic dread.

This is going to suck.

Stop "Fixing" Wonder Woman

I’ve written a lot of criticism about the portrayal of Wonder Woman in this blog. I’ve taken issue with she being portrayed as a sword-wielding barbarian. I’ve ragged on the idea of her being Superman or Batman’s girlfriend. And I’ve harangued over the retconning of the Amazons into rapists and Zeus into being Wonder Woman’s father.

A common response I've encountered to such complaints—as other fans have as well, I’ve no doubt—is that Wonder Woman as I believe she should be, Wonder Woman as I want her to be, simply “doesn’t sell.” And therefore, the justification for all the things done to/with Wonder Woman that I hate are, not only necessary, but needed in order to make her relevant and popular.

Essentially, the Wonder Woman I know and love doesn’t work, won’t sell, and needs to be fixed.

This is where I call bullshit on that.

Daddy Issues

Seeing as I already devoted a post to the so-called “Deconstruction” of the Amazons, and I made a passing reference to it when DC Failed Me, Yet Again, I should weigh in on the other major Nu52 retcon Wonder Woman’s been subjected to.

Zeus is now Wonder Woman’s daddy.

For decades, the circumstances of Diana’s birth were that the gods told Hippolyta to mold a child out of clay and they then made it a flesh and blood, living girl.
One of the big “shockers” of DC’s Nu52 reboot is that was a lie. The truth, it turns out, was one day Hippolyta and Zeus met and banged…for some reason. I guess no reason is really necessary—those who follow Greek mythology know Zeus was notorious for his inability to keep it in his pants, as it were.

The clay origin, in actuality, was a ruse to prevent Hera—who had a tendency to take out her frustrations with Zeus’ man-whoring on everyone except Zeus—from swearing eternal vengeance on the Amazons, and Diana in particular. 'Cause them bitches be crazy, I guess.

Sigh.

The Star-Spangled Bathing Suit

Well, I suppose I might as well throw in some thoughts on Wonder Woman’s costume. That does tend to be a hot-button issue that always seems to come up when discussing her.

The subject of her costume has been a point of contention especially for the past couple of years.  Notably, the Odyssey story arc that had the audacity to put Wonder Woman in (gasp) PANTS. The pants/no pants issue was also a sticking point with the failed pilot from David E. Kelley. And right now, there’s the coming Wonder Woman XXX porn which features a very accurate translation of the costume that’s been fairly well-received.

And as the prospect of a future Wonder Woman movie—or more likely, an appearance in a Justice League movie—looms over the horizon, the debate of her costume and adapting it comes about more and more.

For Want of Rogues part II: Nemeses

As we know, the villain in a story is just as—and sometimes even more—important than the hero. Often, when dealing with a hero that faces a variety of foes, there is one that emerges as the villain of them all. The Shadow, the arch-nemesis, the antithesis. Sherlock Holmes has his Prof. Moriarty. Neo has his Agent Smith. And in superhero comics, Batman has his Joker. Reed Richards has his Dr. Doom.

I've talked a lot about the lesser known, less used Wonder Woman rogues. But who stands above them all as the Amazon's greatest enemy?

You Fail Me Yet Again, DC

Okay, I was working on my next post when I came across this and felt obliged to stop what I was doing and rant about it.

It’s just been announced a new DC video game titled Infinite Crisis is being worked on. Some kind of MMO or some-such, I don’t really know or care—my gamer days have been over for some time now.
What I want to discuss is the little bio the developers have created for Wonder Woman:

"Born of Zeus and Queen Hippolyta of the Amazons, Wonder Woman protects those in need with sword and shield.
"The Amazons lived in isolation until pilot Steve Trevor crashed on their island paradise and Diana fought to accompany him back to civilization as Wonder Woman. Expecting a world of peace and prosperity, she instead discovered war and hate, vowing then to enact change. Viewing conflict as an ugly necessity, Diana offers opponents mercy if at all possible."

I want you to soak this in.
If you’ve been following my ongoing ramblings about Wonder Woman, you might not be surprised to find I am at a loss. This little blurb here, this little summation of who Wonder Woman is, illustrates so much of what I’ve been saying is wrong with how Wonder Woman is portrayed and advertised by DC Comics.

And I’m going to break it down, piece by piece.

For Want of Rogues part I: The Gallery

The old saying goes, “A hero is only as good as their villain.” And this is especially true for superhero comics, where the hero usually accumulates a colorful cast of antagonists we like to refer to as a “Rogues Gallery.”

Unfortunately, Wonder Woman isn’t held in high regard for her Rogues Gallery.
Granted, like any character, she has her share of duds—like Angle-Man, Blue Snowman, and (yes) Mouse Man. But there are some potentially interesting villains if the writers bothered to look and actually use them.