New Look for Wonder Woman

Well, it beats the heck out of that white women's lib pantsuit she wore for a while in the '70s. Wonder Woman debuts a new costume in the landmark 600th issue of her comic book, in stores this week.

As explained by DC Comics, the revised costume for the legendary heroine (part of "The Big Three" with Superman and Batman) was created by superstar artist and DC Comics Co-Publisher Jim Lee. The new-look Wonder Woman appears in a story written by Babylon 5 creator and now critically acclaimed comics writer J. Michael Straczynski (Spider-Man, Thor, Fantatic Four, Brave and the Bold, Superman) and artists Don Kramer and Michael Babinski. 

"Suppose you woke up one morning, or turned a corner, and suddenly the life you had been leading up to that moment…was not the life you were leading," Straczynski wrote on the DC Comics Blog page, The Source (thank you, Jack Kirby for that). "Suppose someone went back in time and changed one thing, and it changed your life to the point that you had little or no memory of what life had been like before the change happened. What would you do to get it back? Should you get it back? Who did it? And maybe more important…why did they do it?"

And there's the thrust of Wonder Woman's new direction under JMS, as he's called by his legion of fans. He explains the destruction of the fabled Paradise Island while further exploring the link between the (Greek) Gods and the Amazons and also comes up with a new origin for Diana, the Amazon Princess. She's now more entrenched in "man's world."  A child of two cultures?  Sounds more like Superman than her years of being the "stranger in a strange land." Can you say new timeline?

Really, it's like the reboot of Star Trek last year.

"She has little or no memory of the other timeline. She knows only what she’s been told by those who raised her," JMS said on the blog. "On the run, hunted, she must try to survive, help the other refugee Amazons escape the army that is still after them, discover who destroyed Paradise Island and why…and if the timeline can be corrected or not. She also does not yet have access to her full powers, but will be gaining them as she goes. Along the way, she will face a range of enemies — human and otherwise — who we have not seen before."

While Wonder Woman's iconic costume - the most U.S. flag-inspired outfit this side of Captain America - has changed a bit over the years - skirt at first, then trunks, variations on the eagle outline, etc. - it hasn't been altered all that much since her first appearance in 1941. 

How will this fly with longtime fans and all that licensing? Probably just fine. Batman's had a variety of looks -with yellow circle, without, different utlility belts - and sells on everything from t-shirts to coffee mugs and more. "

JMS wrote, "This is Wonder Woman reborn, literally and metaphorically: fast, elegant, tough, smart…the savior of her people, their guardian and protector…avenging the fall of Paradise Island, searching to discover why."

The special issue includes an introduction from TV's Wonder Woman of the '70s, Lynda Carter, and stories superstar comics writers such as Geoff Johns (DC's COO now) and Gail Simone and artists such as Phil Jimenez and Adam Hughes.

Pick up Wonder Woman #600 at your local comic shop and while you're at it, check out Superman #700 and Batman #700, too.