Wonder Woman #600 is in comic book shops today, and it features some pretty big changes. The most noticeable being Diana’s new costume designed by Jim Lee, which is supposed to be more practical, modern, and darker.
The other changes are pretty drastic too. The Gods have decided to change the timeline. In this new version they remove their protection of Paradise Island leaving it open to attacks. When Diana is three years old a powerful army descends on the island. In order to save her daughter, Hippolyta entrusts her to three guardians. Hippolyta and most of the Amazonian population are killed in the attack.
“It’s now nearly twenty years later. Diana has been raised in an urban setting, but with a foot in both worlds. She has little or no memory of the other timeline. She knows only what she’s been told by those who raised her. 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”.-J. Michael Straczynski
I guess with everything going on with Batman (being presumed dead and fighting his way back) and Superman (New Krypton, and the resulting War of Supermen) DC felt they had to do something to shake things up with Wonder Woman’s 600th issue. I am not too thrilled with the changes, but this is comics and I am pretty sure everything will go back to normal, as soon as the story arc ends.
When I first saw the costume I couldn’t come up with anything I liked about it, but after looking at it for awhile a came up with a couple of things…
The Good: The new tiara, Jim Lee’s depiction makes it look more like a headband than a tiara (although in panels from the comic it is a bit larger). The bodice has less gold and more red, which I think looks good. My favorite change is the choker, not sure why (maybe it reminds me of the else world’s Victorian Wonder Woman).
The Not-So-Good: I am not a big fan of the pants (what exactly are they made of?!), they might not look as bad, if her boots (are they boots?) where a different color. I HATE the new bracelets! They look more like MMA wraps than bracelets. I think adding color to the cuffs and otherwise leaving them unchanged would have been better. Lastly the Jacket… I am not sure about this yet, my first impression was they are ripping off Black Canary and that it looked rather eighty-ish, but it might be better than the cape.
What are your feelings about the changes?
Jul 02, 2010 @ 21:35:00
Sorry but this is NOT Wonder Woman. They can try to sell the new costume but it takes away from Wonder Woman’s persona the same as when they draw her with an out of control hateful angry face. Wonder Woman face can show anger but not the ugly angry faces they have drawn in recent years. They can modify the traditional costume she has somewhat, but to BE Wonder Woman & all that she has been over the years. DC can not put her into this costume. Well designed it is,but not for Wonder Woman. Give it to a NEW character. I will be watching but I will not be buying until I see the Wonder Woman that I have known & loved over the last 52 years of reading her comics. You ask how I feel about the changes? Well very sad & I have an out of control ugly angry face!
Jul 04, 2010 @ 15:49:27
Normally I’d be apprehensive about even considering purchasing a comic with such a distinctly different look. Considering I’ve never been a huge fan of WW adds even more skepticism 2 the mix, but the reason I’m gonna give this comic a chance is because of JMS! His work on Brave & the Bold has been extraordinary, his work on Thor has been very solid as well.
I think I can give his take on WW the benifit of the doubt. I think the costume sucks. My choice (apparently is one that is not shared by many) would be her Sapphire outfit, just re-colored with her usual primary colors. Anyway since I won’t get my wish 4 a Simone Scott ongoing, I’ll hope that JMS and Kramer is what the doctor ordered.