Diana Prince as the New Wonder Woman: 2006 JBQ and friends commission by Kevin Nowlan

Monday, February 7, 2011

2006 JBQ and friends commission by Kevin Nowlan

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"The commissioner asked for this unusual group of characters and I enjoy drawing all of them so who am I to argue?"

Featuring Jack B. Quick, Clea, Dalgoda and Wonder Woman

5 comments:

WWrocks said...: I tried sending a email in response to one of your awesome articles.
But i don't think you got it. You wrote this particular article in 2010. If i post my comment on that article, will you still be notified?; February 7, 2011 at 6:36 AM
Diabolu Frank said...: Yes and yes. Since I moderate comments and check this blog most days repeatedly, you'll get a much faster response to a comment (even on an old post) than an email. On the other hand, if this was about the "10 reasons no one cares about WW" article, I sent you a reply late last night.; February 7, 2011 at 6:48 AM
WWrocks said...: I don't think i got it! :)
You mind sending it again if thats OK?; February 7, 2011 at 8:35 AM
Diabolu Frank said...: a.s.a.p. = in about six hours...; February 7, 2011 at 11:58 AM
Diabolu Frank said...: Just in case the re-send didn't pan out:

"...When I spoke of Superman adopting elements from Wonder Woman, it was somewhat tongue-in-cheek. I don't think Superman writers literally read WW comics and stole from them, but rather that Superman's natural evolution made him more like Wonder Woman. It's true that Wonder Woman owed a huge debt to Superman, which is of course true of most super-heroes. I just think there are some areas where WW blazed a trail for Superman that no one credits her for.

Both characters started out as socially conscious crusaders who addressed human problems directly, and in that respect WW very much owes a debt to Supes. However, WW was comparatively more mild-mannered with a clear ideological slant, a stance Superman adopted as the 40s progressed. WW in the 40s was keyed into the science-fantasy Superman traded in a decade later. WW was also known for her bizarre, dream logic adventures, which was a major element in an awful lot of Superman, Jimmy Olsen, and especially Lois Lane adventures in the Silver Age. Both characters were thoroughly whitewashed in the 50s, and Robert Kanigher spent decades writing toned down scripts for WW, to the point where Superman became the more far-out of the two.

What really defined WW as a character separate from all others was how weird and kinky and (sexually) political her stories were. It doesn't matter what powers they give her or which costume she's wearing. Superman stands for Truth, Justice & the American Way, which makes him a dull quasi-patriotic boyscout. Wonder Woman stands for female domination, bondage & liberation, and a subversive assault on conservative values. She's essentially rock and roll, but DC keeps draping her in an apron and trying to call her Donna Reed. That's why the character remains broken, no matter what anyone does.

Great letters, and I'm glad you enjoy the blog!"; February 7, 2011 at 8:01 PM