Spoilers Within
As I was looking through Final Crisis today in preparation for covering the final issue (due this Wednesday), something in particular seemed to stand out in a bit more relief. While we’ve mostly been focused on things like inter-series-continuity and Batman vs. Darkseid, one thing became apparent: Final Crisis lacks a big moment for Wonder Woman.
If we take a look at the icons of the DCU, this is what they’ve been doing in Final Crisis:
Superman: Supes ran into the monitors, took point in two spin-offs (Legion of 3 Worlds, Superman Beyond), and arrived to pick up the lifeless Batman. Signs point to the Big Guy vs. Somebody for the finale.
Batman: Batman killed The God of Evil, then got Sanctioned.
The Flash: Whether your flavor of choice is Wally or Barry, they’ve been racing Death through time.
Green Lantern: Hal got to kick some ass at his trial on Oa.
Aquaman: Presently off the canvas.
Martian Manhunter: Died seemingly easily, but had a great special that gave a larger picture of his struggle and passing.
Wonder Woman: Wonder Woman, however, became Patient Zero for Anti-Life, and has spent several issues as a disfigured thrall of Darkseid. Thus far, she’s had no big heroic moment. Granted, one could be on tap for issue #7, but at this point, she’s sort of been a bystander. This is in sharp contrast to her role in the (fairly recent) Infinite Crisis. Diana was central to the action there. Her execution of Maxwell Lord had a number of consequences, she met her Earth-2 counterpart, and she participated in the battle at Alexander Luthor’s tower AND the Battle of Metropolis (where she and Wonder Girl brought down Cheetah, one of the murderers of the Freedom Fighters).
I decided to expand my view of this a bit, and look at some of the other ladies of the DCU in Final Crisis.
Supergirl: Supergirl escaped domination and fought bravely against Mary Marvel. Unfortunately, inhabited by Desaad and powered by magic (a Kryptonian weakness), Mary had the upper hand. It took the intervention of Black Adam and Captain Marvel (Freddie) to stop Mary.
Mary Marvel: As noted above, Mary was inhabited by Desaad and spent much of the series in thrall to Darkseid and questionable hair and fashion choices. Other enthralled characters include Batwoman and Catwoman.
Black Canary: The leader of the JLA also escaped domination and helped lead the Earth resistance. Her husband, Green Arrow, gets taken down by Darkseid’s forces first.
The Question: Embroiled in The Spectre’s struggle, The Question joined Checkmate and became a global-level officer in the organization and resistance.
So here, I guess, is my question: if Wonder Woman gets to have a big moment in issue #7, that will be great. However, will that moment be satisfying and appropriate now that Darkseid is off the canvas? Darkseid and his ilk were responsible for her situation; the end of issue #6 suggests the arrival of a different antagonist. Wonder Woman doesn’t get to defeat the forces that made her a thrall; she may only get to shrug it off and face a different fight. Frankly, I’d like to see Diana get more active in these types of situations. I know that fans by and large do enjoy seeing Batman and Superman put down the big move to save the day. Just one time, however, I’d like to see Wonder Woman deliver the knock-out punch.
January 26th, 2009 at 4:34 pm
See, and I thought I was going crazy. Thank you for corroborating what was plainly obvious to me.
January 26th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
Thank you for this blog/article. I have been feeling the same way. I have been cringing everytime i see Mad Max Diana on page. I still hate that she was the outbreak monkey.
January 26th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
Articles like this one are the reason I love the Internet in general and Newsarama in particular! Where else could I find something to read that so perfectly points out a perspective that I hadn’t even known that I had?
Yes, each and every scene of WW in Final Crisis of late has bothered me, but I couldn’t put my finger on just why. You’ve nailed it: she should be overcoming this on her own! She’s one of the Big Three and needs to be treated that way. If Kal-El can do triple-duty (between FC and the two spinoffs you mention) and Bruce can use his memories to defeat the enemy, then surely Diana has something going for her that should’ve come to the fore by now.
January 26th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
I thought Dianna being the carrier of outbreak was in some way her being the “Eve” of the superheroes (first woman superhero) and corrupting them. Like women always do (joke!)
Superman is brilliant gold, Batman is so-so silver, and WW is shameful, shameful bronze. And it will never change. Bwa-ha-ha!
January 26th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
I don’t know, riding a giant beast-dog with some hideous fright mask was the most “alive” i’ve seen the WW character in years.
January 26th, 2009 at 8:43 pm
I agree that Wondy has been not felt any love and I disagree Superman did anything really deserving other than fly inlooking pissed.Superman moped whilst thousands die and then got his solution handed to him on a platter to save Lois.Again.That is soo old.yawn.
January 26th, 2009 at 9:15 pm
However, Diana did get one of the better fight scenes in the series. And her use in FC #3 was very well done and true to her character. But yes, while Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman were all taken off the board, Superman and Batman made returns. Diana has yet to do so.
January 26th, 2009 at 10:21 pm
Wonder Woman never does anything cool in events (Infinite Crisis? No. Crisis on Infinite Earths? No. Amazons Attack? *snort*), so this will (probably) just be one more instance.
In the broader case of female characters, Black Canary’s gotten some decent time in the main title; but very few characters in general have gotten a whole lot of page-time (even Batman and Superman’s segments mostly take place in dedicated tie-ins).
January 28th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
What Final Crisis #6 where you reading? Supergirl totally dominated Mary, it was the fact that Supergirl was so dominant that momentarily let her succumb to the darkness ‘don’t be so sure I won’t break your neck’. Kara could not win with her morality intact for fear of hurting Mary. Shazam saw this and knew he could de-power Mary. So yes, I think Kara did very well and while not unwavering was definitely the victor of the Supergirl/Mary battle.
but I am a supergirl fangirl so I may be a little tainted. Looking at it though Mary ambushed her with the advantage of surprise, got one good kick and reverted to hair pulling. Supergirl blasts Mary out of a building with heat vision, hits her with a bus, blasts her with heat vision again, hits her with a lamp post, blows her away with super breath and asphixiates her. That is panel by panel!
January 29th, 2009 at 5:54 am
Um, whaaa.
January 29th, 2009 at 6:55 am
Absolutely right, Supergirl did not lose to MM. Supergirl was clearly winning the battle up to the point where the humans controlled by Darkseid started throwing rocks at her, catching her off guard, whereby MM took advantage. At this point, Freddy chooses to see if his magic word will change Mary back. We even see Desaad, as MM, cry out to Darkseid to help him or forgive him, or whatever.
January 29th, 2009 at 10:20 am
Grant’s article on the main page discusses his problems with Wonder Woman – his explanation may not satisfy anybody, but at least he gave one.
August 22nd, 2010 at 5:42 am
You’ve nailed it: she should be overcoming this on her own! She’s one of the Big Three and needs to be treated that way.
January 19th, 2011 at 6:57 am
However, Diana did get one of the better fight scenes in the series. And her use in FC #3 was very well done and true to her character. But yes, while Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman were all taken off the board, Superman and Batman made returns. Diana has yet to do so.