Nikki Finke of Deadline.com usually only covers comic books to the extent that they affect movie and TV deals (which is kind of a lot these days, and by “these days” I mean “the last decade”), but, like so many, she’s been moved to comment on Wonder Woman’s new look. She does not like it.
“I wish they’d just left her alone, especially since she’s the only comic book character female I’ve ever admired,” Finke wrote. “Of course, it took a bunch of men to ruin her.” Finke then scolded DC Entertainment President Diane Nelson for “allowing this to happen,” and for not hiring a female writer to handle the character’s new direction. (UPDATE: As commenter chris points out, whether or not Finke is aware that incoming Wonder Woman writer J. Michael Straczynski is directly following Gail Simone, a female, is unclear.)
Finke continued to quote official DC press materials, calling it the “dumbass stuff that DC Comics is doing to her,” and stated that she’s starting the “FREE WONDER WOMAN!” campaign.
Her next post was exclusive art displaying the costume from new Wonder Woman series artist Don Kramer, provided by the publisher. Remarks from her readers include: “She clearly went to Pamela Anderson’s plastic surgeon” and “oh god…I can’t get past the boobs,” suggesting that the average Deadline.com commenter hasn’t seen a mainstream superhero comic book in a while (or ever).
Let us know where you stand on WWWW (World War Wonder Woman) in the comments.
June 30th, 2010 at 4:54 pm
I am confused, where was Nikki when Gail Simone was writing the title? Where was the support for Gail on her run?
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/27/books/27simo.html
My guess is the change is intended to improve sales. OMHO, and no offense to prior writers, but if the book was selling gang busters it wouldn’t have gotten a new creative team.
I have a great idea for Nikki, rather than “free Wonder Woman”, how about you start a campaign to purchase TPBs from Gail Simone’s run?
June 30th, 2010 at 5:13 pm
It seems like most of the backlash is coming from people who don’t actually keep up with the comics.
June 30th, 2010 at 5:19 pm
The classic costume is really outdated and I can’t get past it, which is why I’ve never cared to try to read WW. It just looks silly. Imagine how ridiculous she would look on screen with that costume. That’s how ridiculous she looks to me on a comic book page. How bad must your costume be to turn off a potential reader?
The new design isn’t perfect, but I’d actually give the books a shot now.
And get over the chest, unless you want all your male and female superheroes to look non-super, I guess. In which case, wtf are you doing obsessing a superhero comic book?
June 30th, 2010 at 5:39 pm
They should stop giving Jim Lee character design assignments. The man has enough problems with composition and human anatomy, he can’t handle anything else. He’s stuck in the 90s, which is not a compliment, the whole decade’s defined by its horrible aesthetics.
They should have asked Alex Ross. I don’t always like his designs (they’re kinda cheesy at times), but if there’s another classic character besides Superman he was born to reboot, it’s Wonder Woman.
June 30th, 2010 at 6:49 pm
I bought Wonder Woman 600 today and I have been buying WW and lots of other comics for more years than I care to admit. The new costume stinks. I’m waiting for Vibe to come back as Black Lantern Vibe and ask for his costume back. The leather jacket is a nice, hack-y touch.
June 30th, 2010 at 7:23 pm
Lynda Carter didn’t look ridiculous in the costume on the screen, and appeared in a well-liked, fondly remembered show that lasted three seasons.
It’s not about the costume. It’s NEVER been the costume. It’s the writing. And it wasn’t just Gail’s run. Most of the writing at DC these days is leaden and uninspired. Morrison’s stuff on Batman is reviled in some fan quarters, but it’s one of the few bright spots that shows ANY imagination.
If Green Lantern tanks, many, many heads will roll.
June 30th, 2010 at 8:09 pm
For anyone outside the industry, it’s been about the costume since before Lynda Carter donned the tiara.
The Wonder Woman TV show was as campy as the Adam West Batman series, and nobody’s especially fighting for that version of Batman’s costume.
This costume is bad, there’s no denying. But there’s also no denying that a redesign has been needed for at least a decade.
June 30th, 2010 at 8:29 pm
Oh, and Nikki Finke is a first-class horse’s ass.
June 30th, 2010 at 8:56 pm
The more people whine and complain about the new costume, the more I like it… the new look, that is, not the bitching and moaning.
WW definitely needed some sort of rejuvenation, and I’ll trust JMS on that front until I’ve actually read something by him that stinks.
June 30th, 2010 at 11:56 pm
This IS going to become a big deal outside of comics, which is probably what DC is hoping for. And the insanity of it all is that the last time they changed the costume and direction of Wonder Woman, it took Gloria Steinem to turn it back.
So maybe, DC should be a little more careful what they do with Diana.
July 1st, 2010 at 12:32 am
If all the people complaining about Wonder Woman’s new costume actually read Wonder Woman, they wouldn’t have to create a new costume to increase sales.
That said, having read #600, the costume is the least of her problems. She appears to be in for horrible, horrible stories for the near future.
July 1st, 2010 at 8:46 am
I might have missed something, but isn’t this costume only a temporary change that is tied to the altered timeline story?
July 1st, 2010 at 8:49 am
The costume is horrible. It looks like a throwback to her 90′s outfit when she wasn’t WW. The new story direction sounds even worse. Wonder Woman in an “urban” setting? W.T.F.?! I liked Gail’s run, she was building something and making Wonder Woman into an even better character. She got exactly who Diana was. but Wonder Woman needs more high concepts, more mysticsim, more scary alien chicks. I mean you just put her at the lowest concept :/ a street fighter? she dont even have all her powers? how will the rest of the DCU forget her? all the history with Bruce and Clark down the drain? Terrible :/
July 2nd, 2010 at 4:41 pm
I see there’s one confirmation of someone who’s read 600, so this is not address to you at all, so I implore you not to take offense.
I do not understand why people are freaking out about the story proposed or the costume. Honestly I don’t I mean I compared the new costume to the old, you know what I found was the major, rea difference? DIANA IS IN PANTS> That it’s. The red and gold? Still there in the areas they were always in. So really, fanboys and this Nikki Finke woman obviously have a need to see some WW leg or it ain’t the same. And of course as we all know to the internet comic fan, change is a bad, bad thing.
The part that’s almost as funny as the costume uproar, an uproar over PANTS, is peoploe freaking out over her history change, as if it’s permanent. Newsflash: It’s not. JMS, DiDidio, everyone involved has CLEARLY stated this is part of a story for Wonder Woman. She has to find out what happened to her history to change, it, why it happened, and set things right again. THAT’S THE STORY. it’s not a permanent change to her past, JMS is giving her a Hell of an obstacle to overcome. This is the Age of Apocalypse for Diana. And it’s up to her and her alone to set things right.
So, form everything I have gathered, with the exceptions being those who actually took the time to read the press releases and story in 600, people are angry over a pair of pants and because they didn’t read something completely. I love internet comic fans…
July 2nd, 2010 at 6:44 pm
>>>>“Of course, it took a bunch of men to ruin her.” Finke then scolded DC Entertainment President Diane Nelson for “allowing this to happen,” and for not hiring a female writer to handle the character’s new direction. (UPDATE: As commenter chris points out, whether or not Finke is aware that incoming Wonder Woman writer J. Michael Straczynski is directly following Gail Simone….<<<<
Well, hey, if she had been a loyal fan to WW and been buying the book all these years perhaps WW wouldn't have needed this makeover so desperately. Of COURSE she does not know a woman wrote the book! She's apparently the typical VICTIM MENTALITY (see: Al Sharpton) that would have NOTHING if not her perceived slighting of women at every turn. "OF COURSE it took a bunch of MEN to ruin her"… ummm… yeah, I'm gonna bet I'm totally correct on this one. Never mind those bunch of MEN that created WW and kept publishing her all these years even though her book has never sold worth a damn. Where was she to dig up those facts and praise the MEN for all of that? I'd say she was busy looking for another look or comment that has nothing to do with her that she can take as an affront and be all bitter and post about it.
July 2nd, 2010 at 8:40 pm
Wow this Niki character sounds like a complete idiot.
She should learn to shut up and get her facts on WW before venting tripe. Took a bunch of men to ruin WW? Hahaahha.
Took women like her to never support the character and just think it’s a nice costume to play dress up. bet she knows crap all about WW history.
It is true empty vessels make the most noise.
July 3rd, 2010 at 7:33 am
Nikki Finke are typical comments from the obvious non-reader. If I were to follow the spirit of her article then I would guess that Nikki is one of those types that probably has a few Wonder Woman t-shirts to flaunt what a feminist she is but will not read the comic because it is so obviously beneath her yet she is all up in arms because the comic company that publishes Wonder Woman’s adventures (or if you’re Nikki “ruins” her). Where was she when Gail Simone was writing the book? If more people read it then, maybe JMS wouldn’t be needed to come in and do what he is doing. And since when is having a nice body something to be upset with? I don’t get angry that Superman has a six-pack set of abs that I could never even think of having no matter how hard I work out.
Lets face it, most Wonder Woman “fans” grew up with the TV show and know nothing of the comic book character.