Wonder Woman is one of the most chivalrous characters in the pantheon of DC Comics. And yet, like every superpowered character, she has been a part of ridiculously over-the-top and humorous storylines. In her initial run, Wonder Woman was teaching an ape how to play baseball or communicating to children through their dreams, among other adventures.
As time passed, though, her character arc developed and she has become a notably powerful member of the Justice League, matching the strength of Superman and the intelligence of Batman. Often, her comic book interactions with the latter two have been the subject of many a meme.
10 Saving The DCEU
There was once a phase when the DCEU was delivering a series of heavily polarizing films, including Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Suicide Squad. In this context, Wonder Woman came as a breath of fresh air, drawing acclaim from both critics and audiences alike.
This meme clearly represents how Diana Prince’s origin story helped rejuvenate the DC cinematic franchise when its other two titans failed. At the same time, she went on to have a mixed record of her own, with Wonder Woman 1984 not matching the hype of its predecessor.
9 Super Friends
Wonder Woman’s recurring partner is Steve Trevor, just like how Superman is constantly shipped with Lois Lane. The Amazonian and Kryptonian have often been romantically involved with each other in a tumultuous on-and-off relationship.
In this particular meme, Superman seems to not hit it off with Wonder Woman. The reason? As Wonder Woman says, "We’re Super Friends." This is a meta-reference in itself, as Super Friends was also a Hannah-Barbara-produced kids’ animated series from the '70s that featured several Golden Age DC characters.
8 "… Nothing Like Wonder Woman"
Whenever a new comic-book film and its casting are announced, a few toxic fans start spewing hate, and Batman v Superman was no exception. Ben Affleck as Batman was accepted with a mixed response, while some were quick to jump to the conclusion that Gal Gadot didn't resemble Wonder Woman at all.
The cynics were, of course, proven wrong after the film’s release and Gal Gadot is often praised as the definitive Wonder Woman, capturing the character’s charm, while also convincingly executing the action sequences. Her costume, too, accurately resembles Wonder Woman’s post-2010 avatars.
7 Killing Lex
Lex Luthor might be Superman’s arch-nemesis, but his narcissistic persona and activities anger other DC heroes too. This meme imagines a text conversation between Wonder Woman and Batman where the two subtly plan to finish Luthor once and for all. Even though her golden lasso is a reliable "lie detector test" on its own, the courts of law don’t accept it as a legal means of finding out the truth. This prompts the Amazonian warrior to suggest alternate methods.
Batman seems more than enthusiastic about the plan, despite his personal code of not killing his enemies (which has violated though on more than one occasion).
6 Mutual Lifting
In new-age series like The New 52 and Rebirth, Wonder Woman has often helped Superman in the midst of battles (and vice versa). It’s not surprising to find them both being able to lift each other’s body weight, as they bear a similar amount of physical prowess.
The two peers/occasional lovers have also been at loggerheads with each other. For instance, a brainwashed Superman killed her in Batman/Superman, while a possessed Wonder Woman slays him in the Dark Multiverse. But in the end, their love prevails and they have each other’s backs.
5 Wonder Woman Meets A Lizard
While Wonder Woman can have her bouts of violent rage or moments of rousing oratory, she’s also shown as a very generous and child-like person. She is an ardent believer in preserving nature and can often be found interacting with animals of all sorts. This comic panel (from Rebirth: Wonder Woman #12) is the epitome of her general friendliness, as she tries mimicking the mannerisms of a lizard.
In this sense, Wonder Woman is a very balanced superheroine, as she has a fair share of serious and joyous moments.
4 Worthy Enough To Lift Mjolnir
In the ambitious comic crossover event JLA/Avengers, Wonder Woman proved to be worthy enough to lift Thor’s mystical hammer Mjolnir. As this meme explains, she ditched the hammer later, for she didn’t wish to use its unlimited power. This is definitely indicative of her maturity, as she exercises great control over her god-like powers.
And as the comment reads, "Wonder Woman’s standards are higher than Mjolnir’s."
3 Sexism At Olympus
In another text conversation meme, Wonder Woman can be seen texting Superman, who asks about her whereabouts in Olympus, the abode of the Greek Gods, ruled by her father Zeus.
She points out the professional sexism she faces while serving as the God of War, a position previously held by her adversary, Ares. As it turns out, the gender pay gap exists not just on planet Earth but also in mythical realms, like Olympus!
2 Change Of Costume
This meme features three alternate versions of Wonder Woman (each dressed in different costumes from different eras of the comic books) fighting over changing the classic look. However, if one were to historically analyze this situation, the actual classic Wonder Woman costume dates even further back from the vintage apparel that readers associate her with.
In her 1941 debut, she wore a flowy culotte and an American eagle on her chest. With time, her costume has undergone several changes, blending American and ancient Greek symbols. Her present-day costume is more practical and warrior-like, ditching the flashy hues for darker tones.
1 Unhealthy Relationships
Bondage-related themes and accessories like whips and Wonder Woman’s own lasso have been weirdly interpreted in her early comics, particularly in the stories authored by creator William Marston. While in this comic panel, another woman urges Wonder Woman to whip her, there have been storylines when Wonder Woman has similar urges to get tied down by her fellow Amazonians.
Of course, now the character’s persona and character development have drastically improved, but throwbacks to old comics like these satirically show the influence of the male gaze in the previous century.
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April 26, 2021 at 05:30AM
