A Research of How Comic Culture Creates and Represents Women as Superheroes

In this day and age, when asked to name a superhero, many will say ‘Batman’, ‘Spiderman’, ‘Captain America’, ‘Ironman’, or ‘Superman’ as they are the popular front runners for the superhero genre. This word, ‘superhero’, automatically makes people assume you are asking for a white, muscular, male superhero, much like the heroes just stated. The fact that we don’t have to specify for a ‘male superhero’ is unnerving, as we have to clarify for a ‘female superhero’. Words however, are developing over time with society; for example the word Policeman, has now been changed to Police Officer. As the word ‘superhero’ doesn’t state male or female, surly the term should serve for all genders.

This stereotyping of the word I will expand on, focusing on the creation, stigma and representations surrounding female superheroes, by examining DC’s ‘Wonder Woman’.

Wonder Woman is the most known, and recognisable female hero there is. Over the years she has embodied a feminist Icon, a World War II Veteran, and a sex symbol. All of these portrayals originated from the same comic. First appearing in All Star Comics, Issue 8, in December of 1941, she was created by Dr. William Moulton Marston (under the pseudonym Charles Moulton) who originally named her Suprema the Wonder Woman. Marston was a psychologist who focused on mass media on an individual spectator. This developed a fascination of gender stereotypes, and how women's characteristics were portrayed as weak and passive, compared to men who were portrayed as steadfast and aggressive. Marston’s perspective and understanding can be shown in an interview with The American Scholar, when he is famously quoted saying “It seemed to me, from a psychological angle, that comics’ worst offence was their blood-curdling masculinity…. It’s smart to be strong. It’s big to be generous, but it is sissified, according to exclusively male rules, to be tender, loving, affectionate, and alluring.” This statement clearly shows ‘girly’ attributes, which heroes don’t seem to have. Marston continues “Who wants to be a girl?” And that's the point: not even girls want to be girls so long as our feminine archetype lacks force, strength, and power. Not wanting to be girls, they don’t want to be tender, submissive, peace-loving as good women are. Women’s strong qualities have become despised because of their weakness. The obvious remedy is to create a feminine character with all the strength of Superman plus all the allure of a good and beautiful woman.” Even with Wonder Woman’s purpose being clear, over the years, when writers change, she has become a controversial figure. As Marc Dipaolo states, she is “torn between being an escapist action hero and an activist role model for young women around the world…. Marston designed Diana’s adventure to advance his political agenda and psychological views.”

Another unusual trait which made Wonder Woman controversial in the early years, is the ‘bondage’ tones clearly shown throughout the comics. Many comic readers, and fans pointed out, and were confused by this common theme. Marston had insisted with the comics illustrator, and DC editor, that she be tied or chained up in every issue. His reasoning being that ““Women enjoy submission”.... That the broken chains were also a powerful feminist symbol of emancipation.” Research found that Wonder Woman was tied up 27 percent of the time in her stories, and in issue 10, one out of every five panels in the issue she was tied up; this is one on every page. However, Marston’s approach to ‘bondage’ is much different from our contemporary definition. “For Marston, bondage was about submission, not just sexually but in every aspect of life. It was a lifestyle, not an activity, and he used bondage imagery as a metaphor for this style of submission.” This metaphor is also shown by Wonder Woman and her fellow Amazonians, as they are forced to permanently wear manacles, Marston says it “a grim reminder of what happened when they allowed themselves to be dominated by men.” Marston’s saw submission and restraint “as good qualities for everyone to possess.” In the comics, the character Aphrodite yells in battle “my women shall conquer men with love!” this saying is practically a copy of Marston, as he stated “Nature-endowed soldiers of Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty, and theirs is the only conquering army to which men will permanently submit”. Marston’s view shows the world as a place defined by gender conflict, not class or religion. Wonder Woman was created to stop that segregation and join them together, she is balanced of gender stereotypes, making her the hero of justice.

Like most superheroes, Wonder Woman has a alter-ego, her’s is named Diana Prince. In America, after she left her all-women home of Themyscira, she receives the role of War Office Secretary. The writers justify this position for her, as she is ‘able to keep a close eye on her enemies’. Even with Marston’s creation meant to be “both strong and sexy, as a means of encouraging women to emulate her unapologetic assertiveness.” and as a means for “men to relinquish their power and reform the excesses of the patriarchy would be the sexual appeal of the dominant female.” She was still only portrayed as a glorified secretary. In fact in the early 40’s the main superhero group ‘Justice Society of America’ was created. Not long after Wonder Woman’s first appearance, she encountered the group and offered assistance, this lead to her becoming an honorary member. After the other heroes were left impressed with her skill and eye for justice, they decided to hire her, and allowed her to be part of the Justice Society, but as their secretary. Marston’s feminist views and hopes for the character, were overshadowed by his own conflicting sexism and troubles. His point that “society in general would be a more peaceful place if “woman’s values” were cherished” seemed to vanish.

The golden era of comics boomed when the second world war began, practically every superhero was out fighting the Nazi’s, and encountering Hitler by giving him a piece of their mind. Wonder Woman’s sales at this time also increased, but in the Justice Society of America, she clearly wasn’t an equal member. The men would “deliver a big dose of Justice” by fighting Nazi’s and other bad guys, while Wonder Woman had to stay behind. In issue 14, the group are about to leave on a mission. Wonder Woman is shown saying “Unfortunately, as secretary and honorary member I have to remain behind but I’ll be with you in spirit!” Even being one of the most powerful heroes in the DC universe, Wonder Woman is cast aside and turns from a protagonist, to a cameo character.

Marston’s greed for his character was his own downfall. After he discovered the other writers portrayals of Wonder Woman, and changing her to appeal to more audiences, specifically males by making her more sexual in nature, he got angry and demanded that he write the stories containing his beloved character. However at this time we was already co-writing three other Wonder Woman comics, which left little time for him to focus on her in the Justice Society of America. He created the secretary job for her as a way to keep Wonder Woman on the sidelines of the All Star comics. So ironically, the sexist role which brought Wonder Woman down, was because of Marston’s selfishness of wanting her all to himself.

After Marston fell ill and passed away in 1947, Wonder Woman became a more predominant character. She introduced other female heroes, and was reborn as the strong woman Marston originally wanted to “convince men that strong women were more beautiful than passive ones and were worthy of love and respect instead of fear”. Unfortunately, in 2016 Wonder Woman’s integrity was once more questioned, when the UN dropped her “as an ambassador for empowering girls and women”. Over 44,000 people signed a petition stating that the non-fiction character is over sexualised and objectifies women and girls. Focusing mainly on her revealing outfit which was ‘insensitive’ and ‘offensive’. Many people protested that a “real-life Wonder Woman” be used as this ambassador.

After her character attracted mixed views, she was reimagined and brought to the big screen once more in 2017. The characters first ever solo film, starring Gal Gadot, delivered the strong female lead and role model, that many young girls were craving and deserved. The film brought women superheroes into the spotlight, and didn’t over sexualise them, this made many people question why there weren't more recent adaptations of these classic female heroes. Even with years of character development and the birth or more better heroines, female heroes are still struggling to burst through to the mainstream. In fact, in 2016 there were over 50 comic book based superhero movies in the works, and only 7% of these were platforms for solo female superheroes. In the same year only 12% of mainstream comic based superheroes are starring female characters, which is it’s all time high. It has taken years, and many attempts for film/TV makers to try and portray the true meaning of Wonder Woman, and it is sad to think that in 2017, comic and film culture are only just starting to project what our society has been asking for.

In conclusion, Wonder Woman’s entire existence is to prove females can be strong and tough, while their loving and affectionate nature adds to their strength and power. Over time she has developed and changed as a character, with many confusing twists and turns, questioning the characters soul integrity. But this change along with the popular culture, with luck, will allow future stories to follow in the 2017’s adaptations footsteps, bringing the original Wonder Woman values from her golden years in the 40’s back. Inspiring a whole new generation as she was intended, pushing female leads into the spotlight of comic and film. “Anyone who realises that she has the power within her to make changes, not just for herself, but for women, can be Wonder Woman.”