[[{“value”:”
When it comes to writing Wonder Woman, one DC icon believes that male writers struggle with one key aspect that female writers don’t. Wonder Woman has been around for nearly a century, and in that time she’s been written by male, female, and non-binary writers.
Despite her prominence in the DC Universe, not every writer has knocked it out of the park when writing Wonder Woman, either in her self-titled series or as a featured character in a team book. But Gail Simone, a writer who’s quite familiar with the Amazing Amazon, has a theory about why female writers tend to be a bit better at capturing the essence of Wonder Woman.
Some Go Too Far, Others Don’t Go Far Enough
Few writers know Wonder Woman as intimately as Gail Simone, who wrote DC Comics’ mainline Wonder Woman series from 2008 to 2010. On CBR’s Wonder Woman forum, Simone discussed the different approaches male and female writers take when it comes to Wonder Woman. Simone had a bit to say, but makes it clear that she doesn’t blame male writers, but that she finds that they tend to go one of two ways. They either make Wonder Woman completely flawless or they make her an awful person. Simone notes, however, that most tend to worry about controversy from giving Diana flaws.
…Gail notes that female writers generally have no problem writing Wonder Woman…
Simone says this isn’t a problem limited to novice writers and that even seasoned pros show some reluctance when giving her flaws. She says that even the best writers will ‘make her an ice queen’ because having Diana make mistakes or seem less-than-noble is going to rile up some fans. On the other hand, Gail notes that female writers generally have no problem writing Wonder Woman and that they will embrace making Wonder Woman more human and thus, have more flaws.
Simone admits that it isn’t exactly fair that women have more license to explore Wonder Woman’s deeper facets than men, but it is the pattern she’s noticed. That being said, Simone says that regardless of one’s gender, readers can always tell when a writer does or doesn’t like Diana. Simone brings it all back to her and how she perceives the hero. Simon says that she loves Wonder Woman and that it all comes down to finding a balance of someone who has boundless compassion, but who can give into her anger when needed.
Does Gail Simone Have a Point Regarding Wonder Woman’s Male Writers?
Does Gender Truly Matter When It Comes to Diana?
For what it’s worth, Wonder Woman was created by an all-male creative team (though William Moulton Marston did take advice from his wife). For all the effort Marston put in to making Wonder Woman a propaganda piece, he made sure to give Diana flaws such as impulsiveness and being particularly headstrong. However, Golden Age Wonder Woman comics were outrageously popular to the point that they outsold Superman. Of course, that was a different era, long before fans could more immediately communicate their thoughts via the internet.
Check out Diana’s earliest adventures in Wonder Woman: The Golden Age Omnibus 1-6!
Gail’s words make sense. A male writer is more than likely going to take a more measured approach when writing Wonder Woman because they don’t want to invite criticism. So they tend to play it safe and have Diana be more flawless, leading to a respectable, but unfulfilling story. A female writer is less likely to receive flak for making changes or presenting Wonder Woman in less-flattering lights, thus giving them a greater opportunity to tell more interesting stories about Diana.
What it usually comes down to is whether the writer actually likes and ‘gets’ Wonder Woman or not.
That being said, Simone notes that this is a bit of a double standard, but it’s not always the case. What it usually comes down to is whether the writer actually likes and ‘gets’ Wonder Woman or not. That’s always going to be obvious in a finalized product. Sure, male writers’ work might be under more of a microscope than a female writer’s. But at the end of the day, good stories are good stories, and regardless of gender, anyone can write a good and satisfying Wonder Woman story.
Wonder Woman Isn’t Perfect and That Should Be Okay for All Writers
Flaws Make Heroes That Much More Interesting
No one is perfect, even an icon like Wonder Woman. A character like her needs flaws and fans should be open to when creators decide to acknowledge them. Sure, not every writer is going to do it perfectly, but writers should have the freedom to experiment with Wonder Woman, no matter their gender. While Diana can be a difficult subject to tackle for even the most experienced comic pro, creators of all stripes should feel welcome when crafting a new adventure for Wonder Woman.
“}]] The snag Wonder Woman’s male writers hit. Read More