Creator of Wonder Woman
When William Moulton Marston created Wonder Woman, back in December of 1941, did he ever think it was possible that Wonder Woman would be depicted as a queer woman or that Themyscira, the all female island ruled by Queen Hippolyta, Wonder Woman’s mother, would be inhabited by trans women? I doubt it…but, in ‘Nubia and The Amazons’, by writer Stephanie Williams, DC comics has done just that. William Marston is shuddering. But…is anyone surprised by this direction from DC comics? Probably not. DC comics has systematically destroyed the original intentions of all of its mainstay characters over the last decade in the name of representation and diversity. They have abandoned a fanbase that have been fans of these characters for decades, in favor of an LGBTQ minority that only cares that DC is representing their cause rather than purchasing their product. Tim Drake AKA Robin, came out as bi-sexual when his whole history has consisted of dating and sleeping with one woman after another. Superman’s son Jon, who is now the Superman in the DC universe, is bisexual and protests against climate change under the moniker of “Truth, Justice, and a Better Tomorrow”. Wonder Woman is depicted as queer in a new comic book series, Bat-Girl has a trans woman roommate who is bisexual, Batwoman is a lesbian, Poison Ivy is bi-sexual, Harley Quinn is bi-sexual, and the list goes on and on. There are many reasons DC comics is changing the core of all their characters, from copyright issues to ESG government rated funding, but the reasons are insidious and self serving.
Fans Could Care Less About Your Politics in Their Superheroes
There is no way to actually tell whether or not these politically charged comics are selling, because comic book retail shops purchase comics from DC via a distributor, and those are the only numbers that are reported. You can only go on word of mouth whether or not consumers are actually buying this garbage. So, when retailers across the country are purchasing ten thousand copies of an issue of Wonder Woman who is depicted as queer, it looks like sales are all well and good, when in actuality, a typical Wonder Woman issue can’t even break the top 50. In fact, the only DC titles to break the top 50, are all Batman related. ‘Nubia and the Amazons’ ranked number 52 in its debut, and that’s probably because retailers were forced into buying a certain amount of comics to get any related limited edition issues. Issues with “firsts” in them tend to have collectibility no matter the content, and generally see a spike for that first appearance issue. ‘Nubia and the Amazons #2 came in at 138 out of the top 200 selling comic books in November. What does that tell you about how much fans want to read about representation and diversity in their comic books.
DC Comics Needs to Stop Hiring Activists to Write Their Superheroes
Wonder Woman is just the lates example of how DC comics cares more about an agenda rather than telling great stories with great artwork. In an article over at Den of Geek by Rosie Knight, editor in chief Marie Javins admits to having an agenda but claims it’s not about reinventing anything.
“My whole agenda is to build on things. One common approach people have is to reinvent. I’m not reinventing. We’re just building on the past.”
When a person states that they have an agenda, it usually means they intend to change something, in other words…reinvent. In comic books, which has been over run by political activists, the agenda is to write comic books that represent a personal point of view as opposed to just writing great superhero stories that are politically free. Javins claims that because of the Cavern of Souls, which was introduced by George Perez in Wonder Woman vol 2 #1 back in 1987, this gives DC the latitude to say that anyone can be accepted on Themyscira as an Amazon. The reintroduction of the Cavern of Souls, now renamed The Well of Souls, is a place where women’s souls live after being killed horrifically by man. These souls are now able to be transformed into Amazons.
“I thought that that was just such a brilliant way to say on a divine level that everyone is welcome [in Themyscira]. So taking that idea and bringing it to 2021, it was important to both Vita and I that we include trans women in our Themyscira. We are now focusing on stories of Amazons of color and trans Amazons in a world that is more ready to read about them, But they have always been there.”
The Traditional Comic Book Fan is Turning Their Back on DC Comics
I’m sorry, but trans Amazon women have not “always been on Themyscira”. Themyscira is an island of warriors led by the goddess Hippolyta and her Demi-goddess daughter Wonder Woman. They kick ass and collaborate with the world of man. Wonder Woman has been in a heterosexual relationship with Steve Trevor on and off for decades. What male comic book fan wants to read about how Wonder Woman is now queer and it’s ok to be a trans-woman on Themyscira, and that Themyscira is now going to be a safe space of inclusivity? DC is alienating half of its audience with this trash, in some obscure hope that the LGBTQ community is going to alleviate horrible sales of these politically infused superheroes. But, the numbers don’t lie, and maybe ‘Nubia and the Amazons’ #3 won’t even crack the top 200 comic book list. It’s sad, but DC comics will continue to push an agenda in a medium that is quickly becoming insignificant to legions of fans.
Related: In Unexpected News…Superman’s Gay
