*Correction: I was quickly ripped a new one today in Wonder Woman Wednesday by the people who rightly called me out on the fact that it was Donfeld and not Bob Mackie who designed the costume for the ’70s Wonder Woman TV series. I also removed the possibly misconstrued Bruce Jenner joke. I’m not transphobic ; I just think she’s an a–hole. So, for those of you who are very non-Wonder Woman and ugly in your thoughts and actions, here is the new, hyper-edited, P.C. version of Wonder Woman Wednesday. I hope it meets with your approval, although I will never know as those who are quick to condemn seldom relinquish a compliment. “Thank you” very much.
The insult Du Jour when it comes to Wonder Woman seems to be referring to her costume as a bathing suit. I believe it started when current Wonder Woman writer/artist and husband/wife team David and Meredith Finch introduced Wonder Woman’s ninja jumpsuit with a v-shaped crotch panel and a priest collar. Meredith defended the new design by bagging on the old one, saying that Diana fighting in a bathing suit was silly. (Ahem, seems to have served her well for the past 70 years.)
More recently in Wonder Woman ’77, Cheetah says a maligning statement about Wonder Woman wearing a day-glo swimsuit which is actually pretty funny and perhaps Marc Andreyko’s own statement about Diana’s costume being relegated to a bathing suit.
Wonder Woman’s costume has had some tweaking over the years but has always remained true its original concept (save perhaps the I-Ching years). I have never looked at Wonder Woman’s classic costume as a bathing suit. When Wonder Woman debuted, she wore a skirt for Hera’s sake! When’s the last time you saw someone swim in a skirt? (Well, there was that time my cousin Mona May swam in a black dress after someone’s funeral. In her defense, who brings a bathing suit to a funeral? In my defense, she was a distant cousin.)
The skirt, while making the occasional comeback, didn’t and doesn’t stick around for long. Now, THAT seems impractical. One could argue they were culottes, but a skirt by any other name is still the same . . .
The shorts were longer at first. Then, they got a little shorter and finally turned into butt floss circa the Mike Deodato, Jr. as artist era. He also gave her bicycle shorts and a leather jacket. You want to talk about offensive?
Legendary designer Donfeld designed the Wonder Woman costume for the ’70s TV show.
Speaking of the ’70s television series, the theme song says it all. It clearly states, “Fighting for your rights, in her satin tights . . . ” Satin tights! Satin tights! Not silk bathing suit!! Who the hell would swim in satin tights? (No, not even Mona May!)
I don’t know why it bothers me so much when people dismiss Wonder Woman’s costume as a bathing suit. I feel like it sort of sharts on the legacy of what creator William Moulton Marston set out to do. Wonder Woman was created as a role model for young girls to look up to. Her costume is modern-day legend. To dismiss her as a bimbo in a bathing suit takes away her power.
It’s like saying Superman wears his underwear on the outside of his pants. They’re trunks, not underwear! Gosh, I don’t know if I’m really helping my case here.
I think one time Wonder Woman cover artist Adam Hughes captured the essence of Wonder Woman perfectly. He always portrays her as a beautiful, powerful woman who can fight right alongside the boys in any damn thing she well pleases.
P.S. It’s not a bathing suit!!!
