The main thing that stuck out to me while reading these Wonder Woman comics was usually in the last three panels. Most of the stories ended with a panel where Trevor gets all the credit for what Wonder Woman accomplished. Diana Prince also is usually nearby listening to him receive praise for what she did. I am torn between really enjoying and really hating these endings. I partially enjoy them because they seems self aware. I feel like this ending panel is meant to be a criticism on how people might not accept a female superhero and would rather give their praise to a man. All this praise is accompanied by Trevor explaining how it wasn't him but no one will ever listen to him.
However, the second or third time I saw it, I began to hate these panels. Regardless of whether or not they are meant to poke fun at society, I think that they are implemented poorly. Firstly, if it happens in almost every comic it loses its effect. And secondly, these panels are usually followed by a panel of Diana Prince looking off into the distance thinking about Trevor or how much he loves her. At one point she goes as far as to say that she might be jealous of herself! I think that the image of Diana sitting there thinking about some relationship between her and Trevor, while he lays there in a hospital bed receiving all sorts of praise is detrimental to the image the comic tries to set. It shows that Diana/Wonder Woman is more concerned with the love triangle (line?) between her, her alter ego, and Trevor than the fact that he is receiving all the glory. Overall, I think that her relationship with Trevor undermines the message that Wonder Woman is trying to express to her readers.
Ben,
ReplyDeleteI noticed these panels too. And I think you phrased it very well. Despite all the good Wonder Woman does in an issue, her ultimate concern is how she is viewed by Trevor. Her preoccupation with Trevor makes me question every action Wonder Woman makes. Is she really looking to serve the greater good? Does she really want to take down evil and help the innocent? Or is she just hoping to catch Trevor's attention? In my opinion, Trevor is not a necessary character in the plot of Wonder Woman as a whole; he simply makes her less "wonderful." I think the comics would be vastly improved without the love interest, therefore shifting the focus away from a supposed love triangle, and more so on Wonder Woman's grace/power.