Wonder Woman is Steve's Story

I really wanted to like Wonder Woman. In my mind (having no experience with the character), she was the female Superman- ready to save the world at a moment's notice with an added bonus of contributing to the feminist movement. Though Wonder Woman does work to preserve safety and justice in America, her most continuous storyline is her infatuation with Steve. So much so that most of her heroic deeds work to further Steve's success and wellbeing, rather than her own achievements. Even though Charles Moulton attempts to make Wonder Woman a heroine in her own right, she quickly settles in as Steve's sidekick, working for his missions (both as Diana Prince and as Wonder Woman) instead of finding trouble for herself. While this can be compared to Superman, who found most of his assignments through his work at the Daily Star, Superman was not attracted to his boss which makes his good deeds independent from his infatuation with Lois. Lois is rarely the cause of his saves, but rather will appear mid-crisis as an add-on rather than an incentive. Wonder Woman serves Steve from the very beginning. This lack of separation between Wonder Woman's lack of separation between her love and work contrasts strongly with male DC superheroes like Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, and others. While these men may find themselves going after their loved ones, they face greater villains unrelated to their partners. With Wonder Woman, Steve's villains are her villains, reducing her agency in the plot and making Steve the pivotal force that drives much of Wonder Woman's story. Moulton's endeavor to create a female superhero who represents the feminist ideal fails because he prevents Wonder Woman from running much of her own story.