Sunday, March 23, 2008

A (Very!) Brief Thought on the "Worthiness" of Men

Regarding the Amazon Princess, of course, Gentle Reader. There has been Much Said this week and last regarding the latest issue of Gail Simone's run on Wonder Woman. This Humble Author herself has experienced many thoughts about it, including:
1) General Joy over Ms. Simone's writing
2) Definite Joy over the development of Amazonian rituals
3) Interest in the idea of the Amazon Princess courting a lover
4) Dissatisfaction with Nemesis as a love interest of the Amazon Princess

I have expressed my utter lack of understanding *why* I dislike Nemesis. I really do not know, Friends, and wish I had A Better Answer for you. But I recently commented to Kalinara of Pretty Fizzy Paradise fame on her recent Variations on a Theme column that I am very much a Bat/Amazon 'shipper.

Well, ultimately in my Heart of Hearts, I am a Bat/Cat 'shipper. I adore the pairing of Selina Kyle/Catwoman and Bruce Wayne/Batman because they work well together in both personas. Catwoman is good for Batman, and vice versa, and Selina is good for Bruce, and certainly vice versa.

But the majority of my Bat/Amazon 'shipper-ness results from the fantastic writing on the Justice League (Unlimited) cartoon. I'll admit, Gentle Reader, that the Batman and Wonder Woman sparking on that television show was, in a word This Humble Author blushes to say, sexy (!!!). They sparked, truly, and the writing was, so say we all, fantastic. I think it would be an interesting pairing in the comics, too.

That is, Batman and Wonder Woman/Princess Diana. Not Bruce Wayne and Wonder Woman/Princess Diana.

From all that I have read over the Past Several Years, the most clever writing on Batman has been the establishment that Bruce Wayne is the mask, and The Batman is the reality. Friends, I *adore* this distinction. I *adore* this differentiation between the person (Batman) and the mask (Bruce Wayne). And while Batman has many, many problems, for better or for worse, I adore him. Or, as I said, accompanied by the literary stylings of my Poet-Husband, I adore his batarang, his gobbledygoo.

I think, with all of his problems, Batman and *not* Bruce Wayne would be an interesting romantic companion for the Amazon Princess. Although one cannot come without the other, certainly, it would be an interesting journey, no?

Now of course, Gentle Reader, Gail Simone can make me like Just About Anything; I suspect that even my Most Despised, Most Reviled Reed Richards, in her Very Capable Hands, would become an interesting and enjoyable character for me. (Greg Rucka, too, has my complete trust, as do Grant Morrison, Geoff Johns, and Brian K. Vaughan. For those Gentle Readers perhaps not the Most Constant of Arrogant Self-Reliance, a brief commentary: these names round out my top five Most Favorite *and* Most Trusted Comic Writers.) So while I do not doubt for a moment that I will come to if not enjoy then at least appreciate the character Nemesis, and while I know For A Fact that I will enjoy the *journey* undertaken by these two lovers, I think, too, that despite Previous JLA Failures at relationships, Wonder Woman and Batman *might* be an interesting idea with the right writers.

6 comments:

The Scale said...

I think Wonder Woman and Batman really connect on a warrior level. She respects him because she sees in him a warrior like herself. (Their greatest divide during Rucka's run was WW's willingness to kill if necessary, and Batman's total unwillingness... which probably made him fall short as a warrior in her eyes.)

I'm looking forward to seeing how they handle the relationships in Trinity.

Amy Reads said...

Hi Scott,
Hello, Friend! Long time, no see. How Delightful to chat with you again!

I think Wonder Woman and Batman really connect on a warrior level. She respects him because she sees in him a warrior like herself. (Their greatest divide during Rucka's run was WW's willingness to kill if necessary, and Batman's total unwillingness... which probably made him fall short as a warrior in her eyes.)

Very true. They seem to be very much alike, especially as both are very much Not Human. That is to say, while Batman *is* a human, he's not much of one, no? The Warrior analogy, I think, is quite apt.

I'm looking forward to seeing how they handle the relationships in Trinity.

Indeed! I am Very Much looking forward to it.
Ciao,
Amy

skullduggery said...

Amy,

Were you reading JLA when Joe Kelly was writing it several years back (he followed Mark Waid's run on the title)?
There was a story arc (or maybe two) that had some sexual tension developing between Batman and Wonder Woman.
[I think it was during Joe Kelly's run --- it is possible the origins of that particular situation started during Mark Waid's time on the title --- I'd actually go look it up, but that would mean have to move lots of comic boxes around and I don't really feel like going to the trouble]
Anyway, that particular arc kind of opened my eyes to the possibilities of a Batman-Wonder Woman pairing. I have to say, I found the idea intriguing. Perhaps not exactly practical ... but certainly intriguing.

Mana G said...

To me, the beauty of the Batman/Wonder Woman pairing is that it is rather impractical. Batman points out a myriad of reasons it's an impractical pairing in the Justice League Unlimited, and they were all very true. (She's an Amazonian princess, he's a crazy rich boy in a bat costume, etc...)That's why it works for me, though. I think both Wonder Woman and the Bats could use a little impracticality in their lives on occasion. It's hard to explain, but I think I'd enjoy seeming them struggle through such a relationship, because for both of them, it'd be a mighty struggle. They both respect each other, but they're not intimidated by each other, either, and I think that's a good thing.

Amy Reads said...

Hi Skullduggery,
Amy,
Were you reading JLA when Joe Kelly was writing it several years back (he followed Mark Waid's run on the title)?
There was a story arc (or maybe two) that had some sexual tension developing between Batman and Wonder Woman.


I wasn't, but I am now aware of it, thanks to the Magical Mental Prowess of Mr. Reads. He remembers All Storylines for me, so when I'd like to jump in, here's there to help. (Truly a Prince among Men).

[I think it was during Joe Kelly's run --- it is possible the origins of that particular situation started during Mark Waid's time on the title --- I'd actually go look it up, but that would mean have to move lots of comic boxes around and I don't really feel like going to the trouble]

You are Very Sweet to even consider such a move, but I would never ask such a thing of you as there is The Internets before us! :)

Anyway, that particular arc kind of opened my eyes to the possibilities of a Batman-Wonder Woman pairing. I have to say, I found the idea intriguing. Perhaps not exactly practical ... but certainly intriguing.

It is Very Intriguing. I confess that the majority of my Bat/Wondy 'shipperness comes from the JLU cartoon, which if you haven't seen it, I cannot recommend enough. There is such strong and interesting sparkage there, partly because it is So Very Impractical.

Ultimately, I am a Bat/Cat 'shipper, because I think Selina is good for Bruce and vice versa, and Catwoman is good for Batman and vice versa. I really, really, really wish Helena had been Bruce's daughter.

Ah well.
Ciao,
Amy

Amy Reads said...

Hi Mana G,
To me, the beauty of the Batman/Wonder Woman pairing is that it is rather impractical. Batman points out a myriad of reasons it's an impractical pairing in the Justice League Unlimited, and they were all very true. (She's an Amazonian princess, he's a crazy rich boy in a bat costume, etc...)That's why it works for me, though. I think both Wonder Woman and the Bats could use a little impracticality in their lives on occasion. It's hard to explain, but I think I'd enjoy seeming them struggle through such a relationship, because for both of them, it'd be a mighty struggle. They both respect each other, but they're not intimidated by each other, either, and I think that's a good thing.

Indeed! I cannot think of a Thing to Say in Response except Bravo! I think the very impracticality of it is what makes it so very interesting and, dare I say?, so very sexy. Boy in a Bat costume, princess from a faraway island, it is the star-crossed lover trauma that I so adore.

The lack of intimidation is so very important, no? And they are both warriors. So very interesting on a thousand of levels.

Huzzah, Friend! Thank you for dropping by, and Welcome!
Ciao,
Amy