Why do modern writers keep using sword and shield over lasso and bracelets?

[LordUltimus]

Is the former just easier to write fight scenes for, or something?

[The I.A.D.C.]

I think it’s because they (and probably DC and WB) think the sword makes her look “cooler” and they believe the sword and shield look appeals more to the male audience than the lasso and bracelets.

[Uncanny Mutie]

I think it’s because they (and probably DC and WB) think the sword makes her look “cooler” and they believe the sword and shield look appeals more to the male audience than the lasso and bracelets.

I think that's EXACTLY it, and is a large part of the reason why she comes off as more of a Zena: Warrior Princess knockoff than an actual superhero these days.

[kjn]

I don't think one can point to one single big reason, rather there are plenty of small reasons.

One reason is that for a lot of writers I think the heroine wielding a sword and shield is safer and easier to relate to than the rope- and bracelet-using one. The sword—as a masculine symbol—signals that she is unlike other women. See also for how the lasso went from being a lasso of control to a lasso of truth, and now even the lasso of truth seems tricky for a lot of writers to handle.

I also think artists find it simpler to pose Diana dramatically with a sword in her hands. I wouldn't be surprised if lots of artists have trouble finding good dramatic powerful poses for Diana (and other superheroines) that aren't bringing too much male gaze or sexualise her.

Another reason is the increased focus on Diana's relation to mythology and ancient cultures. The sword and shield serve to strengthen that connection.

[Agent Z]

I don't think one can point to one single big reason, rather there are plenty of small reasons.

One reason is that for a lot of writers I think the heroine wielding a sword and shield is safer and easier to relate to than the rope- and bracelet-using one. The sword—as a masculine symbol—signals that she is unlike other women. See also for how the lasso went from being a lasso of control to a lasso of truth, and now even the lasso of truth seems tricky for a lot of writers to handle.

I also think artists find it simpler to pose Diana dramatically with a sword in her hands. I wouldn't be surprised if lots of artists have trouble finding good dramatic powerful poses for Diana (and other superheroines) that aren't bringing too much male gaze or sexualise her.

Another reason is the increased focus on Diana's relation to mythology and ancient cultures. The sword and shield serve to strengthen that connection.

I find it odd that Diana wielding a sword is considered problematic by certain fans who think her using a weapon that makes her a living violation of people's free will is acceptable. At least swords have a long association with heroic character, a lasso of control just brings to mind characters like Kilgrave.

[Frontier]

The sword and shield are just kind of goofy to me sometimes because she tends to bring them out of nowhere or they just vanish into the ether.

I mean, more often then not she just goes to hand-to-hand anyways. Can anyone name a single fight, outside maybe the movies, where they were really relevant?

[AmiMizuno]

Not really. I often thing the best way if she needs a sword or shield would be make her bracelets be pocket dimension. She can storage things in her bracelets. She can even make weapons.

[Agent Z]

The sword and shield are just kind of goofy to me sometimes because she tends to bring them out of nowhere or they just vanish into the ether.

I mean, more often then not she just goes to hand-to-hand anyways. Can anyone name a single fight, outside maybe the movies, where they were really relevant?

Well she did use the sword to blind Darkseid in the New 52 League's first battle with Darkseid.

[mathew101281]

Because the first thing people think of when they hear the word Amazon is a sword welding female warrior.

[achilles]

Well she did use the sword to blind Darkseid in the New 52 League's first battle with Darkseid.

Eh, but she didn't need to, nu52 Power Girl went on later to do the same with her hand, I don't imagine it not something Diana couldn't also do.

[kjn]

One word, and this is serious......Xena

While Xenafication is a handy word to describe some of the development around Diana, I doubt one can attribute it to Xena. The increased association with mythology started with Pérez, and there are plenty of other models of sword-wielding women in fiction, both before and after Xena. Marvel's Red Sonja comes to mind, but Robert E Howard had plenty of models too.

I find it odd that Diana wielding a sword is considered problematic by certain fans who think her using a weapon that makes her a living violation of people's free will is acceptable. At least swords have a long association with heroic character, a lasso of control just brings to mind characters like Kilgrave.

I think plenty of us think that one of the points about superheroes should be about responsible use of their powers.

Meanwhile, the sword and shield combo is much more generic, and arguably is part of a process that simplifies and dilutes Diana's character.

I mean, more often then not she just goes to hand-to-hand anyways. Can anyone name a single fight, outside maybe the movies, where they were really relevant?

Her final fight against Superman in DCeased.

[Agent Z]

I think plenty of us think that one of the points about superheroes should be about responsible use of their powers.

Yes but a smart writer should also realize the implications of the lasso of control especially in a time when people are a lot more sensitive to the idea of heroic characters having the ability to supersede people's consent.

Meanwhile, the sword and shield combo is much more generic, and arguably is part of a process that simplifies and dilutes Diana's character.

Arguably, but after seeing how Diana was depicted in the DCAU vs the DCEU I feel confident in saying the sword and shield are just a convenient scapegoat.

[Agent Z]

I think plenty of us think that one of the points about superheroes should be about responsible use of their powers.

So just write Diana as using the sword responsibly then.

[SiegePerilous02]

I find it odd that Diana wielding a sword is considered problematic by certain fans who think her using a weapon that makes her a living violation of people's free will is acceptable. At least swords have a long association with heroic character, a lasso of control just brings to mind characters like Kilgrave.

Nobody would be thinking of Kilgrave if Diana was written properly and not someone who would abuse her powers and tools. Even the Jessica Jones show made a point that there was something inherently wrong with Kilgrave as a person to make him use his powers that way, not the powers themselves.

Has Diana ever used the lasso with its original power set in ways similar to Kilgrave? Meanwhile the sword and shield are kind of generic. They are often used as a scapegoat, but I think it'd be best to remove the temptation altogether. The DCEU used them ok so far, but I like that they are seemingly absent in a lot of WW84's marketing and set pics.

[HandofPrometheus]

Nobody would be thinking of Kilgrave if Diana was written properly and not someone who would abuse her powers and tools. Even the Jessica Jones show made a point that there was something inherently wrong with Kilgrave as a person to make him use his powers that way, not the powers themselves.

Has Diana ever used the lasso with its original power set in ways similar to Kilgrave? Meanwhile the sword and shield are kind of generic. They are often used as a scapegoat, but I think it'd be best to remove the temptation altogether. The DCEU used them ok so far, but I like that they are seemingly absent in a lot of WW84's marketing and set pics.

WW84 seems to completely abandon the sword and shield. Even in the teaser shown she doesn't have them.