Still My Biggest Problem With Wonder Woman - No Definitive Supporting Cast!

[Tony]

QFT! I'd take Etta over Zola any day of the wwek. Steve and Etta should always be Wondy's inner circle like Lois, Jimmy and Perry are for Superman.

Agreed. I would actually like to see Steve back as the love interest in the book. With the movie coming out and her breakup with Superman happening it should be easy to accomplish. He really is her Lois Lane.

[SiegePerilous02]

What I wouldn't care for was returning characters thats pretty much vacated the book ages ago simply for the sake of it. I know Etta and Steve are first in the hearts of many here... but what do you actually do with them once they get here? Simone proved just that by turning Etta into punching bag for her own pet monster, while Perez appeared to have realized how little Trevor added after bringing Diana to the modern world. And well, look at Trevor now, DC tries to make him into Nick Fury... and he's now MIA again along with his entire agency.

It's easy to say Steve had no purpose when Perez deprived him of that purpose (being the love interest). The fact that nobody's ever adequately replaced him (Trevor Barnes? Nemesis? Mike Schorr? Ed Indelicato? None of them exactly set the world on fire) and Diana spent decades as some bland, sexless Virgin Mary as a result is pretty telling. He's there for the same reason Lois Lane is there; he's the significant other, and there doesn't need to be any more complicated a reason beyond that.

Etta's role in Simone's run didn't exactly begin and end as Genocide's prisoner. She did help resolve the situation in the Khund arc after all. And she's Diana best friend, that's why she's there. It's not that complicated. She doesn't have to be present in every single story or anything, but she should be part of Diana's life and help out in her own way, just like Jimmy Olsen does.

They're the only characters other than Hippolyta to stick around semi-consistently since the 1940s (aside from certain villains). Steve is in the movie, and Etta is a possibility for that as well. Morrison seemingly considers them important enough to use, as does DeLiz. They clearly must have something going for them, so why not use them?

[Frontier]

Has New 52 Etta appeared in anything past the few Justice League issues with her in it?

[mathew101281]

It's easy to say Steve had no purpose when Perez deprived him of that purpose (being the love interest). The fact that nobody's ever adequately replaced him (Trevor Barnes? Nemesis? Mike Schorr? Ed Indelicato? None of them exactly set the world on fire) and Diana spent decades as some bland, sexless Virgin Mary as a result is pretty telling. He's there for the same reason Lois Lane is there; he's the significant other, and there doesn't need to be any more complicated a reason beyond that.

Exactly, we need a run that successfully merges all previous versions not another new interpretation to add to pile of new interpretations. What WW needs is consistency, not reinvention. And I'm positive any attempt at a permanent dynamic is going to fail unless they include familiar elements from the past.

[Outside_85]

It's easy to say Steve had no purpose when Perez deprived him of that purpose (being the love interest). The fact that nobody's ever adequately replaced him (Trevor Barnes? Nemesis? Mike Schorr? Ed Indelicato? None of them exactly set the world on fire) and Diana spent decades as some bland, sexless Virgin Mary as a result is pretty telling. He's there for the same reason Lois Lane is there; he's the significant other, and there doesn't need to be any more complicated a reason beyond that.

Etta's role in Simone's run didn't exactly begin and end as Genocide's prisoner. She did help resolve the situation in the Khund arc after all. And she's Diana best friend, that's why she's there. It's not that complicated. She doesn't have to be present in every single story or anything, but she should be part of Diana's life and help out in her own way, just like Jimmy Olsen does.

They're the only characters other than Hippolyta to stick around semi-consistently since the 1940s (aside from certain villains). Steve is in the movie, and Etta is a possibility for that as well. Morrison seemingly considers them important enough to use, as does DeLiz. They clearly must have something going for them, so why not use them?

And the reason Lois is still around is because she did something other than falling off tall buildings and happened to provide something other than a character that had to constantly be saved by the hero... Steve doesn't.

No it just came out of nowhere since Etta basically vanished for several decades before showing up as a stocky agent. And Jimmy Olsen is comedy relief, thats just about his job.

Because Steve provides nothing other than the reason Diana leaves the island? And Etta provides nothing that several other characters haven't also provided, just without getting a cheap laugh out of their size.

Even if they were background characters, that still wouldn't make them classifiable as MIA.

If you tried to create SHIELD and settle with using them for jobs any law enforcement agency can do, you aren't really utilizing their potential.

[Dr. Poison]

It's easy to say Steve had no purpose when Perez deprived him of that purpose (being the love interest). The fact that nobody's ever adequately replaced him (Trevor Barnes? Nemesis? Mike Schorr? Ed Indelicato? None of them exactly set the world on fire) and Diana spent decades as some bland, sexless Virgin Mary as a result is pretty telling. He's there for the same reason Lois Lane is there; he's the significant other, and there doesn't need to be any more complicated a reason beyond that.

Etta's role in Simone's run didn't exactly begin and end as Genocide's prisoner. She did help resolve the situation in the Khund arc after all. And she's Diana best friend, that's why she's there. It's not that complicated. She doesn't have to be present in every single story or anything, but she should be part of Diana's life and help out in her own way, just like Jimmy Olsen does.

They're the only characters other than Hippolyta to stick around semi-consistently since the 1940s (aside from certain villains). Steve is in the movie, and Etta is a possibility for that as well. Morrison seemingly considers them important enough to use, as does DeLiz. They clearly must have something going for them, so why not use them?

You've made some great points. Out of all of the characters that have been introduced into Wonder Woman's supporting cast over the years, it's usually Steve, Etta, Hippolyta, Artemis, and Donna who get used as supporting characters just about anytime Wonder Woman is used in an alternate reality story(i.e. Legend of Wonder Woman) or other types of media(i.e. the 70s TV show, Batman: The Brave & the Bold, the animated movie, etc.). Other supporting characters are usually nowhere to be found except in the writer's run of their creation with the exception of Julia & Vanessa who are now nowhere to be found. Trevor Barnes, Ed Indelicate, the blind oracle from JMS' run, Zola, etc. have never really been used in other media.

[Dr. Poison]

And the reason Lois is still around is because she did something other than falling off tall buildings and happened to provide something other than a character that had to constantly be saved by the hero... Steve doesn't.

No it just came out of nowhere since Etta basically vanished for several decades before showing up as a stocky agent. And Jimmy Olsen is comedy relief, thats just about his job.

Because Steve provides nothing other than the reason Diana leaves the island? And Etta provides nothing that several other characters haven't also provided, just without getting a cheap laugh out of their size.



If you tried to create SHIELD and settle with using them for jobs any law enforcement agency can do, you aren't really utilizing their potential.

Even if Johns was guilty of not utilizing his potential, that still doesn't make Steve MIA with him currently appearing in Justice League.

[Tayswift]

It's easy to say Steve had no purpose when Perez deprived him of that purpose (being the love interest). The fact that nobody's ever adequately replaced him (Trevor Barnes? Nemesis? Mike Schorr? Ed Indelicato? None of them exactly set the world on fire) and Diana spent decades as some bland, sexless Virgin Mary as a result is pretty telling. He's there for the same reason Lois Lane is there; he's the significant other, and there doesn't need to be any more complicated a reason beyond that.

Perez removed Steve youth and his love interest role. But then he and byrne shoved wonder owman on superman arms, yay feminism!!

loi slane stopped falling from building, trevor offer more than a damsel in distress too.

Etta's role in Simone's run didn't exactly begin and end as Genocide's prisoner. She did help resolve the situation in the Khund arc after all. And she's Diana best friend, that's why she's there. It's not that complicated. She doesn't have to be present in every single story or anything, but she should be part of Diana's life and help out in her own way, just like Jimmy Olsen does.

They're the only characters other than Hippolyta to stick around semi-consistently since the 1940s (aside from certain villains). Steve is in the movie, and Etta is a possibility for that as well. Morrison seemingly considers them important enough to use, as does DeLiz. They clearly must have something going for them, so why not use them?

yeah, why not use them? johns is the only using trevor, etta is mia. De Liz, morrison and movies give a good north for writers use etta and trevor. time to start having some consistency

[Agent Z]

It's easy to say Steve had no purpose when Perez deprived him of that purpose (being the love interest). The fact that nobody's ever adequately replaced him (Trevor Barnes? Nemesis? Mike Schorr? Ed Indelicato? None of them exactly set the world on fire) and Diana spent decades as some bland, sexless Virgin Mary as a result is pretty telling. He's there for the same reason Lois Lane is there; he's the significant other, and there doesn't need to be any more complicated a reason beyond that.

Etta's role in Simone's run didn't exactly begin and end as Genocide's prisoner. She did help resolve the situation in the Khund arc after all. And she's Diana best friend, that's why she's there. It's not that complicated. She doesn't have to be present in every single story or anything, but she should be part of Diana's life and help out in her own way, just like Jimmy Olsen does.

They're the only characters other than Hippolyta to stick around semi-consistently since the 1940s (aside from certain villains). Steve is in the movie, and Etta is a possibility for that as well. Morrison seemingly considers them important enough to use, as does DeLiz. They clearly must have something going for them, so why not use them?

The issue with Steve is that a lot of what people remember about him is a carry over from a less fondly remembered time in comics. He's always getting captured, is chauvinist at times and his role is to cause a young, naive woman to forsake her home because she has the hots for him.

And of all the problems Diana's been plagued with, her supposed lack of a sex life is the least of them. Rucka and Perez were just fine without one for her. And the new love interests being erased every time probably had more to do with their problems. I personally liked Trevor Barnes.

[Mel Dyer]

I just don't understand the loyalty some WW fans profess to black, slimmed down, failed-TV-pilot-tie-in Etta.

We all know the only reason that Etta is now black is because of some ham-handed, marketing-driven decision to tie a TV Etta to comics Etta, who hasn't been a regular in the WW comic for years! Other than her name, TV-tie-in Etta has no resemblance to the original Etta, whom we all know and love, and clearly isn't the same character. Furthermore, there seems to be no interest in developing her into someone, who resembles the original - making her fat, funny and kinda' weird!

When did being fat or white, or simultaneously fat and black, become something politically incorrect in a comic book? Why should this stand in the way of us getting the original Etta, be she black, white or Latina, back into the comic that she was created for?

I have to part ways with some of you on this issue. If it comes down to bringing a regular supporting cast back to WW, I would gladly take Zola, over 52-Kelly-show Etta, because Zola more resembles the spirit of the original Etta, ..and that is where my loyalties lie. For my money, our Etta is gone for good, and life and goes on.

Zola, a resurrected Aleka, Ching and Steve would be a great supporting cast, with some good writing. ALL of these characters have brought out the best in Wonder Woman, over the years, and that is more important to me, than holding out for the return of the original cast, which largely revolved around a storyline that isn't relevant to the comic, anymore.

[Tayswift]

The issue with Steve is that a lot of what people remember about him is a carry over from a less fondly remembered time in comics. He's always getting captured, is chauvinist at times and his role is to cause a young, naive woman to forsake her home because she has the hots for him.

And of all the problems Diana's been plagued with, her supposed lack of a sex life is the least of them. Rucka and Perez were just fine without one for her. And the new love interests being erased every time probably had more to do with their problems. I personally liked Trevor Barnes.

that happened more thab 40 years ago. majority of these people aren't even reading comics anymore and is time to get over it. New fans are coming every year to read comics.
I don't mind steve being one of the reasons that diana get out, male heroes have often lust for a woman as a motivation

[Outside_85]

Even if Johns was guilty of not utilizing his potential, that still doesn't make Steve MIA with him currently appearing in Justice League.

Doing what exactly? Certainly doesn't appear to be directly fighting the pair of gods that decided to duke it out on Earth.

that happened more thab 40 years ago. majority of these people aren't even reading comics anymore and is time to get over it. New fans are coming every year to read comics.

I don't mind steve being one of the reasons that diana get out, male heroes have often lust for a woman as a motivation

Which is why those new fans aren't interested in reviving characters that haven't played a relevant role in the book for nearly as long.

But it usually isn't the basis of a life-altering decision that turns them into some of the greatest heroes in fiction. And look what happened when 'lusting' for Steve wasn't the primary motivation for Diana to leave with him; people went bananas, as usual.

[Tayswift]

Doing what exactly? Certainly doesn't appear to be directly fighting the pair of gods that decided to duke it out on Earth.

fighting for the love of his life for sure

Which is why those new fans aren't interested in reviving characters that haven't played a relevant role in the book for nearly as long.

But it usually isn't the basis of a life-altering decision that turns them into some of the greatest heroes in fiction. And look what happened when 'lusting' for Steve wasn't the primary motivation for Diana to leave with him; people went bananas, as usual.

I think new fans wouldn't have baggage about supporting cast, like do something interesting and i will care for those characters

I didn't knew people went bananas because of removing steve as prime factor for ww leaving paradise island...

[Outside_85]

fighting for the love of his life for sure

I think new fans wouldn't have baggage about supporting cast, like do something interesting and i will care for those characters

I didn't knew people went bananas because of removing steve as prime factor for ww leaving paradise island...

Think you are confusing him with what he did in Forever Evil, because I find it quite odd that now he's suddenly active again even though FE sort of ruined Argus.

Maybe not, but the cast would already have to be there by the time they step on board. If they stepped on with Zola/Lennox or Julia/Vanessa, why would they want Steve/Etta?

They went bananas because Diana referred to him as 'her ticket' off Paradise Island.

[SiegePerilous02]

And the reason Lois is still around is because she did something other than falling off tall buildings and happened to provide something other than a character that had to constantly be saved by the hero... Steve doesn't.

No it just came out of nowhere since Etta basically vanished for several decades before showing up as a stocky agent. And Jimmy Olsen is comedy relief, thats just about his job.

Because Steve provides nothing other than the reason Diana leaves the island? And Etta provides nothing that several other characters haven't also provided, just without getting a cheap laugh out of their size.

Steve actively helped her out a lot in the Golden Age. He didn't need to be saved by her all the time. And while he was never as developed a character as Lois*, the archetype he plays is important. His romance with Diana subverts the gender roles that we see in superhero comics with the male leads and their civilian female love interests. If he's bland, it just means he's the bland male love interest surrounded by the majorly female cast who are getting all the meaty roles. That alone is pretty interesting.

What characters have adequately replaced Etta in her role as best friend? How many have actually stuck around? And her size hasn't always been used as a punchline. Post-Crisis writers and Ben Caldwell never made her an obesity joke. Morrison's gonna give her back her firey personality, while making her curvy, not obese. DeLiz has drawn her plus sized, but also as a pretty young woman whose personality shines through. Her original portrayal is extremely dated, but it can (and has) be updated fairly easily.

*Who spent the majority of the Silver Age not doing any actual reporting, but trying to trap Superman into marrying her. And also falling off of tall buildings.