Wonder Woman #7 *spoilers!*

[brettc1]

Seems like we waited a long time to see Diana go into action again and then it wasn't that impressive.

I mean, sure big plant but how strong is he? This is why I miss author narrative.

Something like "Diana can feel the vines gripping her with the same relentless strength that the roots of great trees use to shatter stone."

[Pinsir]

I liked this issue.

[Natamaxxx]

Thought this was decent buuuuut it still follows some of the problems I've seen since the beginning of this particular segment, namely the heavyhanded writing which is once again demonstrated by the one-dimensional "All women are weak!" villain that tries way too hard to push the theme they're going for.

Sharp's art is once again, er, sharp but the proportions and storytelling can be off at times.

I agree about the art. It seemed a bit off this issue - perhaps somewhat rushed (like the ending of this arc). Especially Diana, who at times just looked disproportioned - almost like bad fan art in some panels.

[beetee]

Hope we don't see the last of Beast Cheeta. It's a great design..... Esp. for the movies! :-)

[numberthirty]

Seems like we waited a long time to see Diana go into action again and then it wasn't that impressive.

It was also a little light as far as being the "Action Sequence".

[Pinsir]

Did anyone else get a white savior motif from this issue?

[brettc1]

Did anyone else get a white savior motif from this issue?

Not me personally. Are we now suggesting Wonder Woman cannot adventure in Africa?

[Silvanus]

Not me personally. Are we now suggesting Wonder Woman cannot adventure in Africa?

I see Pinsir's point. In my opinion, sure, she can adventure in Africa, but when she does, it could be good to see her working with black African allies who make real impact. To me, the problem of the white savior motif isn't so much about white heroes possessing agency as it is about black characters not possessing agency.

[brettc1]

I see Pinsir's point. In my opinion, sure, she can adventure in Africa, but when she does, it could be good to see her working with black African allies who make real impact. To me, the problem of the white savior motif isn't so much about white heroes possessing agency as it is about black characters not possessing agency.

Well, all the young girls who bound U'vgottabekiddingme were black.

[Silvanus]

Well, all the young girls who bound U'vgottabekiddingme were black.

Sure, and one panel of standing silently in a circle and holding the lasso which Wonder Woman has tossed to Cheetah is better than nothing. Truly, it is; however minimal it may be, it's still a gesture of empowerment, and that's something we always like to see in Wonder Woman comics. On the whole, though, they come across more as victims to be saved than as allies who have real agency in their own, or anyone else's, cause. So I think I have to agree with Pinsir that there's at least a whiff of that "white savior motif"--though it could have been worse.

[Pinsir]

Sure, and one panel of standing silently in a circle and holding the lasso which Wonder Woman has tossed to Cheetah is better than nothing. Truly, it is; however minimal it may be, it's still a gesture of empowerment, and that's something we always like to see in Wonder Woman comics. On the whole, though, they come across more as victims to be saved than as allies who have real agency in their own, or anyone else's, cause. So I think I have to agree with Pinsir that there's at least a whiff of that "white savior motif"--though it could have been worse.

On thinking about I would say the problem is that this is a story set in Africa (To narrow it down, the women look like they are Himba from East Africa) where the 3 main characters are white foreigners.

Too clarify I don't dislike this story and I think it is clear Rucka attempted to give these women agency. There are Wonder Woman stories that I think are more egregious on these matters, several stories from Sensation Comics Featuring Wonder Woman and Alex Ross's Spirit of Truth are the worst offenders.

[Silvanus]

On thinking about I would say the problem is that this is a story set in Africa (To narrow it down, the women look like they are Himba from East Africa) where the 3 main characters are white foreigners.

To clarify I don't dislike this story and I think it is clear Rucka attempted to give these women agency. There are Wonder Woman stories that I think are more egregious on these matters, several stories from Sensation Comics Featuring Wonder Woman and Alex Ross's Spirit of Truth are the worst offenders.

I agree with just about all of this, though, to be honest, I think it's also clear that the attempt to give these women agency was about as minimal as it could possibly be without disappearing altogether. Delete that one panel of the women mutely holding the lasso, and that whole attempt goes away, right?

[Koriand'r]

Did anyone else get a white savior motif from this issue?

Despite the girls holding the lasso, what saves it from this is that so many of the rescuing soldiers were African-American.

[Bosch]

Not that it makes up for the African characters' lack of agency, but the B-plot with Etta has yet to be resolved. I'm sure our mastermind will inevitably be a Westerner profiteering in foreign affairs.

But generally speaking, Diana as white messiah is a problem DC's invited on themselves by pegging her as an "international" hero. I think they might be able to skirt the issue by disentangling her mythos from the US government some and making her a more equal opportunity interventionist, but that doesn't seem likely to happen.

[Scott Taylor]

Did anyone else get a white savior motif from this issue?

The bad guy was also non-African, though, so there is kind of a symmetry to it. But I see where you are going here.