How special should Diana be among the Amazons?

[JackDaw]

Superman hasn't been top dog in DC in decades no matter how much writers and fans want to believe

But even if we accept that for purpose of carrying debate forward (some other heroes power levels have been absurd)...it's a long way to go from saying something like "White Lantern or full powered Wally West should take Superman" to saying any random Amazon ground troop should be equal to Supernan.

I've been bemused at some of suggestions for power ratings of average Amazons on this thread...for example, that low rating should be Spider-Man....who is 40 times faster, stronger, and more durable than a normal fit human.

Is there really any basis in mythology, or regular routine feats in DC comics to give that rating...or anything near it...to a bog standard Amazon???

[Agent Z]

But even if we accept that for purpose of carrying debate forward (some other heroes power levels have been absurd)...it's a long way to go from saying something like "White Lantern or full powered Wally West should take Superman" to saying any random Amazon ground troop should be equal to Supernan.

I've been bemused at some of suggestions for power ratings of average Amazons on this thread...for example, that low rating should be Spider-Man....who is 40 times faster, stronger, and more durable than a normal fit human.

Is there really any basis in mythology, or regular routine feats in DC comics to give that rating...or anything near it...to a bog standard Amazon???

People are giving their opinions based on what they'd like not necessarily what has happened in the comics.

[JackDaw]

People are giving their opinions based on what they'd like not necessarily what has happened in the comics.

I sort of guessed that.

But...if long term fans of the overall Amazon set-up...want a massively different power rating for average Amazon to those shown in the comics for many a year, it does beg question "why"?

[Agent Z]

I sort of guessed that.

But...if long term fans of a set of characters...want a massively different power ratings to those shown in the comics for many a year, it does beg question "why"?

Don't know if there's an answer to that or anything fans want besides "why not?"

[daBronzeBomma]

It really depends on how important you feel The Contest is to the Wonderverse franchise.

If it is important and must be used in Diana's origin, then she cannot have any gods-given unfair advantages over her fellow Amazon competitors, else the whole affair be come a giant farce.

Diana should win the Contest because of her earned skill and will and cunning, not because she can cleanly bench press a loaded Aircraft Carrier while none of the other Amazons can even bench press a loaded SUV. That's beyond unfair, to the point of being criminal on Diana's part.

If The Contest remains and Diana participates in it, then her gods-given abilities should be granted only AFTER she cleanly wins it as a reward.

So, no non-Amazon powers for Diana if the Contest still happens (full powers granted upon winning). IMHO, of course.

[JackDaw]

Don't know if there's an answer to that or anything fans want besides "why not?"

Why not: It would mean ignoring a lot of the existing back story. Or coming up with a whacked out explanation of new power levels. (Both of which of which admittedly DC is well capable of doing.)

After that you'd have new set-up in Amazon terms...a race of high level super human on Earth...so presumably you'd move to a new set of story lines, different overall relationship of Amazons to rest of Earth's heroes, villains, governments, etc.

It would be a big change....but really DC has cocked up a similar set-up not long ago ("World of New Krypton"). It might well be going for the big change if existing tried and tested set-up was not regarded fondly...but don't most committed WW readers basically like overall set-up?

And...moving beyond...WW fanbase to wider DC readers...is there really an appetite to see Amazon 1411 give Superman a good kicking?? Or even dear old Batman?

[Agent Z]

It really depends on how important you feel The Contest is to the Wonderverse franchise.

If it is important and must be used in Diana's origin, then she cannot have any gods-given unfair advantages over her fellow Amazon competitors, else the whole affair be come a giant farce.

Diana should win the Contest because of her earned skill and will and cunning, not because she can cleanly bench press a loaded Aircraft Carrier while none of the other Amazons can even bench press a loaded SUV. That's beyond unfair, to the point of being criminal on Diana's part.

If The Contest remains and Diana participates in it, then her gods-given abilities should be granted only AFTER she cleanly wins it as a reward.

So, no non-Amazon powers for Diana if the Contest still happens (full powers granted upon winning). IMHO, of course.

There's another factor; explaining why Amazons that aren't Diana, Donna or Cassie aren't wiped out every time the DCU is attacked

[Agent Z]

Why not: It would mean ignoring a lot of the existing back story. Or coming up with a whacked out explanation of new power levels. (Both of which of which admittedly DC is well capable of doing.)

After that you'd have new set-up in Amazon terms...a race of high level super human on Earth...so presumably you'd move to a new set of story lines, different overall relationship of Amazons to rest of Earth's heroes, villains, governments, etc.

It would be a big change....but really DC has cocked up a similar set-up not long ago ("World of New Krypton"). It might well be going for the big change if existing tried and tested set-up was not regarded fondly...but don't most committed WW readers basically like overall set-up?

And...moving beyond...WW fanbase to wider DC readers...is there really an appetite to see Amazon 1411 give Superman a good kicking?? Or even dear old Batman?

Maybe half like, the other half doesn't. I honestly don't know.

I could ask the same thing every time character x give character y a beating. I don't know what more to say. Some people would like it others wouldn't. That's just the way it is

[marhawkman]

It really depends on how important you feel The Contest is to the Wonderverse franchise.

If it is important and must be used in Diana's origin, then she cannot have any gods-given unfair advantages over her fellow Amazon competitors, else the whole affair be come a giant farce.

Diana should win the Contest because of her earned skill and will and cunning, not because she can cleanly bench press a loaded Aircraft Carrier while none of the other Amazons can even bench press a loaded SUV. That's beyond unfair, to the point of being criminal on Diana's part.

If The Contest remains and Diana participates in it, then her gods-given abilities should be granted only AFTER she cleanly wins it as a reward.

So, no non-Amazon powers for Diana if the Contest still happens (full powers granted upon winning). IMHO, of course.

I liked how it was done in Superfriends. Diana had powers before being selected as the champion, but when she became the champion she was given mystical armor and weapons that enhanced her abilities even further.

There's another factor; explaining why Amazons that aren't Diana, Donna or Cassie aren't wiped out every time the DCU is attacked

Mystical forcefield protecting their island from being attacked?

[Agent Z]

I liked how it was done in Superfriends. Diana had powers before being selected as the champion, but when she became the champion she was given mystical armor and weapons that enhanced her abilities even further.Mystical forcefield protecting their island from being attacked?

Not in play 98% of the time

[marhawkman]

Not in play 98% of the time

How so? Isn't that what makes it special?

[Agent Z]

How so? Isn't that what makes it special?

People have been leaving and going to Themyscira since the 80s. They've had tours, ambassadorial visits and invasions. Even the Golden Age run didn't have the force field. This force field hasn't been a thing at all until recently and frankly I doubt it will last. The force field does not make Themyscira special

[Outside_85]

And...moving beyond...WW fanbase to wider DC readers...is there really an appetite to see Amazon 1411 give Superman a good kicking?? Or even dear old Batman?

Generally I dont think anyone wants to see their favourite characters get a kicking by anyone who they can't return the favour to.

But that doesn't mean it shouldn't happen. Like in the case of Batman it has, when he had to resort to fast acting sedatives to avoid Artemis taking his head off his shoulders and Superman had to throw a garbage container at one before she turned Batman into shiskebab.

Regardless, it's stuff like this thats sort of needed to pop up once in a while to remind people that Amazons aren't just normal women with a funny dress-sense.

[marhawkman]

People have been leaving and going to Themyscira since the 80s. They've had tours, ambassadorial visits and invasions. Even the Golden Age run didn't have the force field. This force field hasn't been a thing at all until recently and frankly I doubt it will last. The force field does not make Themyscira special

It's a mystical barrier created by the gods... It doesn't need to block everyone all the time.

[Agent Z]

It's a mystical barrier created by the gods... It doesn't need to block everyone all the time.

Most of the time it doesn't. If it even exists at all.