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Sima Yi
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Wonder Woman ditches the hotpants
Wonder Woman is to get a makeover at the grand old age of 69 after her star-spangled hotpants were deemed too revealing.
By Anita Singh, Showbusiness Editor
Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman, and the character after her new makeover
The famous outfit is to be replaced by a practical pair of dark tights, with a sensible jacket covering up the red and gold bustier. The new look is contemporary, functional and more suited to modern times, according to J Michael Straczynski, the writer tasked with updating the DC Comics series. It is a far cry from the sexy look sported by Lynda Carter in the 1970s television series.
Wonder Woman had a "wardrobe issue" that needed to be addressed. "What woman only wears one outfit for 60-plus years?" Mr Straczynski asked. "She's been locked into pretty much the exact same outfit since her debut in 1941," he told the New York Times. "If you're going to make a statement about bringing Wonder Woman into the 21st century, you need to be bold and you need to make it visual. I wanted to toughen her up and give her a modern sensibility."
The costume, which will debut in the 600th issue. is also less all-American. According to Jim Lee, the artist who designed the new look: "The original costume was the American flag brought to life. This one is a little more universal." He conceded that many fans will ask the same question: "Why am I covering up her legs?" Feminists have long taken issue with Wonder Woman's attire. Author Jodi Picoult, who worked on the comic strip in 2006, tried in vain to redesign the costume.
"One of the first things I did was ask if we could give her breast-reduction surgery, because as a woman, I know you wouldn't fight crime in a bustier." It is hoped that the updated Wonder Woman will spawn an international film franchise. The DC Comics stable includes box office draws Superman and Batman - the last Batman film, The Dark Knight, is the sixth highest grossing film of all time with takings of $1 billion. Turning female superheroes into box office gold has proved tricky, however. DC tried it in 1984 with Supergirl and in 2004 with Catwoman, both resounding flops.
