EDITORIAL: Marvel needs their OWN Wonder Woman

EDITORIAL: Marvel needs their OWN  Wonder Woman

I've been waiting for Marvel to come through. Waiting for them to develop a character to rival or surpass Wonder Woman's popularity and success. With an infusion of billions from Disney, shouldn't they have come up with something by now?

Editorial Opinion
By headlopper - Oct 25, 2011 01:10 PM EST
Filed Under: Marvel Comics

DC has Wonder Woman. She's iconic and has been well known in society for decades. With the added popularity of the TV show in the 70's , she was further ingrained in popular culture.



She's a big gun in the DC universe, along with 'Batman' and 'Superman'.

Other publishers have strong female character too, such as Dynamite's 'Red Sonja'
,
...and Top Cow's 'Witchblade' to name a few.


And DC doesn't just have 'Wonder Woman' in their stable of big name female characters, 'Supergirl' and 'Batgirl' are major players that are publicly popular and probably could carry their own movie.
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.

But where is Marvel's strong female hero?
If your going to be honest, there isn't one female character in the Marvel universe that comes close to DC's.
Only recently 'Black Widow' has hit the main stream, and is beginning to grow in notoriety and popularity. But who else? Karen Danvers? Jennifer Walters? Jessica Drew? The general public doesn't know these names. Although they have the potential to translate into good films, they don't have the recognizable names such as 'Wonder Woman' or 'Supergirl'
Marvel needs to put those billions to work to hire the best, creative minds to develop a character already in the Marvel U. , or a totally new one!

I don't favor Marvel or DC (I like them both)and go with what characters I identify with. What's strange to me is that Marvel has not - with all it's creativity and cash - been able to popularize a female hero of their own.
Maybe it's because Marvel's female hero's never really had the exposure that DC's did.
The only exception was Susan Storm-Richards. She appeared in a cartoon with the FF back in the 60's and has had some exposure in the two films. Despite being all a hero should be-strong, smart , inspiring, etc.- , she's part of a team ; singling her out as a major independant character would be impossible.
We could talk about the X-men too. Since the TV cartoon in the 90's, and the three films , people have definitely become familiar with 'Storm' and 'Mystique' for example, but again they're part of a team . However, if Marvel were to invest in one of them somehow to try and 'mainstream' one in paticular, it could work. Maybe give one of them a TV show for a few seasons and go from there. I've read here recently a few TV projects featuring female hero's are being developed.

It's possible Marvel's already working on creating their own 'Wonder Woman'-I wouldn't be surprised- but so far , this is a subject where DC dominates...for now.

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thunderforce
thunderforce - 10/25/2011, 1:22 PM
Maybe Marvel realizes that a female superhero can't do as well and one needs to be a part of a team to get a lot of people interested , there just is not as much interest in female super heroes as male . Wonder Woman also got canceled before it even made it to air .
Moakynubs
Moakynubs - 10/25/2011, 1:47 PM
Marvel has plenty of strong iconic established female characters. They just don't get any credit because they're parts of teams (And to be fair, none of their male teammates get credit outside of the team either, aside from Wolverine)
Coldblood6
Coldblood6 - 10/25/2011, 2:18 PM
Dude, currently STORM and MYSTIQUE are far more well known than WW to the GA.

They mostly know her from an archaic, cheesy, 70's TV show.

STORM is MARVEL's #1 female character.
golden123
golden123 - 10/25/2011, 2:21 PM
First off, Supergirl did have her own movie. Not exactly critically acclaimed but still.
Second, if you don't count Storm, Mystique, Susan Storm/Richards, and Rouge and Jean /grey should be up there, then you shouldn't count Supergirl and Batgirl from DC.
Third, Ms. Marvel and Scarlet witch are the two Marvel should try to increase the popularity of. I just don't like how if a suuperheroine from Marvel isn't primarily part of a team or based off another hero she is a secret agent.

@thunderforce: I'm pretty sure the 2011 Wonder Woman tv show was a no go because it was just plain bad. WW being female has nothing to do with it's failure.
golden123
golden123 - 10/25/2011, 2:24 PM
@Coldblood6: Storm and Mystique are more well known then WW? That is very untrue and bull. Nice try. You should survey a bunch of people and see, out of those three characters, how many of them they know. Do this without describing the superheroes, and I guarantee you WW will be victourious.
marvel72
marvel72 - 10/25/2011, 2:33 PM
i'd go for ms.marvel as marvels wonder woman,they should try & push solo comics & movies for her.
headlopper
headlopper - 10/25/2011, 3:13 PM
@WittySupername- I still have the bumps on my head from it.
Sorry, 'B' cups just won't do.(:
BigK1337
BigK1337 - 10/25/2011, 3:44 PM
I would say Ms. Marvel, but you got me with the "general public never heard of her" . . . until the season 2 of the Avengers cartoon that is.

Plus, everybody knows of She-Hulk; therefore Marvel does have their own strong female character that is very popular.
headlopper
headlopper - 10/25/2011, 5:01 PM
@marvel72- I remember yesterday you recommended Doria Baird for Ms.Marvel. She would definitely fill out the suit! Do you think she could handle the role? I've never seen her act except in that clip you pasted in your thread.
alucard365
alucard365 - 10/25/2011, 5:10 PM
Black Cat is the most popular Marvel female character.

Catwoman is the most popular DC female character, not Wonder Woman, Catwoman been in more movies, animation, games, and television shows then Wonder Woman.

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Coldblood6
Coldblood6 - 10/25/2011, 5:13 PM
@ Golden123

Dude come out of the 70's.

The actresses playing STORM and MYSTIQUE have won viewer's choice awards and are now more well known to the current generations. Only old people might remember WW. Even then they probably don't have a clue about other then vague images of scantily clad Linda Hamilton.
headlopper
headlopper - 10/25/2011, 5:50 PM
@alucard365- BOOB FIGHT!!!(should be an Olympic event)
marvel72
marvel72 - 10/25/2011, 6:21 PM
@ headlopper

well she's not the greatest actress in the world but neither was blake lively but she still got a part in green lantern.

i say give her a shot,i don't think people will even be talking about her acting ability when they see her in costume. :P

BIGBMH
BIGBMH - 10/25/2011, 6:38 PM
Ms. Marvel's name is actually Carol Danvers, not Karen. I agree that Marvel doesn't have a heroine recognized as widely as Wonder Woman, but that's a pretty difficult task. Wonder Woman is THE female super hero, and she has been for a very long time. She was one of the first major ones, therefore she got a lot of mainstream attention and DC has made her a priority (to an extent) putting her in cartoons, video games, etc.

It might be a good idea for Marvel to push character like Ms. Marvel and Black Widow, but it's not exactly like Wonder Woman is a cash cow for DC. She's one of their big 3, so she's iconic enough to sell merchandise, but even with her popularity, I don't think an animated series is likely any time soon.

For a character like Ms. Marvel, Black Widow, Storm, Spider-Woman to be pushed, it would be quite difficult because there are several more prominent Marvel characters compare to the 2 DC character more prominent than wonder Woman.
headlopper
headlopper - 10/25/2011, 7:14 PM
@BIGBMH- Well thought out.(Carol, my 'B')
I never bought a Marvel title featuring a female hero.
DC, yeah. Supergirl, Powergirl and now Huntress.
Top Cow, I was buying Tomb Raider.
Dynamite, I'm buying Red Sonja and Vampirella.
And an import form GG Studios(Italy) called 'Mediterranea'.
Nothing from Marvel has ever jumped out at me except Sue Storm.
Like you and I wrote, Marvel has never had a prominent female hero that penetrated mainstream pop culture like the DC's have.
Oarsis
Oarsis - 10/25/2011, 7:39 PM
Nice! I found it....HAHA! I am just that great!
I say Psylocke or Ms. Marvel! They are both so strong, independent, amazing, and powerful!
Oarsis
Oarsis - 10/25/2011, 7:53 PM
I think characters Like Ms. Marvel are highly relatable. I mean, she fought for our country (in the comics), and then struggles with alcoholism, and being a drunk....the dealing with getting over that. She has endured so much, and struggled with humane things, it is easy to relate to her character.

As for Psylocke, I just love her...no explanation...just my favorite lol
headlopper
headlopper - 10/25/2011, 8:06 PM
@tweeeeenkies3- There could be a very simple reason why you like Psylocke...because she's freaking HOT!!!(which is a very good reason BTW)
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Oarsis
Oarsis - 10/25/2011, 8:09 PM
@headlopper...Way to true!
alucard365
alucard365 - 10/25/2011, 8:39 PM
no female character from DC or Marvel can beat the Hotness of Top Cow's Trinity.

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Paulley
Paulley - 10/26/2011, 2:25 AM
What are you on about!!"

Marvel has:

Jean Grey, Storm, Rogue, Mystique, Emma Frost and other X-Girls which have featured in multiple TV series (animation + TV movie) aswell as a sucessful Movie franchise

Sue Storm, multiple animations and three movies.

She-Hulk, popular animated show appearances

Black Cat, popular animated show appearances

and many more

Most of these have had more appearances in pop culture than Wonder Woman.
grog
grog - 10/26/2011, 7:21 AM
@coldblood6 Lynda Carter was WW. Linda Hamilton was Sarah Conners in Terminator.

The problem is Wonder Woman has been around since 1941, and I would imagine that for any characters to reach "ICON" status level needs to be around for a long time.

IMO the only female Marvel character that even comes close to this level of popularity is Storm. and Storm has only been around since 1975
Coldblood6
Coldblood6 - 10/26/2011, 8:01 AM
@ Grog

Thanx for the correction; although that should give you an indication of how relevent that character is to non-dc fans.

She is only an icon to dc fans. To the rest of the world she is a: "Umm, that was some old tv show right? I remember the actress was hot but not much else."

She hasn't been in media spotlight for over 30 years.

MYSTIQUE has been in 4 successful big budget movies; STORM in 3. The actresses have won viewers choice awards for playing these characters.

Just being around for a long time is not significant; the character needs to be at the forefront of the media in some way recently.
kriswone
kriswone - 10/26/2011, 12:06 PM
First off, Marvel has more Female Characters, and better stories, better art work.

Besides catwoman and wonder woman, i have a hard time naming any other female DC characters.

I could name tons of Marvel female characters.

Mrs. Marvel would tear Wonder Woman apart.
kriswone
kriswone - 10/26/2011, 12:09 PM
Oh Headlopper!

Now I know why this article is for inciting riots.

Headlopper only writes flame bait. this article isn't serious, do not fall for this trap AGAIN.
MsCeeMourCox
MsCeeMourCox - 10/26/2011, 1:07 PM
wonder woman has been around since the 40's & although she is popular because she's been around longer, she really doesnt get the respect from DC .... if DC grew some balls and gave her better writers/storylines gave her a movie (& not a cartoony movie like the GL movie was, i mean a serious movie like 300 etc..) she would be sucessful & her comic book sales would go up & she'd be on top again but unfortunatly look what we as fans of this iconic character have to deal with a dumb pilot with a crappy storyline thanks david e.kelly for that,a cheesy re-invented costume,re-inventing her history once again......Aruggghhh,im getting a headache just thinking about it, but you guys get the jest of it,she has alot of potiental,but know one is giving her a chance
MoonDoggyX
MoonDoggyX - 10/26/2011, 1:18 PM
@kriswone - "Mrs. Marvel would tear Wonder Woman apart." Yeah right...

headlopper
headlopper - 10/26/2011, 4:01 PM
@alucard365- Good call.'Top Cow' also had a mini-series years back called "EVO". The women in these books were gorgeous!


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jjmeylar
jjmeylar - 10/26/2011, 6:19 PM
Carol Danvers should be put in more of a spotlight and turned into the Marvel WW.
Oarsis
Oarsis - 10/26/2011, 7:32 PM
^^Agreed!
Fastestmanalive
Fastestmanalive - 10/27/2011, 9:13 AM
Ms Marvel is pretty popular I would think, not as popular as Wonder Woman, but she did just have her own series that ran for about 50 issues which is pretty good, and shes around alot in the Avengers books.

Plus shes powerful, has an interesting history and powers, and has a bad ass military personality, and last but not least shes damn sexy.

So I agree, Carol Danvers has got alotta potential and Marvel has used some of it, they just gotta push it a little more to make her truly huge.
Fastestmanalive
Fastestmanalive - 10/27/2011, 10:35 AM
First off, Marvel has more Female Characters, and better stories, better art work.

Besides catwoman and wonder woman, i have a hard time naming any other female DC characters.-kriswone

Dude are u kidding me? DC has no female characters?

Wonder woman
powergirl
supergirl
zatanna
black canary
batgirl
huntress
big barda
hawkgirl
dove
troia
raven
starfire
stargirl
star saphire
phantom lady
ravanger
catwoman
batwoman
arisia
black orchid
fire
ice
saturn girl
maxima
jesse quick
katanna
lady blackhawk
manhunter
mary marvel
vixen
wonder girl, ect.

that enough for you?
kriswone
kriswone - 10/27/2011, 11:15 AM
@FATestwomanalive -
To directly respond to your statement, no i am not kidding you, and i did not say DC has no female characters.

I have never heard of most of those, here is a list from your list that i know of, from outside this web site:

Wonder Woman
Supergirl
Batgirl
Batwoman
Catwoman
Fastestmanalive
Fastestmanalive - 10/27/2011, 11:45 AM
@kriswone

Oh boy, man some people are babys, I wasent insulting u so no need to try to be dissey by changing my name, FASTesmanalive, FATestmanalive, good one bro, lol.

Dont know who u are dude but u totally just lost me.
Thunderkutfo
Thunderkutfo - 10/27/2011, 6:38 PM
I agree with anyone who mentioned Ms.Marvel, she has potential.
headlopper
headlopper - 10/28/2011, 10:45 AM
Ms.Marvel seems to have the popular vote.
Marvel, if you're reading this, you've got your answer!
Get to work!
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