Originally conceived by psychologist, inventor and writer William Moulton Marston way back in 1941, the evergreen Wonder Woman was originally dreamed up, in the words of her creator, as a "distinctly feminist role model whose mission was to bring the Amazon ideals of love, peace, and sexual equality to a world torn by the hatred of men."

Despite such well-meaning beginnings, that didn’t stop Wonder Woman from appearing in a series of red-and-blue outfits which, as they’ve continuously evolved, have seldom kept the Amazonian heroine terribly warm.

Originally appearing in a fetching party skirt on the cover of Sensation Comics issue one in 1942, Wonder Woman’s costume has gradually morphed into a figure-hugging get-up with shiny brazier, as modelled by Lynda Carter in the 70s television series, to the apparently rigid corset/swimsuit hybrid sported in her comics of recent years.

As of issue 600, however, Wonder Woman is getting a 21st century wardrobe change, with the skimpy garments of the previous decades replaced with dark leggings, stripy red top, blue jacket (with rolled-up sleeves – very 80s stadium rock), flat-soled shoes and fetching gold belt.

The look is less overtly patriotic than the stars-and-stripes look of old, and the updated heroine has also received a new origin courtesy of Joseph Michael Straczynski, veteran writer of Marvel and DC comics such as Spider-Man, Silver Surfer, The Brave And The Bold and Superman.

"She's been locked into pretty much the exact same outfit since her debut in 1941," Straczynski told the BBC a few days ago. "What woman only wears only one outfit for 60-plus years? I wanted to toughen her up and give her a modern sensibility."

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the new look hasn’t gone down well with a vocal group of fans, who insist that artist Jim Lee has gone too far with his reworking of Wonder Woman’s clobber.

"Mr. Lee, you’re a great artist, but, really, what were you thinking?" said one response on DC’s website. "I’m not against the idea of a redesign, like many are. I’d be okay with some changes, maybe even drastic ones, but only if they are even somewhat aesthetically pleasing.

"It’s a mish-mash of ideas that feels incomplete and just doesn’t evoke anything at all. Bland, boring, and extremely dated looking, which pretty much ensures that it won’t be sticking around for any length of time."

Lee, meanwhile, admitted that updating Wonder Woman’s look was "difficult", but he ultimately decided to "go for broke" with an entirely new design.

"Visually, the character seems edgier than before but stylish enough to warrant a second, albeit cautious, glance," Lee wrote on DC’s blog. "The jacket and boots confirm the costume’s functionality and the open, thinner tiara and shaped bracelets reveal a lighter, even youthful, bent to the Amazonian Princess."

But despite some support, the consensus so far hasn’t been overly positive. And while Jim Lee has since pointed out on Twitter that “elements of her costume, like her jacket do come off in her journey. There is a method to the madness...”, the immediate fan reaction can’t be all that DC had hoped.

Will Wonder Woman's new, dress-down Friday, Gok Wan look endure, or will DC be forced to return to the drawing board? Only time will tell…

BBC

DC Universe