As an element, Diana Prince has been eliminated from Wonder Woman’s world and brought back cyclically throughout the character’s history. Her name was actually imbued into the title during the ’70s Emma Peel-aping-powerless stint, to mixed reaction from critics all the way to the present. As I’ve stated before, I kind of dug it. DP actually started off kind of incredulously (consider the period) as a nurse who had an uncanny resemblance to the Princess of Paradise herself, who needed out of her station in life to go be with her family. The heroine took over her identity to be closer to her ailing would-be-beau Steve Trevor, recovering in the hospital from crash damage. Later in the period, Wonder Woman rescues Diana from her abusive husband, who WW helps reform from his anti-social ways. Diana gives up nursing to become Steve’s secretary so she can keep her perpetual dude-in-distress safe from his hobby of nearly getting himself killed. This vocation lasted until the Silver Age, when Di returned to nursing. She wound up a boutique owner in the aforementioned de-powered incarnation (!) in a rare instance of Amazon vanity. Upon her return, the series shortly moved back to WW2 to reflect the feel of the popular TV show. When canon returned to the present, she was back in the military and remained as such until the Crisis did her in. When she was rebuilt by Len Wein and George Perez, the secret ID vanished in total. William Messner-Loebs took over and in his debut, DP was a wealthy gadfly, which I thought was pretty fun. It only lasted a single issue, then vanished after WML got past his desire to make the title more of a superhero book. Her next comeback was the Allan Heinberg moment on the title, this time as an agent of the Department of Extranormal Operations. She was actually a powerless character here as well, due to a spell from Circe, who wanted to show the woman what it was like to be human. This concept remained until the New 52, where outside of her title, Superman talked her into the notion to give her a private life as of my last reading.
My issue in regards to the glasses wearing alter-ego is vocation. None of the above suit her in my opinion, because they don’t allow her the needed ability to disappear for any length of time without realistically losing her gig. Superman being a reporter allows him this liberty, and Batman has no schedule to maintain as a billionaire philanthropist. Some versions of the character establish her to be independently wealthy, falling back on a bag of gold from her mama which was actually a device originally employed by Marv Wolfman for her then-sister Wonder Girl to explain her lavish lifestyle. When that’s not in place, a girl’s gotta eat. That in mind, I think I have a potential solution for this pickle. Bear with me, because it may seem strange or outlandish when I say it, but I’ll give you some support to think it through. What if Diana Prince was to be… an ARTIST?
First, it’s a great field for someone to have who needs a lack of time accountability. Second, it’s a potentially interesting way to balance out the violent world she often inhabits. An outlet, if you will. Third, I would think sculpting, painting, etc. would show an image of a woman who grew up in a (formerly, anyway) cultured and advanced society. Fourth, it further demonstrates the inherent genius and versatility of the character. Lastly, I would say the core of the lady is quite liberal, as are a healthy majority of those in the field. She was a social reform supporter in her original vein, and in Perez’s tenure an ambassador of peace to ‘Man’s World’. I think sculpture especially would refer to her heritage quite well, and I think the gentle side of the character needs to be illustrated, and this could do it. Plus, eccentricity would be expected from the general public and I picture her at street level coming off as such.
As I go on about ad nauseum in this blog, I think core concepts should be creatively updated and kept. Strategizing and bringing new life should be the goal, in my mind. What do you think?
Save Diana Prince!
NO NEED TO CHANGE CLOTHES AND PUT ON GLASSES- YOU CAN COMMENT/COMPLAIN/PRAISE/DISCUSS JUST AS YOU ARE!
Saving Wonder Woman 