Delany's Wonder Woman comics

You can read the whole "women's lib issue" here, written by Delany:
<http://diversionsofthegroovykind.blogspot.com/2010/11/grooves-faves-grandee-caper-by-delaney.html>
I've always wanted to see/read this.  Thanks, internet!

There has been some controversy over the panel where Delany has Wonder
Woman say, "In most cases, I don't even LIKE women...?"  It's here:
<http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK742rc1hc/TPLMpWC3WpI/AAAAAAAAcsU/EygR3JyDK1c/s1600/wonder%2Bwoman%2B203%2Bp14.jpg>

An example of the flak this has drawn:
<http://www.carolastrickland.com/comics/wwcentral/misc_indexes/bestworst/bestworst2.html>

But I think this critique is too simple.  In my opinion, it's clear from
context that the reader is expected to disapprove of Wonder Woman's
comment, and that Wonder Woman comes to regret it.  Note that she's
immediately reprimanded for her remark, and another character (both of
them "good guys") seconds the reprimand.  And in context, on the same
page, Wonder Woman also naively defends Grandee, who later proves to be
a villain.  Wonder Woman was fooled by him, and later in the story she
uncovers and learns from that mistake.

That's the story arc -- she's still learning about feminism.

A more sophisticated critique is at the bottom of:
<http://www.sequentialtart.com/article.php?id=1391>
The author arrives at the right interpretation of Delany's intention,
but argues that the line is out of character given Wonder Woman's past.

I actually agree that Delany made a mistake with this panel.  But the
mistake was writing something that is too subtle and easy to misread,
and arguably out of character.  But it isn't politically incorrect.

-- 
Seth Tisue | http://tisue.net