Our super-twin
Wonder Woman’s the hero we most resemble,
In 2015, Avengers assembled audiences at the box office, Supergirl soared on television and Ben Affleck Batmanned his way through the city while filming Suicide Squad.
But more people in Ontario chose Wonder Woman, a hero who’s been MIA since Lynda Carter took her final bow in 1979, as the hero they most resembled.
Of the 1,001 Ontarians surveyed in a poll Forum Research conducted for the Star, 12 per cent chose Wonder Woman as their super-twin, compared with 10 per cent for runner-up Batman. Among women, 21 per cent chose Wonder Woman, followed by 8 per cent for second-string super Catwoman.
The results bode well for Gal Gadot, who will portray the next incarnation of Wonder Woman in next summer’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and star in her own movie, expected in 2017.
The people polled were given eight heroic choices, including Superman (5 per cent), Spider-Man (5 per cent) and Captain America (4 per cent).
Black Widow and Poison Ivy each earned only 1 per cent of the vote, while an overwhelming 56 per cent of voters said they “don’t follow superheroes or don’t know.”
Hannah Moscovitch, playwright
“I liked the Wonder Woman icon growing up, but she seemed very glamorous and out of reach. Plus I was one of those kids that wasn’t allowed TV or comics, so I didn’t know much about her. Rosie the Riveter was more my style of superhero. No superpowers or sparkly hair or tight costume, just an especially capable lady.”
Moscovitch’s Bunny, a character study in post-feminist sexuality, opens at the Stratford Festival on Aug. 18, 2016.
Amanda Day, comedian behind the podcast Date Fail
“I think Wonder Woman is admirable: she has always been a pillar of both ‘masculine’ and ‘feminine’ heroic qualities, and a feminist icon despite her history as a propaganda tool created by freaky-deaky psychologist William Marston and his wife to control and make people complacent with bondage (also admirable depending on one’s personal preferences!). Still purer, more honest origins than most pop stars today.” Day’s Date Fail podcast is posted every Wednesday on Talkhole.co, iTunes, Soundcloud and Stitcher.
Erica Ehm, creator of parenting website YummyMummyClub.ca
“One of my prized possessions is my Wonder Woman mug I was gifted in 1991. I definitely wanted to be Wonder Woman: deceivingly powerful. Once I became a mother, the persona of Wonder Woman became more relevant. Raising kids and running a company requires superhuman strength with an emphasis on doing good. Plus, beating the boys when they think you’re just another pretty face feels pretty great. Most moms I know are Wonder Women.” YummyMummyClub.ca spotlights self-improvement this January, including home organization, healthy living and how to achieve your goals.
Kia Nurse, Canadian Women’s National Basketball team star
“I absolutely admire Wonder Woman. If you look at all of the superheroes that everyone talks about, the Batmans and the Spider-Mans, to have a female superhero out there just shows you that a woman can be powerful and independent, and strong and confident.” Nurse is a guard for the University of Connecticut Huskies.
Gillian Goerz, creator of web comic Jerkface A-Hole
“Wonder Woman’s ideals, careers and motivations were shaped by the different predominantly male writers through whose hands she was passed. It’s difficult to admire a character when what forms her identity is not just rewritable but rewritten, and frequently. Thankfully, the wealth of amazing independent comics is changing everything.” Goerz’s JerkfaceAHole.com is updated every Monday.