Thursday Thirteen

Wonder Woman Trivia

1. Steve Trevor's timepiece is a pocket watch, adapted to be worn on the wrist. Pocket watches, usually worn on a chain, were the norm in the early 20th century. They proved impractical in front line action. Because timing was critical for coordinating large-scale action (such as the use of infantry maneuvers in conjunction with artillery barrages), soldiers began wearing timepieces on their wrists. This fashion spread to civilians after the war, turning pocket watches into wristwatches, which became the preferred fashion of timepieces in the latter 20th century.

2. Some of the Amazons in Wonder Woman (2017) have flesh colored cloth over one side of their chest, almost seeming like one breast was uncovered or nonexistent (this is very apparent in the opening sequence when young Diana watches the training and Antiope walks over to talk with an Amazon so clad). This may be a reference to the fact that Amazons are often depicted in art as having one breast exposed. Ancient sources even state that Amazons cut or burned off their breast on their dominant side so that it wouldn't interfere with combat, especially with a bow. Some ancient sources suggest that this is the source of their name; "a-mazos" in Greek means "without breast".

3. In Greco-Roman mythology, the Amazons of Themyscira and the Greek hero Heracles share a rivalry, since Heracles seduced Queen Hippolyta and stole her enchanted belt. This carried over into both DC and Marvel comics. In the DC Comics, Hercules (who is the Roman version of the Greek Heracles) is a misogynistic and villainous character who was punished by the Amazons for defiling them; he later became an anti-hero who sought redemption for his actions.

In the Marvel comics, it was the reverse. Hercules was a superhero (and Thor's best friend) and Hippolyta and the Amazons were villains. Hippolyta's daughter was called Artume, and she was a parallel to Wonder Woman.

4. Diana Prince's scenes in London are an homage to Superman (1978), where Superman encounters urban life for the first time: the protagonist gets a disguise of a formal bespectacled attire, stops a mugging attack and has some trouble with a revolving door.

5. In the 2017 film, Wonder Woman's tiara is an heirloom from Antiope. In both the comics and Wonder Woman (1975 TV show), it can be used as a weapon, something Diana does in Wonder Woman 1984 (2020).

6. In the comics, Wonder Woman got the alias of Diana Prince during World War II from a U.S. Army nurse who was very similar in appearance to her and from whom she bought her identity.

In the 2017 movie, while Diana is posing as Steve Trevor's secretary, he interrupts her introduction of "I am Diana, Princess of..." and re-names her as "Prince. Diana Prince".

7. Wonder Woman (2017) was the first female-dominant superhero film in twelve years (since Elektra (2005)).

8. The role of Queen Hippolyta was offered to Nicole Kidman but she passed. She wanted to be part of the film because of the director, Patty Jenkins, but scheduling conflicts with Big Little Lies (2017) prevented this. Kidman later starred in Aquaman (2018) as Queen Atlanna, mother of Aquaman/Arthur Curry (who is Wonder Woman's ally).

9. The scene where Diana eats ice cream for the first time and praises the vendor is an event from the "New 52" DC Comics (2011), which was also adapted in Justice League: War (2014).

10. Wonder Woman (2017) was part of a set up for Justice League (2017), and the start of a planned trilogy for Wonder Woman. It was the fourth film in the shared DC Extended Universe.

11. Wonder Woman (2017) was the first female-directed live-action film to have a $100 million+ budget. The film's estimated budget was $150 million.

12. Diana is introduced as Capt. Steve Trevor's secretary in World War I England. This is an homage to the first season of the TV version of Wonder Woman (1975), where she served as a clerical officer (United States Navy Yeoman, Petty officer, first class) to U.S. Army Maj. Steve Trevor during World War II.

13. In Wonder Woman (2017), Diana briefly wears glasses as a disguise, but Etta Candy points out their ineffectiveness and they are soon broken during a street fight scene. This is an allusion to Diana wearing glasses in her civilian guise throughout the first season of TV's Wonder Woman (1975), similar to Superman's Clark Kent.

More Wonder Woman trivia can be found here. I made minor changes but unfortunately yes, I swiped most of this from that website.

Thanks to my brother for the idea!

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