Who Killed Amanda Waller?

The interwebs are up in arms about the new Amanda Waller, Catwoman and Starfire in DC’s brand-wide reboot. Is this a case of a mob looking to let out their rage? Or has DC taken a well-endowed cookie cutter to all of its women?

DC’s reboot has given a shot of life to a lot of their series, but there seems to be a bit of frustration around classically awesome characters like Amanda Waller, Starfire and Catwoman. Their reputations as awesome ass-kicking ladies make up for them not always being on the right side of the law. And as much as reboots are all about change and re-imagining classics, the current female cast is leaving a lot to be desired.

My biggest beef is the dramatic change in Ms. Waller. She is one of the few comic book characters that I believed could actually intimidate Batman. She looked like she could throw a punch that would do some damage, or do that thing that villains do when they get frustrated by foiled plans so they crush a pencil in their fist. An unapologetic badass, she used her intelligence and ruthless nature to get where she needed to be – not a low-cut costume.

Now, in the new Suicide Squad series, Waller is all cleavage and cheekbones. Just like so many others.

Take a gander at some of DC’s top-ranking women:

Notice anything similar? At least the shade of their melanin is a little different. And one has 4 arms (which is pretty awesome).

I’m not trying to say that looking at hot women isn’t awesome, or that the costumes should be less revealing (or more supportive, ’cause it’s gotta be alien magic holding Starfire’s in place), or girls in comic books shouldn’t have huge racks that make it difficult to throw a punch. But diversity would be nice, other than the shade of the pouty lipped woman.

I’d love to see a woman who isn’t perfectly proportioned (according to a 15-year-old boy) with power, who got there by being talented and smart and tough. A woman who has a tummy ’cause she sat down with her peers at dinner and inspired awe, while eating a steak. (At least, she lets them think they’re her peers.) A woman who commands a room’s attention through confidence instead of a tight skirt.

In short, I’d love to see Amanda Waller.