so what I am about to say is not meant to disparage wonder woman at all. she and the film are awesome and deserve all the praise and love but it is so weird watching westerners get excited over the idea that a woman can be strong *because of* her loving, kind, and good nature instead of *in spite of* it, because I grew up reading the Sailor Moon manga and that's basically Usagi's whole fucking point-- she was the soldier who loved everyone. like Usagi is the strongest hero of them all because of her love for her friends and the world and all the lives in it, and she fights for peace and justice and does not have a problem obliterating the darkness if it cannot be talked down. but all of the sailor soldiers qualify. all eight of them are princesses who are named after Roman gods and they fight evil in high heels and short skirts, and they have a myriad of different personalities that cover the spectrum of brilliant female characters. You can be brilliant and clever like Ami or Setsuna. You can be athletic or race cars like Makoto or Haruka-- or you can stay home and bake, also like Mako (she's got range.) You can be elegant and spiritual like Michiru or Rei. You can be the quiet introvert like Hotaru or the outgoing social dork like Minako. All of them are defined by fierce loyalty and devotion to their princess and their mission and to each other. Amidst all the super bisexual subtext there's an explicit lesbian couple, including a character who is explicitly described as being "both genders." These characters literally founded half of my ideas of what a woman should be: good, kind, loving, and whatever else the fuck she wants. I'm not trying to make a Superman vs Son Goku argument here. Wonder Woman and Sailor Moon would get along perfectly with each other and the world would shine brighter in their alliance. It's just that I didnt read a lot of American comics growing up, my childhood was Sailor Moon, and Barbie, and a momma who told me everyday I could do whatever I wanted. I never had a point in my life where I thought "girls can't do X." It's never been a thing, for me. I'm super proud of Wonder Woman, and while her message isn't news to me, I'm glad it is there for the next generation of little girls to see, especially with the state the world is in now. Girls, believe me when I say I need you to know this: You can be good, and kind, and loving, and be strong because of it. Be a soldier for love and justice. Be a wonder woman.
