One of the most defining and debated aspects ofWonder Womanis her origin story, which has been retconned multiple times over her 84 years in comics. While some fans champion her iconic clay birth, others have outright rejected it. Now, a resurfaced quote from comic legend Grant Morrison reveals exactly where they stand in the ongoing debate.
Wonder Woman’s original origin storyremains one of the most unique and iconic in all of DC Comics. InWonder Woman#1 (1942),Queen Hippolyta, longing for a child, sculpted a baby girl from clay and prayed to the Greek gods to bring her creation to life. Aphrodite answered her plea, breathing life into the clay, and the gods granted Diana wisdom, strength, speed, and beauty.
While this mythological origin has sparked fierce debate among fans, with some adoring it and others rejecting it, Grant Morrison’s perspective might interest both sides, asthe writer has expressed both admiration and criticism of the story.
Grant Morrison’s Complex Feelings About Wonder Woman’s Clay Origins
Why the Iconic Origin Nearly Didn’t Make It IntoEarth One
InWonder Woman: Earth One Annotations, Part 2, Grant Morrison offered valuable insight into their creative process, especially regarding Diana’s origin. Morrison admitted they were initially not a fan of the classic clay backstory, explainingthey struggled with“the idea that Diana began life as a clay statue of a child,”a concept they found difficult to connect with.
They elaborated further, saying this originmade Wonder Woman feel more like“a golem, a Pinocchio, rather than a living character.”Many critics of the clay origin have echoed similar concerns, arguing that it creates emotional distance or feels outdated compared to more updated superhero backstories.
Morrison also revealed how this perspective shaped their early approach to writingWonder Woman: Earth One,noting that their first instinct was to completely abandon the clay origin.This choice, undoubtedly, came from a desire to make Diana feel more grounded and alive as a character.
Their original idea forEarth Oneincluded a“Hollywood-style inner conflict,”in whichDiana would discover she is, in some way, the daughter of the hated Hercules.Readers of the book may not recall this twist, and that’s because Morrison ultimately chose to keep the clay origin intact after much thought and re-evaluation.
Why Grant Morrison Changed Their Mind About Wonder Woman’s Clay Origin
From Skeptic to Supporter, Morrison Embraces the Feminist Adam and Eve Take
As revealed in the annotations,Morrison shared that while writingWonder Woman: Earth One Vol. 1, they realized they preferred“the feminist myth of parthenogenetic female reproduction, where Hippolyta models an ideal daughter in clay, which is then animated by the gods.”Because of this shift in perspective, they ultimately chose to stick with Wonder Woman’s original origin in the story.
Morrison went on to elaborate (half jokingly) that“It’s feminist Adam and Eve! Wonder Woman should be no man’s daughter!“This playful remark clearly references the biblical story in which the first woman is created from the rib of the first man, Adam, drawing a clever contrast to Diana’s mythic beginning.
The“feminist”twist lies in Diana’s creation involving no man at all.She was crafted from clay by her mother Hippolyta and brought to life by Aphrodite, which completely reframes the ‘birth’ of Eve narrative. This decision to go with the clay origin also offers fascinating insight into Morrison’s creative process, showing how they came to embrace the origin they once rejected.
Many fans are likely glad Morrison honored the original origin, as it not only respects Wonder Woman’s roots but also reinforces the idea that she is truly set apart.Being no man’s daughter adds to her mystique and otherworldly presence, placing her in a category ofher own among Justice League heroes.
Wonder Woman’s Zeus Origin Remains One of DC’s Most Controversial Changes
Wonder Woman’s Clay Origin Is Here to Stay
While most fans are undoubtedly glad Morrison didn’t follow through with the idea of making Diana the daughter of Hercules, it remains an intriguing"what if"scenario. Still, it is almost certain thatsuch a drastic change would have faced major backlash, especially considering the overwhelmingly negative reaction to Diana’s origin shift during theNew 52era.
Fans will remember thattheNew 52introduced the idea of Wonder Woman having a biological father,not Hercules, but rather the Greek god Zeus. This bold rewrite reimagined Diana as a demigoddess, tying her powers directly to divine heritage and altering her mythological foundation in a major way.
The response was largely negative, with many still considering itone of the most unpopular changes to Wonder Woman’s lore. With that in mind, it is easy to imagine Morrison’s Hercules version receiving a similarly cold reception had it made it to print.
Fortunately for fans of the clay origin, DC has officially moved away from the Zeus storyline. Thanks toTom King’s currentWonder Womanrunand Mark Waid’sNew History of the DC Universe,Diana’s original backstory has been fully restored in mainstream continuity. So, if you are not a fan ofWonder Woman’sclay origin, unfortunately, it’s not going anywhere anytime soon.
