Is Wonder Woman's only weakness being bound by a man?

Question

I know that Wonder Woman's only known weakness is being "bound by man". However:

• It's only being bound by a man??
• Does she have any other weaknesses?

Answer 1

Being bound by man hasn't been a weakness of Wonder Woman's for a very long time. That dates back to the very early incarnations of wonder Woman, when she was basically just an excuse to show bondage in the comics. (Her creator was a big proponent of bondage). That rather insane idea was tossed out with the start of the Modern Age in the 80s.

Originally, she had two weaknesses, both based around the fact that the bracelets she wore were "Bracelets of Submission". First, if a man managed to tie her bracelets together, she would lose all of her superpowers, exactly like Superman and kryptonite. Second, if her bracelets were ever lost or broken, she's go into an uncontrollable rage.

Modern Age Wonder Woman had no specifically called-out weaknesses. About the closest she's come is that her super-human stamina and resistance to injury does not seem to apply to piercing weapons, like arrows or daggers; her enhanced healing does not work against such injuries. Note that she's not necessarily weaker to such injuries than a normal person, and she still has her other superpowers, she's just not as immune to piercing attacks than others. (Supposedly, this idea was George Pérez's attempt to make her immune to the average crook, who's bullets she could dodge, while putting her in real danger against super-villain class enemies.)

Post New-52 reboot, she hasn't even shown that much of a weakness; Batman has speculated that she has no real weaknesses aside from her relationship with Superman.

Answer 2

That, um...depends on which version of her you are asking about.

In her original version, her creator believed that bondage was a key to a healthy relationship, and wrote this into her character. "As per Aphrodite's law, when an Amazon's bracelets are bound together by the actions of a man, she loses her powers." ref

This was still around as recently as the TV show in the 70s. However, this weakness has since been retconned out of existence. I think it may have even been lampshaded at some point, though I cannot remember the reference for that.

Now, (again, depending on which version you are asking about) she has lesser weaknesses. Earth Prime Wonder Woman has, according to Batman, 'no convenient weaknesses' and while she can suffer injury from piercing weapons (blades, bullets, etc) she has some level of resistance to that damage, preventing it from becoming life-threatening.

New Earth WW retains a higher degree of vulnerability to piercing weapons.

Neither of her modern incarnations have a 'convenient' weakness that shuts her powers down (like Superman and Kryptonite)

Answer 3

Her original key weakness was permitting herself to be bound by a man. While this didn't always carry over the stories long run, it was absolutely key to the character Dr. Marston, an ardent feminist and practicing psychologist, was creating. His point was that women are not actually inferior to men (the standard assumption at the time and throughout much of history), they are oppressed. The only reason they are "weaker" is because they allow men to make them so.

From Wonder Woman's original origin story the Amazons were Greek women who had been bound by the wrists by the men, who at one point realized their power and broke free. They then moved to their own women-only island, where, in the absence of male oppression, they grew progressively stronger and longer lived. The unbound cuffs ("Bracelets of Submission") were still worn to remind them that allowing a man power over them/giving up their independence was what sapped them of their own power.

(Marston was probably not into bondage himself, but was using it as a symbol, although, as a psychologist, he seemed pretty solid on the "kinky doesn't make something wrong, abuse does" concept. He was, after all, in a "marriage" with two women, one the niece of Margret Sanger, a renowned outspoken feminist of the previous generation.)ref

Answer 4

Of course you can find someone who can simply overpower her with sheer brute force like Superman, Ares, or Darkseid to pound the crap out of her.

She might be vulnerable to telepathy, hypnosis, or drugs.

All her powers are based on magic. The DC encyclopedia says she gains power from physical contact with the Earth or any earth like substance since she was molded from clay. She's the new God of War in the new 52. And Hephaestus made her armor. One could exploit such things.

The Justice League cartoons said her armor actually gives her her powers, if really want to beat her... You see where I'm going.

Answer 5

In the TV series with Lynda Carter if her gold belt which has the golden lasso is removed she becomes just like a regular person no super strenth .