Wonder Woman swaps bustier for denim jacket

COMIC book superheroine Wonder Woman has traded in her spangled hot pants for urban leggings and upped her street smarts in a 21st century makeover for the 69-year-old character.

J Michael Straczynski, the new writer for the DC Comics series, told the New York Times he wanted to “toughen her up and give her a modern sensibility” and change the outfit Wonder Woman has been wearing for almost seven decades.

The new costume features dark leggings, a studded denim jacket, spurs on her heeled boots and gloves in a new look designed by Korean-American artist Jim Lee of X-Men fame.

Wonder Woman keeps her starred headband and golden lasso but her long dark locks have been cut shorter and gone are the star-studded hip-huggers, undersized bustier and knee length, red go-go boots.

“She was stuck in 1941. And as female friends of mine kept asking, ‘how does she fight in that (bustier) thing without all her parts flying out? How does she carry her stuff?’” Straczynski said.

“So my requests were pretty specific: toughen her look, make it more dynamic, more serious,” he added.

Wonder Woman, one of the few female superheroes in a world dominated by Batman and Superman, has also seen her character given greater depth and more intellect as she debuts the new look in Issue 600, which hits comic book stands this week.

Meanwhile, actor Josh Hutcherson will not confirm or deny he is the next Spider-Man.

Internet sites including Twitter are buzzing with reports the 17-year-old will replace Toby Maguire.

Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios said Maguire will not be back for the fourth Spider-Man movie.

Hutcherson confirmed he auditioned but would not say anything else. He said he does not “want to get in trouble with anybody”.

Hutcherson starred in films including Journey to the Centre of the Earth and Bridge to Terabithia.