First things first, let’s get the name right. Those mystical bracelets that Wonder Woman
wears, and every hardcore fan and hater calls by "Wonder Woman's bracelets", there's actually
a real name for them. (How amazing is that Ha!)
From the beginning, the bracelets were known as the Bracelets of Submission, the moment
they let themselves devoured by the Lust and turned their back on oaths and virtues they
promised to uphold in front of their Patron Goddesses, they were cursed. The name defines
how the bracelets affect Wonder Woman and the other Amazons, and Symbolizes their Punishment
and Curse.
Since we got the name right let me take you back to the Days of Old Gods. In the lore
of Wonder Woman, the Amazons were once the greatest nation on Earth. Their Queen Hippolyta
and the Amazons once resided in "Amazonia" in the days of ancient Greece, until they
were beguiled and bested by the demi-god Hercules, who had been inspired by the God of War Mars,
to go after Hippolyta.
Knowing that it is an impossible task to deal with large number of humongous strengthened
Women Warriors Hercules used trickery. He deceived Hippolyta by pretending that he has
fallen for her and longed for her love. Mesmerized by the love of Hercules, Hippolyta gave herself
to him and became one with him. While Hercules makes Hippolyta go nuts, His gang got into
action. The whole coven of Amazons was drugged by the gang and were caged and chained. They
were all enslaved for a long time after this.
However, with time passed Four out of Five Patron Goddesses of Amazons, Artemis, Athena,
Hestia and Demeter helped them out of their enslavement and take back their lands and
possessions from their captors. But Amazons were not able to regain everything, some things
were lost from them forever and branded as impurified. The single Goddess, Aphrodite
who was the main Patron was furious with them and refused to help them until the end.
Also,even after they freed themselves from Captors it was pretty hard to win the favor of Goddess
of Love, Aphrodite again as to what they have done has clearly desecrated her blessings
which they received at their beginnings.
As a Punishment, a Curse, and as a Reminder to the Amazons of the folly of submitting
to men, they were ordered to wear those Bracelets of Submission by Aphrodite.
Originally portrayed as being bronze, in Wonder Woman #52, published in March 1952, it was
first mentioned that the bracelets were composed of "amazonium."
The bracelets were useful, as magically indestructible gauntlets they could be used to deflect bullets,
energy weapons, and any murderous weapons in Man's World.
But there was a Hidden Catch, remember I told that this was also a Curse and Punishment.
If the bracelets were removed, it would literally drive an Amazon insane. They would be consumed
by a "berserker" rage, making them stronger and more dangerous for a temporary time but
falling in to darkness down the line.
Also, it was revealed that in Sensation Comics #4, Amazons temporarily lost their super strength
if a male welded chains to their bracelets together. Their strength remained unaffected
if they were chained by females (S.Comics #10). They would regain their strength if
their bracelets were unchained. In later stories Amazons lost their strength if males simply
bound their wrists, rather than their bracelets, with chains or other forms of welding. This
was evident also when Wonder Woman tells us, “My strength is gone—it is Aphrodite’s
law! When an Amazon girl permits a man to chain her bracelets of submission together
she becomes weak as other women in a man-ruled world!”
But when DC Comics came to the Silver Age, the origins of Bracelets took a dramatic change.
Especially Wonder Woman’s.
Diana's silver bracelets were created from
the remains of Zeus's Aegis, itself an impenetrable shield formed from the goat Amaltheia, who
wet-nursed the infant Zeus, thus providing the energy from which Olympus sprung. Zeus´s
father Cronus splintered the shield, and Athena had Hephaestus forge the remains into a great
prize to be awarded to the worthiest of all Amazons, their greatest worshipers.
The bracelets are unbreakable, and Diana is swift enough to deflect bullets with them.
Furthermore, When Diana crosses them to protect her from impact with larger projectiles as
well as damage inflicted by explosions and collisions with hard surfaces, the bracelets
generate a small energy shield.
All right, since we dug up the roots of both Bracelets of Submission & Silver Gauntlets,
let’s turn to juicy stuff. eh!
The Powers they possess, the Capabilities it has and the laws it defies are all going
to be laid out in front of you guys, so buckle up Guys!
One of the biggest changes to her recent history has been the revelation that she's a demi-goddess,
and has powers from her father Zeus. In 2009's "Wonder Woman" #34 she learned that by clashing
her bracelets together, she can summon lightning bolts straight from Olympus at her enemies
and to discharge electricity from her gauntlets other times.
Another power she's gained from her bracelets is the ability to create shockwaves by smashing
them together. In 2005's "Wonder Woman" #219, Maxwell Lord used his mind control powers
to make Superman fight Wonder Woman, thinking she was his enemy Doomsday. During their fight,
Wonder Woman slammed her bracelets together on his head, and the shockwaves were strong
enough to burst Superman's eardrums.
One thing almost anyone who knows anything about Wonder Woman knows is that her bracelets
are bulletproof, and she uses them as shields to protect herself. But the truth is somewhat
deeper. The Bracelets are even able to deflect Omega Beams (Darkseid's Omega Effect, Superman/Batman
#13) and heat vision (Supergirl, Superman/Batman #9). During the destruction of Olympus following
an attack by Darkseid, the bracelets were shown to be durable enough to even withstand
a blast from the destructive energies of the gods which Diana had to direct.
Also, we have seen that Wonder Woman uses a Sword and sometimes a shield also as an
extension to her single-handed Sword. Fact is, she can call her sword & shield straight
out of her bracelets.
2010's "Wonder Woman" #600, shows us that, her bracelets have gained a new power, which
was to brand her enemies. In the new design, her bracelet had a "W" stamped on them. When
she hit someone with her bracelets, it would leave the mark of a "W" on their skin, sort
of like branding them.
In "Wonder Woman" #15, as a favor, Hephaestus altered the bracelets so she could magically
create swords from them right into her hands. Now the bracelets can make any weapon she
wants (including arrows, bows and spears) from thin air. When she's done with the weapons,
they disappear in a flash. That sure beats keeping her swords on her belt or in her forearms.
In modern stories, the bracelets don't keep her from going insane; they keep her from
getting too strong. In recent times her bracelets now hold back her awesome power. To see what
happens when she takes them off, we can look at 2012's "Wonder Woman" #12.
In the story, Wonder Woman faced off against Artemis, the sister of Apollo. As she prepared
to fight, Wonder Woman took off her bracelets. At first, Artemis mocked her, asking what
she could do against a god without her bracelets to protect her. As Wonder woman glowed with
power, she revealed the cuffs weren't to protect her but to protect Artemis, and proceeded
to give the goddess a fight. Yes, Wonder Woman's bracelets aren't to protect her from anyone
else, but to protect her enemies from her.
Sometimes you might wander, can such a feet be accomplished in real life. So, did I. After
going through few articles, I caught up a very detail in-depth article written by ‘RHETT
ALLAIN’ on the topic of ‘The Physics of Bullets Vs. Wonder Woman's Bracelets’
According to the analysis he concluded that to deflect Bullets from a Heavy Machine Gun,
Diana need 0.043 seconds (43 milliseconds) reaction time which is far quicker than an
exceptionally skilled person with good visual reaction time has which nearly 200 milliseconds.
When considering the power, she utilizes in order to deflect the bullets or cut through
them is 76,000 watts. Whoa. That's about 100 horsepower. Meaning even in such situations
her bracelets hold on.
As a whole these Bracelets are truly God given as to be capable of such feets. Yet even Gods
are not Perfect or Undefeatable. Although it is very rare in occasion, just like Gods,
Wonder Woman’s Bracelets are also not indestructible.
Among the objects or weapons that have ever been able to broken Wonder Woman’s Bracelets
have mostly been magical in nature.
For instance, in 1983's "Wonder Woman" #307, Wonder Woman fought Niko Aegeus, a Greek terrorist
who got hold of weapons of the gods including the daggers of Vulcan, which are invulnerable
and were able to cut her magic lasso and shatter one of her bracelets. Apart from that we have,
the Sword God Killer. The Greek forge deity Hephaestus offered the lethal assassin Deathstroke
a contract in the assassination of an old foe of Olympus named Lapetus, a Greek Titan.
As Deathstroke is a mortal, he was granted the use of this God Killer Sword which enable
him to fight and kill immortal beings. That makes them more than a match for any conventional weapon.
This sums up My gathered information and Analysis on Wonder Woman’s Bracelets.
What do you think of Wonder Woman's bracelets? Do you know any other object or weapon that can destroy
Wonder Woman’s Cuffs? If so, let us know in the comments!