She wears bullet-deflecting bracelets, armor and has the initials WW. Yes, she’s ... Wendy Watson

Wendy Watson has cosplayed as a number of pop-culture characters, including Batgirl, Princess Leia, Silk Spectre of The Watchmen and the GI Joe villain Baroness.

But none’s a better fit than Wonder Woman. After all, she has the alliteration in her name that’s so traditional in comic books – think Lois Lane, Clark Kent, Peter Parker. And, as she pointed out at a Wonder Woman Day event in Modesto on Saturday – she share the same initials, W.W., with the Amazonian superhero.

Watson, a Modesto resident, was sporting a new look for the 75-year-old character. The costume (and slight variations of it) was unveiled in 201X’s “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice” and continues in the newly released “Wonder Woman” and this fall’s “Justice League.”

Watson made it herself, including the tiara, breastplate, arm bands, bracelets and leg armor – all of leather. “It took a long time. I would work on it every night after work,” she said outside Bonanza Books & Comics on Saturday morning. “I had it ready for Free Comic Book Day,” another event at the comic shop, on May 6.

She’s been portraying Wonder Woman – her favorite cosplay character along with Princess Leia – about six years. She said she’s loved the warrior princess all her life – grew up wanting to be her. Watson remembers running around the house as a little girl in Wonder Woman undies.

Wonder Woman and Leia both are strong, independent and, well, “badass,” Watson said. And today’s little girls think so, too. When out at events as Wonder Woman, Watson said, “I get lots of hugs” from kids. “They come up and won’t let you go,” she said cheerfully. They love to show her things like the T-shirts or nail polish they’re wearing.

At the Bonanza celebration, kids were getting Wonder Woman comics, along with cardboard tiaras and bracelets. One young fan was Jazlyn Melendez, 4, of Ceres, who said, “I like when she rescues people.”

Modesto dad Timothy Grinstead had with him future wonder women Clover, 8, Paisley, 4, and Dallas, 2.

“I like that she has powers,” said Clover, who then admitted she wasn’t really sure what those powers are.

But she thinks the Lasso of Truth that Wonder Woman carries is the coolest piece in her arsenal. “I would be able to hurt bad guys, but the only one I wouldn’t hurt is Harley Quinn, because I like Harley Quinn.”

Lucky Harley.

This story was originally published June 3, 2017 at 4:52 PM with the headline "She wears bullet-deflecting bracelets, armor and has the initials WW. Yes, she’s ... Wendy Watson."