Legion World Forums LEGION COMPANION Dr. Gym'll's Cultural Rarities Wonder Woman

Well, the first issue of the new Wonder Woman was not what I expected. Pretty creepy and dark with very little explanation of how Diana fits into the relaunched DC Universe. It is definitely interesting and it appears that this story is going to have some depth. Too early to judge, but it has my interest.

It's definitely different from anything I've seen out of WW before. I can see this being a big hit with the Vertigo/"dark/edge" fans.

I may have to try this...

I thought the story itself was everything promised. It hit all the notes it set out to hit. Wonder Woman comes across as slightly more of a guest star than the lead, in a way. On the other hand, it was an effective build up to her introduction.

That said, I find this take on the gods problematic. Will it be balanced by gods 'patronizing' mankind beneficially as well as terrorizing it? We see a bit of that with Hermes, perhaps.

I'm not fond of the looks chosen for the gods, in fact, I don't like them. But I acknowlege their effectiveness in the story presented here and can't argue with anyone who appreciates them.

Looking ahead, if Diana's relationship with the Olympians will always be this pessimistic, I won't be a WW reader for long.

Even if the stories are as well-told as this one.

I really liked the first issue. This might be the first time I'll actually collect "Wonder Woman" on a regular basis.

I was also reminded a bit of a Vertigo title - "Sandman" in particular in terms of the tone, the machinations of the gods and how these dramas trample across human life. (yes, of course tales of this kind are much older than Vertigo, but they didn't come with such pretty pictures! )

It also reminds me of "Thor" in that the drama and mythology are more interesting than the main character. It remains to be seen if that's the case here, but the setup is obviously light on Diana's characterization. Right now, she's placeholder for "hero."

My main motivation for picking this up, aside from curiosity, was the art and I was very pleased. I actually really liked the designs for the various gods - they weren't traditional: the peacock lady I'm guessing is Athena? I like how you never get a good look at her. Hermes, looking more like a WWI soldier with that helmet rather than the FTD florist logo, and Apollo, his daytime and nighttime looks. If anything, the reinvention of a mythology (and to a not-so-small degree the art) remind me more of "Mage" really - and that is a very, VERY good thing.

Wonder Woman kicked off with a terrific start! I've always this series and after one issue, I'm more enthusiastic for the relaunch than Ive been for any WW runs in years!

First: love the build up for Diana and then seeing her in action. We haven't gotten much insight to her thinking yet but she's confident, capable, a warrior and a thinker. She's heroic, in the same sense as Odysseus or Achilles. And while she's stunningly beautiful, there is nothing gratuitous about her, much like Superman.

Next: an excellent story as well! I like this usage of the Greco-Roman deities; it's edgy and different. The tired old Greek Gods approach has been done to death and is done in Marvel's U already. If any series should set the tone for a new interpretation of them, it's this one.

The tone and atmosphere were fantastic, and I think the comparison to Sandman that Drake made is apt, though with much more action (and sense of urgency). There is a balance of horror / superhero / mythological saga adventure and it works.

I really enjoyed it. DC did something right: Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are all at the top of the DCnU in terms of quality. When was the last time that happened all at once?

Cobie comparison: better than JL #1? Yes, one of my favorites so far.

Now that you mention peacock feathers, the mystery goddess ought to be Hera once again striking out at one of Zeus's conquests, a pregnant Zola.

Yes, I totally read the story to point to a jealous Hera as the one who is trying to kill Zola.

A great developing story. The solicitation described it as a horror story, but it's well above the usual blood and guts of that genre. I echo Mystery Lad's hope for some benevolent gods so that it's not just Diana defending humans. Sandman is a good comparison - and this is the first time I've really been interested in Wonder Woman.

It was also very refreshing to see that she has normal size boobs, a very athletic body but realistic. Zola as well looked like a regular, actual female and, after the seemingly endless lacy lingerie shots from the other books, it was good to see a woman in boring, everyday underwear.

Issue #2 kicked ass! The art is gorgeous and Wonder Woman looks stunningly beautiful. The story is moving along at a brisk pace. Nice interlude on Mount Olympus. DCnU Paradise Island is beautifully depicted as is its queen. Looking forward to next issue...

Four fins up (out of a possible five) on the Sharky scale

^Seconded! Fantastic #2 that gave all the elements that made #1 so memorable while adding a little extra oomph in that it didn't waste time clarifying story points and giving us some revelations.

Hera for the first time (EVER?) comes off as an antagonist whose point of view is something you can understand. Hermes is just awesome in every single panel he's in.

But the heart of the issue was Diana's place among the Amazons and with her mother, and I thought they really nailed it and made it feel important, exciting and emotional. Wonder Woman as "the perfect Amazon" was told to us and then shown to us.

I love that Hippolyta is blonde again, like she was in the Golden Age and Silver Age.

This is possibly a contender for my favorite of all the DCnU. And I've always collected it but its never been my favorite before.

I loved #2! This book rocks!!

I was unaware that Hippolyte was ever a blonde. I'm still fond of Perez's rendering of the Amazon Queen.
My only beef is Strife's name. Ares' sister is Eris and Eris' son is named Strife. I just finished teaching the Greek mythology unit to my ninth graders and I wished the writer and/or editor had done their homework.

Yeah # 2 solidified this version of WW for me, whereas # 1 had me on the fence with its WTF-ness.

Is that redhead ponytail chick Artemis? Why isn't her name Artemis??

#3 finally hooked me (well, I loved that Hippolyta is blonde again, in the previous issue, but </span></span>

And Owl Lad - I know we want things to be correct, but this IS supposed to be a different universe from ours, so the various myths used for the different DC titles that use various mythologies, are going to well, be different from those mythologies.
Making Strife a grandaughter to Hera would have been cumbersome to the storytelling, I think, and lessened the connection she has to Diana.
Just my thoughts on your comment.

On Themyscira: what do you think of it's much more literal depiction as a bronze age Hellenistic town? I both like and dislike it. I appreciate the research that obviously went into its depiction, but I miss the fantasy of the marble and the hills and the statuary and the pseudo-tech, none of which so far appears to be included.

I don't like brutish Amazons, though.

I'm still on the fence regarding the Olympians.

Diana, though, is coming across pretty realistically. If a tad adolescent.

Hard to connect these dots with the ones in JUSTICE LEAGUE, though.

Like you, Mystery Lad, I'm torn on the presentation of Themyscira. The marvelous detail of George Perez in the early days of the post crisis WW captured my imagination in a way that I don't think anyone will ever be able to top. That being said, I can't find much to complain about in the current artwork except that it isn't Perez. But, what is?

Regarding the changes/revelations to Diana's origin, and apparent disconnect with Justice League, I'm waiting to watch it all unfold. Ask me in year. It does appear that a lot of thought has been put into Wonder Woman's latest "new direction". I'm intrigued and interested, and definitely in for the long haul.

Just finished #3. Simply FABOO!

Agreed! I also totally loved it! This is one of my favorites right now.

I love the way the dieties are being portrayed--IMO the best they've EVER been done in Wonset Woman! It's time they got away from the prior interpretations which coincidentally are done the same way in Marvel and every other place for 50 years. Here they are unique and strange and difficult to grasp, as they should be.

What a great way of reimagining Diana's origin without dismissing the clay origins. Brilliant and it gives Diana a whole host of new stories with her new family tree.

And <span class="spoiler_containter"><span class="spoiler_wording">Click Here For A Spoiler</span><span class="spoiler_text">Hera didn't actually 'kill' the Queen. At least, I don't think she did.
A slimy green statue isn't exactly forever dead, is it?</span></span>

I think Erica Durance looks great as Wonder Woman !

http://www.movieweb.com/news/first-look-at-erica-durance-as-wonder-woman-in-harrys-law-episode-2-11

and previously on Smallville ...

I had no idea that Diana/Erica appeared on Smallville!
She looks great.

Yeah, Lois-as-Wonder Woman looked pretty cool to me.

Then again, I thought the Mercy Reef version of Aquaman was pretty cool, so my willingness to accept just about *any* TV comic book attempt may have clouded my judgement.

By issue #4, I'm now thinking that WW may be the best of the DCnU (only true contender: Batwoman).

My only complaint is its only 20 pages and I have to wait a month for the next one. Really--it's terrific!