I picked up the first issue in the New 52 sale on Comixology, then I picked up issue 2. Now I own all the New 52 issues in physical form. I enjoy the series and really enjoy the art.
- The Wonder Woman Chronicles Vol 1 by William Moulton Marston: Full colour reprints of the original All-Star Comics/Sensation Comics/Wonder Woman issues. It suffers from the usual Golden Age problems, but has all the good stuff too. Just a whirlwind of creativity, it's also when the core of the character was strongest (and was when she was most popular). Vol 2 is out in a couple of months.
- The Perez Run: Collected in Gods and Mortals, Challenge of the Gods, Beauty and the Beasts, Destiny Calling. Not my favourite, but a lot of Wonder Woman fans love it and it sets up what used to be the modern continuity. Is generally very detailed, with nice complex plots and characterisations. But too often for my tastes it goes past nicely complex and ends up being kind of numbing. There's just too much. Her origin has like three origins.
- The Rucka Run: Collected in the OGN The Hiketeia, followed by Down to Earth, Bitter Rivals, Eyes of the Gorgon, Land of the Dead, Mission's End. Rucka blends the three aspects that are usually around when Wonder Woman's at her best: mythology, politics and supervillainy. Diana is working as Themiscyran ambassador with a recently published book, navigating the plots of Olympians as Athena finally gets around to overthrowing Zeus, and having to deal with new and classic villains like Veronica Cale and Dr. Psycho. The only complaint is there's a little bit too much of "at the whim of the Gods" which denigrates her character somewhat. This is the run that made me a fan of the character, and would be that "one book" to give you, if 'twere not for the fact that it's six books. And you do need to read all of it to get the full oomph. A lot of set ups and pay offs.
- The early Simone Run: The Circle is a really good arc which focuses on the other Amazons' response to Diana's birth so long after they had given up man's world. Not everyone thought it was a good idea. Plus Nazis and gorillas. This is followed by Ends of the Earth which is a fantastic team up with some older sword and sorcery characters Stalker, Beowulf, and Claw the Unconquered. It produced one of my favourite Wonder Woman images:
Spoiler:
Unfortunately, the wheels kind of fell off her run after that. Note for those who continue to read it: Genocide was originally supposed to be a resurrected, corrupted Knockout (the New God of Superboy and Secret Six fame). DC told Simone she couldn't use Knockout (due to Death of the New Gods) after she'd already started, hence the reveal of who Genocide is being totally nonsensical.
Anybody got Wonder Woman recommendations besides these from the OP and the new 52 stuff?
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HarrierThe Star Spangled ManRegistered Userregular
The new issue of Wonder Woman is fantastic.
Hades' throne is Cronus, and he sits in the stomach that was cut open to free him and his siblings.
I can't get over how fantastic that is.
I don't wanna kill anybody. I don't like bullies. I don't care where they're from.
I don't give a fuck what gender you are, or whether you're a worm or a zebra. Honestly as long as you're friendly and can communicate, that's all I care about. And I can understand why you might take certain separatist positions but I just don't feel that way.
“Honestly I’m really trying to make it work and again, the sexuality – it's there, but it's really weird, because I thought it had to be quite weird. These are women who've allegedly been cut off from all male contact for three thousand years or something, since the days of Hercules. And none of them have died. And none of them have given birth.
“So it seems like it's actually quite stifling and weird the more you think about it. So I wanted to deal with that, what happens to eroticism and sex when it's [three] thousand years after men, you know when even the women who've been doing it to one another are bored shitless after twenty five [hundred] years. So I think there's something a lot weirder than what people anticipate coming up with this!”
It does depend on how you approach the Amazons. If they're a highly spiritual people who seek enlightenment through meditation and exploration of the mind or inner self then the sex thing wouldn't be a huge deal. After all, the monks of Nanda Parbat are practically immortal and they're celibate. And there are plenty of myths and legends about immortals who are celibate.
Also, aren't the Amazons are only isolated from the world of man? There's no reason why they can't travel to other places or planes of existence. Themyscira does sit on top of the gates of Tartarus. They can always visit Asphodel or Elysium. Hades wasn't a malicious prick in the myths. He may have been feared and hated by mortals but he was a pretty indifferent god. He's more of a tragic figure rather than a villain. It would be interesting if the Amazons actually had a cordial or good relationship with him. They're both isolated and lonely, they can entertain each other and keep each other company.
KingofMadCows on
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Werewolf2000adSuckers, I know exactly what went wrong.Registered Userregular
Issue 13 preview at LA Times (Hero Complex). It's a five page preview, which, considering how fast this book tends to read, seems a little excessive.
The "...two things we share..." jab by Ares at Hephaestus, if I'm reading that right, is such a dick move and I'm a little disappointed we don't see Heph's reaction to it. [Classically Ares is who Aphrodite cheats on Hephaestus with.]
Though this Hephaestus seems very kind and well mannered, which is a reversal of his classical portrayal... actually, now that I think about it, that's probably one of the weirdest things about Azzarello's gods. They're very often big departures of how they're normally portrayed, yet he keeps sneaking in references that you'll only get if you know... how they're normally portrayed.
From what I've read he used to wear fox skin, so I guess that's where it came from. Also I love how he's trying to dress like a rebel, so to be different he's the only God wearing shoes.
Small bit of new info on Grant Morrison's Wonder Woman project from Bleeding Cool:
Like All-Star Superman, this is his definitive take on the character, and the writer has also worked to rehabilitate the supporting cast, making Steve Trevor “worthy of Wonder Woman’s love” and bringing back Etta Candy as “an immense girl” and “Wonder Woman’s pal”, commenting that her being slimmed down since her original inception was “terrible”.
Small bit of new info on Grant Morrison's Wonder Woman project from Bleeding Cool:
Like All-Star Superman, this is his definitive take on the character, and the writer has also worked to rehabilitate the supporting cast, making Steve Trevor “worthy of Wonder Woman’s love” and bringing back Etta Candy as “an immense girl” and “Wonder Woman’s pal”, commenting that her being slimmed down since her original inception was “terrible”.
I really hope that Morrison will do something cool with the Amazons. I think they're missing a big opportunity by not having the Amazons participate in more of DC's mystical stuff.
I never liked how the Amazons were so isolated. Not going into the world of men is fine but that doesn't mean they should be confined on Themyscira. They should still visit other worlds and magical planes. I think it would make a lot of sense for the Amazons to be active in the mystical world. They should be like a combination of warrior monks and special forces who are called in to deal with mystical threats. I'd like to see the Amazons be to the magical side of the DCU what the Green Lanterns are to the cosmic side.
That would be rad and given Morrison's predisposition to magick I think he might play it that way. Or he'll just have them dress up as animals and fake eat each other at bondage banquets
I'm kinda curious to see if the villain in his book will have some aspect of the Devil. We saw that in Batman and Robin with Doctor Hurt back in 2010 and now in Action Comics with Vyndktvx. I feel like it's something he has been trying to explore
Posts
Definitely.
His designs would make for a good Wonder Woman cartoon show ala Legend of Korra, too.
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Anybody got Wonder Woman recommendations besides these from the OP and the new 52 stuff?
I can't get over how fantastic that is.
also I missed Harriers last post, but yes I agree, it was fantastic.
Do it
Kind of looks like Azzarello is fitting in a single... sort of “classic” issue into his run for fun.
Maybe he's not a fan of having to do zero issues...
unsurprisingly, since Wonder Woman is one of success stories of the reboot
I've been loving this series, and the fact that I can say that about a Wonder Woman book of all things is impressive!
EVERYBODY WANTS TO SIT IN THE BIG CHAIR, MEG!
i'm so fucking keen
Also, aren't the Amazons are only isolated from the world of man? There's no reason why they can't travel to other places or planes of existence. Themyscira does sit on top of the gates of Tartarus. They can always visit Asphodel or Elysium. Hades wasn't a malicious prick in the myths. He may have been feared and hated by mortals but he was a pretty indifferent god. He's more of a tragic figure rather than a villain. It would be interesting if the Amazons actually had a cordial or good relationship with him. They're both isolated and lonely, they can entertain each other and keep each other company.
EVERYBODY WANTS TO SIT IN THE BIG CHAIR, MEG!
The "...two things we share..." jab by Ares at Hephaestus, if I'm reading that right, is such a dick move and I'm a little disappointed we don't see Heph's reaction to it. [Classically Ares is who Aphrodite cheats on Hephaestus with.]
Though this Hephaestus seems very kind and well mannered, which is a reversal of his classical portrayal... actually, now that I think about it, that's probably one of the weirdest things about Azzarello's gods. They're very often big departures of how they're normally portrayed, yet he keeps sneaking in references that you'll only get if you know... how they're normally portrayed.
My God.
After reading the OP I realise it isn't her typical depiction but
Sends tingles down my spine!
I really hope that Morrison will do something cool with the Amazons. I think they're missing a big opportunity by not having the Amazons participate in more of DC's mystical stuff.
I never liked how the Amazons were so isolated. Not going into the world of men is fine but that doesn't mean they should be confined on Themyscira. They should still visit other worlds and magical planes. I think it would make a lot of sense for the Amazons to be active in the mystical world. They should be like a combination of warrior monks and special forces who are called in to deal with mystical threats. I'd like to see the Amazons be to the magical side of the DCU what the Green Lanterns are to the cosmic side.
Orion teaser!
Who WINS!?
More Ares and young Diana? I hope so, I really liked the 0 issue.