The Spirit Of Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman #609
Written by J. Michael Straczynski and Phil Hester
Art by Don Kramer

 

Wow Hester really manages to show us the spirit of who Wonder Woman is – not only in her various incarnations – but within people who embodies her ideals and characterization through time. It was really a great issue. And the way he showed this – through her enemy Doctor Psycho who only wants things to return to normal so that he could be close to her in some way again. It was great. I really did not expect this to be that good.

Solid Conclusion

Wonder Woman (Volume 3) #44
Written by Gail Simone
Art by Nicola Scott and Travis Moore

Gail Simone concludes her run on Wonder Woman with this issue and while it was a quick ending, I like the concept of the Citizenry and I love the idea that the Amazons are helping rebuild Washington DC, it really is a great way of ending the current numbering because of Amazons Attack and how awful all that was. I will miss Simone on this book – she has proven time and time again that she gets the character of Wonder Woman.

Wonder Woman’s Extended Family

Wonder Woman (Volume 3) #43
Written by Gail Simone
Art by Nicola Scott and Fernando Dagnino

 

We learn the story about Astarte, Diana’s aunt. (Interesting from my knowledge Astarte is the name of both a demon from the Goetia and an ancient goddess) Apparently she was Hippolyta’s older sister who was taken instead of Hippolyta by aliens three thousand years ago. Seems strange considering Hippolyta was never a baby was she? Wasn’t she created from a woman who was murdered by a caveman or something? Maybe I am not understanding something I don’t know this was good I just wish it contained more Nicola Scott art. I wonder if this is Astarte’s first appearance. It seems to be so. I also like that Diana is going to be facing off against her cousin – the daughter of Astarte in the next issue.

Snake Amazons From Space!

Wonder Woman (Volume 3) #42
Written by Gail Simone
Art by Nicola Scott

 

Who was expecting that?! Crazy Amazon-like Aliens from Space are attacking Washington D.C. and they are led by Wonder Woman’s Aunt! That is Simone at her finest, she knows how to write great Wonder Woman tales. It is too bad she is leaving the book. I hope JMS is as good as she is because this is just too much fun. I love it! Etta Candy is such a great sidekick for Diana, all she needs is her gun and she is ready to go straight to battle. I hope she stays around with the writer change. I also hope that Diana doesn’t rejoin the DMA – I never really liked that idea.

Peace And Love

Wonder Woman (Volume 3) #41
Written by Gail Simone
Art by Chris Batista and Fernando Dagnino

 

Can I just say that Gail Simone should stay on Wonder Woman, give Morrison or Rucka a new Wonder Book and keep Simone here. She understands the character tremendously. Power Girl’s inner dialogue about Diana pretty much showed that. Wonder Woman is more then fighting (although she is a great fighter) she is inspirational and full of love. Power Girl needed to channel Diana in order to stop the hatred consuming Washington D.C. I hope these Crow Children come back soem day because they were some damn scary Wonder Woman villains. The scenes with Etta and Steve Trevor were very suspenseful and Diana saves the day once again! Great issue! Plus The Olympian finding the reincarnation of his lover again warmed by big gay heart.

I’m Wonder Woman!

Wonder Woman (Volume 3) #40
Written by Gail Simone
Art by Aaron Lopresti

 

The Crows are a group of seemingly small boys who inspire hatred in people. They have turned Washington DC into a city of race riots in this issue. This is an intriguing villain and certainly one that can be used to explore current affairs. Etta Candy is revealed to be a Checkmate agent which was pretty cool use of continuity. It has been a while since we have seen Checkmate. I can’t say that I am looking forward to the Power Girl – Wonder Woman fight. I have never liked heroes vs. hero fight and I am pretty sure this one was done before in Brave and the Bold. Wonder Woman’s “I’m Wonder Woman” line to Power Girl was pretty badass though.

What A Great Storyline

Wonder Woman (Volume 3) #33
Written by Gail Simone
Art by Aaron Lopresti

The Rise of the Olypian comes to an end in this issue when Achilles takes over leadership of the Amazons and Wonder Woman rejects Zeus and says goodbye to her mother. I really enjoyed it and it was the perfect ending in that it was a true ending but left it open ended for Genocide’s eventual return. I think Simone has created a great new villain for Diana. I also like that Diana is not as loyal to the Gods as her mother is, probably because since she has lived so long in America she has taken on American ideals herself about blind loyalty. I am not sure where Simone will take Diana next, but I can’t way to see.

Lots of Revelations

Wonder Woman (Volume 3) #31
Written by Gail Simone
Art by Bernard Chang

Unfortunately, I had been spoiled that Genocide was truly the future Diana before I read this issue, but I was disappointed to hear that. I wish people had explained it to me further because this issue reveals that she is not the future Diana but the corpse of Diana possessed by the essence of Ares. I like that a lot better. This issue revealed a lot. Ares is behind basically everything from Genocide to Cheetah’s motivations to the rise of the Olympian. Awesome. I like how all of this is starting to fit together nicely. I wonder why the artist was changed this issue but it doesn’t really matter, Chang does a good fill-in. I really hope Etta Candy wakes up from her coma just in time to kick some ass. That will be an awesome moment.

A Pissed Off Blood Thirsty Diana

Wonder Woman (Volume 3) #30
Written by Gail Simone
Art by Aaron Lopresti

Wonder Woman gets really pissed off this issue and rightfully so. I love myself a pissed off blood thirsty Diana so I really enjoyed this. After Etta Candy is captured and tortured by Genocide, Wonder Woman single-handedly dismantles the society. I love how the usually frightening Phobia is even afraid of Diana here. Wonder Woman truly is a powerhouse in the DCU and a force to be reckoned with and Simone really portrays this well in this issue. I am sure some people will not like that Diana has resorted to killing Genocide but with a creature like this, she has no choice. She is not Superman and Batman, she is her own character and is willing to do what she believes is necessary. It is for this same reason that I have never had a problem with the murder of Maxwell Lord. As for the Olympian, his creation seems to be an after though in this story and not really something I am overly excited about right now. I thought he was going to be the male version of Diana, not Achilles. Unless he just has Achilles’s name and like Diana, is not the Achilles of myth. I don’t know.

Getting Good

Wonder Woman (Volume 3) #29
Written by Gail Simone
Art by Aaron Lopestri

After Diana’s defeat by Genocide again, everything has gone to hell. Genocide has kidnapped Etta Candy, Zeus is killing gods, and it looks like Athena may have died. Oh and Steve Trevor is back, looking for his wife. I always thought he was older then that? Maybe I am just thinking of something else. Cheetah is pretty powerful in this issue and Diana says so herself. I can’t really remember her being this powerful before? I am not sure. This is an action-packed arc and if you have never tried Wonder Woman before, this is really the time to start. This is getting good.

Immortal No More

Wonder Woman (Volume 3) #27
Written by Gail Simone
Art by Aaron Lopestri

Despite emphasis put on other members of the trinity’s storylines right now, this is really the one everyone should be looking at. Genocide defeated Wonder Woman in battle, and has not only stolen her lasso, but wove it into her body! Now that’s creepy. As for Genocide herself, I have read a lot of people saying she is poorly designed, but I really like her look. I loved Donna and Wonder Girl’s reaction to the news of Wonder Woman’s death, but they do seem a little quick to assume Wonder Woman’s dead. I mean Diana has died before, and has come back. And here she isn’t even dead, so what are they worried about exactly? Sarge Steel is still acting crazy and I have no idea why. And Zeus’s proclamation of what is to happen to the Amazon’s is EXACTLY something the Greek God would do. I wonder how Wonder Girl will react to her own father taking away the immortality of the amazons?

The Rise of Genocide

Wonder Woman (Volume 3) #26
Written by Gail Simone
Art by Aaron Lopestri

Just like over in Secret Six, Gail Simone creates an incredibly creepy villain. People who don’t like violence in their comics beware, although everything is done off-panel, this villain murders a little girl and many civilians at a shopping mall in cold blood. I don’t mind it and it makes the character all the more credible. Interviews have called Genocide the ultimate villain for Wonder Woman and I have to say so far, it looks like she might be. The coloring of this issue was a little off, Nemesis’s uniform switched from Red to Black back to red but otherwise the art was pretty decent. I am not sure what is going on with the Greek Gods, but I like they were wearing modern (futuristic?) looking clothes like when Rucka was on the book. I am sure we will learn more about what is going on with these Gods eventually. This storyline looks to be the best of Simone’s run yet and probably the best arc since Rucka left the character. I think everyone should check this out, you won’t be dissapointed.