Comic Info
Comic Name: Wonder Woman (Volume )
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: Brian Azzarello
Artist: Cliff Chiang/Tony Akins
# of Issues: 6
Release Date: 2012
Wonder Woman (4) #3
Reprints Wonder Woman (4) #1-6 (November 2011-April 2012). Wonder Woman has learned that Zeus has impregnated a woman named Zola. Now Hera is after Zola and Wonder Woman has to protect her. Fleeing to Paradise Island, Wonder Woman learn a secret of her past that changes everything she thought she knew about her life.
Written by Brian Azzarello, Wonder Woman Volume 1: Blood is part of DC’s New 52 relaunch after Flashpoint. The art for issues #1-4 is done by Cliff Chiang with Tony Akins doing #5-6 (with Chiang covers). Received rather well, but a big spoiler was released on a big twist in the story which quashed a bit of the enthusiasm for the first story arc.
I have to admit that I don’t like Brian Azzarello much. Despite being incredibly hyped for 100 Bullets “real” feel, I find his dialogue kind of poor, overdone, and almost unreadable (especially when he’s trying to write vernacular English). There is a little of that here, but not enough to be distracting. I did enjoy some of his plotting and pacing on previous stories and this story seems to have a decent pace. I was disappointed by the spoiler on issue #3 (which was released soon after issue #1) and feel that it did hurt the comic to go in knowing the surprise twist to Diana’s origin that was something “new” in the New 52.
Wonder Woman (4) #5
I do like Cliff Chiang’s art and that does help me like the story more. He has an interesting look and a good visual sense. I like how Strife looks like a member of the Endless from The Sandman, but I didn’t love how Hermes was modified…He’s fast so he’s modern I guess is the reason he looks like a hipster. The last two issues by Tony Akins’ art is ok but it just doesn’t match Chiang’s vision (I actually did like looking at some of the concept art in the back of the trade with the inkier look).
Wonder Woman has always been one of those titles that is decent on paper, but I’ve had a hard time getting into. The writers always have to find this fine balance between making her too tough and too soft and it is rarely found. This collection has Wonder Woman going in a bit of a different direction and it is unknown at the moment how “manly” Wonder Woman will be. I do like that Azzarello chose to end the last issue on a lead in to the next story arc while giving some resolve to the collection. Wonder Woman 1: Blood is followed by Wonder Woman 2: Guts.
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