Comic Info
Comic Name: Wonder Woman (Volume 4)
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: Brian Azzarello
Artist: Cliff Chiang/Goran Sudzuka/Aco
# of Issues: 7
Release Date: 2014
Wonder Woman (4) #26
Reprints Wonder Woman (4) #23.2-29 (November 2013-May 2014). The First Born has fallen to Apollo, and now Wonder Woman finds herself the future embodiment of War…if she chooses to accept it. With Cassandra trying to track down Zeke and Zola, and Strife seeking revenge for War’s death, Wonder Woman has more problems building…and the First Born might not be as helpless as he seems!
Written by Brian Azzarello, Wonder Woman Volume 5: Flesh is part of the New 52 relaunch. Following Wonder Woman Volume 4: War, the collection features art by Cliff Chiang, Goran Sudzuka, and Aco. The Villain’s Month issue (Wonder Woman #23.2) was also collected in DC Comics The New 52 Villains Omnibus and Absolute Wonder Woman by Brian Azzarello & Cliff Chiang—Volume 2 collected these issues and more.
Despite not being a big fan of Azzarello, I have enjoyed his run on Wonder Woman. I’ve always liked mythology, and I always liked when Wonder Woman stories favor her mythological background. While the last collection felt like a bit of an ending, this collection ramps up the action again.
The First Born background issue unfortunately felt like Azzarello’s 100 Bullets which I liked the plotting of but didn’t like the writing. Azzarello somehow thinks he writes powerful vernacular dialogue, but it comes off as rather cliché and racist and much of the First Born’s origin is told in vernacular that sometimes seems to disappear and reappear through the telling…but it is also a necessary set-up for the rest of the collection.
Wonder Woman (4) #29
The story has an odd flow. The characters seem to have given in to the idea that they can’t stop gods so bickering is more the preferred result. You have fights between the characters and I do like the idea that Wonder Woman can’t completely disavow her family no matter how badly she wants to.
The First Born is also an odd character. No matter how much they try to make him a villain, he comes off as sympathetic. Wonder Woman not liking the First Born doesn’t make his claim to the throne or his mistreatment any less real. His actions spawning from his upbringing and treatment falls into the whole nurtured argument, and it seems like his hate was unfairly nurtured in him because of Zeus’s actions…which makes him less of a villain.
With great art and a rather interesting and different story, the New 52’s Wonder Woman is definitely unique. I love Cliff Chiang’s art and it is perfect for this story. With the story essentially ending on a cliffhanger, you’ll want to get the next volume quickly. Wonder Woman 5: Flesh was followed by Wonder Woman 6: Bones.
Related Links:
