Post by Erik-El on Mar 4, 2011 22:19:29 GMT -5
Wonder Woman 600-607
I came into this read with so much reservation, it took me over seven months to get around to even starting it. As soon as I knew they were changing one of my absolute favorite characters in every imaginable way, I was furious. And when I say in every way, I really mean it.
Diana might as well be another character entirely. There is not one thing about her that is similar. Her powers have nearly flat-lined, she is decidedly much more immature and filled with anger.
Issue 600 was good if not a little silly. Mostly because it dealt almost entirely with the real WW. I did find it a little strange that Vanessa Kapatelis was graduating from high school for a second time (She graduated the first time in vol 2 issue 62) but I let that go. I did find it interesting that the entire second and third volume were unintentionally retconned to only have happened over the course of two or three years though. Since Wonder Woman arrived to Patriarch's world at 20, that would make her 22-23 by issue 600. Interestingly enough, they also retconned her age to 18 or 19 years old for the new version.
Anyway, after having read the issues I can honestly say that if this were an Elseworld title, I would say that it is pretty decent. The art is actually really enjoyable. In fact, the art is great. The story is just a giant middle finger to anyone that actually loved Diana as she was.
Everyone WW related has a retcon as well. Artemis, Cheetah and Giganta all get a wonderfully terrible makeover. Diana herself seems to have no problem with killing. As an Amazon warrior, that actually makes sense but Wonder Woman has been a super hero since she first came to Patriarch's world and has only killed a few times due to her compassion.
I think that if you have never read an issue of Wonder Woman in your life, you might actually enjoy the direction of this series. As a guy who owns every Wonder Woman comic from 1987 on, I can tell you that I find it offensive. And that is coming from a guy that endured the Bill Messner-Loebs arcs.
I know that DC wants to make Wonder Woman fresh and exciting again but I doubt she will ever have the kind of massive reader base that Superman or Batman enjoys. Destroying everything likable about her and making her some kind of angry anti-hero did not work in the 90s under Loebs, it will not work now.
The solution to this is to undo the damage. Bring the real Diana back. I do not care if it is erased so long as it has no lasting impact on the real Diana. If DC want to keep the new suit, fine. Diana can wear it for 30 issues in memory of her fake-self until DC realizes the lasting fans prefer the Diana we know.
Overall, if I were a new fan, I would give this a 5 or 6 out of 10. The story would almost be likable if Diana was not such a bitch in it. As a dedicated fan for years, I give it a 2 out of 10. I would go lower but I really did like the art. Since I am only in it for the art, they might as well put Diana in a Ame-Comi suit.
I came into this read with so much reservation, it took me over seven months to get around to even starting it. As soon as I knew they were changing one of my absolute favorite characters in every imaginable way, I was furious. And when I say in every way, I really mean it.
Diana might as well be another character entirely. There is not one thing about her that is similar. Her powers have nearly flat-lined, she is decidedly much more immature and filled with anger.
Issue 600 was good if not a little silly. Mostly because it dealt almost entirely with the real WW. I did find it a little strange that Vanessa Kapatelis was graduating from high school for a second time (She graduated the first time in vol 2 issue 62) but I let that go. I did find it interesting that the entire second and third volume were unintentionally retconned to only have happened over the course of two or three years though. Since Wonder Woman arrived to Patriarch's world at 20, that would make her 22-23 by issue 600. Interestingly enough, they also retconned her age to 18 or 19 years old for the new version.
Anyway, after having read the issues I can honestly say that if this were an Elseworld title, I would say that it is pretty decent. The art is actually really enjoyable. In fact, the art is great. The story is just a giant middle finger to anyone that actually loved Diana as she was.
Everyone WW related has a retcon as well. Artemis, Cheetah and Giganta all get a wonderfully terrible makeover. Diana herself seems to have no problem with killing. As an Amazon warrior, that actually makes sense but Wonder Woman has been a super hero since she first came to Patriarch's world and has only killed a few times due to her compassion.
I think that if you have never read an issue of Wonder Woman in your life, you might actually enjoy the direction of this series. As a guy who owns every Wonder Woman comic from 1987 on, I can tell you that I find it offensive. And that is coming from a guy that endured the Bill Messner-Loebs arcs.
I know that DC wants to make Wonder Woman fresh and exciting again but I doubt she will ever have the kind of massive reader base that Superman or Batman enjoys. Destroying everything likable about her and making her some kind of angry anti-hero did not work in the 90s under Loebs, it will not work now.
The solution to this is to undo the damage. Bring the real Diana back. I do not care if it is erased so long as it has no lasting impact on the real Diana. If DC want to keep the new suit, fine. Diana can wear it for 30 issues in memory of her fake-self until DC realizes the lasting fans prefer the Diana we know.
Overall, if I were a new fan, I would give this a 5 or 6 out of 10. The story would almost be likable if Diana was not such a bitch in it. As a dedicated fan for years, I give it a 2 out of 10. I would go lower but I really did like the art. Since I am only in it for the art, they might as well put Diana in a Ame-Comi suit.
