Wonder Woman #37
I am not really one to be loyal to creative teams on corporate owned books, because the creative team will change, so why set yourself up for disappointment like that? However, the difference in the Brian Azzarello/ Cliff Chiang run, and this new one by Meredith and David Finch is stark.
Azzarello pissed a lot of fans off with his interpretation of Wonder Woman, and more with his interpretation of the Amazons. I was not one of those people, because think about it: he addressed every problem Wonder Woman has ever had. Most importantly, that thing that has always stymied writers of Wonder Woman- the old chestnut of how does a superhero committed to a mission of peace spend all this time in violent conflict? BAM, baby! Make her the god of war! That's so epic it's ridiculous.
This Finch team though...what the hell are they doing? Art has to really bother me for me to criticize, but what is that ridiculous pose Diana is in on the cover? I defy anyone reading this to duplicate the way she appears to be standing, keeping in mind she's about to fend off an attack, and not fall over backwards. She's in a half squat, her back arched, chest out, mouth open in an "O." That makes her look like her back should be resting against a stripper pole! But enough about that.
Diana is suddenly being treated like a girl in need of scolding or rescuing by everyone- including Superman, who in case anyone has missed it, is supposed to be her boyfriend and partner in battle. He should really have a better understanding of just how strong she is, what she can handle, and just how much more she would have to take on before reaching a "breaking point."
An Amazonian council calls Diana on the carpet, demanding that she choose between being queen, superhero, and even god- even criticizing her for neglecting her duties as god of war?! Never, ever, ever have I wanted to see someone's inner switch flip so bad. Truly- Wonder Woman's justified response (in context of the gods of Greek mythology) would have been, "WHO ARE YOU TO DICTATE TO A GOD, MORTAL?!" I literally wanted to see her put the fear of a god in the council. Would it have been a little out of character for Diana? Yes, but it would have been tons better than the crud that actually followed, and honestly, could have been a big step in pointing them in the same direction they seem determined to go in.
I'm hoping the Finch team pulls their heads together on this one, and makes use of what Azzarello left them with. Where are the awesomely redesigned gods? Where are the New Gods? I want to continue to like this title, but so far, I am very much unimpressed.
For the score: minus one star for the Pole-Dancing Diana cover, minus one star for crap treatment of Wonder Woman by other characters, minus one star for so far ignoring elements of the previous run, and minus one star for my general disappointment in this new direction. That's right- one star- meaning "much room for improvement."
HOWEVER: plus one star for the reveal at the end, and plus one star for my general excitement over that. Final score: three stars, meaning "I'm willing to see where this goes."
