Tip of the hat to ya, CV! I'd like to introduce you to 'Square Stool', the place for the anti-cool katz to chat and discuss comics =)
So for our first stool, I along with two other Viners will be discussing the new 52 Wonder Woman. Feel free to comment and/or share your opinions and if you have a topic for a stool or want to join in, PM me =) Just bear in mind you will need to commit to a one week turn-around to submit your stool as we intend for this to be a weekly endeavour.
And please, POPULAR POSTERS NEED NOT APPLY ;)
So without further ado, I give you your lovely anti-cool-katz stool providers. =)
Raiiyn: Hello All! I'm Raiiyn, first and foremost a DC girl, an Indie lover, part-time Marvel Fan and your giglicious host =) FYI, my comments are full of spoilers, proceed at your own risk.
lykopis: Salutations, I’m lykopis – She-Wolf Warrior Ballerina, die-hard Marvel fan-girl, indie comic enthusiast and a DC n00b. Been here on CV for about six months and it’s been…um…enlightening.
Hawkeye446: Yo-yo Square Stoolers, Hawk here. Glad to have proven my worth as "so-uncool-that-he-qualifies". Also, good day ladies, pumped for some Wonder Woman chat? ;)
Raiiyn: We sure are, dude. Lots of useless opinions coming right up.
lykopis: I resent the use of the words “Yo-yo”, “ladies” and “pumped”. Flagged.
How do you feel about Wonder Woman's new origin story?
lykopis: Considering I am new to the book, I’m not too sure. I am aware of who she was, how she was created without a father and what she stood for but I have to say, I do like this more harder, visceral Diana. Granted, learning you have a father (and more) would affect anyone, but seeing her get aggressive as part of the process to reaching resolution was great. I appreciate the direction Brian Azzarullo took, making her more like the Amazon she is with a stronger connection to Greek mythology. Hey, it’s the gods, they’re a crazy bunch so should be a fun series.
Raiiyn: I actually am really liking the new origins. I think that Diana is more of an Amazon now and I think that the Zeus storyline is a nice twist. I am also enjoying the fact that they are really sticking to some of the facts when it comes the mythology surrounding the Amazons. The whole going to sea to populate their race.and how Hephaestus saves the babies by trading them is a nice touch too since most stories say that they kill the male children. One thing I find a little awkward though. Hippolyta is supposed to the be the daughter of Ares.who is the son of Zeus.. so like did she sleep with her grandfather to have a baby?! o.O **twitch** yea, my brain just overloaded there.
Hawkeye446: That's definitely a tough question. I could break it down a lot, I'm sure, but to keep it simple...
I always thought that being made out of clay was such a fascinating aspect of her identity, and having that "no father" facet added to her character. Before the reboot, if someone had of told me that, -spoilers-, Zeus would suddenly be her dad, and that the clay would get the boot, I would have been in the mob with a torch and pitchfork at hand. But seeing (or reading) how Azzarello has tackled it, how he has addressed the resulting issues, and woven a story out of it, I adore what has been done. The fact that Diana is Zeus' love-child has stemmed this whole first arc in her self-named title, and I love what I have read so far. The changes pale to the interest it has sparked in me, and being a big WW fan, I can't wait to see what else is unravelled.
As a side note, despite this "Square Stool" *snicker*, being primarily about Diana, I also quite like the additions to other characters. I find that the Amazons are as intriguing as ever, and I hope to see more from them as a whole and as a community.
OH, and Hippolyta is BLONDE now!? YES, that minor change, to me, mixes it up a bit. I like that they are taking this opportunity to edit small things too. The real question is, is it her natural hair colour?
What do you think are some key differences to the character besides the obvious costume change?
Raiiyn: One of the major differences that I noticed is that Diana is less soft. I mean, it always depended on the writer exactly how compassionate she was, but I find that now she has a more stronger personality and more conviction in regards to what needs to be done. She seems to be a very strong woman from all views, even when she discovered her mother had lied to her all her life and while she may have cried… How she handled the situation there after is a testament to her warrior personality. I really see her as an actual Amazon now.
Hawkeye446: Wow, well for starters, she's a bigger BAMF then she used to be? I mean - I adore Diana, because her character is built on her strength, respect and honour, yet more so, she has such undying care, hope and kindness that separates this Amazon from her kin. A complete mixed bag, at the moment I think we have seen that she fights as well as ever. And despite her numerous brawls so far, we have also seen the person, not just the Amazon Princess. We see her at a cafe, wearing ordinary clothes. Speaking normally, oozing wisdom. I love that, she seems smarter than ever. So, yeah, I guess the main one for me is her intellect, (which was always there), as it is as subtle as ever, yet more frequently expressed, I think.
(As a side note, I'm not saying Diana usually comes off as dumb, far from it, but often those lines get blurred with the other facets of her character, and I don't see that happening here).
And despite it being ever so obvious, I'm a fan of all the costumes we have seen. Loved seeing her all suited up in armour in #8 - awesome.
lykopis: Despite being new to DC, I have read some comics from her “mod” phase but it wouldn’t be fair to compare her to that depiction only. I’ve always thought her to be a strong, kind and compassionate person so I think she has retained those qualities but is now more accessible and not so perfect. She is impulsive, quick to anger and is retributive. I think that’s awesome!
Which do you like better, pre-52 or the new 52?
Hawkeye446: Hmm, a harder question than the first. one that may reside un-answered. I don't think we have seen enough from this new Diana. We may have observed her strength, beauty, grace, intellect, and even her emotion, but I still feel something is missing? And that has nothing to do with Azzarello, but Diana seems different to me, now, and I think I need more time (and more issues) to really state an educated opinion. But I will say, this personification is so so good. I see her character building from here a lot, and I hope I am right.
lykopis: Again --- can’t really answer due to my “newbie-ness”, but I do like this interpretation of her. The art by Chiang is wonderful and I like the new look revealed in issue #8, making her less a Miss America beauty contestant during the swimsuit portion. Some tweaking should be done – I want her iconic double W’s (not her bra size) more pronounced and much prefer Wonder Woman’s hair down. The pinned up look is too goddess-like and what I am really liking about this series is the focus on her bad@ssery. I like my female heroes strong and resilient. Wonder Woman may be a demi-god, but she seems more human now to me.
Raiiyn: NEW 52! Diana is waaaayyyyy better now. The Zeus thing is going to make for interesting interactions with other DC characters. I mean, Wonder Woman is a demi-god now, right? I'm interested to see what that will mean in the future. Besides that, I actually love the way they have her doing what needs to be done and for once I actually see her as an Amazon instead of just a woman in a bathing suit? Even though she was such a famous hero... I never really liked her all that much until now. Out of all the new 52 books, this is one of my favourites.
Do you like her current story line?
lykopis: Well, I was enjoying it initially but then felt annoyance with a few things in regards to Wonder Woman’s origins; especially the reactions of some key characters. I’m not impressed with the story involving Hephaestus - too easy – too quick – too convenient – too forgiving. There should be a real break-down there and real compensation and redress for what’s happened throughout the years. Diana’s reaction wasn’t enough and the acceptance of the situation by the victims frankly unbelievable. I hope there is more coming in regards to this, I really, really do. I don’t feel comfortable should Azzarullo leave this particular revelation as is. It would be a failure on his part in his otherwise great writing of the character.
Hawkeye446: Yes, yes I do. Diana has been tested, we have see new things from her, met new characters, explored some mythological marvels, and so much more. Azzarello is really stepping up and making this character his own, distinguishing her from other heroes out there, and even her past life. And what I think is really great, is his pacing. Some books move so quickly, that we miss what happens. Others stay in the same place, for what seems like forever. Within 8 issues we have gone across the world and back, met a boatload (figuratively, seeing as Poseidon is bigger than one) of Gods, Amazons and other characters. What has been done, for me, is unfathomable. He himself shows in what he writes, it all just seems so brilliant. Why? Because it's not obviously so. We don't see that major emphasis on everything, it's not meant to contrast her past life because it can, it's to be its own. I am blabbering, but the point is - this is a new age for Diana, and her place in the DCU. We have already seen a much broader interpretation of her world in under a year than what may have resulted after many, previously. I hold high hopes for what is yet to come, and this book remains in my inner circle of favourites (at the moment), along with Batman, and X-Factor, and the recently ended X-Club miniseries.
Raiiyn: I like how they have the jealous wife thing going on and I'm interested in Apollo's role in all this too. I am not too fond of how they are portraying the gods though. Poseidon is down right ugly and the whole Hades candle thing? REALLY?! Diana is more a warrior now though and I for one am all for it =) GO AMAZONS GO. I can't wait to see what they have in store for Zeus' latest baby and exactly what is going on up on Mount Olympus with Zeus missing? Baby= Zeus anyone? That's kind of what I'm thinking at the moment. It’s also only issue #8 right now so we'll see if I still feel that way after the next five issues.
Raiiyn: Hope you all enjoyed, or not..whatever your preference ;P See you next week CV!
Hawkeye446: Conversation stirs, stooler's :P Until next time!
lykopis: (....what's taking the Moderator's so long....)
Log in to comment