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Wonder Woman #20
The first issue of my Wonder Woman subscription came today, freakishly on time. I'm going to have to describe DC's subscription system as customer-unfriendly overall, especially in comparison to Marvel's. They use a really weak cardboard backing and soft plastic wrap to ship their books. The issue came through fine, but I worry about the days it comes in with a bunch of magazines and other mail. I'll be flattening that shit out for hours.
Good issue. Weird issue, but good.
Of the bad: I hate Diana's Norse outfit, with it's random metal panties and metal leg bracelets. Just - why?
Of the good: Gail Simone's characterization of Diana and Etta continues to be good, and she's started another interesting story arc. I'll say this about Simone, she's one efficient writer. Since she took over we've had The Circle and the Nazi thing, the wee Khund arc and now this. I'm just not used to this kind of turnaround in my comics. At least not anymore - oh Bendis.
I also like that Diana and Etta really seem to be friends, instead of just people who occupy overlapping timespace. They have in-jokes and history and the kind of easy comic timing that only comes with years of practice. And Etta herself. So much awesome there. This Etta is a fantastic mortal BFF for Diana - she's a professional badass, as well as being a reasonable and kind human being.
As long as the Crisis of the moment doesn't totally derail Simone's story, I have a feeling that very soon this book will be one of my favourites. I'm even enjoying the Secret Agent Prince bits, now that Etta's around to question it. She's already got me on board with this Nemesis-is-not-all-he-that-seems story, although admittedly that was an easy sell, considering how ill-used the character has been.
I'll be happy when the inevitable transition from DOMA, back to full time superheroics happens, but in the meantime, Simone's moving it to a place that actually works for the character. Diana is now getting recognition for being the excellent agent that she is, and has friends in the agency. Sarge Steel should be suspicious about Diana Prince, because no matter how she tries to hide it, even without her powers, she'll always be a little too good. Having Etta there, and the developing actual human relationship with Tom are big pluses imo - friendless Diana is unnatural and wrong wrong wrong.
This new arc marks the second time since Simone started her run that a mysterious figure has come from another planet to seek Wonder Woman's help - it's an easy way to demonstrate the magnitude of Diana's reputation, but it could get annoying if overused. It's nicely balanced though, with scenes of Diana shredding her enemies defenses, and then trying to make friends out of them. Simone's trying to sell us on Diana as being the warrior par excellence of DC, and I'm happy to subscribe to her newsletter, because it's a great palate cleanser to the Diana who couldn't pump gas, use a credit card, or order coffee. Simone's Diana is the best there is at what she does, but she's also pretty good at what other people do too - she's not only a great warrior, she's a competent human being.
I'm looking forward to the resolution of the plot threads that have been in play since this book started (who is Wonder Woman, Diana/Tom, wth Themyscira), and hope that Simone stays on the book long enough to do said resolving.
I said this was a weird but good book. Weird because it has Beowulf and a character so obscure only one person on SD was able to identify him. I'm not saying that either is a bad thing, but yeah, interested to see where this one is going. I really wonder how Simone came up with the idea for using Stalker though, because it's a good one. The warrior without a soul and the warrior who's all about the soul fighting a hell god? Diana being infected by his soullessness through the lasso? Vintage Wonder Woman crack, right there. Especially knowing that Diana will off course shake of Stalker's influence, pwn Beowulf and save the day.
There isn't another book I'm reading that even approaches this level of easy joy. Diana is entirely lovable, and it's absurdly comfortable to root for her. Kind of refreshing, what with the unrelenting angst that She-Hulk, Iron Man and the rest of my precious fan-things are putting out lately.
Good issue. Weird issue, but good.
Of the bad: I hate Diana's Norse outfit, with it's random metal panties and metal leg bracelets. Just - why?
Of the good: Gail Simone's characterization of Diana and Etta continues to be good, and she's started another interesting story arc. I'll say this about Simone, she's one efficient writer. Since she took over we've had The Circle and the Nazi thing, the wee Khund arc and now this. I'm just not used to this kind of turnaround in my comics. At least not anymore - oh Bendis.
I also like that Diana and Etta really seem to be friends, instead of just people who occupy overlapping timespace. They have in-jokes and history and the kind of easy comic timing that only comes with years of practice. And Etta herself. So much awesome there. This Etta is a fantastic mortal BFF for Diana - she's a professional badass, as well as being a reasonable and kind human being.
As long as the Crisis of the moment doesn't totally derail Simone's story, I have a feeling that very soon this book will be one of my favourites. I'm even enjoying the Secret Agent Prince bits, now that Etta's around to question it. She's already got me on board with this Nemesis-is-not-all-he-that-seems story, although admittedly that was an easy sell, considering how ill-used the character has been.
I'll be happy when the inevitable transition from DOMA, back to full time superheroics happens, but in the meantime, Simone's moving it to a place that actually works for the character. Diana is now getting recognition for being the excellent agent that she is, and has friends in the agency. Sarge Steel should be suspicious about Diana Prince, because no matter how she tries to hide it, even without her powers, she'll always be a little too good. Having Etta there, and the developing actual human relationship with Tom are big pluses imo - friendless Diana is unnatural and wrong wrong wrong.
This new arc marks the second time since Simone started her run that a mysterious figure has come from another planet to seek Wonder Woman's help - it's an easy way to demonstrate the magnitude of Diana's reputation, but it could get annoying if overused. It's nicely balanced though, with scenes of Diana shredding her enemies defenses, and then trying to make friends out of them. Simone's trying to sell us on Diana as being the warrior par excellence of DC, and I'm happy to subscribe to her newsletter, because it's a great palate cleanser to the Diana who couldn't pump gas, use a credit card, or order coffee. Simone's Diana is the best there is at what she does, but she's also pretty good at what other people do too - she's not only a great warrior, she's a competent human being.
I'm looking forward to the resolution of the plot threads that have been in play since this book started (who is Wonder Woman, Diana/Tom, wth Themyscira), and hope that Simone stays on the book long enough to do said resolving.
I said this was a weird but good book. Weird because it has Beowulf and a character so obscure only one person on SD was able to identify him. I'm not saying that either is a bad thing, but yeah, interested to see where this one is going. I really wonder how Simone came up with the idea for using Stalker though, because it's a good one. The warrior without a soul and the warrior who's all about the soul fighting a hell god? Diana being infected by his soullessness through the lasso? Vintage Wonder Woman crack, right there. Especially knowing that Diana will off course shake of Stalker's influence, pwn Beowulf and save the day.
There isn't another book I'm reading that even approaches this level of easy joy. Diana is entirely lovable, and it's absurdly comfortable to root for her. Kind of refreshing, what with the unrelenting angst that She-Hulk, Iron Man and the rest of my precious fan-things are putting out lately.
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