Wonder Woman #2
Writer: Allan Heinberg
Artist: Terry Dodson
Company: DC Comics
Despite having such a long gap in between issues one and two, Allan Heinberg (Young Avengers) and Terry Dodson’s (Marvel Knights: Spider-Man/Generation X) Wonder Woman still manages to be fun, while at the same time making the step-sister of the DC Universe seem cool and a character to take seriously.
I myself have never really been a huge fan of the woman in the star underwear and princess-like tiara. She wasn’t the type of hero I cared for or wanted to read about. She didn’t have any cool batarangs to throw at people or couldn’t shoot laser beams out of her eyes (Gotta love those optic blasts!). Now, after thumbing through Greg Rucka’s recent run and going back and reading George Perez’s, I can understand the fascination that some people have with her. She isn’t just some woman who blocks countless bullets with her bracelets or rides in a cheesy invisible plane, tossing her golden lasso here and there. Her back story is one rich with Greek Mythology, a veritable who’s who of ancients Gods, which is of course thanks to Perez. It’s an addition that really adds another layer to work through, making the character seem that much more interesting.
In Heinberg’s second issue, Wonder Woman (now Donna Troy) has been captured by a terrifying threesome that includes: Dr. Psycho, Cheetah and Giganta, all of whom are somehow more powerful than they’ve ever been before. Now, to save her own sister, Diana Prince, the original Wonder Woman and current DMA (Department of Metahuman Affairs) Agent, must decide if she has truly given up the mantle of Wonder Woman. Or is there a new hero waiting in the wings, ready to take her place and save the day?
On a side note, I have to say that Dr. Psycho is probably my new favorite villain, especially the bald variant. He’s creepy and small, like a little gremlin that exudes an eerie vibe. I don’t really think he was ever meant to get to be the DC elite villain he has become but that just goes to show you what good writing can do.
One of the main reasons that I enjoyed Geoff Johns’ Flash run so much was his ability to make the bad guys seem more appealing to the extent of actually caring about them. True, that might not be the case here since we’ve only seen two issues of Wonder Woman so far, but I can’t ever remember thinking that the words bizarrely cool would ever be included into the descriptions of Cheetah and Giganta. They’ve been b-listers in my book for some time now and I thought that they would stay there. But, Heinberg has already made them fun and if he can continue to do what he’s doing, adding bits and pieces of DC’s history like the inclusion of Suicide Squad’s Nemesis and Sarge Steel, an old Charlton character, then the possibility of this being one of my favorite books is pretty high.
I normally might consider Terry Dodson’s artwork of the “Cheesecake” variety, which is not neccesarily a bad thing, it’s just not something I personally enjoy. In Wonder Woman at least, it doesn’t seem to be distracting. Dodson’s sleek lines paired with Rachel Dodson’s vivid colors make for a detailed action extravaganza that a person can really get into.
The only bad thing that I can say about the book is that the pacing of the story seems to be slightly off. Two issues have passed and though I’m having a blast, we’re still basically where we were, still fighting the same battle. Action is good and all but it is nice every once in awhile to have some forward movement in a book.
Due to the release of Justice League of America it’s kind of spoiled that Diana is one of the main team members again. I don’t know about you, but I really enjoyed the whole passing of the torch to Donna Troy. It made sense to me time wise and I liked the idea of having Diana out there, tromping around the globe, having little spy escapades instead of her Ambassador of Peace mission she had going for her. Maybe “Wonder Spy” for a title, perhaps? In the end though, even with the long gaps of time in-between issues, like with Young Avengers, Heinberg has made something that I didn’t think would be good into a book that finds itself on my top 5 every time it comes out.
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I’ve been enjoying this too, and more than a little disappointed by the spoiler JLA gave us, I thought this new direction held promise.
31 Aug 2006 at 10:28 am
QuoteWell, I think it probably still does hold something for me. The reason for that is I think I may have heard that Heinberg is planning on keeping Donna Troy as Wonder Woman during his entire run. How that works out with regular DC continuity is beyond me, but still…kinda cool.
31 Aug 2006 at 11:20 am
QuoteThough I hear Heinberg run is only 5 issues long. They have a new writer lined up, one that admits to having no prior knowledge of the character beforehand. Not that a writer unfamiliar with a character can’t necessarily write it well, but it does cause one to pause.
http://www.comicon.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=36;t=005303
31 Aug 2006 at 11:51 am
QuoteGrayPumpkin, I’m now a bit worried after reading that. Don’t know if I like the idea of bringing fresh blood and another new take on the character to this book and though I really want Heinberg to get back to his Young Avengers stuff, I’m really enjoying his Wonder Woman run and wish that he was staying with the book a little longer.
31 Aug 2006 at 12:33 pm
QuoteGeorge Perez stuck with his relaunched Wonder Woman for something in the neighborhood of FIVE YEARS. Set against that, five issues is honestly embarassing, especially given the (relative) rarity of relaunching a book like Wonder Woman.
Man, I’m mostly liking Heinberg’s stuff, but it’s probably gonna be dispensed with the instant the new writer hits the ground, and Wonder Woman will once again be left to flounder without the support structure of a dedicated creator.
Like the guy in Airplane! said: “What a pisser.”
31 Aug 2006 at 12:41 pm
QuoteI expected this to happen with Heinberg, just a short run as he has lots of work to do. And having read The Tenth Circle, I actually have lots of faith in Jodi Picoult.
For someone who didn’t really grasp the trappings of the comic book world, she certainly emersed herself in it for the project, and she’s very good at characterization.
And at the very least, she’ll be the kind of person who brings in more readers - women readers at that. I work at a small book store,, the only guy in a pack of 20 something women, and they all *love* her work, and would follow her anywhere. So I think this could have the potential to go very well.
31 Aug 2006 at 12:44 pm
QuoteAs much as I’m loving Heinberg’s take I’m with you guys, kinda makes you wonder what the point of relaunch was just to switch things up again five issues later. Well, I guess the point is Heinberg brings readers, but a gain it does give one pause.
31 Aug 2006 at 1:02 pm
QuoteIntresting to know, B. Schatz, thanks.
31 Aug 2006 at 1:04 pm
QuoteI don’t think we’ll have to worry about that new writer for a while considering Heinberg’s lateness on his books. I mean issue 3 will probably be out around Thanksgiving now right? I suppose it could however not be his fault in all but these Hollywood guys have a history of lateness when it comes to the books they write(Kevin Smith, Damon Lideloff(spelling?). (Edit: Randy - Lindelof. Or, if you like, “Where the hell is Ult. Hulk #3, Lindelof?”)
That being said I really am enjoying this book right now. The only time I’ve really enjoyed anything with Wonder Woman over a long period of time has been on Justice League. I wanted Greg Rucka’s run on the character to be great but it never really lived up to my expectations. I did however love the Hiketeia hardcover he did with her.
31 Aug 2006 at 4:04 pm
QuoteMy big worry about Jodi Picoult is kind of related to what B. Schatz offers up, that she’s “good at characterization.” Sometimes, as with guys like Vaughan, that’s a compliment, and sometimes, it’s a euphemism for “and her plots and action are kinda left to wither.” Not saying that’s the case with Picoult, but I have noticed that the novelists (Meltzer, Rucka, Huston) seem to bring with them a decompressed, light on the action style that I find kinda weak on a superhero book. I don’t want realistic action in Wonder Woman, I want her flying and punching and doing cool, unrealistic superhero type stuff.
I’m cautiously optimistic about Picoult, though. Certainly it’s nice to have another woman writer in an industry that is sorely in need of them, and if she can bring to bear the right skillset, maybe she can build on the momentum that Heinberg has started.
On a semi-related note: What does everybody think a good, solid run for a creator is? I’m actually OK with short runs from time to time, although I agree that if you’re launching a book, you should put your stamp on it by staying with it at least a couple years. I’ve also seen creators stick around way too long on books, such that all their “tricks” become exhausted and start to reflect poorly even on their early great stuff. This happens to Bendis a lot, as I thought both Daredevil and Ultimate Spider-Man would have been stronger if he’d gotten off the stage a lot earlier. Changing titles and characters can recharge batteries, both for the creator and the characters.
Me, I’m a big fan of the Vertigo “60 issues and out” model, although for superheroes, a “24 and out” or “36 and out” might be better. Although Morrison’s New X-Men was of that relatively short length, and I found myself wishing he was staying longer, but that might be because nobody seemed able to follow his work in any way.
31 Aug 2006 at 7:57 pm
QuoteWell I’m pretty much with you on this, I do think it depends on the creator and how in touch they are with the character, but as a rule of thumb I think your assessment of 3-5 years, (36-60 issues) is a pretty good run, and most creators would probably be better served by switching off to something else about that point.
But it depends, for example to use Morrison as example again, the book I wanted to see more of him on was Doom Patrol which to me is to probably my all time favorite run by anyone in any comic.
Gruenwald’s run on Captain America was something like ten years and yeah towards the end it got pretty out there with Cap-Wolf and that whole Superia Stratagem thing with Cap and Paladin in drag on cruise ship of evil chicks, but you know as much as I rolled my eyes at those stories back then, I recently reread them and maybe it was nostalgia, but I find myself a certain frivolous charm and storytelling in those stories that I didn’t see the first time around.
31 Aug 2006 at 9:36 pm
QuoteHeh. The Gruenwald Cap is definitely one of those runs I’d use to “prove” that a long, long run isn’t really a great idea, unless you happen to be Lee & Kirby. I mean, I love Gruenwald’s Cap, I think it was definitive in a lot of ways, but yeah, when the stories start becoming “This month Cap’s a werewolf!” and “This month he’s a woman!”…
Well, it’s time to move on from the book at that point.
On a related note, I would just about kill for some collections of Gruenwald’s Cap. I’ve got a fair amount of it, but not all of it, and I’d rather have trades than issues. I’ll definitely buy the DVD of Cap that the folks who did the FF, X-Men and Avengers DVDs are planning.
31 Aug 2006 at 9:54 pm
QuoteI’ve got no problem with a short run by a writer or artist. I just wish that like say for an example..Flash: The Fastest Man Alive that the artist can at least stay on for at least one whole story arc before having to have a fill in artist. Look at Uncanny X-Men. I was pumped because Brubaker was going to be writing and while Tan would not be me first choice for an artist can’t he at least stick on the book for at least six issues? The first two issues solicited had him and I was hooked and then the next month a new artist for an issue and that turns me off and makes me drop the title.
01 Sep 2006 at 12:28 am
QuoteYeah, I totally get that. There’s a difference between knowing when to get off the stage and just plain not showing up for the performance. I’ve got enough to read that I’m not completely put off a book by lateness, but on the retail end of things, I’ve seen how it affects the industry, and it definitely can sour me on a book. A little bit more professional work ethic and a lot more realistic expectations from editors would go a long way in this industry.
Tan disappearing for an issue from Uncanny, truthfully I didn’t even notice. His work is solid, but not so spectacular that I missed him the month he was gone, especially as the fill-in was perfectly decent as well. Truthfully, having grown up on comics of the ’80s, I’m OK with fill-in artists and even the occasional inventory story to keep the book coming out on a regular schedule.
01 Sep 2006 at 1:46 am
QuoteI think maybe a big part of it might be the fact that some writers and artists spread themselves too thin, and when that happens, they get a lot less…consistent…with their work.
02 Sep 2006 at 7:12 pm
QuoteTan dropping out of Uncanny for an issue did have a big effect on my enjoyment of it. It went from one of my favourite titles to one I’m giving one more issue to pull its self together before dropping. Now admittedly that was as much to do with Brubaker’s delusion that Vulcan is a compelling villain but the change in writing focus and art all in one nearly killed off any interest I had in the title.
As for Heinberg dropping out so soon I don’t see that as automatically a bad thing. If he has an Idea to get this book off to a good start, which he clearly does, better he jump ship after that rather than carry on without any real Idea of what he wants to do with the characters.
04 Sep 2006 at 12:09 pm
QuoteSiythe, I agree with you about Heinberg, but I’m really liking his take on the characters within the Wonder Woman universe, for the first time in awhile, and I’d really like to see him stick it out a bit longer mainly for that fact.
Still, I really wouldn’t mind seeing him go back to Young Avengers, so I guess we win either way.
04 Sep 2006 at 12:36 pm
QuoteWorks in theory but you just have to look at New Avengers for what happens when a writer has a strong plan for how to start out and then no clue what to do next.
If sales are good enough then editorial should do their job properly and have the new guy carry on where Heinberg left off rather than do the obvious and hit the big red cosmic reset button. I realise of course that the word should is probably the weak link in that sentence.
04 Sep 2006 at 1:53 pm
QuoteWonder Woman can toss her tiara at evil vilians, and virtually it can cut through anything. Just thought I’d let you know. =)
29 Apr 2007 at 9:39 am
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