DC, Don’t Screw Up WONDER WOMAN!

It took one issue from a brand new creative team to get me skittish DC. Now I know we need to give them a bit more time and slack to grow but I don’t want to see the character tied up in unnecessary universe spanning subterfuge.

When it comes to the New 52 we’ve seen a company attempt to reinvigorate their line and build a larger fanbase. And, I think despite the occasional hiccup, they’ve succeeded especially in regard to this title. The opening outings happened to be a fine example of narrative storytelling, as an arc that lasted three-ish years recently climaxed in all the right ways. Certain attributes added to a subtle icon evolution which earned a place on my pull-list with interesting wrinkles to boot.

During that time Diana was focused on her family drama as extra meat like Forever Evil and Futures End were relegated to one-shots. For example: when Brian Azzarello and Cliff Chiang had to turn in a #0 they did so with a release that managed to help define their interpretation not force it to jump out of its own skin to interact with other superheroes or villains. Granted there were entries written by alternates that did just that but the main creative force kept their tone. It was different then I expected, which made me want to dive into her world over and over, again and again.

But in #36 we see a fully inclusive Wonder Woman that takes on everything that’s happened to her, and her allies, since they formed the Justice League and beyond. So needless to say it was weird. My main problem is the fact that up until this entry our heroine was depicted as strong, stubborn and in her own world, so to speak. Fanboys and fangirls were not forced to over indulge in sister titles to understand what was going on which was refreshing. But in just one outing David and Meredith Finch forced the current DC Universe on us and the storied icon.

Let me just say that the illustrations were beautiful to behold but they’re different then what we’re used to. Our protagonist is drawn softer and more sexual which acts in opposition to the renditions handed in by Cliff Chiang. He gave us a strong Amazon with all the right stuff. And it’s true that I want an attractive lead, I’m a guy I’ll admit that, but I also need to believe that when she throws a punch against others it’ll resonate.

And this quote from the artist didn’t ease my mind:

…we want her to be a strong – I don’t want to say feminist, but a strong character. Beautiful, but strong…

Or this one from the author:

…women tend to react in a different way, and I can bring some of that reactionary (thinking), going from your heart sometimes more than from your head.

This is all wrong! What makes WW who she is not because she’s defined as a man or a women, it’s because she inspires both. When she steps up and takes on near impossible odds that are out of her league, she shows something that exists in each of us. This warrior becomes a hero that doesn’t react to things differently because she’s feminine but due to who raised her and the ideals she chooses to carry into the world.

I also want these new days of high adventure to be filled with more then a re-tread of already addressed themes. Case and point: we see a Paradise Island that seems ready to drop Diana yet again because she brought her brothers and sisters together in a war against First Born. And the anti-men faction doesn’t like it. I was under the impression that in #35 there was an established appreciation for each gender, because at the end of the day they were all Amazons. Or the fact that the big twist as the end of the book was the apparent “death” of a partially restored character.

I get that it’s early and that it took time for Superman/Wonder Woman to find its way as a title, but they did so without cheapening Olympic antics in the process.

We’re one issue in and I’m skittish , so please DC Don’t Screw Up WONDER WOMAN! She has a movie on the way and more then likely a game tie-in, plus, we all know that the icon’s about to be tested by a mammoth marketing campaign leading to Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice.

It’s an important time for her because she stands ready to do something that’s been lacking in the Marvel flicks. My point: the comic needs to step its game up, whether it’s with this team or a new one. I want a quality run that’ll make me beam with pride.