She’s Back (And Pantsless!) – Review Of Wonder Woman #1

Brian Azzarello might be my favorite person in the comic book world, this week. First, he published this great letter on Vertigo’s editorial board, On The Ledge, in which he rails against the future for not delivering the goods it promised:

Dear Future,

F**k you.

You promised me a jetpack, and didn’t deliver. You’ve led me on and really let me down, so you can go to hell.

I’ll admit it: when you handed me a glass of Tang and a Space Food Stick I fell for you hard. You told me you were gonna be beyond my wildest dreams and we would be going places (using that jetpack, right?). You literally promised me the moon and I bought in hook, line and sinker. Well, if I still had that Space Food Stick I’d shove it up your fat bony ass, you two-faced, fun-squashing bag of woe. You can go to hell.

I, too, am disappointed by my lack of cheap, afforable jet-pack ownership. It would make going to my local comic book store ever so much easier and cooler. However, I did manage to get there this week and was rewarded for my efforts with Wonder Woman #1, also written by Mr. Azzarello with art by Cliff Chiang.

In the new Wonder Woman the Greek gods are alive and walking amongst us lowly mortals. Azzarello centers the story on the most basic of Greek legends: Zeus has stepped out yet again on Hera and has impregnated a mortal. Hera is jealous and wants revenge. Countless Greek myths and legends hang on that simple trope and it’s a great move by Azzarello to base his opening arc on it. It allows the story to introduce Wonder Woman and her association with the Greek pantheon without over reliance on exposition. We are shown who the various gods are by their actions. We are also given a plausible explanation for why Wonder Woman would become involved in this story – to save the life of a woman who has become hounded by Hera. More showing, less telling. Me likey!

Cliff Chiang’s artwork is pretty amazing as well. Bold and fluid lines that highlight the action and the strength of Diana. Check it out:

See? Pantsless.

And, Chiang draws some excellent facial expressions to boot:

That Zeus - what a jerk!

Also, maybe I’m reading too much into this, but does the mother-to-be’s hair not really resemble Mia Farrow’s in Rosemary’s Baby? Just saying.

As a closet Greek myth geek, I’m really excited to see where Azzarello takes this story. The Straczynski arc that wrapped before the reboot didn’t do a lot for me (you know, the one where she’s wearing pants), so I’m looking forward to watching this one unfold. Bring on the wrath of the gods!