World Famous Comics: Wonder Woman: Who is Wonder Woman?
Wonder Woman: Who is Wonder Woman?
By: Allan Heinberg, Terry Dodson Publisher: DC Comics Average Rating: Binding: Hardcover Label: DC Comics Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 144 Publication Date: March 05, 2008 Release Date: January 07, 2008
Product Description: In this volume from acclaimed writer Allan Heinberg (The OC) , the Amazon warrior Diana has gone missing, leaving Donna Troy to take up the mantle of Wonder Woman! When Diana returns, she goes under her former alias Diana Prince, acting as a secret agent and member of the Department of Metahuman Affairs. Her first assignment is to save Donna Troybut will she re-take the role of Wonder Woman?
An A+ Book Wonder Woman at the end of her second series had taken a lot... Her sisters fled to another plane, she sacrificed her reputation to save the life of her best friend and was scorned for her choices and actions.
She took a year off to explore who is Diana and what does that mean.
This book brings with it a solid well written story that needs to be judged as a collected edition not on the time delays that caused it to be late. The publisher made a choice to accommodate Allan Heinberg, writer of many hit TV series. They made a choice of quality over quantity.
It paid of in the finished product.
The Dodson's artwork for Diana is what Diana would look like or should look like in an animated series. She is powerful, gorgeous and evnces great martial and athletic prowess. Her fight scenes are breath taking.
I won't spoil the plot. This book is about a woman who is finding herself and feels alone but realizes that the friends and companions she cultivated stand by her, love her and from that love she finds she is the most powerful warrior of all.
That is who Wonder Woman is.
A 5 star read.
But if Heinberg cares to do another story, I would kindly suggest it get done first before it is marketed as such to the public.
Great Art (for the most part), No Plot This was the relaunch of the Wonder Woman comic series. There were hints of a good story but they weren't allowed to develop. Since I haven't followed the series I have no idea if any depth has ever been added. The use of comic book titles to introduce two characters was lame. NEMESIS is probably known to many readers but I doubt there are many younger fans who even know about the Wally Wood / Walt Simonson HERCULES series that ran what? Twelve issues, if I remember correctly. This book reminds me of a joke we used to tell about Image Comics: Image Comics is the right name. Substance Comics would be a lie. Oh, and with regard to Back Story: congratulations on the single worst picture of Donna Troy that I have ever seen. And a full page rendition, to boot.
Junk I was so excited when DC announced Wonder Woman would relaunch with Allan Heinberg as the writer. This "story" ended up being a gigantic disappointment. If it wasn't for the beautiful artwork of Terry and Rachel Dodson, I would have stopped reading Wonder Woman for the first time in 16 years. Heinberg nearly killed my love for a character who's been a part of my life since the age of three; 25 years now.
The story went absolutely nowhere and he had no grasp whatsoever of who Diana is. Heinberg's Diana is a total incompetent who is reliant on Batman and Superman for everything she has: the secret ID, her job, her transportation, and more. That is NOT what Wonder Woman was or is about: she is a self-reliant, independent, intelligent woman...Heinberg's Diana never displayed any of that. His Wonder Woman is dependent on all the men in her life and is, essentially, stupid. He showed a great lack of research into Diana's history and overall foundation in how he portrayed her. Any time Batman, Robin, Superman, or Nemesis appear in the story, it becomes theirs. The men in this title shine while Diana, the supposed star of the book, looks the fool. This storyline is entitled "Who Is Wonder Woman?" It's clear the writer never knew since he never answers the question himself.
This collection is printed on paper thinner than the actual comic book issues and the once-vibrant colors look washed out. There are some character design sketches in the back of the book by Terry Dodson.
Buy this only for The Dodson artwork; the definitive Wonder Woman artists of the modern era.
I've already spent more time writing this review than Allan Heinberg did "writing" this five issue collection. A huge letdown.
Disappointing Part of DC's post-Infinite Crisis relaunches, Allan Heinberg's much delayed arc on Wonder Woman is finally collected here, for better or worse. Attempting to re-introduce Wonder Woman, the book doesn't really succeed at all, and instead (as the previous reviewer stated) is just one big over-extended fight sequence that goes nowhere fast. If you read Heinberg's run on Young Avengers for Marvel, then you'll know just how surprisingly great it was, and probably figure that he'd translate well to Wonder Woman at the very least. Well, sadly not. It kind of seems as if Heinberg wasn't as hands on with the character as he would have liked, and as a result, Who is Wonder Woman? ends up being nothing we haven't seen with the character before. Greg Rucka introduced new facets into the character during his run, but Heinberg fails to give the story any legs. Terry and Rachel Dodson provide some spectacular artwork though, as they often do, and is a worthwhile endeavor in itself. Other than that though, this botched Wonder Woman relaunch is a pretty big disappointment. Worth a look for Wonder Woman fans or fans of the artwork of the Dodson's, but all others can do without this collection.
That's it? That it took over a year to put together five issues which amount to no more than an overextended fight scene is execratable. Further, the characterization of Diana, Wonder Woman is completely at odds with all previous runs and the question "Who is Wonder Woman" is never answered since it was never a serious question. There is no exploration of why or how the character is where she is at the beginning of the tale and the ending is pulled off by cooperation with a villain who has always sought to destroy Diana. One should watch Hurley-Burley with Sean Penn. I could only imagine someone as unable to relate to reality as that character was (a near sociopathic drug-addled producer) could be able to put together a story like this.
Anything Goes Trivia
Trevor
Megaton Man
