WONDER WOMAN #3 REVIEW

 Wonder Woman #3

Writer: Brian Azzarello

Artist: Cliff Chiang



Wonder Woman #1 Review

Wonder Woman #2 Review


I know this review is a couple of weeks late, but I feel it is necessary to write something about one of the best titles of the New 52 from DC Comics. As a comic book reader that never gave this title much attention in the past, I am enjoying Wonder Woman by Brian Azzarello and Cliff Chiang. The past three issues have been excellent by blending action with well-paced plot development. There is tension, moments of horror, cool action, evil schemes, and some comedy. Nothing in this series seems forced nor does it get cliched or campy. This is a solid read and missing out is inexcusable.  

Cliff Chiang's art has been fantastic and he is one of my favorite artists working on the New 52 titles. His panels are perfect and every issue has a page that leaves you in awe. Not only are the pages great but his artwork for the covers has been impressive as well. However, one needs to give a great deal of credit to Matthew Wilson who does the color for Wonder Woman because his work has made Chiang's panels into works of art.

As far as this issue is concerned, I enjoyed the story regrading the birth of Diana.That's Wonder Woman in case you were wondering. Issue #3 jumped around from story to story, but Azzarello did a nice job of pacing the different storylines. We have angry Amazons, a hurt and confused Diana, and some tension between the pantheon of gods.

The story has come together nicely and Wonder Woman is a great example of what I expected from the New 52. Why? This is a great writer taking a title and turning it into a must purchase comic book. Like Geoff Johns' Aquaman or Scott Snyder's Batman, this has been an excellent read.



TonyDoug Wright is the owner and editor of Champion City Comics. His webcomics include Dr Death vs The Zombie, The End of Paradise, and Day 165.

SPACEMAN #1 REVIEW

Comic List.com

Writer: Brian Azzarello

Artist: Eduardo Risso


Warning: This review contains spoilers

I've been looking for something different and interesting at my comic book store. Over the past month, I've been on a New 52 kick and have enjoyed some great stories from Marvel. However, I was not able to find something new, but that changed last week when I picked up Spaceman.

Spaceman, a nine issue science-fiction story from the creative team of 100 Bullets. The one dollar price was very nice, but I was sold on the collaboration of Azzarello and Risso. For some reason, I had not read anything online about the release of Spaceman, so I decided to give the first issue a shot. Azzarello and Risso had an amazing run with 100 Bullets and Azzarello has been on fire with Wonder Woman.


Reading Spaceman was the equivalent of reading something from Thomas Pynchon (Gravity's Rainbow), Samuel Delany (Dhalgren), or Anthony Burgess (A Clockwork Orange). That's not a negative statement, folks. The vernacular of this book is a blend of internet slang with urban American slang, which is nothing terribly difficult to decipher. I give credit to Azzarello for creating a language that works well for this wonderfully odd story.

Spaceman is Orson, a genetic freak of a creature that was created for missions to Mars. The first issue includes flashbacks to Orson on a Mars mission but most of the story deals with his life on Earth, which appears to be a cyberpunk dystopia where the water levels have flooded a major city. Orson is a scavenger and has decided to take a risky trip into waters controlled by an individual known as Rat. While on his mission, Orson encounters a ship that has exploded and is about to sink. Orson is able to help a girl named Tara off the ship. Tara is part of a reality based show developed by two powerful celebrities named Marc and April who choose a orphan to join their "multinational adopted clan". Orson not only helps Tara off the boat but encounters some "trouble".

The price for this comic book was incredible and the story itself is excellent. Azzarello has done it again and Risso has not lost his touch. There is a splash page of the city where Orson lives and it is fantastic. After reading the first issue, I am hooked and can not wait to read the rest of this series.   



TonyDoug Wright is the owner and editor of Champion City Comics. He is the writer for RED DEVIL.

WONDER WOMAN #2 REVIEW (CONTAINS SPOILERS)

Writer: Brian Azzarello

Artist: Cliff Chiang

We've had an impressive run of second issues from the New 52 by DC Comics. Justice League #2 was a fantastic issue thanks to Geoff Johns' well paced action-packed comic which featured a cool showdown where Superman took on Batman and Green Lantern. The incredible artwork by Jim Lee was elevated to another awesome level thanks to the work of Scott Williams. To add to the excellence we have Batman #2 by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo. The fanboys are high on Batman #2 like a crowd at a Grateful Dead concert circa 1972. I'll admit I was not 100% impressed by Batman #1 but was absolutely blown away by Batman #2. Rounding out the list of great comics is Wonder Woman #2.

Holy Toledo, folks! Wonder Woman has to be one of the best titles of the New 52. I was very pleased with the first issue and was hoping for an equally strong second issue. Azzarello and Chiang have once again knocked it out of the park and I have to say that I'm working on checking out some Wonder Woman anthologies to become more knowledgeable with our beloved Amazon.

I still have no idea why it took me so long to appreciate Wonder Woman. Fortunately, Azzarello has created a series where new readers like myself can jump right in and not feel lost. I'm very pleased with the way he has developed a tale that blends action, horror, and mythology.

In this issue, we have more of the mythological angle with Diana returning to her Amazon home to aid Hermes and to seek the guidance of her mother. Along for the ride is Zola, the young lady who is pregnant with Zeus' baby. We got some serious 'baby momma drama' here. Also, we are introduced to the wife of Zeus, Hera, and her daughter, Strife. To be honest, I've never been one for the Greek or Roman pantheon of gods, but my interest has peaked slightly since reading Wonder Woman. Azzarello is one of those writers that I enjoy and he has been impressive with this title. He is building up Zeus, who we have not seen, and I have a feeling we are in for an epic battle of the gods. 

Not only do we have a great story, but we have some impressive panels and a very cool cover by Cliff Chiang. The cover features a giant Strife looking down on Wonder Woman who looks down in horror at the bodies of Amazons in the water. The cover may be one of the best I've seen this year. Chiang's panels are superb, and my favorite pages are of the duel between Wonder Woman and one of her fellow Amazon warriors.

Overall, Wonder Woman is excellent. Comic book fans have no excuse for not picking up this title.




TonyDoug Wright is the owner and editor at Champion City Comics.