HOW DO I LOVE THEE

[swatkat]

So Wonder Woman #0 is pretty much the best thing ever. It pokes gentle fun at the whackyness of Silver Age comics (All-girls adventure stories for men!) and the old-fashioned storytelling style, while incorporating new elements (Zeus as her father, the slight hint of god mode when she snaps after Aleka's taunting) and telling a story that remains true to the core of Wonder Woman. Regardless of my issues with some of Azzarello's world-building and origin changes, I have never not loved his Diana, and this seals it. Azzarello gets Diana - he gets that she's smart and he gets that she's kind. She fights smart, and she fights with her heart. Diana of Themyscira is War's greatest failure. Diana does not need a 'mission' of peace - Diana, by simply being herself, spreads the message of peace on man's world. It does not get any better than that. ♥

I love the new, complex characterization of Ares, the way they are now connected and the way Athena looked on disapprovingly while Ares took her under his wing (you cannot tell me the owl wasn't Athena). Ares - the 'mad' 'hateful' Ares of Homer - showed her mercy; was probably training her to be the next Goddess of War, or at the least Champion of the same. I love that Diana did not stop her Amazon training despite Ares:



Three panels at night, Ares looking on; three panels during day, Hippolyta looking on. (Guh, Cliff Chiang.) Light and shade. And her mercy, finally, wins out, makes her War's greatest failure which is also the greatest badge of honour - her 'tribute' to her mother, because what gift can be greater to Hippolyta than the knowledge that daughter is now everything she hoped she'd be and more? And because her mercy is what she's learned from her mother.

The last line also, perhaps, hints of things to come: her 'tribute' to her mother is her 'mercy', and isn't that what Hippolyta needs her to be now? To be merciful, to forgive the lie she raised Diana with.

Batwoman #0 wasn't bad, except it tells us nothing new about Kate or her origin. It does assure us Renee existed in DCnU at some point, which I suppose is better than the fate of Steph or Cass or Helena Bertinelli. It did, however, make my heart hurt over the 'Elegy' arc all over again. Sometimes I think I want Alice to be Kate's Joker* just so Kate can suffer till eternity.

*insert Warehouse 13 crossover here

Comments

[silveronthetree]

Guh. The art is lovely. The one where she's running especially.

(It's nice to see someone with good things to say about the #0s, I haven't read any yet and I'd been rather dreading it.)

[swatkat]

Cliff Chiang is a god amongst men. He has ruined other artists for me, RUINED them - now I look at perfectly well-drawn images of Diana and wish they looked like Chiang's Diana instead.

(I haven't dared pick up any of the other Bat-books yet. Sigh.)

[tellitslant]

It does assure us Renee existed in DCnU at some point,
I'm sorry, I think you mean "Rene." :P (I did find most of the rest of BW #0 really moving,e ven if retrodden ground.)

I actually had shouty times at my computer over the preview for WW #0, so I haven't been able to talk myself into reading it yet. I just love so much about what they're doing and yet hate so much about it at the same time, aaargh.

[swatkat]

Oh yeah, 'Rene'. :/ I found it moving, but not particularly new or informative. It's a retelling of Elegy, except Elegy does it better.

I just love so much about what they're doing and yet hate so much about it at the same time, aaargh.

That about sums it up! I've really enjoyed Azzarello's Diana, but the treatment of the Amazons continues to upset me, argh.

[lilacsigil]

It does assure us Renee existed in DCnU at some point

And that's all I wanted from it. Wow that Wonder Woman art is pretty - I think I'll pick that up, now.

[swatkat]

And that's all I wanted from it.

Sigh. I miss her.

Have you followed the rest of the series though? It is great, but also does a lot things with her origin that might not be to your taste. #0 is an excellent standalone and not entirely new reader-unfriendly, but the setting might feel a little unusual if you haven't followed the series.