Getting Into Wonder Woman

[JoeMD]

Resisting the urge to make a joke about the title of this thread (:evilsmile ) I wanted to ask what good Wonder Woman trades a new fan should pick up.

With the exception of a few issues I've quite enjoyed the current WW series and am very interested in reading some of the older WW tales because I'm addicted to comics and need MOOOOOOOORE.

I bought the Greatest Stories Ever Told trade that recently came out and I really enjoyed the George Pérez and Phil Jimenez stories there for I'm thinking of starting with the Series 2 trades and going from there because from what I've read that stuff is really good. With Pérez, Jimenez, Rucka etc all writing it all sounds like it would be great.

Outside of those are there any other trades I should pick up at all?

Thanks in advance for your help.

[BurningStarIV]

I have been a devoted Wonder Woman fan for many many years. But the problem is, aside from a few select stories, most of the Wonder Woman stories out there are sub-par at best. The new run has been pretty good, with some ups and downs. Clearly George Perez's run is always a good place to start, though in my opinion it's not as good as everyone makes it out to seem. But he was a major force behind the current running Wonder Woman, so that's always nice to see. Brian K. Vaughan did two issues of volume two (160-161) that I love (though probably largely because I am a BKV fanboy). Basically anything that was released as a trade from volume 2 is probably the best you'll find. She may be part of the holy trinity of the DCU, but she is treated like a step-child.

The Hiketeia is a pretty good graphic novel to get. I certainly enjoyed it. And the Gods of Gotham storyarc was very interesting. And I particularly enjoyed Blue Amazon, which was a very different take on not just Diana, but Superman and Batman as well. And Amazonia.

I'd say keep up with Volume 3, because I have faith that Gail Simone will do some amazing things with the Amazing Amazon.

[JoeMD]

Thanks for the info.

[ChairthrowerLad]

Resisting the urge to make a joke about the title of this thread (:evilsmile )

dammit, you preempted my dirty joke about lassos....and thats all I had to add to this thread...:(

[The Shadow]

I don't get trades... so I can only tell you the runs.

The George Perez run which started it off is fantastic. He really used the mythology angle and re-build some villains.

Phil Jiminez did a great run which really built on the Perez stuff.

Greg Rucka's run starts off slow but builds up and gets really good. Up until the end that is when he was forced to pretty much stop writing because of Infinite Crisis... so all his sub-plots and story threads end rather abruptly.

I'd start getting the new stuff under Gail "it took em long enough to get her Wonder Woman" Simone. She's got a great ability to write strong women (see Birds of Prey) and so far her stuff has been good.

Now I'm gonna get all controversial... I liked the John Byrne run. It was well drawn and Byrne had a good grasp of the mythology. Some people like his run and others hate it.

Lastly... most Wonder Woman singles are worth it for the Adam Hughes covers alone! :D

[Kid Kyoto]

I echo the recommendations for the Jimenez and Perez runs.

I can't think of any others that have caught my fancy.

[Rattlehead]

Gail Simone started with #14, and her work has been really good so far. She really has a strong grasp on the character, and has struck a good balance between the the mythology of the Perez era, and the goofiness of the Secret agent Prince era.

[Rolltideguy77]

I echo the recommendations for the Jimenez and Perez runs.

I can't think of any others that have caught my fancy.

Agreed, Gail Simone's run is looking like it might turn out decently. I have always loved WW but they never treat her like the powerhouse she is. She up there almost with Superman but you'd never know it sometimes.

[Stanlos]

Resisting the urge to make a joke about the title of this thread (:evilsmile ) I wanted to ask what good Wonder Woman trades a new fan should pick up.

With the exception of a few issues I've quite enjoyed the current WW series and am very interested in reading some of the older WW tales because I'm addicted to comics and need MOOOOOOOORE.

I bought the Greatest Stories Ever Told trade that recently came out and I really enjoyed the George Pérez and Phil Jimenez stories there for I'm thinking of starting with the Series 2 trades and going from there because from what I've read that stuff is really good. With Pérez, Jimenez, Rucka etc all writing it all sounds like it would be great.

Outside of those are there any other trades I should pick up at all?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Hmmmm. You can tear through the quarter box to get the Perez run remainder after the trades (which you should get). The Second Genesis trade is also exciting. LIFELINES trade is straight up superhero comics fun.

The Phil Jimenez trades are great too, particularly if you like drama mixed in with your superhero fare. PJ does drama very well and these trades collect stories that happen before the mix of drama and superheroics was unbalanced in favor of drama.

My favorite WW stuff ever (outside the original Marston stuff) is Greg Rucka's brilliant run. I envy you because you have the opportunity to read it in one sitting. That the run started slowly as he got into WW's world will not affect you (it was excruciating for those collecting though). And the payoff is spectacular as after Down To Earth the pace picks up and he really blasts off on the platform built in the first trade.

I have not been a fan of DC's choices in the relaunch which has pretty much been a reboot. But I think Gail is an awesome writer and she has written around the first two years of muck very well. Picking up her run through the current ish is advisable.

[The Shadow]

You can tear through the quarter box to get the Perez run remainder after the trades (which you should get).

After 1-10 I got almost all of the Perez stuff in the quarter bin!

And the payoff is spectacular as after Down To Earth the pace picks up and he really blasts off on the platform built in the first trade.

Agreed.

How did you like the ending of Rucka's run?

[Stanlos]

How did you like the ending of Rucka's run?

I felt it tragic and a colossal blunder that it was forced to end by TITB. And that he was not paired with Jim Lee for twelve issues to round out the trinity is criminal. A lot of potential was squandered and his brilliant work with Olympus and the advancement of the mythology was unceremoniously cast aside.

But, I think he ended with an affirmation of her mission and the faith placed in her by her people, by her Gods, and by the denizens of the DCU. The last issue was a nostalgic trip through her post Crisis history that also served to reveal the foundations for Superman's response to her actions in SACRIFICE as well as serving as a subtle critique of how some fanboys view WW (sex/love interest for ___Hero) vs how she should be seen.

I really think the last two issues of volume two serve as a kind of loveletter to the character and a salute of sorts. There was even inclusion of the old backwards-and-in-high-heels joke from the 70s. :D

One more thing:

The biggest tragedy was we were robbed of an Athena vs Darkseid reality threatening struggle with Diana trying to stop it.

[JoeMD]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I just read #16 of the new series and really enjoyed it Gail is doing a brilliant job. I'll definatly get those trades then, they sound really good.

Thanks again folks.