WW #41... Go for it. :) [Spoilers]

[Flâneur]

It concerns me that Gail spends so much energy in building up new characters that have such anti-climactic character arcs.

I am all for new characters but the Crow, characters I was really enthused about, are fairly shallow; they're just little boys who had a few lines and then got spanked and shipped off off-panel. I don't know that I really give a damn about them at this point because, even after they've been the big bad for an arc, there's been nothing to really give a damn about. Too much whimper, not enough bang.

This is a repeat of the problem with Achilles, the Ichor and Gail's rendition of Cheetah, Doctor Poison and Dr. Psycho (though at least with Achilles this looks like it shall be remedied). It's feeling like the Circle and Genocide were the only villains invested in during Gail's run and Genocide (which was the most horrifically designed character I've seen in a while) was ultimately folded into the Circle.

This is not good when you've got an unstable character mythos and danglers ahoy from the last three or so runs to deal with. Why are we spending time on new characters who ultimately have little impact when time could be spent consolidating the previous stuff?

[PabloD]

I think the notion of Power Girl, a Kryptonian, being "at least" as strong and as fast as Diana works within the framework laid out by Diana's two fights with Superman in her own title. In the first fight, she mentioned that Superman could kill her with just a couple of (really strong) blows, in the second one Superman was shown to be strong enough to knock her out with a single (really strong) punch, and in both of them he was capable of breaking her wrist just by sqeezing it. Diana's close to a Kryptonian's power level (and I think odds are she could beat most of the time if she really set her mind to it), but she's not quite there, and she's rarely been referred to as being so. To that effect, I think the fact that she managed to prevail both times she fought Superman (and now, subduing Power Girl) is more a testament to her fighting prowess and determination, rather than her power.

[Mark_S]

Okay if that's in the issue, now I know I have to get it.

Not word for word, but that was how I read the emotions from the speech.

Mark_S

[Mark_S]

By the way Gail "Poor sond of nothing." Was that a missprint?

Mark_S

[4PointOh]

I think the fact that she managed to prevail both times she fought Superman (and now, subduing Power Girl) is more a testament to her fighting prowess and determination, rather than her power.

I think it's a testament to both. She would not have been able to beat Superman and Power Girl without the power behind the skill.

[Gail Simone]

Yeah, I don't like that. :)

I don't think Power Girl is stronger or faster than Wonder Woman.

Wonder Woman was likely erring on the side of caution.

[jrp001]

It concerns me that Gail spends so much energy in building up new characters that have such anti-climactic character arcs.

I am all for new characters but the Crow, characters I was really enthused about, are fairly shallow; they're just little boys who had a few lines and then got spanked and shipped off off-panel. I don't know that I really give a damn about them at this point because, even after they've been the big bad for an arc, there's been nothing to really give a damn about. Too much whimper, not enough bang.

This is a repeat of the problem with Achilles, the Ichor and Gail's rendition of Cheetah, Doctor Poison and Dr. Psycho (though at least with Achilles this looks like it shall be remedied). It's feeling like the Circle and Genocide were the only villains invested in during Gail's run and Genocide (which was the most horrifically designed character I've seen in a while) was ultimately folded into the Circle.

This is not good when you've got an unstable character mythos and danglers ahoy from the last three or so runs to deal with. Why are we spending time on new characters who ultimately have little impact when time could be spent consolidating the previous stuff?

I am going to disagres with you on this... I don't want or necessarily always need new characters built up and polished when they first appear... The Crows made a splashy entrance, and as any new wonder villian got handily spanked and sent packing...

Now what I am looking forward to is a second appearance...

introducing a multitude of new charcters and then moving them off panel, but leaving tidbits for new stories is a most excellent way to build up such new charcters...

I mean we spent 8 issues on genecide and people couldnt stop complaining about how much page time she was getting, vs Diana...

yeah for more Crow Stories...

[Xeres]

Well this issue just plain worked for me. It's all about Diana and how she's presented. That's always been THE key thing for me in every issue. We see the Aegis shield, we see Diana using her fighting SKILL instead of just punching things harder. We also see Diana's influence on someone else and it works. Throw in a bondage tribute (kinda).

I like the Crows and I hope we see them again. Sure they were dismissed too easily and normally I'd be all over that. I won't here because this is THE Diana I love. This one. Not the angry, wannabe bad-ass Diana. This one. It doesn't get old. It's what makes Diana Wonder Woman and everone else... well... everyone else.

Outstanding!

Oh and about the power thing - yano who's stronger and all that? Even if Diana is stronger it probably isn't by much. When dealing with strength that high the bragging rights seems a little petty. They both hit really hard.

[Mark_S]

I am going to disagres with you on this... I don't want necessarily always need new characters built up and polished when they first appear... The Crows made a splashy entrance, and as any new wonder villian got handily spanked and sent packing...

Now what I am looking forward to is a second appearance...

introduceing a multitude of new charcters and then moving them off panel, but leaving tidbits for new stories is a most excellent way to build up such new charcters...

I mean we spent 8 issues on genecide and people couldnt stop complaining about how much page time she was getting, vs Diana...

yeah for more Crow Stories...

The crows would make a good crossover story for a Batman/Batwoman team up, they'd fit right in in Gotham City.

Mark_S

[CaptainCanada]

introducing a multitude of new charcters and then moving them off panel, but leaving tidbits for new stories is a most excellent way to build up such new charcters...

I don't see how having her easily beat them is "building them up" at all. As I said earlier, it's a major problem in this run; virtually none of the villains are much more than hot air.

[TripleX]

By the way Gail "Poor sond of nothing." Was that a missprint?

Mark_S

Sond
Sond\, Sonde \Sonde\, n. [AS. sand. See Send, v. t.] That which is sent; a message or messenger; hence, also, a visitation of providence; an affliction or trial. [Obs.]

Ye have enough, parde, of Goddes sond. --Chaucer.

[jrp001]

I don't see how having her easily beat them is "building them up" at all. As I said earlier, it's a major problem in this run; virtually none of the villains are much more than hot air.

where did I say this arc BUILT THEM UP, rather I said/meant was that: by introducing splashy new characters and then creating a potential for new FUTURE storylines with such new characters is a great way to develop and build up long lasting new characters that have a presence in the mythos...


fine, some wanted more time with the Crows... well, i betyou can't wait for their next appearance...


I mean, how serious of a threat were 5 newly hatched half-god children, who's only apparent power is to persaude people to act on their base/negative feelings, going to be to wonder woman, the freakin' avatar of truth.

[4PointOh]

I appreciate the small things. Gail always seems to write stories where the smallest of things carry so much weight, resonate so soundly.

"I am the mistress of the hunt" is an announcement that speaks to Diana's personal history, something that relates, perhaps, to her own childhood. That she says this to the Crows indicates, to me anyway, that she is trying to talk to them in terms they understand; "on their level" for lack of a better phrase.

And then of course, humor in the most unexpected of places:

"Did she just punch me into Canada?"

Heh. My sister would have said something like that--only "she" would have been replaced with "this &!+@#."

[CaptainCanada]

well, i betyou can't wait for their next appearance...

What in this issue would have given me any reason to do that?

I mean, how serious of a threat were 5 newly hatched half-god children, who's only apparent power is to persaude people to act on their base/negative feelings, going to be to wonder woman, the freakin' avatar of truth.

Well then why are they being used as Wonder Woman villains?

Seriously, Sinestro didn't get where he is now by losing quickly every time Johns had him meet Hal.

[Freakzeek]

3/5

Liked that Diana actually used her combat skills

expected more from the crows

art was a major downgrade

I hate how Diana and PG keep going on and on about how they respect each other, once or twice would have been enough

Question: What the hell did Achilles have anything to do with the actual story or did I just miss something?