New Readers of WW: Recommended Reading & Questions

[dupersuper]

I miss the old days of footnotes. I still see one now and then, 'this story happens before the events of XYZ.'

I do to, but more for back issue hunting than placing the story.

I just think that WW is so disconnected from the DCU that it doesn't matter (which makes me sad :( )

Sandman was pretty disconnected after the first arc: did it "not matter"?

[dupersuper]

1999. Action Comics #761. Written by Joe Kelly.

This story is downright weird. If taken at face value, the following things occur: Wonder Woman and Superman are magically summoned to Valhalla to help the Norse Gods fight an evil demon horde collectively called the Vgrtsmyth. They fight side by side for a thousand years without any vacations. Diana kills enemies right and left. Superman steadfastly refuses to do so. (It is far from clear what happens to any demon warriors whom he knocks down without killing.) He also refuses to sleep with Diana even after a thousand years of being comrades in arms, when he figures his wife Lois is long dead anyway. After they’ve ended the war, Thor (who died and returned during all this) offers to grant each of them a wish in reward for their valiant service. Since the story ends with Superman back in Metropolis, kissing Lois, the implication is that he wished to be returned to the same day on Earth from which he had been yanked away (but we never actually saw how he worded his wish).

This story has always annoyed me, although I can see that Kelly was bound and determined to find a way to hit us over the head with the idea that Superman will always be faithful to his wife, no matter how long the separation or how great the temptation. I prefer to think of the Valhalla stuff as a mystical dream sequence, easily forgotten, which Kelly simply “forgot” to label as a dream sequence, rather than something which “really happened” to Superman for a full millennium “in continuity.” But if we take it at face value, then Superman spent a thousand years watching Diana kill demons practically nonstop, and he learned to live with it, and there is no dialogue in the last couple of pages of the story to indicate that those events were magically scrubbed from his memory before he returned home to Lois. (On the other hand, I’ve never actually seen or heard of any subsequent Superman story which explicitly referenced that thousand-year-war as something which he still remembered after it was over and done with, so maybe he did ask to have all that nonsense wiped out of his memory?)

[P.S. After I posted the above paragraphs, about four and a half years ago, someone pointed out to me that those events were referenced once in dialogue in a later story. Then Superman and everybody else went ahead and forgot all about it!]

He doesn't seem to be sure Lois is dead though: he says time works differently there and seems to be holding out hope of getting to his home time. I actually have a bigger issue with the no demon killing: is it really killing if it's a demon? Aren't you just sending them back where they came from?

[SNascimento]

Another question for you guys: how much exactly is wonder woman weak against swords/guns.

[Lorendiac]

Another question for you guys: how much exactly is wonder woman weak against swords/guns.

I think what you mean is: If she didn't block the bullets and swords with her unbreakable bracelets, would they be able to kill her when they collided with her flesh?

[HokiePokie]

So what's the best way to go about reading all the good Wonder Woman stories? This whole comic book stuff is confusing for me in general and I want to become a knowledgeable Wonder Woman fan.

[americanwonder]

Best? Hmm, don't feel qualified to really say and it's largely dependent on what you're looking for. What have you read and what do you like to read? What do you find confusing?

My 2 favorite WW stories are graphic novels:
- The Hiketeia by Rucka and Jones
- JLA: A League of One by Moeller

My favorite runs on the WW ongoing comics:
- Rucka (esp Eyes of the Gorgon, Land do the Dead)
- Perez (esp vol. 1&2)
- Simone (esp The Circle)

Hope that helps some. :)

[HokiePokie]

I'm up for any good story really. Don't really think I have a particular taste besides it being a good Wonder Woman story.

I would really like to finish all the most notably good writer's runs so I can see who are my personal favorites out of them but apparently George Perez's entire run isn't collected? Is there anything else I should look out for when ordering these? Just any tips on helping me get the best of my ordering experience would be nice. I've only just started on comics so I just don't want to screw up too much lol.

[Rob_Olivera]

I'm up for any good story really. Don't really think I have a particular taste besides it being a good Wonder Woman story.

I would really like to finish all the most notably good writer's runs so I can see who are my personal favorites out of them but apparently George Perez's entire run isn't collected? Is there anything else I should look out for when ordering these? Just any tips on helping me get the best of my ordering experience would be nice. I've only just started on comics so I just don't want to screw up too much lol.

If you're going to start with Perez, then start at the beginning. If you like what you see you won't want to stop buying the whole run. The whole run isn't collected though. Of course, as with anything else that is older it will appear dated but if you keep that in mind it's a fun read.

After Perez, head over to the Rucka era, and the Gail Simone era. Some of those are collected and/or readily available through ComiXology or DC app. Looking in Amazon will help get oriented even if you don't buy from there.

What to stay away from: In my opinion, Odyssey. This came after issue 600, and before nu52.

[Tulpa]

Hey guys, I started reading Wonder Woman last year with the New 52 and while I like it, I want to read a little bit pre-reboot WW. I looked for reccomendation on good runs but everything seems pretty continuity-heavy. Is there a good recent (like, after 1995) run that is easy to get into?

[Boonciaver]

What to stay away from: In my opinion, Odyssey. This came after issue 600, and before nu52.

Also Amazons Attack too as well.

[SNascimento]

Does anyone here read Justice League: Beyond? I was wondering where Diana is on that time.

[gujju_wolf]

Hi all! I'm currently reading WW New 52, and I have read Greg Rucka's run and am almost finished with Gail Simone's run on WW and fell in love with the character! Any more suggestions for awesome WW runs? I noticed a few people commenting that George Perez' run was good- should I go read it?

Thanks!

HI when you buy them do you buy the graphic novels which for example contains 10 comics and has 10+ volumes? With each new writer do they start from the beginning of the story, does that not get boring for the readers?

[Elric of Grans]

I only came into American comics with the New 52. My first introduction was the current run, which to this day I heavily debate with myself. I love the plot; hate the weak characterisation. I decided to look into Wonder Woman's past. I have since read:
* Perez (my absolute favourite)
* Heinburg/Picoult/Tores (fairly average)
* Simone (up and down, but generally quite good)
* Batman/Superman/Wonder Woman: Trinity (a fun read)
I have read some New 52 Justice League too, but did not like it.

I get all my comics off Comixology (no comic book stores in these parts). The following is currently available:
Sensation Comics: 1-9
Wonder Woman v1: 1-7, 199-202, 289-293
Wonder Woman v2: 0-24, 72-160, 201-226
Wonder Woman v3: 1-44, 600-614
Given what I thought of what I read, would it be worth my while picking any of these up?

[psyshot]

You should try v2 201-226; it is Greg Rucka's run; it is rather good. The plot is great and characterization wonderful. Lot of mythology, conspiracies and drama.

I also liked v2 72-100. It is the Messner-loebs era; lot of fun and it introduce Artemis. The best issues IMO are going from 90 to 100. The 0 issue is part of this run, it goes between issue 90 and 91.

V2 139-152 and 156-159 is the Eric Luke run; many found it boring but I liked it myself. But realistically it is rather average. I would avoid issue 101-138.

Regarding vol1, I like them all; issue 1-7 are incredibly fun. Don't forget all-star comics 8 for WW first appearance ( it's free I think) and sensation comics 1-? for more golden age fun.
Issues 199-202 are interesting but it is the end of the mod era and it has almost nothing to do with the core concept of WW. Here she was depowered and was running all around the globe in spy stories; again these are interesting but I'm not sure you will like them.
Issues 289-293 are favorites of mine, but are rather old-fashioned and I don't know if you like the art of Gene Colan..

V3: i would avoid issues 600-614. I liked the first few but it quickly went nowhere.

Hope it will help you, but the best for you would be to just try one issue at a time of each run and see if you like them enough to continue.

[Elric of Grans]

Thanks for the detailed response. It gives me a good feel of what is and is not worth checking out.