Wonder Woman #8 review

[CaptMagellan]

It's well written, but I'm not sure it's the best fit for a monthly serial

Different Strokes and all that, but as someone who bought all 100 issues of "100 Bullets" as a monthly, I personally really like his style applied to the serial format and enjoyed the way the tension between monthly issues and the internal pacing worked with each other.

Not surprisingly, I'm also digging it with WW.

[Reginleif]

if WW does have intercourse with Hades though, would that make her a pedophile? would she have to go on predator list? oh the implications!

[CaptMagellan]

if WW does have intercourse with Hades though, would that make her a pedophile? would she have to go on predator list? oh the implications!

A pedophile AND a necrophiliac!!! Oh the humanity!!!! Look at the horrors Azz has inflicted upon our poor Diana!



I hope Azz goes this route so we can get more cake with next month's moral outrage!!!!

[dshipp17]

Stop givin' ammunations to the other side Regin.

I sure hope that there will be some of that action between Diana and Hades, and maybe Hephaestus set the thing up so that he can get some action at some point; but, with Hades being an actor, this could get pretty depraved but I like it.

[CaptMagellan]

I sure hope so, and maybe Hep set the thing up so that he can get some action at some point; but, with Hades being an actor, this could get pretty depraved but I like it.

Azz's Hephaestus: The Ron Jeremy of the DCnU!! <cue cheesy porn music>

[WhitOro]

You guys are starting to make the idea grow on me.

[Outside_85]

If Hades needs a queen, what happened to Persephone? Where is Demeter in this power-struggle. Demeter's association with the earth, and the cycle of life and death would be interesting to see.

Possibly Hades is only set on getting what he asked for; a Queen. Currently Diana is actually Queen of the Amazons, because if Hippolyta isn't dead, she is not in a position to do anything, and the other Amazons did speculate what would have happened if Strife had caused Hippolyta's death (as in Diana becoming their ruler). And Diana did rule out the possibility of getting Hera for him.

As for Persephone, first option is that she's not his bride. Second option is building on what Perez did; Hecate was Hades' first wife, but was eventually neglected because of Persephone, spurring her to ultimately bond with Circe. So perhaps Persophone is lonely somewhere in the underworld.
Demeter...not sure what she has to do with any of this? Thanatos is the embodiment of death in Greek mythology, Hades' comes into the picture after that.

[Rob_Olivera]

Hmmm that is an interesting criticism, I have heard some similar criticisms to works by Morrison and Moore as well. That their panel/scene transitions jump around too much or are jarring. I personally don't see it, but still interesting. Because often writers who do the opposite style of storytelling, like Bendis and Johns, also get criticized specifically for being to decompressed.

But anyways as for my thoughts on this issue. Chinag and Azzrello are consistently great (IMO) as usual. The art and atmosphere are brilliantly set and the imagery lives up to Azzrello's description of the title as a horror title. The battle scenes while not over-the-top action (as some may prefer) are instead choreographed awesomely IMO. I also would not be surprised if slvn's theories on the pistols played out in some form (and I personally do not mind previous/past off-panel plans/revelations, like any storytelling tool it all matters in the execution to me). Also the Narnia-time difference element is interesting and explains the advance pregnancy that we saw on Zola for issue 11, but I also would not be surprised if the time-difference plays further significance to the story. Hades desire for a wife is interesting (especially if Persephone is eventually introduced in the comic, perhaps it is her time-away summer months? Or perhaps Hades is just polygamous.) and plays to Hades mythological behavior of obtaining a wife through force.
All in all another fantastic issue IMO.

We've seen this before under Rucka (was it Rucka? Where Diana goes to the underworld to free Hermes?) where time passes much slower in the underworld compared to real life. She had only been there a couple of hours and it seemed like MONTHS.

If I were the writer, I would have Diana be faking to be in love the whole time unbeknownst to Hades.

At this point Zola has already been retrieved by Hermes so Diana is on her own and will be fighting for herself now. I smell a rescue mission.

[Auguste Dupin]

Let's not kid ourselves, both "sides" act a bit cray cray.

As for issue #8, I wasn't a fan. Parts of it felt too fast-paced, like how they found Zola pretty quickly rather than an epic search for her in the underworld, facing off against harpies and Cerberus. But as a whole it felt slow, and I didn't find myself very interested in what was happening. Hades is uninspiring (but maybe that's because he's been done to death), and I still think we're not really getting much of Wonder Woman as a character. Last issue was far superior.

True, both sides are starting to be a bit too ready to start hostilities at the first opportunity. Which, paradoxally, incitate the "other side" (from whoever you are siding with) to do just as well.
I think this forum is ready for some crazy splitting in the long run.

[slvn]

I have to say I dont see how good writing strains a 22 page limit if you actually use your 22 pages economically.

It's not that I'm saying that his writing is too good for the format, but that he may be trying to do something for which this format may not be readily suitable. For example, a sonnet isn't "better" than an epic, but it is different and suited for different purposes, and if you try to do an epic's job in a sonnet's sixteen lines, you're going to have difficulty, no matter how economical you may be. I guess this may just be my high falutin' way of admitting that people who think this story, with all its digressions and suspense, would work better as an Original Graphic Novel might have a point, but I admire that the creators are attempting the hard challenge if making it work in short installments.

And I dont really know where that admission of love came from either. Beyond Diana's normal compassion for those around her. They look to have known each other for all of a week. Robin and Little John didn't even bond this quickly.

I think people have bonded that quickly on the battlefield. Being under fire can make camaraderie form and turn into intimate friendship pretty quickly; this is a common observation, no? And another common observation is that people who have lost their families often look for surrogate families, and that can probably speed up bonding, too.

But anyway, the question of whether this sudden love (and I do think it's the love of friends, not romantic love) is true to life is different from the question of whether it's developed gradually in the book. And as I outlined above, it IS developed gradually in the book, from friendly teasing and protection in the first couple of issues, to Wonder Woman recognizing Zola as a "girl in the middle of nowhere) (and thus, implicitly, a kindred spirit) a little later in the second issue, to a very intimate conversation about family in the fourth issue, to Wonder Woman actually calling Zola a member of her family in the fifth. If you think I'm "reading in" something that isn't actually there, fair enough--it's not like I've never done that before! But can you tell me which of those steps that I mentioned is not actually in the book?

[americanwonder]

Azzarello may have "destroyed" her mythos, ...

Le sad. :(

... but he hasn't destroyed her, he's showing her strenght of character and pure intention, the resolution she has. Diana entire world fell on her shoulders, but she's still a pure individual who wants to do good and protect life.
That's what heroism and heroes are made of.

Well said. :) I do like his Diana (most of the time).

Am I a zealot?

Oh, we all know the answer to that one. ;) Nevertheless, your zealoty posts are enjoyable to read. I really like your description here of the growing love for Zola.

... And I'm sure what the critics see as excessive praise pushes them to be more critical. That's how it goes sometimes.)

lol. Yes, and the more you praise, the more I will complain. :p

[americanwonder]

If Hades needs a queen, what happened to Persephone? Where is Demeter in this power-struggle. ...

Exactly! But it isn't just those two, in this heavenly battle, where are the ladies in general? Hera and Strife are the only ones who show any interest here? No Athena? No Aphrodite? No Artemis? Anyone? Um, what's going on?

eta:
Also, I couldn't help but laugh. With the depiction of the Amazons in #7, part of the 'great defense' (my term for the PR zealots ) was 'but it fits better with much of the mythology.' Here, when there's no mention of Persephone, the 'great defense' is 'but, he isn't sticking to mythology'? ;)

[SteveGus]

With the depiction of the Amazons in #7, part of the 'great defense' was 'but it fits better with much of the mythology.' Here, when there's no mention of Persephone, the 'great defense' is 'but, he isn't sticky to mythology'? ;)

Dr. Hurt thinks she's being remodelled in the image of Hellboy. I think she's being remodelled in the image of Lady Death. We just need Benes, or pull Deodato back from Marvel, and this may turn out to be a fun ride yet, even if it isn't Wonder Woman.

[WhitOro]

I think she's being remodelled in the image of Lady Death. We just need Benes, or pull Deodato back from Marvel, and this may turn out to be a fun ride yet, even if it isn't Wonder Woman.

HOW?
WHY?
WHERE?!
EXPLAIN! I'm being serious here, instead of keep hammering this point, give me one solid proof of this! And no, I won't accept "Azzarello is an asshat".
How is she being transformed into Lady Death? Where do you see it? Nowhere! It's just your idea you're so focused about that just because she's trapped in Hades, they're gonna turn it into her Homebase, even thought we know damn sure that she escapes from it by issue 10 and she's in Olympus kicking Apollo's butt by 11!
I'm sorry, I wouldn't argue with you this much if your points where based on something, yet you keep repeating over and over and over again how they're turning her into a merciless villain when in the same damn issue she gives a speech about the importance of life and how fighting for it is worth it!

I will quote myself

I like how nobody talks about how well Azzarello writes Diana. It seems everybody of the "this sucks" faction likes to think she's an entirely different character. Yet she still accepts her Amazon heritage, defending her choices of weapon to Heph, then she talks about the importance of life in a subtle, relaxed manner, instead of giving a big damn speech, she chooses shorts phrases that are filled with her system of beliefs.
"Life is important, and in it's brevity is where life importance lies"
Is heroism pure and simple, without the need of overly dramatic big analysis, pretentious deconstruction or expanded internal monologues. Azzarello may have "destroyed" her mythos, but he hasn't destroyed her, he's showing her strenght of character and pure intention, the resolution she has. Diana entire world fell on her shoulders, but she's still a pure individual who wants to do good and protect life.
That's what heroism and heroes are made of.

With the relaunch, the death of the Kents turned Superman into Batman? No.
Taking away the marriage of Black Canary and Green Arrow turned them into a couple of killers? No.
When back in 1992 she was trapped in that weird ass alien planet of slaving female (WTF) did that turned her into Starfire? Or John of Mars? NO.
Then why the hell changing WW set of background characters after they trained and grew her exactly like before the reboot would make her freakin' Lady Death?!

[americanwonder]

Dr. Hurt thinks she's being remodelled in the image of Hellboy. I think she's being remodelled in the image of Lady Death. We just need Benes, or pull Deodato back from Marvel, and this may turn out to be a fun ride yet, even if it isn't Wonder Woman.

I could be wrong, but I'm with WhitOro on this and think your "Lady Death" idea is a bit overboard. I'd bet money she doesn't come out of this with 'death powers' (well, maybe temporarily ).