DC Comics 2016
Written by Greg Rucka
Illustrated by Liam Sharp
Coloured by Laura martin
Lettered by Jodi Wynn
I’m currently reading more DC titles than I have been going on three years now. Yes we’ll see if this new run lasts, longevity is the key after all, but for now the promise of a new direction even it is means returning to it’s roots and the creators involved in these book, like Rucka here has reignited some passion for the company’s line of books. Change, growth and evolution are a part of life and should happen gradually to our beloved characters, not in these insane company wide crossovers shaking up the status quo left and right every few years. This has affected Wonder Woman more than most with constant changing origins making hers almost as convoluted as Donna Troy’s.
I really dug this issue! First impression was that Liam is one hell of a talented artist and his take on Diana was fabulous. I’m loving the new costume as it melds old and new into a look reminiscent of her classic attire. The way he utilized pages and panels for the flow of the story and his use of backgrounds were sublime. I’m now cemented as a huge fan of his.
Alright i’m all for bringing back classic characters in new ways. This time around we see Etta Candy, though she looks and acts more like the original Amanda Waller--which I’d have preferred her to be. Still by making her a strong, intelligent and high powered woman is a very nice step up for the character. Steve Trevor is also back and he’s working under Etta’s direction in the field with his team. That he has a past with her is given to us and the pic of her he has well it’s great. I’m not sure about his beard though hopefully that’s just because he’s on mission and hasn’t been able to shave.
I like to think there are no coincidences in life, and the same generally holds true in comics. Diana is in the same region as Steve but for completely different reasons. So that she may end up interfering in his mission is still plausible but she’s on her own mission to discover her past right now and that takes precedence. Whom she is in the region to see was incredibly well done and the interiors from Liam were breathtakingly beautiful, creepy and awe inspiring.
That last page pleading for help to find her way home you could almost hear the desperation in her voice as she said it. This is what Rucka brings to the table. Strong, emotional and powerful storytelling both overt and subtle. The characterization is beyond what I was hoping for here and the story itself is so as full of promise as the woman it centers around. Already this is something that could rival what I saw in Titans Rebirth #1 and be one of the company’s biggest successes to come out of this whole Rebirth.