Wonder Woman #18 – Review

By: Brian Azzarello (story), Goran Sudzuka & Cliff Chiang (art), Tony Akins (pencils), Dan Green (inks), Matthew Wilson (colors)

The Story: Who’s fastest—old god, new god, or demi-goddess?

The Review: I’ve officially reviewed Azzarello’s Wonder Woman for over a year and a half now, and I still feel like I haven’t quite grasped the nature of his craft just yet.  He doesn’t quite fall into any easy category.  He’s not really a character writer in the vein of Pete Tomasi or Paul Cornell; an ideas-man like Grant Morrison or Jonathan Hickman; or a weaver of universes like Brian Michael Bendis or Geoff Johns.  Of all writers, he truly stands alone.

In fact, Azzarello has something of all three elements in his writing, with such equal weight that it’s easy to take his work for granted.  While there aren’t any striking personalities in this title, over time the voices of the characters have grown distinct and recognizable, even unattached to a face.  Azzarello’s ideas are no less profound for being based in myth rather than science.  And by bringing old and new gods together, he’s done some of the most intriguing world-building of all.

Wonder Woman #17 – Review

By: Brian Azzarello (story), Tony Akins (pencils), Amilcar Pinna (art), Dan Green (inks), Matthew Wilson & Nick Filard (colors)

The Story: Clearly, Diana’s mother never warned her about leaving clubs with sketchy old men.

The Review: Whatever the naysayers might say (most likely but not guaranteed to be “nay”), Azzarello has accomplished quite a lot for this title.  For one, he made Wonder Woman Top Fifty, which hasn’t happened in ages, to my understanding.  For another, he introduced this incredibly rich new mythology to the character, allowing Wonder Woman to cross over between the grounded, the divine, and the cosmic all at once.

But if I had to pick out the most important thing Azzarello has given to DC’s first lady, it’s her irresistibly intriguing extended family, quite possibly the most compelling supporting cast she’s ever had.  For a while, you fell into the habit of placing the Pantheon gods into one of two camps: those on Wonder Woman’s side and those who aren’t.  That all changed once Hermes went rogue; now, you can’t trust anyone who calls Olympus home.

Wonder Woman #6 – Review

By: Brian Azzarello (writer), Tony Akins (artist), Dan Green (inker), Matthew Wilson (colorist)

The Story: Actually, Wife Sharing With the Gods may be the one reality show I would watch.

The Review: If any of you have ever read Azzarello’s 100 Bullets (and if you haven’t, it might be a very good idea to start), you know his extraordinary talent for building conspiracies, stories rife with intrigue and tension.  In short, he’s the dream pulp writer, and indeed, his bibliography seems to speak to that; he spearheaded DC’s short-lived First Wave series, and his Batman: Knight of Vengeance mini for Flashpoint dripped suspense in every issue.

So on paper, having him write a character so grounded in myth and legendarium seems like a bit of an odd mix.  But you have to consider the mythic figures we’re dealing with here.  The Greek pantheon, with all its affairs, betrayals, and toxic relationships, can probably be considered one of the original mafia families.  Though they may stand as one against their mutual enemies, the vast majority of their conflicts comes from within, and is often more bitter.

What sets them apart from the typical cast of Sopranos is the scope of their squabbles.  In this case, the very heavens are at stake now that Zeus has vanished into the ether, and none other than his older brothers want a piece of it for themselves—although frankly, they’d prefer the whole shebang.  Before we can see them duke out the question, however, Wonder Woman and Lennox pipe up with their own suggestions for power-sharing, one that definitely puts Hera on the losing end, no matter which of the brothers gets the best deal.

Wonder Woman #5 – Review

By: Brian Azzarello (writer), Tony Akins (artist), Matthew Wilson (colorist)

The Story: Let this be a lesson to you—never eat anything you fish up from a city river.

The Review: I don’t consider myself a particularly impatient person.  Why, back in the days of dial-up, I used to bring a book to the computer with me every time I needed to do a Google search (remember when that was such a new thing, people considered it “clever”?), and I didn’t complain.  When it comes to comics, I don’t mind a slow burn plot, where things percolate for a while before boiling up.  But at a certain point, I do expect events to get a little livelier.

That sentiment goes double when the story involves a character of action like Wonder Woman.  She’s one of the biggest brawlers in the DCU and it’s been a long while (since her scuffle with Aleka in #2) since we’ve actually seen her fight anybody.  When she gets into her heroic getup in this issue and leaps off a bridge to confront a herd of oversized seahorses in the Thames, you start getting your hopes up, thinking she’s finally going to pummel some heads, but alas—not a single punch is thrown, and it turns out to be a rather subdued scene.

In fact, the whole issue is rather talky, whether it’s Diana and Zola having a girl talk in the rain, or Hermes getting acquainted with yet another new member of his divine family.  It’s not as if all this conversation is for nothing; we do get a better idea of how Diana as a woman (rather than as Amazon) sounds (“…going to war…with the fate of the world hanging in the balance.  Good against evil…winner take all.  …It’s kinda [sic] cool.”), which is always valuable.  But we’ve already had so many issues in a row with characters just chatting, so by now it feels a bit much.

Incredible Hercules #123 – Review

By Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente (writers), Clayton Henry and Salva Espin (artists), Raul Trevino (colorist)

Is it just me, or has 2008 been the year that Marvel Comics finally did right by their B-list characters?  Incredible Hercules has by far been one of the most entertaining titles I’ve read this year, and I never thought I would say that about about a comic starring a man wearing a skirt and leather stockings.

This issue is part three of the “Love and War” storyline, which so far hasn’t been the strongest arc in the series.  Having just rescued his uncle Poseidon from a gun-toting Amazon with the help of Namor and Namora, Hercules learns the nature of Hippolyta’s plans against the world of man.  Meanwhile, Amadeus is still imprisoned on board Hippolyta’s submarine as she and her Amazons race towards the artifact that will grant them control over the axis of the world. However, that doesn’t stop him from finding the time to score with a youthful Gorgon.

Something about this storyline seems underwhelming, especially since Hercules just got done beating on a Skrull god in the earlier Secret Invasion tie-in issues. But I have a feeling that’s going to change soon when the cast finally reaches the Axis Mundi.  Even if the action is a bit more subdued, Pak and Van Lente still know how to pen a really entertaining story, and that’s where Incredible Hercules succeeds.

This is a title that delights in huge action and fantastic villains, where Hercules and Amadeus seek adventure with a wink and a smile.  Artists Henry and Espin perfectly convey that lighthearted tone with clean art that looks like animation and does a great job of expressing emotion.  What can I say?  Incredible Hercules is a pleasure to read!

Grade: B+

-Tony Rakittke

The Incredible Hercules #122 – Review

By Greg Pak & Fred Van Lente (Writers), Clayton Henry & Salva Espin (Artists), and Raul Travino (Colorist)

The Story: Namor and Hercules are at it toe-to-toe up until Namora informs the two men that they are on the same side for the time being. The three go off to investigate the disappearance of Poseidon and start the search by heading straight for the Amazonian queen, Hippolyta. Meanwhile, Amadeus Cho remains a willing captive of the Amazons as he tries to decipher an Atlantean tablet for Hippolyta.

What’s Good: The second chapter of the Love and War arc is notable for how well it brings together all the elements that make The Incredible Hercules so enjoyable as a series. The cartoonish visuals prove to be a perfect fit for scenarios that put the series’ trademark humor to good use. Simply put, the book is an entertaining package.

What’s Not So Good: For as fun as the storyline is, there is no denying that it lacks some of the weight found in other arcs. It proves to be quite disappointing in that respect simply because I have come to expect a bit more from the series. Also, it is worth noting that some people are probably going to be turned off by the visuals, especially when the darker elements of the storyline are introduced.

Conclusion: If you just want to be entertained, you really can’t go wrong with this one. That said, be sure to keep your expectations in check. This arc is not exactly a high point for the series.

Grade: C+

-Kyle Posluszny