Wonder Woman Annual #1
By Zak Edwards
June 5, 2017 - 12:58
DC Comics
Writer(s): Greg Rucka, Vita Ayala, Michael Moreci, Collin Kelly, Jackson Lanzinng
Artist(s): Nicola Scott, Caire Roe, Stephanie Hans, David Lafiente
Colourist(s): Romulo Fajardo Jr., Jordie Bellaire, John Rauch
Letterer(s): Jodi Wynne, Josh Reed, Dae Sharpe, Dave Wielgosz
Cover Artist(s): Nicola Scott, Romulo Fajardo Jr.
$4.99
In Wonder Woman (which is wonderful and highly, highly recommended), there are a few characters that reiterate to Diana that the world doesn't deserve her. If the film proves anything, besides that female-driven superhero
That said, some stories in the collection are better than others. The first is a clear winner, put together by current Wonder Woman team Greg Rucka and Nicola Scott. A funny little story mostly reliant on a far-too-witty Superman and a
From there, the stories offer diminishing returns, peaking at Michael Moreci’s and Stephanie Hans’ “The Curse and the Honour.” Set in Japan, the story’s themes of honour and sacrifice lend a different take on the story they all tell. It, more than any of the others, understands its space restrictions, managing to tell a personal story within a few short pages. Here, unlike perhaps the other two non-Rucka/Scott stories, the focus is on character relationships more than a saviour Diana. The final story, for example, rams sympathy into a crammed flashback which, while benefitting from David Lafuente’s bouncy, cartoonish style, tries to go too big (quite literally, it’s a kaiju), only to end the anthology off feeling repetitive.
Overall, I imagine the biweekly schedule of Wonder Woman limited Rucka & Scott's abilities to provide a typical annual, but the anthology offers a casual and uplifting chance to witness Diana at her best and her most celebrated. As someone who only recently delved into the character, I found it a heartwarming approach that brought laughs and contemplation in equal measure, even if the quality across is the exact opposite.
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