Wonder Woman 75th Anniversary Special

DC Comics
Wonder Woman 75th Anniversary Special
By Hervé St-Louis
November 15, 2016 - 08:03

DC Comics
Writer(s): Rafael Scavone, Rafael Albuquerque; Brenden Fletcher, Karl Kerschl; Maighread Scott; Greg Rucka; Liam Sharp; Fabian Moon; Margerite Bennett; Renae de Liz; Jill Thompson; Hope Larson; Gail Simone
Penciller(s): Rafael Albuquerque; Jenny Frisson; Karl Kerschl; Brian Boland; Annie Wu; Riley Rossmo; Liam Sharp; Fabian Moon; Marguerite Sauvage; Yanick Paquette; Renae de Liz; Sebastian Fumara; Jill Thompson; Ramon Bachs; Claire Roe; Takara; Colleen Doran; Phil Jiménez
Inker(s): Ray Dillon; various
Colourist(s): Dave MCCaig; Michele Assarasakorn; Ivan Placencia; Romulo Fajardo Jr.; Fabian Moon; Nathan Fairbairn; Ray Dillon; Jill Thompson; Matt Lopes; Hi-Fi Colors
Letterer(s): Steve Wanos; Johs Reed; Deron Bennett; Lori Jackson; Jodi Wynne; Fabian Moon; Saida Temofonte; Ray Dillon; Corey Breen; Jordie Bellaire; Dave Sharpe
Cover Artist(s): Jim Lee
75 pages

In this anthology, several creators who have worked on various Wonder Woman series in the past are joined by new ones to craft uplifting stories about DC Comics’ Amazon. In these stories, Wonder Woman is a champion for good and a friend to the oppressed, children, and animals. She also seeks to heal and forgive her opponents. Each story focuses one a version of Wonder Woman, be it Pre-Crisis, Earth Two, Post-Crisis, New 52 or Rebirth.

The plague of the anthology is missing in this collection. There are no weaker stories bringing the level of the work down. The collection also features many pin ups and an interview with Wonder Woman by Lois Lane. Some of the stories advance the current Wonder Woman Rebirth series, some just show us the best of Wonder Woman in previous incarnations.

Sadly, some of the wackier and most distinctive versions of Wonder Woman are missing. For example, there are not stories about the 19070s powerless super spy Wonder Woman. There are also no stories with Wonder Woman and her sidekicks. The version of Etta Candy that we see is the adult black woman. We see brief images of two Wonder Girls; Donna Troy and Cassie Sandsmark but no adventures. Also missing is Hippolyta as Wonder Woman and Wonder Tot. Classic villains such as Cheetah are also missing.

The tone of the stories is what I would call Oprah Winfrey-friendly. The stories are meant to uplift and show what a strong character Wonder Woman can be. If your young daughter is reading this, she will find several good role models. But like Oprah Winfrey, the strong Wonder Woman can often feel too preachy and therefore boring. I was entertained but this is Wonder Woman’s good side. This woman has no flaw.

The lack of internal conflict creates the type of stories that have fallen short of entertaining readers for years and why often Wonder Woman, whom DC Comics always wanted to push as their female major character, was a poor seller.

The art in the comic was often good but some of it was surprisingly sloppy. Phil Jiménez’s contribution was rushed. Riley Rossmo’s version looked like a female bodybuilder like She-Hulk or Big Barda. I know this is heresy but I was not a fan of Yanick Paquette’s pin up. His Wonder Woman appears stiff. His Wonder Woman appears stiff. Unfortunately, George Pérez did not contribute anything.

This collection will please fans and should probably be featured as a back-up extra in the first Wonder Woman Rebirth trade collection. It will be a wonderful (yeah, yeah, pun, yaddy yadda) addition to Wonder Woman fans and a superficial introduction to the character for those of you who lack knowledge of DC Comics’ premiere female character.

Rating: 8/10

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