WONDER WOMAN #1 & #2

“THE PRINCESS AND THE POWER!” | “A FIRE IN THE SKY!”
Pencils/Plotter: George Pérez | Script/Co-Plotter: Greg Potter
Inks: Bruce Patterson | Letters: John Costanza | Colors: Tatjana Wood
Editor: Karen Berger

The Plot: (Issue 1) The history of the Amazons is recapped as they are created on Earth by a group of Greek goddesses collectively calling themselves the Midwives. Some time later, Heracles is tricked by Ares into raiding the Amazons’ city of Themyscira, where he brutalizes and pillages them before moving on. Later, the Amazons are relocated to an island paradise, where their princess, Diana, is born. When the time comes for the Amazons to send an envoy into the world of man to save it from Ares, a tournament is held. Diana enters and wins, against the wishes of her mother, Hippolyte.

(Issue 2) Air Force pilot Steve Trevor is assigned a midnight mission to fly a stealth jet to an isolated location above the sea. Meanwhile, Diana is armed with a golden lasso forged by Hephaestus and then is taken by Hermes on a quest for clues to Ares’ location. She returns just as Trevor arrives at Paradise Island, where his co-pilot, Captain Slade, drops a bomb. Diana saves the island and the jet crashes into the ocean. Diana pulls Steve from the wreckage and, at the order of Athena, returns to man’s world with him. Meanwhile, Trevor’s commanding officer, General Kohler, is found dead in his office — both he and the deceased Slade having been agents of Ares.

Sub-Plots & Continuity Notes: Obviously these issues feature the post-CRISIS debut of Wonder Woman, though she hasn’t acquired that moniker yet. Also making their post-CRISIS debuts are a bunch of gods and goddesses, plus Colonel Steve Trevor and his adjutant, Lieutenant Etta Candy. We meet a few other characters on Steve’s Air Force base, though I’m unsure if they had pre-CRISIS versions.

Hermes takes Diana to meet with a babbling woman named Harmonia, who provides the Amazon princess with a magical talisman.

My Thoughts: Wow, I had no idea how closely the plot of last year’s WONDER WOMAN movie followed these early post-CRISIS stories! I mean, obviously there are massive differences, too — but in terms of the broad idea of Wonder Woman leaving Paradise Island to hunt down Ares… I just figured that was just a premise created for the film.

(This is the point where I note that I know virtually nothing about post-CRISIS Wonder Woman outside of the JUSTICE LEAGUE animated series, and what I know of the pre-CRISIS version is based pretty much solely on SUPER FRIENDS, Lynda Carter, and a read-along tape/storybook I had as a child.)

I also finally understand why Wonder Woman goes off on Marvel’s Hercules, attacking him in a blind rage, during the Kurt Busiek/George Pérez JLA/AVENGERS miniseries, which is nice. I mean, obviously that tale included a bare description of something having happened between Hercules and Hippolyte, but I never knew the full details until now, nor was I aware that the inciting event had occurred in Pérez’s own WONDER WOMAN stories!

Also, a minor side note, but I had no idea that Karen “Vertigo” Berger ever edited any mainstream comic books. I guess I always just figured she appeared at DC’s offices one day with the Vertigo imprint in her pocket, and that was that.

But as for these issues themselves — I have to say, so far I’m not all that impressed. The entire first issue is the backstory of the Amazons, which just isn’t very interesting to me. It’s beautifully drawn, mind you — just boring. I felt like I was reading a history textbook. The second issue, at least, gives us some action featuring the not-yet-named Wonder Woman in costume, and demonstrates her power levels. And again, as someone who grew up on SUPER FRIENDS and Lynda Carter, the idea of Wonder Woman flying, even though she flew regularly in the JUSTICE LEAGUE show, is still kind of weird to me. I’m not complaining; I really feel that Wonder Woman should more-or-less be Superman’s equal, and flight is a large part of that, but I’m still just not entirely used to the concept. I guess it’s hard to entirely shake off childhood conditioning.

Anyway — for whatever reason, these first two chapters are the only ones in the series scripted and co-plotted by Greg Potter. I’m not sure who he is — I don’t think I’ve ever read another comic written by the guy — but I can only hope that it’s his influence which makes this a less enjoyable experience for me. Beginning next time, George Pérez plots solo, with Len Wein acting only as scripter, and I hope to see things pick up a bit.

Next Week: Wonder Woman's saga continues with her journey to man's world in issues 3 and 4.