Commentary: Why You Should Read Wonder Woman (DC)

You should read Wonder Woman. End of story. (Spoilers Ahead)

Wonder Woman has quickly become one of my favorite titles and I've only read from #160 on (the title is at 215 now). I find myself buying as many back issues as I can to read the whole series, though back stock of Wonder Woman is thin in stores. Anyways, back to the main point - how you can enrich your life by reading Wonder Woman.

Aside from the amazing stuff that Greg Rucka has done since taking over (we will get to that later), the title is becoming a major focus in the DC Universe. Any fan of DC or any part of that universe will want to get in on what is called the "Trinity" (Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman), as that is supposedly going to the be the major focus of the year with the Infinite Crisis drama. Rumor has it we will explore what this trinity means, how it can fracture, and what repercussions these characters will have for one another and the universe as a whole. This, combined with the return of Donna Troy this Summer, is bringing Wonder Woman to the forefront and finally establishing her as the intriguing and dynamic character she was meant to be. As Black Canary in Birds of Prey said - everyone sees Batman as the dark and Superman as the light - but Wonder Woman is both of those things. She has compassion but she is war. She is active, intelligent, powerful, violent, and real.

Over the last two years Wonder Woman has taken a turn towards in depth story being favored over two dimensional, serialized battles (a DC wide shift). My favorite storyline to date is Wonder Woman's autobiography release and role as ambassador (around issue 200), with all its stark social commentary on activism, social justice, heroism, celebrity, feminism, and more. You can read some of Rucka's Wonder Woman stories in dozens of ways because they contain so much.

Another amazing addition to the Wonder Woman universe is the streamlined integration of Greek mythology into the universe. I am always so intrigued to see how the Gods and Goddesses will appear interact, from the younger, charming, manipulative Ares, to the flitty and flirty Aphrodite, to Athena and her struggle between wisdom and war and eventual overthrowing of Zeus. All of this has yet to come to a head and continually plays out in the background, adding so much to each issue without crowding it.

To take a character so long established and bring her to the forefront, making her title rife with possibility is a feat in and of itself. To then take that title, and have the courage as a writer to make her blinded by her own choice, that is simply provocative. Wonder Woman has become an intriguing character in which we get to see the conflict and tension between Superman's classic hero role and Batman's dark vigilante come together.

In the recent Flash / Wonder Woman crossover (an amazing story in which the heroes stop for a moment and realize they may have lost) Diana and Flash have what is the most poignant and subtle conversation explaining this duality. Flash is dragging Diana by her lasso so he is inclined to tell the truth - and in this single moment we see Wonder Woman's insecurity as she admits that she knows what the others think of her. This, coupled with the Wonder Woman / Superman interactions of recent (and forthcoming crossover battle) will make for some intense storytelling. And that is what DC has finally learned how to do - tell the best story for everyone. Wonder Woman can be read for fighting, sex, glamour, feminism, social activism, justice, heroism, conflict, darkness, mythology, and so much more. But in the end it is nothing less than near perfectly rich, intelligent and fun.

Read this title if...
You like Promethea for its femininity and mythology
You like X-Men for its super-heroism and social commentary
You like Buffy The Vampire Slayer for its intelligence and kick ass sexy women