Wonder Woman #0 Review

Wonder Woman #0

writer- Brian Azzarello

artist- Cliff Chaing

The character of Wonder Woman is something that fascinates, not only comic book lovers, but historians and students of Greek mythology. She was brought to life by William Moulton Marston in All Star Comics #8, as a back up story. It was a tale of a young princess on an island of Amazons, and how she matured into something more than the just Queen's daughter. In true fashion of Greek mythology, she endured tests of strength and skill and in the end became the Wonder Woman we know today. Well, maybe not exactly the Wonder Woman we know today. In fact, the next time she appeared in an issue of All Star Comics, it was issue #11 where she was doubling as nurse Diana Prince, taking care of the soldiers fighting World War II against the Japanese. I've always felt a little ripped off that she wasn't a full fledged member of the Justice Society in those early issues. She was stronger than most of the team and tougher, but in the 1940's women had roles to serve and Wonder Woman was only an exception once in a while. All Star Comics began every issue with a roll call of their members. Here's what #11 said:

“The Justice Society of America explodes with righteous indignation. They, too, demand their chance to fight for the country they love best. And so, at this memorable meeting of the Justice Society, once again we have... The Hawkman, Doctor Midnite, The Sandman, Starman, The Atom, Johnny Thunder, Doctor Fate, The Spectre, and as guest star in a national emergency- Wonder Woman.”

Well, today is Wonder Woman's day and I'd like to think she's every bit the warrior that Marston wanted her to be. In the New 52, Wonder Woman is very much an Amazon warrior. She's also surrounded by her Greek mythological roots. Written by Azzarello and complimented by Chaing's artwork, the book is exactly what I, as a reader, always wanted from the character. In fact, the story in Wonder Woman #0 begins with our heroine as a young girl, engaged in one of those tests that the Greek gods are always initiating. She climbs to the top of a perch to steal an egg on her birthday. Amazonian tradition dictates, that for a passing year to be acknowledged, the one whose birthday it is must first present the Queen with an extraordinary gift. In the case of young Diana, the gift is a harpy egg.

I love that Azzarello is playing with Greek mythology in the stories. I love that he's going back to the Amazon's city of Themyscira and touching on who Wonder Woman was when she was created by William Moulton Marston. That isn't to say that Azzarello isn't putting his own touches on the character, because he is, but it feels like he knows where Wonder Woman came from. I've often called Brian Azzarello, the “Quentin Tarantino of comics.” His story telling style is perfect for grim and gritty crime drama with a bit of humor and ton of realism. The fact that he's added that to the Wonder Woman mythos without turning her into Samuel L Jackson from Pulp Fiction is beautiful. As far as the style in issue #0, Azzarello decided to go with a humorous nostalgic flair. He obviously wanted readers to feel like it was written decades ago, with this introduction:

“The monthly monster strikes again! Rather than give Wonder Woman's merry men their marching orders, we dug up a story from Wonder Woman's past! May you enjoy this magnificent missive that originally appeared in `All-Girl Adventure Tales For Men #41.”

Nobody writes like that anymore. It was obviously a tongue in cheek nod to the comics of yesteryear.

And for the art, Cliff Chaing's artwork is great on this book. Chaing doesn't just draw what Azzarello tells him to draw, he wraps himself up in the story and the characters and the way Azzarello writes, and he creates images with all those ingredients influencing him. I wasn't so sure I'd like Chaing's art when I first picked up Wonder Woman #1, but I quickly got into it and a whole year later I find it hard to imagine anyone else working on this title.

Wonder Woman #0 just became my favorite Wonder Woman issue (not counting All Star Comics #8), and it's locked the title in as being one of my favorite books.