Wonder Woman #4
Writer: Alan Heinburg
Artists: Terry & Rachel Dodson
Wonder Woman #4 is a good book, in fact it might almost have been a great book if this had come out in October or November. But besides all of that, this is a really good story and will read great in trade whenever the fifth issue come out, which has now been postponed without any idea of when it's coming out. This book had a great first issue, Donna Troy was Wonder Woman, for all we knew, it was going to stay that way. By the time the second issue came out, we had already seen Diana in Justice League #0 and #1 as Wonder Woman, so it ruined the mystery of who was going to be Wonder Woman. Even though we know that Diana will remain Wonder Woman, with this issue it is clear that Diana is the focus of the book. As issues 2 and 3 came out, the focus turned completely away from Donna, and we saw Diana acting as a human, to re-establish her humanity, which she lost in Infinite Crisis. This book is all about the journey, and the title of the story "Who is Wonder Woman" is both literal and metaphorical. Diana must find herself before she can resume the mantle of Wonder Woman. Last issue saw the villainess, Circe capture the gods' powers and become a new Wonder Woman. Diana, Donna, Cassie, and Hercules are now powerless, and are trying to get the power back from Circe. Diana journeys with the demi-god Hercules to find Circe's home and find something to bargain with in order to regain the power of the gods. There's a good twist in the book, a cross, and double-cross, which made the book for me. I never saw it coming. Alan Heinburg has a great story written and plotted, just poorly scheduled in terms of delays. The only complaint I have about this book is that it's late, but I can't knock anything else, it is a good book.
Terry Dodson needs to fire his agent or whoever schedules his projects. It it's him he needs to find a lucky charm, as he seems to be stuck with late books. First it was Spider-Man/Black Cat and now Wonder Woman. The man can't catch a break. He's a great artist, but he's under used because he gets backlogged on these delayed projects. I think his Marvel Knights Spider-Man run with Mark Millar was the only thing recently that hadn't been greatly delayed. Of course, with these delays, it gives Dodson the chance to really take his time and shine. His art here is perfect. There is not one panel where I felt the art was weak compared to others. If anything is benefitting from the delays, it is the art quality. Sure, Dodson may be a little cheesecake, but it's nothing like Michael Turner or Joseph Micheal Lisner. Dodson's focus is here is on the story, and if he gets to draw a beautiful woman while doing it, so be it. I think Wonder Woman is a perfect fit for Dodson. The man draws women as godesses, so in a book about Gods, demi-gods, and super-heroines, he is perfectly suited for it. I would not put him on Batman, for sure, as he lacks that dark touch that Batman artists need to have. Dodson is good at lighthearted fun art, so Wonder Woman, Superman, or Spider-man are perfect for him. Now if only he could get to work with some on time creators. Maybe when Jodi Piccoult comes on with issue 6 we'll see Dodson start to output a greater volume of work a year. B
