Adam Graham's Blog: Christians and Superheroes - Posts Tagged "post-crisis"

Wonder Woman By George Perez Vol. 1 by George Pérez

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This book collects Issues 1-14 of the post-crisis Superman written and drawn by George Perez.

The first six issues serve as a new origin story for Wonder Woman. Issues 7-9 have Wonder Woman meeting the Cheetah for the first time but also kind of serve as a breather before Issues 10-14, the Challenge of the Gods which finds Wonder Woman in a trial for her life and that of all the Amazons as she learns more about her connection to Steve Trevor.

Perez's art is gorgeous as usual. This is one of the most solid books I've read with a writer/artist working on it. The art and text work perfectly together.

The stories are solid. Perez sticks to the best of the Spirit of the Gold and Silver Age version but gives the whole thing a modern feel that's all his own, filled with original and clever innovations. Both the initial and closing storylines have a very strong epic feel that make these a critical unit of Wonder Woman stories.

The book does have its problems. It flows better as a collection than as a monthly story due to the involved nature. The plot does sag a bit in the middle issues in the two big storylines. I also have to feel that the end to, "Challenge of the Gods" set a very high positive status quo and an idyllic view of the Amazons that couldn't be sustained and would only lead to reader disappointment later on.

Still, for what it is, this is an epic mythic take on Wonder Woman that really captures the character at her best.



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Black Lightning: Year One by Jen Van Meter

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This Year One book updates Black Lightning 1977 origin story to 2009 with some key changes: Jefferson Pierce is a principal instead of just a teacher and he's not divorced as he moves back to the town of Southside near Metropolis. The book also addresses why Superman doesn't clean the city up as well as giving some weight to Talia Al-Ghul's presence. Other than that, the story remains the same, but Van Meter also beefs up the supporting cast, and the art is generally very good.

Overall, this is a solid book that does what a Year One book should. It respects the original story while filling in a few gaps and adding just enough extra details to make this a good read for fans of Black Lightning.



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Justice League International, Vol. 1 by Keith Giffen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The 1987 relaunch of the Justice League with a team that includes Guy Gardener, Captain Marvel (Shazam), Batman, Mister Miracle, Black Canary, Doctor Fate, Blue Beetle, Booster Gold, and Martian Manhunter is really good. While there are some funny moments (including more wisecracks than Batman had since the Golden Age), the book doesn't turn anyone into an idiot (other than Guy Gardener) who arguably was that.

The stories are interesting. The book leaves me at a place where I want to read more but am also not sure how the new direction will work out with some roster changes. Overall though, a pretty fun read, and an intriguing start.



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