Scott's Take: Wonder Woman Vol 1: Outlaw by Tom King, illustrator Daniel Sampere

Wonder Woman Vol 1: Outlaw by Tom King, illustrator Daniel Sampere, deals with a complicated situation. During a bar fight, an Amazon allegedly kills several dudes. Somehow, the media and the government turn it into an indictment on all Amazons. All Amazons are ordered to leave the country by the United States government. The government creates Amazon Extradition Entity to hunt down any Amazons who refused to leave the country. Amazons like Wonder Woman. She is attempting to uncover the truth of what really happened and why. Of course, things get complicated fast.

 

Wonder Woman has not had a big-name writer in years until now. Frankly, DC has mishandled the franchise for several years. The last few runs were not bad, but they were not good. They were just okay. Each writer tried something different and none of it worked.

 

This run, so far, is both acclaimed and criticized in equal measure. More importantly, it is getting talked about. That is far more than I can say about previous runs. People are interested, they care, and they are actually reading it. This time, the interest is expanding past the usual base as many people are making this their first Wonder Woman book. I enjoyed it, but I also agree with the criticism.

 

The two main villains are sexist and dumb. They underestimate Wonder Woman to such a large degree, that might be the point. But the idea that even a sexist would come up with a plan of sending basic infantry with tank support against Wonder Woman who fights gods, monsters, and supervillains, and expect to win is laughingly bad. The idea that Steve, on and off boyfriend, is depicted as concerned for her against these enemies is dumb. Yea, babe, I saw you wreck a god just a few months ago, but these guys with guns are a concern.

 

Tom King never writes a character like anyone else. Tom King writes his version of a well-established character so everyone is either going to be slightly off or way more off.  All the character development to make several of her rogue’s more frenemies over the last years seems to be gone here. The government is always bad or incompetent. One expects that as he always does this because he is a former employee of the C.I.A. and clearly has issues with his employment and expresses that in his work.

 

Wonder Woman Vol 1: Outlaw does have its positives as well. The art is incredibly good. Daniel Sampere does some really impressive work. The fights are action packed, Wonder Woman is complicated, she is kind but fierce, her rogue’s gallery is used well even if character development has been changed back to what was previously done in some cases. The new villain is interesting commentary on the country.

 

The Wonder Girls actually are all here and play a role. Most of the time the Wonder Girls are usually either not in a run or only one of them. All four have a role to play. There are some humor moments too. Tom King is clearly a fan of Wonder Woman and has done his research. Not many people remember that Wonder Woman has a pet kangaroo, for example, as the Kangaroo is allowed a small cameo.

 

I am looking forward to reading the next volume called Sacrifice which is coming out in November. Despite DC planning on rebooting a lot of the lines later in the year for their new All In (the new banner/marketing term for the DC books which has nothing to do with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and his rants) campaign, this title is one of the few which should not see major shakeups as DC is happy with the product.

Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3YqTtDe

 

My paperback reading copy came from the Timberglen Branch of the Dallas Public Library System.

 

Scott A. Tipple ©2024

Scott's Take: Batman Brave and the Bold Volume 1: The Winning Card by Tom King, illustrated by Mitch Gerads

Batman Brave and the Bold Volume 1: The Winning Card by Tom King, illustrated by Mitch Gerads, is a very good standalone story as long as you understand what you are getting. Unlike most Brave and the Bold titles, this is not a team up title. This is a Batman solo title. Putting under the Brave and the Bold titling is misleading in this reader’s opinion.

 

This is another story telling a different version of the first encounters between Batman and Joker. This is a more horrifying and violent version. The Batman thinks he understands the Joker. By the end of the volume, Batman will learn he was very wrong.

 

Told in a unique manner as panels detailing the Joker’s crimes are placed along panels featuring dark jokes from the Joker. This is a very interesting way to tell a story that would only work in a visual medium like comics. Mitch Gerads is a really talented artist and does an excellent job in his use of shadows and lighting to high parts of the story. His art showcased here is frankly terrifying.

 

Collecting only four issues, this Eisner winning series is very short, but very fun. However, a lot of the points made at the end have been made by other writers utilizing the same arguments. Don’t get me wrong --this is a good Joker vs Batman story. The actual story is really good.  I just wish the arguments made at the end were original. They have been done so many times that I am tired of them.

 

Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4ebnFrr

 

My reading copy came by way of the Hoopla app through the Dallas Public Library System.

 

Scott A. Tipple ©2024