Wonder Woman #40
Writer: Meredith Finch
Artist: David Finch
Inker: Jonathan Glapion
Colorist: Aspen MLT's Peter Steigerwald
Letterer: Rob Leigh
Sigh.
Meredith & David Finch had a big, blood-soaked pair of blue and white knee-highs to fill following Brian Azzarello & Cliff Chiang's incredible thirty-five issue dance with DC's leading lady. Azzarello & Chiang brought all the action, politics, and heart that I’ve come to expect from Wonder Woman and then some, so when DC announced that Meredith Finch was taking over as the series’ writer, I was highly skeptical. Five issues with the new team and I fear my suspicions confirmed.
I’ve felt nothing short of disenchanted by the series since Meredith took over writing. I love David’s artwork, don’t get me wrong. Every panel is expertly detailed and consistent and he deserves praise for days as far as I’m concerned, but putting his wife, an inexperienced writer with only a handful of writing credits under her belt, on one of the world’s most beloved heroes was probably a mistake.
My primary issue with the book is the pacing. The events of Azzarello & Chiang’s run left Diana strung up between her roles as a Justice League A-lister, Queen of Themyscira, and newly crowned God of War, a near perfect jumping point for a new creative team to cut their teeth on. Meredith did the logical thing in having Diana struggle in balancing these roles, but it leaves each issue feeling as though nothing happened. Trying to get all these stories in focus every single issue causes each plotline to gasp for air. The story goes in a lot of different directions but nothing really comes together and overall feels dragged out. Issue #40 looks as though it’s starting to bring everything back in, but we’ll have to wait and see.
I give Meredith props for putting Donna Troy back in DC’s wheelhouse, but even that was overshadowed by the upcoming Convergence event where she would have likely reappeared regardless. That being said, Donna hasn’t said or done much since she was introduced in #38 so her reemergence feels almost like a gimmick to pull readers back in. The few scenes where she does do or say something have been lackluster at best.
A treasure of my pull box since day one, Wonder Woman has been one of my most consistently enjoyed series since I started reading comics. My hope is that Meredith stops pulling punches and brings the quality of the book back up to its former glory. I gleam hints of her true ability as a writer every time I read Wonder Woman but as of #40 there’s still something missing.
Artist: David Finch
Inker: Jonathan Glapion
Colorist: Aspen MLT's Peter Steigerwald
Letterer: Rob Leigh
Sigh.
Meredith & David Finch had a big, blood-soaked pair of blue and white knee-highs to fill following Brian Azzarello & Cliff Chiang's incredible thirty-five issue dance with DC's leading lady. Azzarello & Chiang brought all the action, politics, and heart that I’ve come to expect from Wonder Woman and then some, so when DC announced that Meredith Finch was taking over as the series’ writer, I was highly skeptical. Five issues with the new team and I fear my suspicions confirmed.
I’ve felt nothing short of disenchanted by the series since Meredith took over writing. I love David’s artwork, don’t get me wrong. Every panel is expertly detailed and consistent and he deserves praise for days as far as I’m concerned, but putting his wife, an inexperienced writer with only a handful of writing credits under her belt, on one of the world’s most beloved heroes was probably a mistake.
My primary issue with the book is the pacing. The events of Azzarello & Chiang’s run left Diana strung up between her roles as a Justice League A-lister, Queen of Themyscira, and newly crowned God of War, a near perfect jumping point for a new creative team to cut their teeth on. Meredith did the logical thing in having Diana struggle in balancing these roles, but it leaves each issue feeling as though nothing happened. Trying to get all these stories in focus every single issue causes each plotline to gasp for air. The story goes in a lot of different directions but nothing really comes together and overall feels dragged out. Issue #40 looks as though it’s starting to bring everything back in, but we’ll have to wait and see.
I give Meredith props for putting Donna Troy back in DC’s wheelhouse, but even that was overshadowed by the upcoming Convergence event where she would have likely reappeared regardless. That being said, Donna hasn’t said or done much since she was introduced in #38 so her reemergence feels almost like a gimmick to pull readers back in. The few scenes where she does do or say something have been lackluster at best.
A treasure of my pull box since day one, Wonder Woman has been one of my most consistently enjoyed series since I started reading comics. My hope is that Meredith stops pulling punches and brings the quality of the book back up to its former glory. I gleam hints of her true ability as a writer every time I read Wonder Woman but as of #40 there’s still something missing.
A Look Inside
