Wonder Woman and the Furies #1

Writer: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning
Penciller: Scott Clark
Inker: Dave Beaty

Colorist: Nei Ruffino
Letterer: Travis Lanham
Cover Art: Ed Benes with Pete Pantazis

Assistant Editor: Darren Shan
Editor: Brian Cunningham

Part 1- The Arrangement




An interesting new take on Wonder Woman.  In the altered timeline rather than going out into the world to be a champion of justice Diana and her amazonian furies wage war against Aquaman and the atlanteans.

Rather than Steve Trevor in need of rescue being Diana's first contact with the outside world it was Aquaman saving her from a kraken.  The amazons are grateful to the king of atlantis for saving Diana and both civilizations decide to help the world with their wisdom and advances.  To solidify their effort the two nations would be joined by the marriage of Diana and Arthur.

There are traitors on both sides as an assasination attempt on Diana's life is carried out by Artemis, who instead accidently kills Hippolyta.  She frames Garth for the murder and kills him before he can reveal the truth that Arthur's brother Orm is in league with Artemis to stop the union.

We've seen the seed that the war between the amazons and the atlanteans sprang from, I'm intrigued to see the rest of its evolution.

Grodd of War #1

Writer: Sean Ryan
Penciller: IG Guara
Inker: Ruy Jose

Colorist: Stephani Rennee
Letterer: Carlos M. Mangual
Cover Art: Francis Manapul & Brian Buccellato

Assistant Editor: Kate Stewart
Editor: Joey Cavalieri

I have always been a fan of stories told from the point of view of the villain.  Grodd of War lived up to my hopes for it.  The story addresses the question of what happens when the conquerer has nothing left to conquer and the warrior has nothing left to wage war on.  

I suppose in Grodd's case, getting there was more than half the fun.  Grodd seems to have come to the realization that it's the conquest, the fight, the violence that fuels him and makes life worth living.   Old soldiers are not meant for peace and the boredom that comes in a life after struggle and combat. 

Grodd has an attempt on his life that he believes to have been coordinated by his aide, Malavar, but he lets him live and does not let on that he is aware of the treachery.   Grodd is tired of life without a worthy fight and hopes that Malavar will try again and succeed.  Grodd also allows one of the young humans who tried to assassinate him to live after mind controlling him into killing his friends.  He tells the boy to grow up hating him and to one day kill him.

Grodd, hoping to die in a blaze of glory, decides to take on both Wonder Woman and her Amazon Furies and Aquaman and the Atlanteans.  The book started off on solid footing and I am looking forward to the next issue.

Book Reviews for the week of 6/15/11

The issues that will be reviewed this week are:

Avengers Academy #15
Fear Itself: The Home Front #3
Batman #711
Batgirl #22
Supergirl #65
Teen Titans #96
Wonder Woman and the Furies #1
Grodd of War #1
Deadman and the Flying Graysons #1
Legion of Doom #1