Written by Alisha Weinberger
Greg Rucka has returned to write a new chapter in the life of everyone’s beloved Amazon warrior princess.
Wonder Woman Rebirth #1 isn’t the most action packed or eventful comic, instead Rucka delivers a more introspective and meditative Diana. In the intro sequence, which features the iconic heroine in a very girl-power fueled fight (this is the majority of the action in the comic) against thugs to liberate exploited women, the champion of the Amazons can’t help but question her identity. Even as going as far as analyzing her publicly bestowed title; is the wonder in Wonder Woman earned out of a sense of awe and admiration, or a fear of the unknown and potentially dangerous?
Admittedly, this specific issue is not the best jumping-on point for readers new to the character who may be expecting a little more fighting or the typical warrior-princess image. Although, staying true to the promises of the DC Rebirth, this isn’t a reboot of Wonder Woman. It still acknowledges the events of New 52 and Flashpoint, and readers will be seeing a Wonder Woman who is analytical of her past and present. This will especially hold true, given that the overal series will alternate between a present quest of Diana seeking a malevolent, unknown force manipulating her identity and a retelling of her past and origins. The first Rebirth look at Wonder Woman is a slow burn, and is more of a set up for the long-term story arc to come; in a way, new readers may want to hop on board to get an intimate and in depth look into the history of Diana, despite a lack of action.
Character exploration aside,Wonder Woman Rebirth features stunning artwork, boasting a deep, contrasting color-palette of reds and blues. At one point, there is a subtle shift in artistic style when Wonder Woman returns to Olympus, and a change from her old New 52 costume, to a new Greek myth inspired costume. Not only is Wonder Woman’s new costume similar to her silver-screen Gal Gadot counterpart, but serves as a way for the heroine to get back to her mythic roots. It would interesting to see this creative device used as a demarcation between the two alternating story arcs of the series.
Wonder Woman Rebirth #1 establishes an existential crisis for Wonder Woman, both real and metaphorical. At some point, there is beautifully illustrated and symbolic fight between Diana and mythic automatons. Given the events of the nearly 80-page packed DC Universe Rebirth #1, this start to a new Rucka run may be a welcome rest stop for long-time readers to get their bearings straight. However, this specific issue may be somewhat on the boring side for new readers, but also a setup for those who really want to learn an extensive lesson into her character and origins.
