Wednesday, August 29, 2012

2011 Wonder Woman color art by Dave Bullock

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"Had the Dodson WW head shape in mind with this one... I've been planning to color this for a while and finally took some time this morning to knock it out. Hope you like."
...and here's the black & white original.

Saturday, August 25, 2012

2010 Dark Angel color art by Oliver Nome

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I didn't much care for John Byrne's run on Wonder Woman, and his "fix" for Donna Troy's continuity only made it an even more wretched, convoluted mess that devalued the character to the point of her being executed in a Titans/Outsiders crossover. The only good things to come out of that by my reckoning were closer ties between Diana and Donna, and the invention of an archnemesis for Troia in Dark Angel. Honestly, the name is generic as hell, the look isn't much better, and don't ask me what her powers are, but at least Dark Angel gave a form to direct all that anger at Troy's mishandling. Nome does a nice job of providing D.A. with visual personality and some sauciness late period Byrne couldn't summon on his own. I really like the color version, but she also looks hawt in black and white.

Oliver Nome

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Sensational Comics for November, 2012


Wonder Woman
WONDER WOMAN #14
Written by BRIAN AZZARELLO
Art by TONY AKINS and DAN GREEN
Cover by CLIFF CHIANG
1:25 B&W Variant cover by CLIFF CHIANG
On sale NOVEMBER 21 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

• Wonder Woman's twisted "family" grows larger than she could have imagined.

• On the trail of the god who betrayed her, Diana crosses the path of the deadly SIROCCA!

Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. The variant cover will feature the standard edition cover in a wraparound format.

BATWOMAN #14
Written by J.H. WILLIAMS III and W. HADEN BLACKMAN
Art and cover by J.H. WILLIAMS III
1:25 B&W Variant cover by J.H. WILLIAMS III
On sale NOVEMBER 21 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+

• The Batwoman/Wonder Woman team-up epic continues!

• Batwoman may be out of her league as she chases down Medusa!

Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. The variant cover will feature the standard edition cover in a wraparound format.
I've been hearing bad things about JHW3's writing and attitude lately. Anyone available to dismiss/clarify?

JUSTICE LEAGUE #14
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art and cover by TONY S. DANIEL and RICHARD FRIEND
Variant cover by JASON FABOK
1:100 B&W Variant cover by TONY S. DANIEL
On sale NOVEMBER 21 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US

• The second chapter of a tale that lights the fuse that will ultimately explode in 2013's TRINITY WAR.

• The League must fight the mysterious Cheetah… AND a monstrous Superman! The result will radically change the dynamics of the entire team!

• Amid all this, where is Green Lantern?

• Plus: The next chapter of the SHAZAM! backup epic by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank! This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.

Retailers: This issue will ship with three covers.
Johns continues to write his own version of Bronze Age Wonder Woman hosted in JLA, and I'm strangely okay with that. I don't want to read it myself, but at least Cheetah is being treated as a force to be reckoned with after years in second stringer status. She was Diana's go-to villain for decades, but nobody has known what to do with her in the modern age. It would have helped to have had Jim Lee draw her though, instead of a fill-in between a shift in art teams.

TEAM 7 #2
Written by JUSTIN JORDAN
Art by JESUS MERINO
Cover by DOUG MAHNKE
1:25 Variant cover by BRETT BOOTH
On sale NOVEMBER 14 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

• The secret history of The New 52 is told here – with bullets!

• Set five years in the past, Team 7 races into the heart of darkness to stop the evil that the Black Diamond will unleash!

Woof, that cover makes me glad I passed on #1 after all.
GREEN LANTERN #14
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art and cover by DOUG MAHNKE and CHRISTIAN ALAMY
1:25 B&W Variant cover by DOUG MAHNKE
On sale NOVEMBER 7 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $3.99 US
On sale OCTOBER 10 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T

• "Rise of the Third Army" continues!

• The Justice League comes after the new Green Lantern, demanding answers about the missing Hal Jordan!

• The Green Lantern Corps makes a disturbing discovery about the Guardians!

This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.
It's weird seeing Mahnke draw the JLA again, especially when he used to do it much better. This looks like early Dougie Braithwaite inked by Tomm Coker.
JUSTICE LEAGUE VOL. 2: THE VILLAIN'S JOURNEY HC
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art by JIM LEE, SCOTT WILLIAMS, GENE HA, CARLOS D'ANDA, IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO Cover by JIM LEE and SCOTT WILLIAMS
On sale JANUARY 30 • 176 pg, FC, $24.99 US

• Now that the team's origin story is complete, we shift to the present-day Justice League! What has changed? Who has joined the team since? And why does Green Arrow want to join those ranks so badly?

• Plus, someone is out to get the Justice League, and he is determined to show the world how mortal these godlike beings really are!

• Collects JUSTICE LEAGUE #7-12.
SUPERMAN: GROUNDED VOL. 2 TP
Written by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI and CHRIS ROBERSON
Art by JAMAL IGLE, ALLAN GOLDMAN, TRAVEL FOREMAN, EDDY BARROWS, DIOGENES NEVES and others
Cover by JO CHEN
On sale DECEMBER 5 • 168 pg, FC, $14.99 US

• Collected from SUPERMAN #707-711 and 713-714.

• In this final "Grounded" volume, Superman meets the new Wonder Woman for the first time! But why can't he shake the feeling he already knows her?

• Then, Superman visits Boulder, Colorado, where The Flash made a strange discovery that relates to Superman.

• And in Salt Lake City, Batman arrives to revisit one of his earliest adventures with The Man of Steel!
Oh, yeah. This. Love how JMS gets top billing for not doing his job.
WONDER WOMAN VOL. 2: GUTS HC
Written by BRIAN AZZARELLO
Art by CLIFF CHIANG, TONY AKINS and DAN GREEN
Cover by CLIFF CHIANG
On sale JANUARY 9 • 144 pg, FC, $22.99 US

• Wonder Woman goes to hell! After playing Poseidon, Hades, and Hera against each other, Hades strikes back by kidnapping Zola and trapping her in the Underworld. It's up to Wonder Woman — with a little help from the God of Love and the God of Smiths — to break Zola out. But what is Hades' real game, and once you get into the land of the dead, how exactly do you get out?

• Collects WONDER WOMAN #7-12.

Wonder Girl
TEEN TITANS #14
Written by SCOTT LOBDELL
Art by ALE GARZA
Cover by BRETT BOOTH and MARK IRWIN
1:25 B&W Variant cover by BRETT BOOTH and NORM RAPMUND
On sale NOVEMBER 28 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

• With Red Robin missing, the rest of the team heads to Gotham City in search of clues.

There were only two bullet points last month, and now none? What's the big secret? Lazy copy writing? Don't expect it to sell on cover alone, especially that cover.
YOUNG JUSTICE #22
Written by GREG WEISMAN
Art by CHRISTOPHER JONES
On sale NOVEMBER 21 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED E

• The Invasion continues!
• Earth's greatest heroes are kidnapped by Kylstar!
• Brainiac has Metropolis under glass and Lex Luthor's secret weapon is on the loose!
You know, I really did like that casual, simple, legitimately wearable Wonder Girl outfit. Certainly better than Heavily Armored Riding Hood.
TEEN TITANS BY GEOFF JOHNS OMNIBUS HC
Written by GEOFF JOHNS, BEN RAAB, JAY FAERBER, JUDD WINICK, JEREMY JOHNS, MARK WAID and MARV WOLFMAN Art by MIKE McKONE, JUSTINIANO, GEORGES JEANTY, MATT CLARK, IVAN REIS, TONY S. DANIEL and others
Cover by MICHAEL TURNER
On sale JANUARY 30 • 1,440 pg, FC, $150.00 US

• In this massive hardcover from superstar writer Geoff Johns, Superboy, Kid Flash, Robin, Wonder Girl and Cyborg join together as the DC Universe's premiere teen super team!

• Plus, meet new arrivals Miss Martian and Ravager and witness a battle for the fate of the universe as the INFINITE CRISIS arrives!

• Collecting TEEN TITANS #1/2-26, 29-46 and 50, LEGENDS OF THE DC UNIVERSE #2, TITANS SECRET FILES #2, TEEN TITANS/OUTSIDERS SECRET FILES 2003, BEAST BOY #1-4, TEEN TITANS/LEGION OF SUPER HEROES SPECIAL #1, OUTSIDERS #24-25, ROBIN #147-147, INFINITE CRISIS #5-6 and TEEN TITANS ANNUAL #1.

Donna Troy
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA: OMEGA TP
Written by JAMES ROBINSON
Art by MARK BAGLEY, BRETT BOOTH, POW RODRIX, ROBSON ROCHA, ROB HUNTER, CHRISTIAN ALAMY and NORM RAPMUND
Cover by MARK BAGLEY and ROB HUNTER
On sale DECEMBER 12 • 200 pg, FC, $16.99 US

• The World's Greatest Super Heroes battle The Crime Syndicate in these tales from JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #49-53 and STARMAN/CONGORILLA #1.

• It's up to five members of The Justice League to save Washington, D.C., with serious repercussions for one Leaguer.

• In order to help their teammates, Bill and Mikaal must begin an odyssey across the world that will evoke memories of the departed Prometheus.

Friday, August 17, 2012

2010 Doctor Cyber art by Oliver Nome

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I've got a soft spot for Dr. Cyber, since she was featured in Wonder Woman comics from my youth, and was one of the few Bronze Age additions to her rogues gallery with any staying power. As the premier villainess of the Diana Prince white jumpsuit period, she obviously holds a special place on this blog. I really like that she has nothing to do with the Greek pantheon, and is a high tech megalomaniac pitted against an Amazon warrior. Often, especially at Marvel, the techie would be the hero up against a primitive villain (see Iron Man and a third of his foes, including nemesis the Mandarin.) Nome plays up the more mangafied elements of Tom Grummett's reworking of the character for Power Company, but she's still recognizable and looks wicked. I dig the coloring too, but you can scope the original black and white art here.

Oliver Nome

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

DC Comics - The New 52 FCBD Special Edition #1 (June, 2012)



"Detroit, Michigan. The Red Room. The world's largest covert research facility for housing extraterrestrial, unidentified and classified technology recovered from across the globe." The remains of an Amazo sat on a table while doctors Sarah Charles and Silas Stone argued over what Cyborg should be doing for the world. Suddenly, "the Monitor Machine" started working, and scientists were given a brief glimpse of a "signal from another universe." It was Earth 2, and included their Wonder Woman, Superman and Batman battling parademons.

"Washington, D.C... A.R.G.U.S. A military agency created to combat super-human threats and supports the world's greatest super heroes, specifically the Justice League." A very Tracie Thoms-ish Etta Candy was giving report to Steve Trevor on the millions in property damage caused during the League's battle with Professor Ivo's mad android. Trevor noted, "We've clearly helped establish any damage was Green Arrow's fault. The League doesn't make mistakes." Candy continued that a group of super-human teens tracked to Alaska (the Ravagers) had disappeared, and that Talia al Ghul's recruitment activities were being monitored. Etta criticized Steve for cancelling dinner with his sister again. Steve was too busy to even read a restaurant menu, which made it all the more dismissible when an untraceable copy of David Graves' book Justice League: Gods Among Men arrived for him.



An emergency arrived at the Black Room, "a vault containing the world's most dangerous supernatural artifacts." Dr. Mist usually oversaw it for A.R.G.U.S., but he was away in South America. An unidentified male had previously broken in to steal the Orb of Ra, and now a red-cloaked female had breached security. Trevor and a squad drew down on her. "The Spear of Destiny, the Black Diamond, the Seven Spells of Shazam... it's quite an impressive collection you've amassed, Colonel Trevor. But this belongs to me." Pandora fired some sort of magical automatics at A.R.G.U.S. and made off with a box containing a bejeweled demonic golden skull. "I know you were one of the soldiers who helped recover it, Colonel Trevor. I know many of your friends died to crate it up. But I need it. It may be the source of my curse. But it's also the secret to my salvation." Pandora had entered and escaped, despite spells in place to keep her kind out. Further, a report of a cyber attack on the Red Room came in. Trevor ordered, "I want a lockdown on the other rooms. Especially The Circus! We need Dr. Mist. Get Black Orchid in here, Etta. And find me John Constantine." As for calling in the Justice League, Trevor finally acknowledged "It's just a matter of time before this all comes crashing down."



Pandora had the box. "This time I know what I'm dealing with. And it must be dealt with." Previously, Pandora had been tried by other mystics as part of a "Trinity of Sin" for her crimes, and judged harshly...

"The Near Future." Batman had recovered Pandora's skull box, but was set upon by the new Green Lantern currently known only as "Baz" (but unnamed in the book.) This led into a four page gatefold image of "The Trinity War." Hero battled hero, including Wonder Woman slugging Mera...

By Geoff Johns, Ivan Reis & Joe Prado, Kenneth Rocafort, Gene Ha, and Jim Lee & Scott Williams.

New 52's Day

Friday, August 10, 2012

2010 Wonder Woman pin-up commission by Arthur “Art” Adams

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"The detail is absolutely amazing on this piece! Art measures 11 inches x 6 1/2 inches and done in February 2010."
Art Adams Art

Sunday, August 5, 2012

1996 Wonder Woman Gallery art by José Luis García-López



JLGL has produced some of the finest, most iconic Amazing Amazon art ever. For me, this would be an exception. The composition is a mess, the central pose is contorted, and the obscured floating head looks like it came off a dollar VHS tape box. It still has eye appeal thanks to the artist's style, but there's a reason this was only a pin-up.

Thursday, August 2, 2012

1981 JLA/JSA Reunion by George Pérez

CLICK FOR FULL IMAGE

It's always great to see George Pérez do Wonder Woman, and especially fun when we get to see his take on her before taking up her reboot. Cream on top is that this pin-up spread from Justice League of America #195 offers both the Golden and Silver/Bronze Age versions of the Amazing Amazon!

From Top Left: Earth-1 Superman, Earth-1 Wonder Woman, Red Tornado II, Earth-1 Batman, Elongated Man, Thunderbolt, Earth-2 Robin, Hourman (Rex Tyler,) Earth-2 Wonder Woman, Earth-2 Superman, Martian Manhunter, Flash, Zatanna, Silver Age Hawkman, Silver Age Hawkgirl, Firestorm I (Ronnie Raymond,) Star-Spangled Kid, the Atom I (Al Pratt,) Golden Age Hawkman, Earth-2 Huntress (Helena Wayne,) Golden Age Flash (Jay Garrick,) Earth-2 Doctor Fate, the Atom II (Ray Palmer,) Earth-1 Aquaman, Earth-1 Green Arrow (Oliver Queen,) Bronze Age Black Canary, Green Lantern Hal Jordan, Snapper Carr, Johnny Thunder, Golden Age Green Lantern (Alan Scott,) Earth-2 Power Girl, Dr. Mid-Nite I (Charles McNider,) Wildcat I (Ted Grant.)