(Part 2) Top products from r/WonderWoman

I posted this a long while ago:

Ahem

Perez > Rucka > Heinberg > Simone.

George Perez - I suggest starting with George Perez's run because this reboot lays all the groundwork for everything Diana is leading up to (and I'd argue including) the New 52 reboot. He sets up everything. He reintroduces/recreates her villains into the modern versions most people are familiar with. We see Diana truly grow from a somewhat scared, naive young woman into the amazing hero we know her as. There are some phenomenal stories in Perez's run, and very little filler.

George Perez wrote the book starting with 1987's Wonder Woman v2 issue 01 through issue 62. Not all of it is in trades, and not all of it is important. I'd honestly say that as long as you read his first two years on the book (issues 01-24 and Annual 01), you're good to go. You can always continue reading if you really enjoy his work, or come back to it later to see what he does after those two years.

Only issues 01-24 and Annual 01 are collected in trades, and volumes 01 and 02 are getting rarer and harder to find. My local library has them, so I'd suggest checking your library. If they don't have it, try Inter-Library Loans to see if they can get it from another library for you [Check here for a list of Perez's trades]. Or, find other means. The issues aren't usually hard to find.

There is a hardcover omnibus of issues 01-24 and Annual 01 coming out next summer.

Greg Rucka - George Perez does amazing work establishing the character; Greg Rucka does an amazing job of expanding the character and making her seem both more human and more superhuman at the same time. Generally considered to be one of the greatest runs on Wonder Woman, Rucka crafts some truly wonderful stories. He started with a graphic novel titled The Hiketeia and then wrote the main Wonder Woman title from issue 195 to its end at issue 226.

Once again, most of these trades are out of print, but a lot of them are still readily available at comic stores for normal prices [Here's a list of those trades]. Again, check your library if you can't find it elsewhere.

Allen Heinberg - Allen Heinberg was only on the series for five issues (four issues and an annual). And while his collection is far from amazing, it does set up a good bit of status quo for the book following the end of Rucka's run. One trade titled Who is Wonder Woman, collecting issues 01-04 and Annual 01 of Wonder Woman v3. Still readily available, and worth a read.

Gail Simone - I think Gail Simone's run is second only to Greg Rucka's run, and I really wish she had been on the series longer. She took over on Wonder Woman v3 at issue 14 and stayed until it ended at issue 44. Her run is great, with some really interesting story arcs, some fantastic new characters (both good and bad), and some of my absolute favorite issues of Wonder Woman.

It's collected in five trades, and only one of them is out of print. Unfortunately, that one is my favorite of her run. But, again, libraries, or local comic shops may still have copies for regular price.

***

At this point in your reading, you will have a deep and varied understanding of Diana as a person, as a superhero, and as a comic book character. At this point, you can pick up any Wonder Woman story from any era and pretty much understand what's going on.

I know this skips a lot, and there are some other good runs (Phil Jimenez's is okay, but feels like George Perez-lite; William Messner-Loebs has some interesting stories, but nothing amazing). And there's also a ton of great pre-Crisis stuff if you're into comics from the 1940s-1980s.

And please, if you ever have any questions or want more suggestions, please feel free to ask. I'm always excited to help people get into Wonder Woman.

Good on you for starting with Perez!

Which Rucka are we talking about? Because both runs are absolutely fantastic, but his second run (Rebirth) is utterly fantastic, and definitely the closest to the Wonder Woman seen in the film.

I'd also strongly recommend:

– The Legend of Wonder Woman, Vol. 1: Origins - A fantastic reimagining of Wonder Woman's classic origin.

– [Wonder Woman: The Golden Age, Vol. 1] (https://www.amazon.com/Wonder-Woman-Golden-Age-Vol/dp/1401274447/) - 40's Wonder Woman.

– Wonder Woman: Earth One, Vol. 1 - Superstar writer Grant Morrison's take on the character.

– [Wonder Woman '77, Vol. 1] (https://www.amazon.com/Wonder-Woman-77-Vol-1/dp/1401263283/) - If you like the campier elements of Wonder Woman.

Since Wonder Woman has been around for such a long time, there's kind of something for everyone in her collected adventures.

I personally love her/identify with her because she genuinely seems to want to do the right thing and care for everyone, but she has had to deal with a lot of morally unsteady issues in her pursuit of doing what she feels is right. She has to come to terms with the violence and hatred in human society and it shakes her faith from time to time but she tends to always sway back towards a positive outlook on humanity. She tends to be optimistic, fierce, genuine, and confident - all things I want to be.

You could absolutely start with the Rebirth run. It's only 14 issues in (15 tomorrow), so it will be easy to pick up. I would recommend Eyes of the Gorgon, Paradise Lost, and Love and Murder. I'm sure the other comments will include some quality stories as well.

Not counting the "Diana Prince" collections where she was de-powered the whole time (and not really recognizably Wonder Woman), the only trade collecting WW comics from that era (I believe) is "The Twelve Labors".

But if you're just starting, you really want to do yourself a favor and read the Perez run. It starts here.

Even better - read The Secret History of Wonder Woman by Jill Lepore

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0804173400/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1496615088&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=the+secret+history+of+wonder+woman&dpPl=1&dpID=516EZ4j7QjL&ref=plSrch

There are Wonder Woman books in the I Can Read series, which are aimed at beginning readers. They come in both classic Wonder Woman and movie tie-in flavors.

https://www.amazon.com/Wonder-Woman-Classic-Read-Level/dp/0061885177

There are also some WW coloring books that might go over well.

>Did you buy the Golden Age omnibus

No because that would have been smart and meant I was informed about something outside politics. I bought these;

compilation series

but look at this one...

the expensive one

I can find no rational explanation for that price unless a mad gorilla ate all the copies but that one.

I did also pick up these.

newspaper serials

war years

> Our sweet little girl grew up and sold out.

I agree. At least in the Perez years she FOUGHT the God of War. Now she IS the God of War.