The first issue of Greg Rucka's Wonder Woman reminds me of The West Wing by way of Astro City. Rucka explores the world of Wonder Woman, from super-heroing to ambassadorship, through the eyes of a new staffer at her embassy, and in so doing introduces readers old and new alike to the supporting cast that will be backing Wonder Woman up in this series, as well as to Wonder Woman herself. The action in this issue is a little sparse, but what there is works pretty well, and the foundation work being laid down should prove invaluable in future issues.
The "new guy learns about the character" bit is one that has been used to the point of cliche by now, but it's still a story structure that can work for a talented writer, and Rucka is certainly talented. The West Wing feel I was talking about comes not just from the way all of these characters seem smart and witty, but the workload that we're expected to believe that they are faced with and can handle everyday. Rucka has some touches in his dialogue that indicate how qualified and dedicated Diana's staff are, and he sets up a few of the interesting non-super-hero challenges she has to deal with, including writing books and dealing with heads of state. It's a take on the character that, like the best versions of Wonder Woman, emphasizes what makes her different than most super-heroes rather than just making her Superman with tits.
Which isn't to say that there are no super-hero moments this issue. In addition to the amusing but also character-defining notion that Diana, by her very nature, compels people not to lie to her, the subplot this issue sees Wonder Woman going in to remove a human rights-abusing general from power in the fictional nation of Itari. Rucka, Johnson and Snyder use another common trick, keeping the protagonist off-panel but letting us see the ramifications of her actions or the reactions of others to her presence, and it works to build up Wonder Woman as someone new and impressive, rather than just a character we've seen hundreds of time before.
Certainly, Johnson and Snyder should be commended for their work on Wonder Woman's assault, which makes her look like a force of nature. We see the backgrounds of the country, including hints of the genocide that has been taking place, and a blur of color that represents her. We see guns firing that have no hope of hitting someone that fast. We see military vehicles tosse in the air as if by a hurricane, while stunned guards look on, searching for someone to aim for. And when we finally do see her, casually deflecting bullets from her target and dragging him out to the United Nations peacekeepers, or strolling into her embassy to greet her staff, she's all the more impressive for being human as well as a living legend. I would have liked to have seen better paper for Trish Mulvihill's colors, but they work really well despite the cheaper paper grade.
Rucka also provides a great super-hero as impressive force moment that is quite funny for a guest star, but I don't want to spoil that surprise for anyone. Actually, the overall approach here is one that raises Wonder Woman up as someone who is fairly impressive, a talented writer and diplomat as well as a warrior, a vegetarian for moral reasons and just an all-around nice woman. He establishes her as someone that her staff views as perfect, and who lives up to that view for the most part. It's a good foundation, now I look forward to seeing if he can also give her flaws and a relatable personality as well. To be certain, he's made me see the appeal of Wonder Woman, something that few writers have ever managed.
