So, this is a week late. Still, it’s worth reviewing simply because I’ve missed so many issues in the current run and I jumped back in with this one.

Writer: Gail Simone

Comments: Gail Simone is well known for being witty and fun to read. She doesn’t disappoint in this issue, slipping in some zingers on comic tropes (the fireman carry across the world that heroes like Superman like to perform on non-flying female friends) and a subtle jab at the reputation Amazons have as being big fat lesbos.

Artist: Aaron Lopresti

Comments: I’m not overly fond of Lopresti’s Diana, but his work is clean and easy to understand. I don’t feel like he’s just recycling another artist’s take on the characters, either.

Inker: Matt Ryan

Colorist: Brian Anderson

Comments: Inkers and Colorists have to work well together, and I’m not sure I’m feeling it in this issue. The coloring is obviously being done digitally - it’s a waste of time to do it any other way, these days - but the ink shading is better suited to more traditional coloring choices. Some cross hatching is unnecessary, for example, because the shading is so dynamic when digitally done.

I felt like the story was easy to understand, even not having read any issues in more than a year. Diana is no longer a member of the Amazons; she left because Zeus has placed himself at the top of the God puppy pile and instated a male leader on Themyscira. I don’t know why any of this has happened, but it has.

Apparently Black Canary has left the JLA, which Wonder Woman comments on having caused contention between them. Still, they manage to act like adults and work on a job together.

I felt like their interactions were very feminine, but almost too silly. I enjoyed reading their banter immensely, but have to wonder at whether they would both be so easily blithe after so much upheavel in the DC universe as of late. It is worth noting that Black Canary is almost always the one doing the jabbing, while Wonder Woman is almost always the jab-ee.

I’m going to wait to comment on the story arc they’re setting up here until I see the next issue, except to say that I find it promising. I really enjoyed this issue overall, as opposed to some comics which save their major impact moment for the very end of an issue.

Worth a Pick Up? Yes.

Welcome to the new, improved Nerdgasm. I’ve deleted my old posts (all six of them) and I’m working on a makeover. Why? Because I got a new job at a comic shop, and I just know I’m going to have things to blog about now.

For example, my shop requires I chose a “Pick of the Week” to highlight a comic I’ve read for the customers. Speaking as a retailer, you’d ideally want to pick something that doesn’t normally sell. This way, when a customer asks after your pick you can push a book that could actually use a sales boost. Most of the time, I suspect I’ll be doing just that simply because I’m female.

Women identify with female characters. Men, likewise, identify with male characters. This isn’t always strictly the case - I’m not saying a woman can’t identify with a male character - it’s just a general truth. I’ll most likely pick titles with a female lead, or several female characters. This means that the 98% male clientele of our store are going to be exposed to more women in their hobby than they’re used to.

Example in point:

Male Customer: “Poptart*, I see you’ve chosen Wonder Woman** for your Pick. Isn’t that a little sexist?”

I do not lie, those are the exact words coming out of a customer’s mouth to me on my first New Comics Day (every Wednesday, for the uneducated). My response was that I simply liked Wonder Woman, but I was tempted to fry him where he stood.

Comic books are a male dominated industry. It’s a boy’s game, and for that reason 90-98% of their content is written by men for men. Female heroes are few and far between, comparative to male heroes, and female titles barely exist at all***. Why should it be considered sexist for me to pick the most well-known female hero’s title for my pick, but not sexist for the other two employees to pick two male-oriented titles?

(Truthfully, my manager had picked Detective Comics #855, which features two lesbian leads right now. But as Detective holds a strong history of being Batman centric, I believe my argument is still sound. Also, my peer chose Spawn.)

I was told by the general manager of our stores that I should have let a little sass out. Perhaps next time I will.

For those who don’t know me, I also read The Walking Dead, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. I’m going to start reading Batman and his accessory books (Robin, Nightwing, etc.), JSA, JLA, Green Lantern, and possibly some X-titles (I’m required to read at least one Marvel title, but as I really don’t like Marvel’s work I’m loathe to do so). I’d hardly call myself sexist in my choices.

What do you think?

* My name has been changed to protect my innocence!

** Wonder Woman #34, review pending.

*** An arguement could be made that this is a changing phenomenon, but only time will truly tell.