Wonder Woman is the greatest comic-book superheroine of all time, and I can prove it with math. If you need proof of Wonder Woman’s stature as the greatest comic-book superheroine of all-time, then, PLEASE, go add up all the issues of any other female character and see if you come close to SIX HUNDRED.
“Wonder Woman was my first introduction to superheroes and, later, my first introduction to comics books. She’s always been a presence in my life and was very much the reason for my choosing comics as a career. Working on Wonder Woman over the last few months with Gail Simone and Greg Rucka has been an absolute highlight for me and I feel extremely privileged to be contributing to her landmark issue.
“Did you bring your Lasso of Truth?” people ask me, and I have to laugh. But it’s true—Wonder Woman accessorizes. She is, after all, a very savvy woman. But as we all know, form follows function. Everything she wears has a purpose: Her golden bracelets deflect bullets, her Venus Girdle endows her with superhuman strength, her tiara boomerangs and her lasso holds others to the truth that she, herself, lives by. And that’s just what we can see. Wonder Woman’s intellect is her real power. She’s honest and disarming, and she kicks butt.
I just remember how much it hurt. Superman was dead. I remember my dad explaining to me that these things happen, and nothing we say or do can stop them. I remember telling a kid in my Scout troop the news and watching tears well in his eyes. I remember wearing a black armband with a red s-shield on it to school. I remember being sad. Superman was dead. He’d saved us all.
“It’s been a hard year for SUPERGIRL. The WAR OF THE SUPERMEN resulted in the tragic loss of New Krypton, thousands of Kryptonian lives, Supergirl’s mother, Alura, and her best friend, Thara Ak-Var (a.k.a. FLAMEBIRD). For the next story arc, Supergirl will be wrestling with guilt over her own perceived culpability in New Krypton’s destruction.
We’ve put the spotlight squarely on the Man of Steel this week, and deservedly so – 700 issues is nothing to scoff at. We’ve had an all-star cast of creators swinging by this here blog to chime in on Superman, from quick asides to lengthy walks down memory lane. Next up is artist Bernard Chang, who teams with writer James Robinson to present the first story in SUPERMAN #700 – a touching tale of reunion and regret. What does he have to say about the issue? Let’s find out. Take it away, Bernard:
For me, Superman was, is and shall forever be America’s hero. Yes, his mandate is to protect the people of the world, he doesn’t take sides, he’s not overtly political…but like jazz and comic books themselves, he is inexorably tied to our culture and way of life. He stands for all the things we like to believe we stand for, especially when standing is the most difficult, when it would be simpler and easier to turn away.
