Outstanding cover art! My congrats to Allan.

Madhatter | June 04, 23:27 CET

I'm a little slow on the uptake, why did they cancel the last series again? (said with much sarcasm, I know its for more money when they relaunch--taking a page out of Quesada's profit-hungry play book)

Either way, good luck to Allan and the new book.

(edited for spelling, again)

[ edited by alexreager on 2006-06-04 21:50 ]

alexreager | June 04, 23:48 CET

I couldn't find the cover art.

Captain Robert April | June 04, 23:51 CET

I know nothing about Wonder Woman. Maybe I should start with this one. I want some back story so I can relate to Joss's WW. I seem to already be a fan of some of his TV writing.

Harmalicious | June 05, 00:21 CET

That is a sweet cover. The relaunching of Wonder Woman once again is a little sad. It would be so nice for her to finally get the respect she deserves. I mean they don't keep rebooting Batman and Superman from #1.

goth_huntress | June 05, 00:28 CET

I don't really understand why it is sad. Can someone explain it to me?

IrrationaliTV | June 05, 00:30 CET

TamaraC, I dont see it as sad personally. I see it as greedy. The comic companies know how relaunching a title will boost sales 10-20% or more. But it trashes the continuity of the character. For example, as a collector of comic books, I can tell you it is nearly impossible to keep track of a book like The Punisher. There must be 8 different re-launches of this book.

I just think its taking advantage of the reader to build false hype. Marvel is infamous for doing this with all its core titles (like Spiderman Hulk and Fantastic Four) and then when a big milestone issue WOULD HAVE been reached (like a 500th issue), they reversed back to the original numbering of the books. So not only did they get the boost from relaunching at #1 but then also took advantage of the 500 issue milestone. (they even double numbered issues for a while to try to make it less confusing)

Overall i'd say very WEAK.

alexreager | June 05, 00:45 CET

As a fan of comic books I have no problem reading an issue matter what number it is. Marvel and DC are a business and have to make money.

Simon | June 05, 01:17 CET

I see what you mean, alexreager, but continuity has never been Wonder Woman's strong point. Correct?

IrrationaliTV | June 05, 01:17 CET

It's part of the whole,"One Year Later" followup to Infinite Crisis.Several books ended and are being re-launched with new first issues.Wonder Woman,The Flash,Justice League Of America are all starting over.

Buffyfantic | June 05, 01:36 CET

I agree the comic companies are a business. However that business is also part of my hobby and personally I prefer when they maintain an easy to follow numbering scheme. Versus endlessly restarting flagship titles to make a quick buck. It just feels cheap to me.

In Buffy terms, what if they release season 1 with an extras cd with 30 minutes extra content. Then a year later they do it again. And a year later they do it again. I'd probably be reading about all the Buffy fans that are feeling taken advantage of. You want the content, you pay to play. I'm sure some would agree (and some would disagree) but its still the same story...Some would have me believe that "they are a business and need to make their money." But to me it still seems like taking advantage of a small group of fans. It's this sort of marketing mixed with the recent wave of "instant collectable" varient covers and limited B&W books that led to the huge speculation market and ultimate crash of the late 80s. If they really wanted to make a buck in the long term, they would try to expand their market instead of trying to pull every dollar they can out of the existing pool of readers/collectors.

I agree with Simon. I never claimed numbering has anything to do with the content of a comicbook.

And finally, I am aware of the whole One Year Later "event." Same idea as I have been expressing...another stunt to make a buck.

alexreager | June 05, 04:37 CET

At the risk of spoiling the issue (preview copies came out last week), perhaps it's a new #1 because it is a different Wonder Woman.

AuburnTiger | June 05, 05:04 CET

Yeah, it's part of 'One Year Later' following Infinite Crisis. The Wonder Woman we know killed a bad-guy. She's gone and now this is a new Wonder Woman (which sounds something like Joss is doing with the character (maybe)).

Oh, and alexreager, I don't know if your comment was directed at this particular relaunch, but Joe Queseda is EIC at Marvel Comics, not DC.

CaptainB | June 05, 06:09 CET

There is a long history of character deaths and hero replacements both temporary and permanent where the book was not cancelled only to be relaunched a few months or weeks later. Off the top of my head, Captain America's, Batmen and currently Daredevil's that all appeared in the same titles that was the home of the original man behind the mask.

I am familiar with the storyline where Wondy kills Maxwell Lord and imo that should have very little to do with the number on the cover. (and yeah, Joe Q is at the big M.)

I'm not making a federal case over this, it just a bit of extra work and expense for me to make new dividers and notations in databases. I'm getting off my soapbox now.

Happy reading comic fans.

alexreager | June 05, 06:39 CET

More than relaunches, I hate mini-series that could easily be storylines in the ongoing series of the same title, especially when the ongoing series has less-than-stellar storylines. But that's another issue with the funny books. Relaunches like X-Factor make sense, relaunches like Wonder Woman make sense only if the "new" WW sticks around (which I doubt), continually relaunching titles like Excalibur doesn't make sense, and relaunching long-standing titles, like post-Heroes Reborn titles, only to make a few bucks off of them, then re-number them as if the relaunch never happened a few months later is really annoying, and don't even get me started on slapping "New" as a title prefix as justification for a new #1....I love comic books. Anyway, I'll be getting WW #1 next week, if only because I heart the Dodsons. And sorry if you felt like I was insulting your comic book intelligence, alexreager, you're certainly well-versed.

[ edited by CaptainB on 2006-06-05 05:03 ]

CaptainB | June 05, 07:00 CET

I also hate it when a 4 or 5 issue mini series has a trade paperback released a few days before or after the last issue of the series. And it always has extras and costs about same (or less!) than the series purchsed individually...and with no ads!

By purchasing the monthly, it feels like I'm subsedizing the trade paperback. I am totally going to start waiting for the trades....a big nice book is better than a handful of pamphlets.

alexreager | June 05, 07:31 CET

Please do not wait for the trade to buy SPIKE: ASYLUM...for one thing, who knows if there will be a trade...book's gotta sell well for everyone to think money would be made outta a trade...for another, I want to talk to you guys about each issue, get your thoughts, etc., as soon as it's out.

I'm excited for this. Each page is jam-packed with Whedon-y goodness. I'm a big fan, Franco Urru, the artist on the series, is a big fan, and I think it shows. It's a big love letter to what makes Spike a great character.

Okay, enough of my begging. Continue the Wonder Woman discussion!

Brian Lynch | June 05, 10:29 CET

Brian, just for that I'm going to pick up Spike: Asylum when I go to get WW on Wednesday. You made me laugh, I give you money. It's a good system.

IrrationaliTV | June 05, 11:01 CET

To quote an issue of Runaways that I just read, that was the worst analogy I've ever heard. A new Wonder Woman #1 is not comparable in any way to rereleasing a Buffy season 1 with all-new extras.

areacode212 | June 05, 16:17 CET

Spike:Asylum starts in September,not this week.

Buffyfantic | June 05, 16:46 CET

Apparently, this creative team was supposed to take over the ongoing WW title over a year ago, but Infinite Crisis allowed this to happen. Read more at

http://comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=7484

CaptainB | June 05, 16:46 CET

I had secretly hoped that Joss would write All-Star Wonder Woman.

Simon | June 05, 16:58 CET

Areacode212, sorry you didn't like my analogy.

So you can understand, my point is that sequential numbering was fine for titles like Superman, Wonder Woman, Spiderman, etc., etc. for over 50 years and now Marvel and DC understand that if they announce a title re-launch of a flagship character, they get a short-term sales spike.

So my question is, do you think that sales spike is coming from new readers buying the books? Maybe 1% but I am of the opinion that this spike comes from speculators and comic readers that want to make sure they don't miss the valuable number 1 issue of a hot title. In other words, not love of the art form or story but dollars. And the comic companies know this and are taking advantage. This is why there are so many new re-launches and so many variant covers available today.

With that in mind, my Buffy analogy isn't that bad. I was illustrating an example of how Buffy fans would want the extra content but would feel taken advantage of if they were made to re-purchase the first season over and over and over, just to get another snipet of content. (How is that the worst analogy ever?)

alexreager | June 05, 17:11 CET

Simon, I totally agree...Joss writing All Star WW with covers by JG Jones or Alex Ross and story pencils by Eric "the goon" Powell. That would be sweet!

alexreager | June 05, 17:14 CET

alexreager, DC may have a different tack in mind.

I have wanted to start reading the WW comics, but being relatively new to comics I had no idea where to start. Now, just in time to go along with the buzz of the upcoming movie there is a clear place to start reading the comics. My dilemma is solved and I feel confident jumping into the books.

Maybe DC is trying to expand its fanbase a bit, which is always a good idea creatively and economically.

IrrationaliTV | June 05, 21:31 CET

I agree with TamaraC in that for a new reader, an issue 1 is a good place to start. It makes sense in marketing terms since plans for the movie seem to be moving forward. I might check this out too.

WhoIsOmega? | June 05, 22:45 CET

OK, I see I violated some unknown board rule again. As anyone can see by checking my profile, I was a member here for over a year before I "dared" to actually post a link. I saw how some others were treated for posting about TruCalling or various other topics that a mod felt was somehow "inappropriate" (never understood that one either!?) So, I actually posted three links that I thought others would find interesting in the past few day...two are left and one was removed right after I posted it...seems two posts about Wonder Woman Comic/ Allan Heinberg was "too many"...excuse me for posting a link to an interview that was just posted on the net TODAY! That's cool, as I always promised myself, I would try to share things related to Joss and the "Verse" that I found interesting until I was subjected to this ridiculous treatment personally...so now I've been censured I guess...don't bother telling me to take my issues with a mod off the board, I plan no further comment of any kind. It's sad when Joss himself comes here and suggests people "lighten up" and even he is "corrected"...what is the purpose of this site again?? Anyway...this is my last post of any kind here....

Calledon | June 05, 23:01 CET

April and TamaraC, I agree. And for the 1% of new readers they will pick up, I am happy. However, just relaunching will not sufice. They need to get the word out if they want a flock of new readers. And now that you both announced that you will be buying the issues, you better follow through! (There will be a test)

And as far as marketing goes, it seems to me that this would make a bit more sense if they were to coordinate with the movie release...which is still about 3 years away.

Calledon, don't go! People are just human and as you know, this board is run by humans...I'm sure everyone is just trying to do their best. Please reconsider the whole, no-posting thing because we need as many comic fans as we can get!

alexreager | June 06, 00:17 CET

Err, did I miss something ? Why's Calledon so angry ? And at whom ? And where ? And when ? And, erm, whether ?

(pretty sure there's 5 W's, just can't remember the other one)

I'll be having a look at this I think. Not really a huge WW fan so I can't be bothered with the continuity but a relaunch (especially one in which Batman appears) piques my curiosity.

Saje | June 06, 02:03 CET

If you love something soooooooooo much, wouldn't you be happy to see more of it. If there were extra scenes in Buffy, I would love it, wouldn't feel like I was taken advantage of at all.
The more the merrier!

tofegari | June 06, 02:43 CET

I have to second Saje on this. I didn't see any criticisms or censorship here. What's going on?

billz | June 06, 03:25 CET

Calledon said it - s/he posted 2 threads on the same subject and Simon suggested that one link should just be part of this discussion. Having seen the second thread before it left, I agree with the mods' decision. Not that it matters whether or not I do! And yes, before anyone says it, I'll stop talking about this subject now!

Lioness | June 06, 03:39 CET

Because a new Wonder Woman #1 is a completely different comic from the Wonder Woman #1 published in 1942 and the Wonder Woman #1 published in 1986. It isn't "another snipet of content"...it's an all-new comic. Nothing at all like rebuying the first season of Buffy over and over.

A more apt analogy would be the new Doctor Who TV series, which, even though it's a continuation of the previous series, started from Season 1.

[ edited by areacode212 on 2006-06-06 01:48 ]

areacode212 | June 06, 03:45 CET