Danger Girl: Viva Las Danger #1

November 18, 2003

Quick Rating: Good
Title: Viva Las Danger

Abby Chase recovers an ancient gem, only to run afoul of the machinations of its original owner.

Writer: J. Scott Campbell & Andy Hartnell
Art: Phil Noto
Letters: John Roshell
Editor: Scott Dunbier
Cover Art: Phil Noto (Cover A); J. Scott Campbell (Cover B)
Publisher: DC Comics/Wildstorm/Cliffhanger

I’ve read enough Danger Girl over the years to feel the same way about the property as I do about James Bond movies – it’s predictable, it’s clichéd, but more often than not it winds up finding a way to be a fun time nonetheless. Abby Chase and Johnny Barracuda recover the cleverly-named “Jewel of Eternity” to return it to a Las Vegas casino owner who claims it has been in his family for generations. The Jewel turns out to have mystic properties, and what was supposed to be a relaxing weekend in Vegas turns into a battle against an ancient evil.

The story, as I said, is extremely predictable, and some of the villains (particularly Jackpot, the human slot machine), are almost too cornball to be believed – but somehow, it’s still a fun read.

I greatly enjoy Noto’s artwork, he draws some of the most beautiful women in comics without lapsing into the pure T&A that this property was when Campbell handled the art chores himself, but his actions scenes seem to come out a little stiff and forced. It’s almost like watching still frames from a film of a battle, chosen in-between the moments when the combatants are in their most exciting poses.

If you’re a fan of Danger Girl, you’ll enjoy this one-shot as much as any other Danger Girl book. If you’re not, there’s really nothing here that will inspire you to take it up.

Rating: 7/10

Wonder Woman (1987 Series) #198

November 18, 2003

Quick Rating: Average
Title: Down to Earth Part Three

As the world deals with the ramifications of Wonder Woman’s book, an old friend is found to be missing.

Writer: Greg Rucka
Pencils: Drew Johnson
Inks: Ray Snyder
Colors: Richard & Tanya Horie
Letters: Todd Klein
Editor: Ivan Cohen
Cover Art: Phil Noto
Publisher: DC Comics

If Greg Rucka’s name wasn’t on this book, I never would have believed he wrote it. He has shown incredible proficiency in writing crime comics, detective stories, urban heroes (I’d love to see his take on Daredevil someday), but this story just isn’t clicking for me.

Wonder Woman’s book is stirring up controversy on the political scene and raising eyebrows as high as Mount Olympus, where a very different version of Ares than readers are used to seeing shows the book to Zeus. Back on Earth, Diana is horrified to learn that her old friend Vanessa, alias the Silver Swan, has been kidnapped from the hospital where she has been trying to recover from her obsession with the Amazon for six months.

Rucka’s Wonder Woman, somehow, doesn’t ring true to me. She seems gruffer, harsher than the peace-loving character readers expect. The “controversial superhero” storyline isn’t exactly new either, although to my knowledge this is the first time it’s been applied to Wonder Woman on a scale like this, and the scene with the debate on the “Crossfire”-style TV show is incredibly tiresome, no different from a thousand other identical scenes we’ve seen in comic books, movies and TV shows for years.

In general, I’m a big fan of Rucka, and on the strength of his name alone I was considering trying to jump back on to reading Wonder Woman regularly with issue #200, but this issue has somewhat quelled my enthusiasm for that. I’ll still probably pick up that issue to see where the book may go, but I’m no longer as excited about it.

Rating: 5/10

(2010 Note: It’s fair to point out here that, as time went on, Rucka’s Wonder Woman grew on me considerably. By the end of the run, I was sorry to see him leave the book.)