Celebrating and appreciating George Perez's Wonder Woman

[AlexLyo]

Given the heartbreaking news of George Perez's cancer prognosis, I thought we might create a thread to celebrate and appreciate his Wonder Woman work.

I know his work is often referred to lovingly here on the WW boards, and so I hoped we could channel it here in one thread.

The guidelines are simple: share (as many) somethings as you like celebrating or appreciating George's Wonder Woman work and, if you're feeling up for it, some words on why. Some prompts to get us thinking and sharing:

• a panel or page that stays with you
• your favourite cover(s)
• a specific character design or interpretation you love
• a storyline or character moment that stands out or means something to you
• something more thematic about his take on Wonder Woman and her mythos

I would hope that, once we have lots of entries, we might be able to share this thread with him as I know he has been reviewing many messages from fans. If not, it can at least be somewhere for us to treasure and connect over his work.

With that in mind, I hope we can keep any critiques or negativity to a different thread - let's keep this thread a place of love for his work from those who feel it.

[AlexLyo]

A story that has always stayed with me is "Testament", a five-page story from the first Wonder Woman annual in 1988.

In contrast to his talent for huge set pieces, I really cherish the intimacy of George's storytelling in this one. In it he focuses on the different ways people are experiencing grief at Myndi Mayer's passing, and he manages to give us an insight into her life in a way we hadn't up till then. He also uses the story to continue to add to the layers of Diana's learning about Man's World and its difference to Themyscira, all in just 5 pages of really lovely character work. The tenderness of it has always really moved me, and its his decision to highlight stories like this throughout his run that will always make it seem so rich. The epic battles of Gods and Diana's villains were always the more poignant and powerful because George took the time to flesh out the humanity of the cast in general, and Diana specifically.

Two pages from the story below:

[Gaius]

The ending of Gods and Mortals is largely why it's remained my favorite take on her origin despite strong contenders with Year One and Legend of Wonder Woman. Still wish the movie used a version of this for the ending.

[Perseus]

The ending of Gods and Mortals is largely why it's remained my favorite take on her origin despite strong contenders with Year One and Legend of Wonder Woman. Still wish the movie used a version of this for the ending.

IT was such an awesome scene, dang that Should have been the ending for her first movie.

[Largo161]

I recall how excited I was when Perez started drawing JLA in the eighties. At the time I was buying six or seven Marvel titles a month and WW was perhaps my lone DC purchase. It was a thrill to have one of my fave “Marvel” artists finally drawing my favorite superhero.

[AlexLyo]

I recall how excited I was when Perez started drawing JLA in the eighties. At the time I was buying six or seven Marvel titles a month and WW was perhaps my lone DC purchase. It was a thrill to have one of my fave “Marvel” artists finally drawing my favorite superhero.

Ah that must have been SO exciting! Are there any issues from that era of him on art that stand out? I've never read it but think I'd like to just to see him on a Bronze Age Diana.

[John Venus]

My liking of WW is 100% attributed to his work.

The birth of the Amazons and Diana still gives me chills.

[John Venus]

Also Perez never skimped on the details:

[Psy-lock]

His run is my personal favourite and it made me a WW fan. His Amazons, Ares, Cheetah and Circe are the definitive versions for me. The Banna Mighdall, Julia, Vanessa, Mindi Mayer and Diana's ability to fly are all great additions to the mythos.

Also, this poster is wonderful. He literally included everyone and everything:

[Largo161]

His run is my personal favourite and it made me a WW fan. His Amazons, Ares, Cheetah and Circe are the definitive versions for me. The Banna Mighdall, Julia, Vanessa, Mindi Mayer and Diana's ability to fly are all great additions to the mythos.

Also, this poster is wonderful. He literally included everyone and everything:

Spectacular! I wonder if there is a color version. Love how Perez evoked HG Peter’s style with the Golden Age renditions.