I didn't read all 10 issues. I checked my Comixology account, and I see that I stopped at 772, which is the issue with Thor. I just really, really disliked those three issues, and checked out and did not return until 780 and 781, which I really loved. I think I commented on both threads, as I was such a big fan of both.
I also read the Annual today, which I also really liked, especially the Diana/Etta scenes. And I'm on record countless times as to loving seeing Diana in a museum, especially the Smithsonian.
Okay I promise I won't press the point because I disagree, but I'm really curious as to why you didn't like the first arc? What was it that turned you off about it? For me it's every bit as good as Rucka and Perez simply because of how they changed Diana's voice and tone. She's much more forceful, braggadocios and aggressive now, but she's still nice, has an air of regality and uses diplomacy before violence. It's like Cloonrad turned her volume up and added more heat to her personality, so she more closely resembles her Golden Age characterization.
For anyone who's familiar with my posts, I don't think this response should come as a surprise. I really, really, don't like seeing Diana outside of "Man's world." As I've said in other posts, before Nubia and the Artemis backup and even the Wonder Woman films, I really did not like any story of Diana on Themyscira. It seemed too far away from Diana's mission, and ultimately, I'm interested in how Diana impacts man's world and how man's world impacts Diana.
Accordingly, I just wasn't interested in Diana in Valhalla. Ironically, I'm quite certain in this very thread I actually say I'm excited once the solicit was released. However, buying the comic and reading it was a slog for me to get through. Not because of Diana's characterization, but because I just didn't care about that particular world, how Diana impacted it or how it impacted Diana.
Building on that, I stopped at 772 because I'm pretty sure that's when the solicits were released about Diana Earth hopping, and I just had no interest. I also didn't like the Janus design, so I wasn't particularly interested in the search for Janus.
I kept up in the review threads to make sure I wasn't missing anything important, but even though you all were enthusiastic, I just could not push myself to buy those issues.
This is also why I returned with 780 and why I think I'm now liking the run. Diana is in "man's world," she's interacting with Etta, and not interacting with Steve is a part of her story that it's clear will be resolved. I also like her being in D.C. and the Smithsonian.
The run now is just closer to what I look for than it was before.
The Enki people seem interesting enough, but I'm not into the plot point "got displaced by the Amazons".
Yeah, there was something off while she fought the robbers that made me think she was one of the Mirror Wonder Women for a second. Maybe sth happens at the end of the current arc that has Diana up in arms? I thought her more aggressive stance made perfect sense when she confronted Altuum, though. He was being a real creep.
Interesting that only Nubia and Diana are mentioned by name.
Since you have also quoted one of my posts, here are my issues with the first arc (4 issues) of the Cloonrad run:
Amnesia
Powerless
Her one night stand with Siggy which felt forced and out of character for Diana. If they had developed something beforehand, then maybe I could accept it. But just to say that they are warriors and go with that? Come on.
For a warrior that should be at the top of the list for skills and the like for weapons and martial forms, she sure did die alot. Not a great look for her.
Amnesia and powerless to start are big turn offs for me. It's been done before and this is how they start their first arc? But in order to finish the story, I did buy the 4 issues from comixology and was disappointed. I might try and reread them again and see if time changes my opinion, but the Janus arc coming after didn't make me want to buy the arc either. They either need to stop decompressing these arcs or put more epic action in them, since they don't have to worry about budget costs
Last edited by BiteTheBullet; 12-02-2021 at 05:40 AM.
I haven't read the latest arc, but this image maker and making copies that are supposed to be of Wondy and being beaten by a bullet for instance, doesn't give me hope that they do the great feat scenes well.
But, I haven't read the issues so I have inadequate data to say much more. I haven't seen anyone post it on the comic scans site so I don't have that much to go on.
Relationship building is fine, but unless they respect her powers and what she should be able to do, then these arcs don't hold much for me. If they got rid of Steve, that would be a good start, though.