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This issue marks the start of novelist Jodi Picoult’s five issue run on the book, which also ties in with the six part “Amazons Attack” crossover. Although she at first appeared an unusual choice by DC, Picoult’s high profile and the fact that she would be one of the first female writers on the regular title generated interest amongst fans and non fans alike – particularly after the huge disappointments of the launch issues.

Picoult researched by reading some of Diana’s earlier adventures as well as more recent story lines to give her a flavour of Wonder Woman’s character. She wanted to get inside Diana’s head so that readers could gain an insight into the Amazon’s thought processes – particularly as the Amazon adjusts to her new life living among humans.
In this first issue Picoult explores some of the mythos around Wonder Woman and even manages to include an indirect reference to how the character consistently under performs sales wise when compared to her peers, Superman and Batman. Is it simply because she is a female?

Throughout this issue we get to hear Diana’s thoughts about the people and the world around her. We also see examples of Diana coming to terms with living a normal life and her naivety is highlighted on several occasions – implying that she has lost touch with the real world. In my own opinion this is somewhat overplayed because this Diana is a far cry from the young, innocent Amazon Princess who first arrived in Man’s World during the George Perez run. Indeed, during the Messener-Loebs run for instance Diana had worked in a fast food restaurant called “Taco Whiz” and yet she is depicted by Picoult as not knowing how to fill a car up with gasoline or how to operate the turnstiles at a train station!

Although DC’s re launch of the title was very much driven by showing that Diana is in fact fallible and not the image of perfection she has always been portrayed as by writers, I think that perhaps they are trying a little too hard to imply that she has been living in an “Ivory Tower” for the last few years; that she has never really understood Patriarch’s World ever since her mission began right through to when it subsequently failed at the end of volume two of the book.

Of course, some people have argued that it is this implied “aloofness” that turns readers and that perhaps by showing the human side of Diana, she can be related to better as a character. But Wonder Woman is just that – a Wonder Woman! She is not like us – she is something unique…special…and iconic. The danger is that by diluting her, Diana becomes just another female heroine with a day job.