Although Wonder Woman fans everywhere were bummed out yesterday by the news that writer Greg Rucka would be leaving the title this summer, we now have something new and exciting to look forward to. Announced via the Hollywood Reporter, for the first time in her 75 year history, the regular ongoing Wonder Woman series will be written and illustrated by a pair of women creators.
Writer Shea Fontana, best known for her work on DC Superhero Girls, has signed on to write five issues of the twice-monthly Wonder Woman, starting with July’s issue 26. On art duties will be Mirka Andolfo, at least on the first two issues of the five issue run. Andolfo already has quite an amount of experience on the ladies of DC, having illustrated the retro-flavored DC Bombshells comic. You can see Jesus Merino’s cover for issue 25 below:
DC Comics has not committed to more issues from the creative team at this time, but Fontana’s work on DC Superhero Girls, of which a young Wonder Woman is a main character, will continue alongside the monthly Wonder Woman book. Fontana has already written two graphic novels based on the DC Superhero Girls product line to date—Summer Olympus and Finals Crisis—and she’s also written animated adventures like Hero of the Year, as well as a digital comic series. All of these feature the high school versions of DC’s greatest female heroes and villains. In a statement, Fontana said the following about getting to write the adventures of the Amazing Amazon:
“Having worked on DC Super Hero Girls for the last few years, I have a great sense of Wondy, a teenage Wonder Woman in a high school setting, and it’s an honor and an adrenaline rush to be writing her now ‘all grown up.’ Many of her core characteristics continue to remain routed in peace, justice and equality, but as an adult she’s seen a lot more war and tragedy, and is dealing with her world from a wiser, more experienced point of view.”
The Superhero Girls version of Princess Diana is a much brighter, less complicated version of the character, but if Fontana can bring that sense of optimism from the young adult version into the mainstream Wonder Woman title, then DC has a winner on their hands. As part of her story arc, Fontana will get to introduce a new villain into the DC Universe who seeks to prove that Amazon DNA could change the world and hunts to capture Wonder Woman, dead or alive. This will “challenge Wonder Woman’s notion of strength and what it means to be a warrior.”
The first issue from the new creative team will arrive in comic stores and digitally July 12, with No. 27 released July 26.
Are you excited for Wonder Woman’s new direction? Be sure to let us know your thoughts down in the comments.
Images: DC Comics
