Bad news for those waiting for the final part of Allan Heinberg’s “Who is Wonder Woman?” arc: It’s going to be a while longer.
On his MySpace blog, Heinberg writes:
In order for DC’s AMAZONS ATTACK event to ship on schedule, DC has temporarily asked Terry and Rachel Dodson to stop working on WHO IS WONDER WOMAN?, PART 5, so they can draw and ink WONDER WOMAN #8 and #9 (scripted by Jodi Picoult). At that point, the Dodsons will return to our story, but that means, WHO IS WONDER WOMAN?, PART 5 probably won’t ship until early fall. Sad news on the scheduling front, to be sure, but — from the pages I’ve already seen — it will be more than worth the wait.
There is good news, though, Heinberg assures us. Namely, that Gary Frank is drawing a 14-page Nemesis back-up story for the issue.
“Like the Dodsons, Mr. Frank is a brilliant genius-person, a generous and kind collaborator, and one of my all-time favorite graphic storytellers,” Heinberg writes. “I’m very grateful for the opportunity to work with him.”
April 3rd, 2007 at 3:41 pm
I really wanted to follow WW…I followed Rucka’s run…I was excited about the relaunch…Sadly, the book has been dropped and I doubt I will ever pick it up again regularly…Darn shame too.
April 3rd, 2007 at 3:48 pm
Here’s a CRAZY suggestion: if you have writers and artists who can’t adhere to a monthly schedule, then why not WAIT for them to finish up before scheduling a story arc? Or just publish the sucker as a mini-series or full-on graphic novel?
I know, I know, it makes too much sense…
April 3rd, 2007 at 4:00 pm
What I don’t understand is why didn’t they just skip ish #5 on the publishing shedule and move on with #6?
Does this mean that WiWW? Part 5 will be in ish #10 or #11?
Crappiest.Relaunch.Ever.
April 3rd, 2007 at 4:32 pm
At this point, the comic companies need to start doing with Heinberg what DC did with Kevin Smith when Smith did Green Arrow. Get some issues in the can, then solicit.
April 3rd, 2007 at 5:17 pm
Or better yet, really lower the boom on these creators by threatening to have someone else finish the story.
April 3rd, 2007 at 5:18 pm
Yet another reason why the big 2 should look more at unknowns who are hungry and want to make a break in the industry. It’s easier to keep them on schedule and cheaper. Not all can be like Jeph Loeb, or Joe Straczynski but damn let’s start enforcing work ethics, or get as suggested earlier get issues in the can before soliciting them.
It gave me the excuse to drop WW from my list to add Madame Mirage just because of budget.
April 3rd, 2007 at 5:33 pm
“Sad news on the scheduling front, to be sure, but — from the pages I’ve already seen — it will be more than worth the wait.”
As great as the Dodson’s are, is any artwork worth waiting a year for?
I feel sorry for the Dodsons…especially since they were burned after Kevin Smith abandoned his Black Cat story in mid-arc. I wonder if the experience with another Heinberg will swear them off of Hollywood dabblers for good.
April 3rd, 2007 at 7:18 pm
Skyhawk, do you really think that unknowns would be given the chance of day by readers? No one reads unknowns despite their ability. You adding Madame Mirage is a classic example. I highly doubt you would have tried it if Paul Dini wasn’t the writer.
April 3rd, 2007 at 8:42 pm
Heinberg can stay away from comics. Wonder Woman was so horrible, I dropped it immediately after issue 2. No amount of Dodson art could keep me interested.
April 3rd, 2007 at 9:10 pm
Ubershep who was David Mack, Geoff Johns, Greg Pak before they became who they are? It always boils down to good writing. David (Mouse Guard)Petersen was totally new (to me anyway), but I took a chance on the first issue and now he’s my favorite.
Maybe you should try taking advantage of an unfamiliar writer, you might be surprised.
April 4th, 2007 at 1:59 am
Ubershep – It works both ways. Based on his delays with Young Avengers and Wonder Woman, I doubt I’ll ever buy any comic that Heinberg writes. In that case, it’d be better for him to be an “unknown.”
April 4th, 2007 at 8:40 am
At the Toronto Comicon last summer there was a DC panel that Johns and Dodson were at. I was interested in discussing the shift towards non-monthly and increasingly late comics. I pointed out that 52 was hitting a its weekly deadlines, but that Wonder Woman would clearly never be monthly, and I asked what their thoughts were on the shift away from monthly comics. Johns response was, “It’s called 52, so it has to be on time.” While Dodson refused to say anything on the topic other than, “I promise all of you that Wonder Woman will be bi-monthly.” It just pissed me off because a) I was hoping to start a dialgue, but neither of them appeared interested in engaging the topic, and b) Dodson was clearly wrong or lying.
April 4th, 2007 at 8:51 am
I would go with “clearly wrong” over “lying.”
I understand that you wanted to start a discussion, but what did you expect them to say on the subject?
April 4th, 2007 at 8:52 am
Kevin Johns -
I hope you weren’t pissed off at Dodson. Dodson clearly was told “don’t talk about this” by the higher-ups, and if he wanted to get work in the future he’ll do what they say. The only folks worth getting pissed off at are the editorial staff at DC, who completely botched the One Year Later “reboot”. But they’re getting what they deserve in that sales on the rebooted One Year Later books have been pa-the-tic.
April 4th, 2007 at 11:36 am
Mark – “As great as the Dodson’s are, is any artwork worth waiting a year for?”
Francois Schuiten. After that, none that I can think of.
April 4th, 2007 at 6:45 pm
Unfortunately this is what’s become of San Diego Con. Don’t get me wrong I think it’s still cool, but it has become a victim of its own success. It’s turned into a Hollywood expo, and one big focus group. Comic writers who want to make it big as Frank Miller (though his writing suffered greatly with All-Star Batman. It’s like he’s mixed Gotham with Sin City); and dabblers like Damien (LOST) Lindeloff who has yet to finish Ultimate Wolverine vs. Hulk.
This is major time to check the indy titles.