Wonder Woman, Vol. 1: Blood

Yet another reboot of an iconic character who has eluded the grasp of most comics producers. Azzarello gives Diana (Wonder Woman) a new origin, not as a baby her mother, Hippolyta, molded out of clay but as the illegitimate daughter of Zeus. As such, she’s a target for the jealous rage of Hera, Zeus’ wife, but she finds a new role as protector of a waifish young woman who’s currently carrying Zeus’ baby. The king of the gods, meanwhile, has vanished, and the other deities of Greek mythology are weighing their chances of grabbing more power, while brutally stomping on anyone in their way. Azzarello’s script moves briskly along, and Chiang and Akins’s art is suitably vigorous and moody without pandering. Although much of this book consists of dismantling Wonder Woman’s old framework and just hinting at what the new structure may be, the fresh look is promising. (June)