It has been speculated but we know now that Greg Rucka will depart “Wonder Woman” with issue #25. Rucka made the announcement on Tumblr earlier today saying this was his decision writing, “I just can’t maintain the pace on the title while also fulfilling my commitments to my other collaborators. It is, genuinely, as simple as that.”
Rucka went on to say.
Writing Diana again has been an amazing experience, on the level of a dream-come-true. All any of us who’ve worked on the book this last year have wanted is to serve her well, to illuminate what we so absolutely believe makes Wonder Woman such a remarkable and unique and timeless and important character. To have had that opportunity is something that I doubted I would ever get again. Most of us don’t get a single bite at the apple, let alone two, you know? To get that opportunity at a time when Diana is rising to such (long-overdue) prominence makes that apple all the sweeter. That she’s turned 75 during the course of our run is–to ruin the analogy–icing on the cake.
We started Rebirth with a specific, though fairly broad, mandate from DC. “Bring her back to her core,” was what Geoff Johns told me. How we did it was up to us. Our success in doing so is measured, of course, by you. Wonder Woman 23 sees the end of our “primary” storyline, “The Lies/The Truth,” and Wonder Woman 24 serves as something of an epilogue to that tale. Wonder Woman 25 will, I hope, set a table for who is to follow, and provide for them as much room to work and explore and grow. Diana’s future is bright, that’s what I’m saying.
Rucka went on then to thank the entire team of the title, editors Mark Doyle, Chris Conroy, Rebecca Taylor and David Wielgosz before going on to his artistic collaborators Nicola Scott, Bilquis Evely, Matthew Clark, Jodi Wynne, Romulo Fajardo Jr., Laura Martin, and finally Liam Sharp.
When Rucka signed on for Wonder Woman for the Rebirth era he stated he had signed on for a year of writing duty which he has now fulfilled. It also seems though that him and DC have repaired their relationship as he teased “I’m optimistic that there’ll be more work with DC announced soon.” With this in mind, Liam Sharp also tweeted earlier he has a new project at DC which leads to speculation that he is leaving “Wonder Woman” as well, perhaps to join Rucka on his next assignment (Rucka/Sharp “The Question” run anyone?)
On the DC3Cast and in our Soliciting Multiversity it has been speculated that Tim Seeley could be taking over on writing duties as he is writing a “Steve Trevor” one-shot in June. Another possibility could be Marguerite Bennett as she was rumored to be on the title in the original Rebirth rumors. It’s possible too that “Wonder Woman” could be switching to monthly as it appears “Aquaman” will be moving to monthly in July as it is priced at $3.99 in the advanced solicitations.
Rucka concluded talking about all the work he has in the pipeline:
In the meantime, Nicola and I are getting back to Black Magick, I’m working with an amazing raft of talent on the Lazarus +66 miniseries, Justin and I are getting ready to return to Portland in Stumptown, and–after far too long a hiatus–Lady Sabre will be returning in the next few months. I’m leaving things out. As I said at the start, there are commitments I need to keep. This is just a sample of them.
Whatever the future holds for “Wonder Woman,” I’m looking forward to that “Wonder Woman” by Greg Rucka Omnibus one day. Issue #25 is out June 28th.
