‘Sensation Comics’: Wonder Woman collection proves heroine stands for hope, fairness

'Batman v. Superman' has opened to less than stellar reviews, but I still have a glimmer of hope that the movie's portrayal of Wonder Woman is strong and lays the groundwork for the character's star turn in a blockbuster currently scheduled to be released in June of 2017.

Either way, of course, the Amazon Princess's adventures can be followed in comic books, including the digital-first anthology series 'Sensation Comics Featuring Wonder Woman.' The first five issues of the series have been collected and published as a physical book, and the result is an interesting hodgepodge of approaches to the character.

'Sensation Comics' exists to the side of the overall DC continuity, which means that creators are free to make decisions about the character that don't have to match up with what's going on in any of the other books in which she appears. We encounter Wonder Woman in a variety of costumes, from a variety of time periods, battling various villains with the help of various pals.

The book's best entry is its last. 'Dig for Fire,' written by Corinna Bechko and Gabriel Hardman with art by Hardman and colors by Jordan Boyd, finds Wonder Woman traveling to Apokolips to face off with Darkseid, one of the most fearsome villains in all of comics. The focus is on our hero's commitment to doing the right thing, even at great personal cost or when it seems at odds with her deep-seated loyalties. Wonder Woman is a hero by example in this beautifully executed adventure.

Gilbert Hernandez's 'No Chains Can Hold Her' is another highlight, not so much because the story is gripping, but because it's interesting to see Hernandez, most famous for his work on the groundbreaking series 'Love and Rockets,' engage with some mainstream superheroes.

Other entries in the collection find Wonder Woman teaching or learning lessons. 'I hate to break it to you both,' says a guitar playing Diana in 'Bullets and Bracelets,' 'but I dress this way because I want to, not to provoke or impress you.' In 'Ghosts and Gods,' she gains a perspective on faith: 'I believe everyone has faith in different things, even if that faith might differ from mine. If I want to be an ambassador to the world, I must be open-minded to the world's diverse beliefs.'

Such moments are about as subtle as a super powered punch, but they are in keeping with Wonder Woman's ongoing status as a symbol of hope, fairness, and heroism.