Frank Cho has been in the news a lot lately. In fact, we reported on one of his latest news topics in this article: http://www.comicbooked.com/cho-vs-rucka-frank-cho-quits-wonder-woman/ when Greg Rucka and Mr. Frank Cho were at odds over the direction and depiction of the Themysciran Princess in DC’s new Wonder Woman title for their new Rebirth campaign. Ultimately, Cho stepped away from that project after six issues but did not leave DC Comics. He is currently assigned to Harley Quinn for the “Cover B” books. He is also drawing the title Trinity for DC. Cho was replaced on the Wonder Woman title by Jenny Frison who is now drawing the second cover of the book. Busy as ever, Frank also has a book published through Boom! Studios called “Skybourne” that he writes and draws. Apparently, this is to flesh out his contract of twenty-four issues.
Then, in a rather prominent and transparent move against censorship, Frank Cho met with Italian artist Milo Manara at a comic convention in Lucca, Italy during which Manara presented Cho with a watercolor painting of Spider-Woman in a rather :ahem: revealing post. This hearkens back to 2014 and the Spider-Woman # 1 cover by Milo Manara that Marvel Comics pulled. Cho was outspoken in support of Manara however other industry creators such as Greg Rucka were not.
Their feud carried on and reached a head when DC Comics paired the two for the Wonder Woman Rebirth project. While Rucka was very outspoken against Cho’s work, Frank Cho maintains that everyone else liked his work and wanted him to stay. About this he actually said;
“EVERYONE loves my Wonder Woman covers and wants me to stay. Greg Rucka is the ONLY one who has any problem with covers. Greg Rucka has been trying to alter and censor my artwork since day one.”
Fast forward to today and we can see that Cho was spot-on. DC Comics likes his work and likes his Wonder Woman. They like him so much so, in fact, that Frank Cho and DC are not in negotiations about bringing him on for a Wonder Woman miniseries at some point. Others have speculated that when Greg Rucka leaves his Wonder Woman writing duties to someone else, that Cho will be back on board the book.
Frank Cho recently sat down with Fumettologica for an interview and they spoke about Wonder Woman.
“We’re in negotiation.” He told them. He goes on to confirm; “Yeah, I mean, let’s be honest, it’s gonna happen. You know, I have a huge fan base and I have the story already written.”
They also asked him what his book, apparently already written, would be about. Keep in mind that Greg Rucka is currently writing a Wonder Woman origin story;
“I can’t tell you that, but it’s not gonna be an origin story because I hate origin stories. Every single Wonder Woman book that you pick there’s a goddam origin story where nothing happens. I’m going to treat Wonder Woman as I treat all superheroes, as a superhero. It’s pretty much genderless, she will be fighting bad guys, it’s gonna be action, non-stop action from start to finish. And all these female political agenda I’m not even addressing that. She’s Wonder Woman, where there’s a bad guy she’s gonna fight the bad guy and beat him. That’s all it is. That’s what comic books should be.”
Let us know in the comment below what your thoughts are on the Rucka controversy and if you will be picking up his run on the book when it hits shelves.
A gender-less Wonder Woman, not another origin story and she’s fighting and beating down bad guys … sounds like a title I can get behind!
I really hope this to be true. I love Cho’s cover art for the wonder woman rebirth. Once cho decided not to drawn the cover art I decided to drop the book
I agree Dave. I hope it’s true as well. Skybourne is proof that he can write a strong, powerful sexy woman with a great story to boot. In fact a couple of his WW covers were adapted for Skybourne. Admittedly, that first Jenny Frison cover was amazing and I had to get it too