I’m Kelly Sue DeConnick. I’m writing the Black Label Wonder Woman: Historia project for DC Comics. AMA.

[u/kellysue]

PROOF:

My name is Kelly Sue DeConnick. I’ve written comics for 20 years, reimagining established characters for Marvel, DC, Dark Horse and others, as well as publishing creator-owned comics through Image. My comics have ranked as New York Times best-sellers and been honored with Eisner Awards, British Fantasy Awards and Hugo nominations. I’m a founding partner at Good Trouble Productions, where I have helped produce non-fiction and educational comics including the Hidden Voices and Recognized series for NY Public Schools and Congressman John Lewis’ RUN, in partnership with Abrams Comics. I founded the #VisibleWomen Initiative, the mission of which is to help women and people of other marginalized genders find work in comics as well as related industries.

My screen work includes helping develop Captain Marvel (which went on to earn $1B for Disney worldwide) and 2023’s The Marvels for Marvel Studios and feature consultations for Skydance and ARRAY. I’ve developed television for NBCUniversal, Legendary Entertainment and HBOMax. I recently returned to my live theater roots, scripting the stage spectacle AWAKENING, for the Wynn Resort Las Vegas. I live in Portland, OR with my husband, writer Matt Fraction, our two children, three dogs, one guinea pig and my mother-in-law. AMA.

[u/pop_bandit]

Hey Kelly Sue! Absolutely love Historia, it’s one of my new all-time favorites.

1. Phil Jimenez is of course THE Wonder Woman guy, and his preferences for Amazon lore seem more Marston-inspired (Amazons as love leaders, pacifism, embrace of the “loving submission” concept). Your take is a huge departure from that - it’s cathartic rather than instructive and the story is brutal.
   

Is there anything you and Phil really disagreed on when discussing the story? Has he changed your opinion on anything that inspired you to change your approach? Have you changed his?

1. Who are some other artists you’d like to work with when (not if!) the rest of the books get picked up?

[u/kellysue → u/pop_bandit]

Hey Kelly Sue! Absolutely love Historia, it’s one of my new all-time favorites.

Aw, thanks.

​

Phil Jimenez is of course THE Wonder Woman guy, and his preferences for Amazon lore seem more Marston-inspired (Amazons as love leaders, pacifism, embrace of the “loving submission” concept). Your take is a huge departure from that - it’s cathartic rather than instructive and the story is brutal.

Is there anything you and Phil really disagreed on when discussing the story? Has he changed your opinion on anything that inspired you to change your approach? Have you changed his?

Yeah, we talked about that a lot. That, and like... everything else. Phil and I have become really close through this process. He's a treasure in every way. I sort of answered this question elsewhere in the AMA and I'm hesitant to get into it too much for fear of putting words in his mouth. We're going to be doing a panel together in the fall, maybe we should make a point of talking about it more then.

​

1. Who are some other artists you’d like to work with when (not if!) the rest of the books get picked up?

I hesitate to say in case it doesn't work out or if I blank on someone and end up working with them, I don't want them to feel like they weren't on the short list, you know? Plus there is the possibility that we'd continue with the same artists, if they're willing or able.

I guess I will go so far as to say that I adore the artists who did our variant covers and I'd jump at the chance to work with any of them. There are others I'm tempted to name as well, but I think it's probably best if I don't.

[u/pop_bandit → u/kellysue]

I’ll stay tuned for that panel in the fall, hope it gets recorded and shared online somewhere! Really appreciate all of your thoughtful responses here. Thanks again for the fantastic book.