Convergence: Wonder Woman #1 review

Wonder Woman is living with longtime beau Steve Trevor under the Gotham dome erected by Brainiac. She's without her Amazon powers, but isn't powerless - she's helping the city's poorest alongside best pal Etta Candy. Unfortunately, Etta has fallen under the influence of a warped Christian cult who believe angels are coming to undo the dome. When circumstances see Diana join Etta at one of their services, she comes into conflict with cult leader Miranda. And as Brainiac's 'prison guard' Telos lowers the dome, Diana, Etta and Steve face an even bigger threat - vampire versions of Joker, Poison Ivy and Catwoman.

That cover logo threw me off - this week DC's Convergence tie-ins are in pre-Crisis territory, which equals late Bronze Age, but there's the masthead from the Groovy Di Prince years. As it happens, though, it's a nice callback as Diana's civvies here echo her preference for white outfits during her previous stint without super-powers. And as the backmatter makes clear, all that history remains in place, this is indeed the late Bronze Age heroine, the one who had a mature relationship with Steve Trevor.
And it's two intimate adults we're given here by writer Larry Hama, a woman and man deeply in love with one another, freed by imprisonment to finally give their relationship time to blossom. Seeing Etta pulled into a cult was initially a bit of a headscratcher - despite hanging out with Diana, Etta was always hugely grounded - but she's spent a year in very weird circumstances. And she finally comes through for Diana - in spades. Plus, the cult - named, with marvellous straightforwardness, Angels Are Going To Smash Down the Dome - does get the story going.
Steve is adorable, a hero figure with enough confidence in himself and their relationship not to get clingy with Diana. As for Wonder Woman, she's her best, classic self - caring, compassionate, strong. The villains - who hail from the Batman: Red Rain Elseworlds universe - are deliciously creepy, especially the witty, loquacious Joker. And Hama paints his incidental characters, such as street kid Julio, without cliche.

Hama's script is excellent from the first panel, in which we learn that Steve has a previously unguessed literary bent, to the last which I'm not going to spoil - but it's a winner.
The success of the book is also down to Joshua Middleton, whose full colour art is almost hypnotically beautiful. From the expressions and body language of the many individuated characters to the tiniest detail of shading, this book looks stunning. Check out, for example, the way Diana's tiara and golden lasso stand out on the nightstand on that opening page, above - understated yet eye-catching. Middleton's individual compositions work with his storytelling sense to produce pages that pull the reader in, and along to the issue's cliffhanger. As for his cover, it would sit superbly with anything from the non-powered era.

Letterer Sal Cipriano also deserves a nod for his effective delineation of vampire speech.

Given how DC seems to wish to present Wonder Woman these days - think sword-happy goddess - I wasn't expecting much from this issue, but it proved a huge treat. I hope Hama and Middleton reunite at DC soon.

Comments

  1. I loved seeing Wonder Woman and Steve Trevor together. Etta seemed out of character to me too. I just do not like the over all arc which is tying this event together so I know I have problem seeing beyond that to the individual stories.

    I loved reading a recognizable Wonder Woman. I don't know what it will take for DC to course correct? The monthly order estimates don't tell a compelling narrative to why they're continuing down the current path.

    For all my complaining about what I feel is a clunky Convergence plot? I've enjoyed most of the versions of the characters (exception being Matrix). Channeling a glass empty person I just wish I was reading a more compelling larger story.

    I keep thinking of the original Star Trek series episode Arena with the Gorn. Kirk and the Gorn captain are supposed to fight and the loser will be destroyed while the winner goes free.

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    1. And now you just know I'm hearing THAT tune. Da da daaaa da daaaa...

      I do agree, every time Telos pipes up my enjoyment of these issues goes right down.

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    2. HA! Glad to be of service!

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  2. Another book I liked until the dome dropped. Diana and Steve! White jump suit! Diana helping people!

    Then she has to fight vampires from Red Rain. Yeesh.

    Love that Middleton art though!

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    1. I don't mind the vampires, it makes me think of that Jeff Jones cover from Wonder Woman #200.

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  3. I swore not to read any Convergence tie-ins, please don't tempt me in breaking my promise ;)

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  4. I'm split about the Convergence event. It seems so contrived and as a odd hiatus to the (admittedly few) DC titles whose storylines I've stuck with. Also, the whole uber powerful alien who takes heroes and makes them fight is a very worn cliche. On the other hand, it's nice to see some characters that have been long missing (I for one am really excited to see the one with the old Ditko Hub City heroes coming up). And I have to agree with you that this comic had several delightful elements to it, such as WW finding a way to help and serve sans power, the portrayal of Trevor, and other things you've highlighted better than I could. Thanks for the great review!

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    1. Thanks for the kind words, I can't wait to see how the fourth week batch goes, it looks splendid!

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