Diana's not alone in the English capital, as she hangs out in a music bar, drinking her troubles away; nearby are godly messenger Hermes, and Zola, the backwoods gal she's protecting should a vengeful Hera come calling - Zola is the latest mortal to be carrying a child of Zeus. Less-welcome company is newly revealed half-sister Strife, not just Zeus's spawn, but Hera's daughter too. And always ready to live up to her name and spread discord. Threatening Zola's baby bump shocks Diana out of her funk - why the heck was she putting up with Strife, responsible for the deaths of many of her Amazon sisters? - and leaves Strife bloodied and bloody-minded.
Over on Paradise Island, Hera does indeed appear, resplendent in cape of peacock feathers. Knowing she has no chance against a goddess, the warrior queen bows down and asks for forgiveness. And Hera seems set to look with compassion on the weaker woman, so vulnerable to her husband's charms.
In London, back at Diana's flat, a chat with Zola prompts her to reconsider her reaction to Strife's revelation that she was born not of clay, but of woman. She borrows Hermes's Caduceus, the wand which can transport her across the world, and seeks out her mother. Diana finds Hippolyte, but she's in no fit state to accept an apology thanks to the departed Hera. She's been petrified, and her Amazon sisters are in equally dire straits, having been transformed into snakes.
Away from this issue's main action, in war-torn Darfur, the sun god Apollo finds his brother Ares, the war deity, and implores him not to stand in his way as he bids to fill the power vacuum caused by the disappearance of their father, Zeus.
While my preferred Wonder Woman is a straightforward superhero, that's not writer Brian Azzarello's vision for Diana. His stated aim is to make this a horror book, and on that basis, it's difficult to fault his script; there's a palpable sense of menace to this world he's created, with precious little sign of light at the end of the tunnel. Diana, Hippolyte and co know they're minor players in the gods' grand drama, pawns who can be easily crushed. But with the knowledge that she's a demi-god, Diana looks set to find a greater will to kick against the capricious Olympians.
This issue is about facing up to facts - Hera cares not that the adulterous Hippolyte never intended to hurt her, while Diana admits she felt defined by the belief that she came from clay. Coming to terms with reality is proving painful for mother and daughter - literally.
The conversation between Diana and Zola is my favourite scene, as they talk about what home means to them. This is followed by my top visual moment, the broken-footed Hermes sprawled out on a comfy chair in Diana's flat, a pale, sharp-faced god, wildly incongruous in modern clothing, TV zapper in hand. And that's despite my not liking how chubby the new Wonder-corset, as drawn by Cliff Chiang, makes Diana appear in that very same panel.
Chiang's standout character is Strife, dark-eyed and darker of heart, and perfectly coloured by Matthew Wilson; she looks every bit as insidious as Azzarello's dialogue makes her sound. Hera is less successful. I guess there's meant to be a sexiness to the fact that she's naked under that peacock cloak, but ... not so much. She looks like a drunk old broad who's forgotten how to dress, and the lighting tricks necessitated so as not to scare the horses bring some awkwardly contrived shadow play.
Still, I'm a Chiang fan and very pleased he's applying his talents to this book - he's a splendid storyteller and full of interesting design ideas, most of which work. And his collaboration with Azzarello makes for some sharp comic booking - not necessarily the Wonder Woman I want, but a Wonder Woman I can enjoy for awhile.
Given how difficult selling this franchise has been historically, skewing it towards a more adult crowd (perhaps a trade-buying crowd) may have been the best decision, regardless of what it means to Wonder Woman's mainstream potential.
ReplyDeleteShockingly enough, I was actually able to get this comic the week it actually came. However, that's just because I was in a different town this week. Regardless, I read it.
ReplyDeleteAs I read this, I don't really see much of the horror that is suppose to be in this comic. I think the final scene with Wondy returning home does though and that's quite freaky to me. Despite that, I'm enjoying this.
Great blog and great review. I'm enjoying this New 52 Wonder Woman, though I'm generally enjoying the relaunch.
ReplyDeleteI do have a problem with how powerful Hera is depicted. If she can just turn all the Amazons into snakes and stone then why doesn't she just strike down Zola from afar? How will Wonder Woman put up any fight against her? I realize Azzarello is working in the tradition of the Greek myths where the gods had incredible power which they used capriciously and cruelly, but one of my problems with Greek myths is how everyone else becomes essentially a plaything of the gods. I prefer the Marvel Thor idea of mythological gods as essentially a race of super-heroes with fairly well defined powers to the Gaimanesque nod to the old myths that Azzarello is using.
Yeah, good point, Siskoid. As ever, I have my fingers crossed for a complementary, more superheroic approaching an all-ages title.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's good that you're not an old wuss like me, Info ;)
Thanks so much for the kind words, Anonymous. I wonder if Hera has more power in the enchanted environs of Paradise Island than in Man's World.