Binker
06-12-2008, 07:28 PM
By Nathaniel Ruff (also known as Binker, Binker2 and Nate on many forums)
WONDER WOMAN #21
Written by Gail Simone
Art by Aaron Lopresti and Matt Ryan
Cover by Lopresti
Edited by Matt Idelson
PLOT:
At the ends of the universe, Wonder Woman falls victim to the Black Horizon, risking the safety of her soul. To salvage her very existence, she must ally herself with the legendary Beowulf and another fearsome warrior from DC's past! But that's only half of Wonder Woman's troubles, as Tom "Nemesis" Tresser runs afoul of one of Diana's unexpected houseguests!
REVIEW:
The first issue of Gail Simone's pre-event storyline for Wonder Woman was something that tied myth with a good story and good art that was a return since this wasn't quite the case with the two-parter following Gail's first arc, "The Circle". Even before the story started, people felt that a Wonder Woman/Beowulf team-up was a stupid idea. My input was that it made sense as both are mythic characters. I ended my review saying that if you've enjoyed Gail's run so far, or if you were a newbie wanting to start somewhere, and love "The Circle" and now the two-parter that followed, then this issue and storyline was for you all. With that in mind, here is issue #21!
While at first it seemed a little confusing at times, Gail provided another winner for this issue of Wonder Woman. I did expect, going back to how the final three issues were for "The Circle”, which we were going to have more flashback just like the previous issue, and I was surprised to see that wasn't the case here. As we continued with Diana's story, we also get a subplot dealing with Sarge Steel charging Nemesis in keeping an eye on Diana Prince, and a cameo appearance by Queen Hippolyta, a dead Great White Shark, and a revelation that "The Circle's" Alkyone might still be alive. Back on Nemesis' subplot, if we will; the scene where he "meets" Diana's Gorilla friends, it looks as if Gail is going to reinstate that Nemesis knows Diana Prince is Princess Diana aka Wonder Woman, something he forgot about following "Amazons Attack!" I mean Gail had brought in the courtship between the two back in #18, so it would make sense if Nemesis knew BOTH her identities, right? But, you know, I really that's the case. Darwyn Cooke made it clear in regards to Barry Allen/The Flash and Iris West in his "New Frontier" story: it makes no sense for a superhero to not tell someone he or she loves who is under that mask. And as history has shown, even if Cooke wasn't known at those times, they would agree with him.
Now on Diana's side of things: she and Beowulf make a good team, going by what they face here. However, because of the Black Horizon mentioned previously, Diana is not herself. For example: when Beowulf saves her and helps her get out of the bar to end the fight, the Black Horizon within her makes her think Beowulf was an enemy doing this. Judging from how it is presented, and how Diana acts, it must be something that is turning Diana into a demon, or something she or her Amazon sisters would've fought against. And I seem to be a bit lost, that or just can't remember, but now I wonder how she could've gotten this. Maybe since the Stalker is a demon, she must've gotten it when she used her lasso on him. Could make sense, but maybe it will be explained later, so I want to hold off that belief. And the reason why I say that is because as the cover suggested, Diana's right hand is becoming something else entirely. And even the Stalker seemed a bit puzzled as to why.
Overall, this was another winner by Gail Simone. From what Diana is going through, the Black Horizon was got me wondering on what this is. I'am a little confused, or may not be remembering, how she could've gotten it. One theory would be she got it after using her lasso on Stalker, but he did seem puzzled when he saw her hand becoming weird and inhuman. And another is that maybe it will be a flashback as to how she got it in either the next issue, or the final issue. Gail did a good job on this like always, and add that with Lopresti's artwork, any Wonder Woman-fan would be happy.
RATING: Yay
Next Issue: Wonder Woman struggles to survive, and Diana's Gorilla Knights and the Department of Metahuman Affairs fight!
WONDER WOMAN #21
Written by Gail Simone
Art by Aaron Lopresti and Matt Ryan
Cover by Lopresti
Edited by Matt Idelson
PLOT:
At the ends of the universe, Wonder Woman falls victim to the Black Horizon, risking the safety of her soul. To salvage her very existence, she must ally herself with the legendary Beowulf and another fearsome warrior from DC's past! But that's only half of Wonder Woman's troubles, as Tom "Nemesis" Tresser runs afoul of one of Diana's unexpected houseguests!
REVIEW:
The first issue of Gail Simone's pre-event storyline for Wonder Woman was something that tied myth with a good story and good art that was a return since this wasn't quite the case with the two-parter following Gail's first arc, "The Circle". Even before the story started, people felt that a Wonder Woman/Beowulf team-up was a stupid idea. My input was that it made sense as both are mythic characters. I ended my review saying that if you've enjoyed Gail's run so far, or if you were a newbie wanting to start somewhere, and love "The Circle" and now the two-parter that followed, then this issue and storyline was for you all. With that in mind, here is issue #21!
While at first it seemed a little confusing at times, Gail provided another winner for this issue of Wonder Woman. I did expect, going back to how the final three issues were for "The Circle”, which we were going to have more flashback just like the previous issue, and I was surprised to see that wasn't the case here. As we continued with Diana's story, we also get a subplot dealing with Sarge Steel charging Nemesis in keeping an eye on Diana Prince, and a cameo appearance by Queen Hippolyta, a dead Great White Shark, and a revelation that "The Circle's" Alkyone might still be alive. Back on Nemesis' subplot, if we will; the scene where he "meets" Diana's Gorilla friends, it looks as if Gail is going to reinstate that Nemesis knows Diana Prince is Princess Diana aka Wonder Woman, something he forgot about following "Amazons Attack!" I mean Gail had brought in the courtship between the two back in #18, so it would make sense if Nemesis knew BOTH her identities, right? But, you know, I really that's the case. Darwyn Cooke made it clear in regards to Barry Allen/The Flash and Iris West in his "New Frontier" story: it makes no sense for a superhero to not tell someone he or she loves who is under that mask. And as history has shown, even if Cooke wasn't known at those times, they would agree with him.
Now on Diana's side of things: she and Beowulf make a good team, going by what they face here. However, because of the Black Horizon mentioned previously, Diana is not herself. For example: when Beowulf saves her and helps her get out of the bar to end the fight, the Black Horizon within her makes her think Beowulf was an enemy doing this. Judging from how it is presented, and how Diana acts, it must be something that is turning Diana into a demon, or something she or her Amazon sisters would've fought against. And I seem to be a bit lost, that or just can't remember, but now I wonder how she could've gotten this. Maybe since the Stalker is a demon, she must've gotten it when she used her lasso on him. Could make sense, but maybe it will be explained later, so I want to hold off that belief. And the reason why I say that is because as the cover suggested, Diana's right hand is becoming something else entirely. And even the Stalker seemed a bit puzzled as to why.
Overall, this was another winner by Gail Simone. From what Diana is going through, the Black Horizon was got me wondering on what this is. I'am a little confused, or may not be remembering, how she could've gotten it. One theory would be she got it after using her lasso on Stalker, but he did seem puzzled when he saw her hand becoming weird and inhuman. And another is that maybe it will be a flashback as to how she got it in either the next issue, or the final issue. Gail did a good job on this like always, and add that with Lopresti's artwork, any Wonder Woman-fan would be happy.
RATING: Yay
Next Issue: Wonder Woman struggles to survive, and Diana's Gorilla Knights and the Department of Metahuman Affairs fight!