Wonder Woman #42 -- Spoilers & Review

[Nyssane]

Since the preview thread turned into a train wreck, I figured the full issue should get its own thread.

Basically what happens is one of Hippolyta's sisters (who isn't Antiope) has taken control of a world-conquering serpent-themed group and now they've come to Earth to take 100 of their greatest warriors and destroy the planet.

I'm wondering why, since the woman (let's just call her Astarte since even though she's never named as such, the backstory is very similar to pre-crisis Astarte) is from Earth herself that the planet wasn't her first conquest. She seems to attack Earth as "just another day," so I'm a little confused by that. Also, I'm sorry, but the design for the female Green Lantern (who's name escapes me) is so awful. I did like how Steve Trevor got some bit of spotlight and how he's almost forcing Wonder Woman to make a decision to kill Genocide next time she comes back. Anyway, I'm a little disappointed that the villain isn't Astarte (or at least not the golden gal from way back when), but I'll live.

Thoughts on the issue?

[spark627]

I thought it was ok, I think once we have more answers I'll be able to form an opinion.

Ps. Where did your avatar come from? Its adorable!

[Pach!]

Damn I just posted in the other one!

Not a fan of the issue (both writing and art)

[alf_to_the_rescue]

I am a huge fan of all things green lantern but overall I found this kind of boring.

[Nyssane]

Ps. Where did your avatar come from? Its adorable!

It was from an artist on DeviantArt! :smile:


Damn I just posted in the other one!

Not a fan of the issue (both writing and art)

I saw in the other thread you were disappointed it wasn't Astarte. I love how your favorite villains are the wackiest (Astarte, Hypnota, etc.), but then again I'm Blue Snowman's #1 fan so... :redface:

[Gail Simone]

Who said it sn't Astarte?

[spark627]

It was from an artist on DeviantArt! :smile:



link? please!

[pariah-1972]

I really don't know what to say about the story i mean alien invasion isn't usually something in WW's wheelhouse and to be honest this felt like a crossover with some other book that had an alien invasion for some reason.

But the art was Freaking Fantastic ! srsly every page felt like something you could pin up on your wall .

[Nyssane]

link? please!

I don't have it anymore. :frown: I only found it while searching up random Cheetah art.

[brettc1]

As a stand alone I would give it a C. Everything was there. I think the art in Diana's fight let it down a bit. I have to say I would rather Nicola had drawn the actual WW pages than the GL ones.

Crazy Amazons attacking Washington? Maybe this will be a chance for the Themysciran's to redeem themselves a bit. Space Amazons vs Themies could be fun.

Now, did I miss something, or have we still not seen the reveal for what the shot of Diana with blood on her hands was all about - way back in issue 29 for Origins and Omens. And there was a panel of her duking it out with Achilles in the middle of a city that we have yet to see as well.

[CarolStrick]

I'd give it a C-minus, with the caveat that things may change (radically) as the arc progresses.

Yet another all-one-gender threat/element. (How I wish those things would go away!) Yet another depiction of Diana as cold. Oh, she feels deeply; she tells us these things over and over. She just doesn't really display that emotion like she means it. And of course IF this villain is a sister-sister (as opposed to just another Themie) of Hippy, that means that we're getting a rewrite of the Perez origin. Again. I didn't like that the first time it happened, and was happy that it's been forgotten about over the years.

Can't say I was enamored of the art. At times it looked Kirbyish to me, which is not a compliment, but some of the panels had terrific action and drama as well.

The ad for Batman #610 was a nightmare flashback to BN:WW #2.

The stilted dialogue was far too much. Someone besides just Steve and Etta has got to talk like a real human being in this series.

"We're going international. We'll be under U.N. mandate." Look, I know it's comics. I know we've got Amazons who can lift buildings, and snakies that can chow down on entire planets just to feed a people who, at this point, should have the technology to make their own food that doesn't take so much work. We have force fields and magic lassos and galactic-level power rings. But a US govt. agency being taken over by the UN? Ha ha ha ha ha! Unbelievable.

The flag thing was... well... I mean, an interstellar Galactus comes to Earth and of all the alien things in the world, is fascinated by the flag of the United States of America? Why is that? If this truly is Hippy's sister/sister Amazon, why is she unfamiliar with the concept of an eagle?

This GL tale on top of the end of BN is wearying as well. Haven't we been GL'd to death of late? And does this story take place before or after BN? I'd say after, since BN is over this week and this is the start of a new arc. Shouldn't Diana have linked to that plot by some word or thought?

It was a great cover, even if Diana's face is blank. I wish she'd have shown determination or awe or... well, something. But she looks real pretty.

I very much liked that Diana called for help.

Diana got some great power-points in this ish. I doubt if Superman could have done better.

But on the whole I remain unintrigued by the story. I don't see any character (besides Etta) (hooray for Etta!) who really holds my attention and makes me want to see more. So that's why the C-minus.

[ShaunN]

I really enjoyed the issue. I certainly don't have any problem with it being an "alien invasion" story - alien invasions, mythical monsters, supernatural foes - all of this should be well within Diana's universe and comfort zone.

I loved Diana's internal monologue about the beauty of being alive.

I agree that Astarte should have been much less blase about the conquest and destruction of Earth if it is the planet of her birth.

I enjoyed the opening scene. I liked the child that the GL's saved from the snakes, and not just because she's really cute.

Questions: why didn't the GL's rings protect them from the snakes? Did the GL energy that the attackers used against Diana come from the GL they consumed or is there a deeper connection between Oa and the snake people? Why aren't the things coming out of the eggs raining down on Washington not the same microscopic snakes the little girl was talking about? That would certainly be a difficult threat to counter.

(As an aside, why is it that DC allows so many more catastrophic things to happen on its Earth? And is it fair to say that DC is still regarded as the more "positive" of the two main company universes?)

Looking forward to the two GLs teaming up with Diana. Hopefully, they will come better prepared, with rings that can actually deal with the problem!

[raporfest]

My review
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8ZT_6KNbGM
Starts at 3:31

[Kyle Sing]

-The dialogue was fitting.

-The art rocked!!

-The villain is intriguing and formidable.

-DMA is getting connected to the UN (Rucka would SO rock that one)!

-Loved the foreshadowing of the return of Diana Prince. And with Nicola Scott on the Spin?? 'Nuff said!

A great issue with greater stuff to come! So far so good!

[turnedm]

-The dialogue was fitting.

-The art rocked!!

-The villain is intriguing and formidable.

-DMA is getting connected to the UN (Rucka would SO rock that one)!

-Loved the foreshadowing of the return of Diana Prince. And with Nicola Scott on the Spin?? 'Nuff said!

A great issue with greater stuff to come! So far so good!

I agree with almost all of your points. But the art rocked? Really?!?!?

[Xeres]

Hrm ok, I'll give a more in depth review here.

This is a long intro to the 3 part story which means without the other two parts we're missing a lot.

Every single issue Etta is in she makes that issue a LOT better. She adds a sense of real and down to earth that this book really needs. IMO this makes her far and away the best supporting character this book has had since I've been reading it - better than Artemis, better than Hippolyta, better than Io.

The villain is formidable it seems. They're the Borg with Snakes on a Spacehip thrown in. Where's Samuel L. Jackson when you need him?

Now tell me if you've heard this one. So an Amazon thought lost suddenly resurfaces and attacks Washington DC. The first method of attack is to encase the city in a forcefield and then unleashes their primary biologic weapon. Sound familiar? In this case they're not... wait for it... Bees. My god. but rather serpents. At least this weapon doesn't sound as rediculous. Throw in Diana's line of "Amazons repay their debts" - which got a big reaction out of me and it has me wonderng if this arc will somehow be connected to Amazons Attack in any way.

Now, admittedly, I absolutely stink at predicting where these stories are going to go but I hope I'm right in this case. I've made my feelings known about where the Amazons stand in regard to AA and really hope this is something to rectify that. If not, then the Amazons stay in my doghouse andhope the arc is enjoyable.

[Xeres]

Holy crap, frigging save the edit sometime today. Double post.

[Wulfmir]

I'm sorry, all I can say is the title is lost. I know the title is just treading water until J. Micheal Straczynski takes over it, but there have been more fun issues like last time with team up with Power Girl or the one with Black Canary to pass the time than this.

[brettc1]

Thinking about it, it does seem odd that Hippy's sister would decide to destroy the Earth and would then collect 200 female survivors from the US instead of them being Amazons.

And when are the really important issues going to be addressed - like when did Tom visit Etta in the hospital? Before or after Final Crisis Escape?

[PauloIapetus]

I'd give it a C-minus, with the caveat that things may change (radically) as the arc progresses.


The flag thing was... well... I mean, an interstellar Galactus comes to Earth and of all the alien things in the world, is fascinated by the flag of the United States of America? Why is that? If this truly is Hippy's sister/sister Amazon, why is she unfamiliar with the concept of an eagle?
.

I think that you have misunderstood the sequence Lina. Astarte wasn't confused because she was unfamiliar with the elements included in the flag but because, retroactively, Gail Simone has introduced the concept ( once suggested by yourself if I'm not mistaken in DC's forum several years ago) that the stars and stripes of USA's flag were influenced by the Amazonian analogues. She was unfamiliar with the concept of the bald eagle, the American species native from the New World.

http://forums.comicbookresources.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=62481&d=1270225537

And ,indeed, there are eagle motifs pictured in the armors and architetonic details of the first issues of Pérez,a detail that John Byrne remembered during his run while portraying Hipolyta's armor.

http://forums.comicbookresources.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=62483&d=1270227119

http://forums.comicbookresources.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=62499&d=1270227973

The never forget remembers me of the symbelmyne's flowers of Lord of the Rings , Gail , the funeral flower ornaments of Rohan's honored dead. I presume that the never forget is the blue field with stars, maybe representing Amazonian souls? A very Tolkienian touch! I loved that!!:cool:

Kudos por Ya!!

[Gail Simone]

Yeah, the symbolism of the flag plays a bigger part in next issue.

[PauloIapetus]

Gail, I must to give thanks to you for making an updated Post-Crisis version of the story that solidified in my mind the concept of what "Death" was meant to be when I was five years old. I've cried several times while reading this classical story, specialy because of its last unforgetable scene and I'm very pleased that you and Nicolla are homaging Jack C. Harris ( IMO the most underated writer of WW) and the fantastical art of Jose Delbo.

:smile::smile:

Thanks for your kind patience and your attention to little details such as these.

I'd like that some fans would be so attentive while nitpicking things in your stories in order to criticize them.

And speaking about "details" I could not avoid to see the last page as an alusion to the climatic scene in Wonder Woman vol 2 , 11, when Diana encountered Diana Trevor , the bearer of the "American" flag for the first time. The angles with which the light pervades the scene, the relative positions of both the character all very reminiscent of each other's

[Gail Simone]

Oh, that's very nice, but I don't think they're nitpicking at all...everyone's entitled to their opinions!

[PauloIapetus]

Oh, that's very nice, but I don't think they're nitpicking at all...everyone's entitled to their opinions!

However I must say that when some people are complaining they only pay attention to the details that allow criticisms not praise or a truly balaced opinion. Thus I think that selective attention to detail in my book can be called nitpicking.

And Wonder Woman's fandom is prone to this kind of criticism. Take a look into my efforts while I was trying to remember the persons of this forum why "love" is a so important thing to the DCU's Amazons, and why the Violet Ring of Love was or could be seen as a so suitable fit for WW in Blackest Night.


A friend of mine for example, criticized the curly hair of Diana made by Phil Jimenez while praising Mike Deodato's and Garcia Lopez's renditions , all the time, ignoring, against all the visual evidence, that Phil Jimenez was more faithful to Pérez's version, to the point of mimicking the curls falling over the left shoulder of her. Their number, shape and all resembling Pérez' version in astonishing detail. But he was blind for all of this, due to the excess of attention that he always's given to the negative perspective that he sees in several details. It's paying too much attention to the trees while ignoring the forest, you know.

http://uberscifigeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/wonderwoman01.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6xoH967aC00/Sdvxw23FU4I/AAAAAAAARhU/6o_4rwj-1rg/s400/wwgallery1.jpg

[Mart]

It's alien invasion time on DC Earth ... actually, that's not quite right, it's alien feeding time as a shipful of space scavengers prepare to unleash some predatory little buggers on the citizenry.

Before that, though, there's a scene establishing the nature of the threat, via a visit with members of the Green Lanterns Corps. At six pages, it's longer than I'd prefer - heaven knows we see enough of the old emerald warriors across the DC line these days - but it gives them a reason to star on Nicola Scott's beaut of a cover and hopefully pull in a few extra readers. And one of the GLs, Khund kid Kho Kharhi, did debut in this comic, so likely her connection to Wonder Woman will come into play next month.

I can't imagine any visiting fans of Geoff Johns' GL run being disappointed with the Corps' presentation here as there's plenty of the militaristic chat that characterises the force these days. And a grisly death, of course, though like another unfortunate exit later in the issue, it's subtly presented.

Down on Earth we join Diana chatting to Steve Trevor about the fact Genocide - who tortured his wife, Etta Candy - is still out there somewhere and he's rightly slightly perturbed that Diana hasn't made locating the beast her priority. Oddly, this scene seems to take place immediately after Genocide blew up the Department of Metahuman Activities building - Diana is helping with the clear-up - nearly a year ago in publishing time. This wouldn't normally bother me but Diana's had a few in-continuity adventures since then. I suppose the adventures with Black Canary in the Far East, the Olympian on Paradise Island and Power Girl in Washington itself could have spanned just a week ...

OK, I've rationalised that away, so I'm free to say I loved 'Wrath of the Silver Serpent'. The chat with Steve, an intriguing silent moment between him and Etta, Diana's easy confidence as aliens attack, the revelation of the malevolent leader's identity. This last won't be a massive surprise to old-time readers - the story is a spin on the Empress of the Silver Snake sequence from the Seventies - but it's different enough to be worthwhile. And who knows where things will go from here.

Writer Gail Simone gets a tiny demerit for the reuse of a gag about hospital robes, but major credit for Diana's narrative, which strikes a pleasing balance of seriousness and whimsy. There's a nostalgic moment that warmed the cockles of my heart as Diana pushes Steve out of danger, a possible reference to the Groovy Diana Prince days and a wonderfully Golden Age demand from the alien leader. It's Gail nodding to Diana's various interpretations while still presenting the heroine she's made her own, a compassionate, wise warrior for the 21st century.

And as depicted by penciller Fernando Dagnino (fast becoming the MVP of DC's artistic pinch-hitters), she looks great too, whether in conversation or 'welcoming' the attacking extraterrestrials with a mighty left hook. Nicola Scott pencils the GL sequences and while Kho Kharhi looks a little slim for her race - previously she was something of an Etta Khundy - there's drama in them thar lines. Plus, Nicola and regular inker Doug Hazlewood bring on the cutest ickle aliens you'll see eaten this month. The intriguingly named Bit inks Fernando, and does an equally fine job, particularly in a scene set at the White House - check out the brilliant rendering of the villainess's face.

This is the Wonder Woman comic at its best, with a heroine to cheer for, villains to boo, supporting characters to love and a grabber of an ending. It's typical that I'm enjoying this book more than I have in ages just as a new creative team is due, but that's comics.

[Hybrid2]

I've been a bit disapointed in the title.
Often it read like it's missing pages and panels.
and sometime the art make it hard to follow.

this issue she fight ships trap in a dome over Washington then she fight them in space?

and the whay she talk have been anoying me a little.
i'm not sure how o descrive it. it's very ceremonial?that's what it read like to me.

[Nyssane]

However I must say that when some people are complaining they only pay attention to the details that allow criticisms not praise or a truly balaced opinion. Thus I think that selective attention to detail in my book can be called nitpicking.

This is a comic book forum. Nitpicking is the norm. :smile:

[pariah-1972]

I'm sorry to say this but an Alien Invasion is such a cliche/trope but if the last page indicates this may have a bit of a twist to it.

[bfrank]

Gorillas and Cake...lol

[FemGeek]

I like the issue, though not as much as any of the others of Gails run, so this would be the one I enjoyed least. Simply coz I don't like GLs. I just don't. That isn't to say it was bad or anything. Once again, the dialogue was outstanding, I love how Diana talks, it's so very Diana! The space snakes are a neat villain, and the reveal in the end is a nice cliffhanger. Also wasn't crazy about the art change; love Nichola's stuff, always, but Dagnino's Diana looked off, like she was a model dressed up as Wonder Woman or something. Overall, not the best issue for me but entertaining nonetheless.

[barrault]

Basically what happens is one of Hippolyta's sisters (who isn't Antiope) has taken control of a world-conquering serpent-themed group and now they've come to Earth to take 100 of their greatest warriors and destroy the planet.

Just re-reading the book earlier - who's to say that this woman isn't Antiope? She wasn't named, she's blond, and with DC, you never know if she was resurrected somewhere along the way somehow.

She didn't say she was "another" sister of Hippolyte. She just said she's her sister.

Let's wait for the next issue to see if this is Antiope, or a revamped Astarte, or someone entirely new.

[Gaelforce]

Just re-reading the book earlier - who's to say that this woman isn't Antiope? She wasn't named, she's blond, and with DC, you never know if she was resurrected somewhere along the way somehow.

She didn't say she was "another" sister of Hippolyte. She just said she's her sister.

Let's wait for the next issue to see if this is Antiope, or a revamped Astarte, or someone entirely new.

Bah, it doesn't matter if it's Antiope or Astarte or whoever - I guarantee you that when a name is put to this woman, someone will come on to complain. If it isn't Antiope, there will be the 'OMG you're changing HISTORY!' posts, and if it is Antiope, there will be the 'But this already happened and so it's impossible' continuity gripes.

I don't care. I loved the story and trust Gail enough to make it fun. What I enjoy the most is that if it /is/ another sister of Hippolyta? She's not changing history, she's expanding on it. That's the aspect of Gail's writing that I'm going to miss the most - that she didn't come in and just start with a blank slate but rather has picked up pieces from the past and added to them to build a solid character with a (still) solidifying history and supporting cast.

I just hope it sticks when she goes.

[TimothyLaskey]

I'm hoping that it IS Antiope, and that she was resurrected somehow... maybe with a Black Lantern ring?

I loved this issue, for many of the reasons Mart posted. I was initially worried that there would be some repetition in the alien invasion with the prior Khund invasion. But this time, the mysterious nature of the incursion was played up; I already know what Khunds are, but the Silver Snakes are so creepy (I never read the original 70's version, unfortunately.)

Also I was thinking, if this leader was once Hippolyta's sister, why is she not aware of the Amazons, who would be the most suitable for Citizenhood. She seems to know Diana, and wants to give her the chance to survive. I really think it's going to tie into Di's origin somehow.

[Flying Saucers Over Oz]

Re: Astarte/Antiope. My guess is that Astarte (We'll call her that) is a cyborg or android with the memories of various warriors, aliens, etc. downloaded into her, including Antiope's.

How they got hold of Antiope, and why they didn't destroy the Earth then... That's gonna be the big story. :wink:

[the4thpip]

Etta Khundy

http://www.kinrealm.com/Denizens/Smileys/Denizens/24.gif

I suddenly have an image of Kilowog creating a green treadmill for Kharhi, thinking to himself how the only GL to get away with that kind of figure is Mogo.

[Lynda_Carter]

Do you know how excited I am about this book? I bought it when it came out and STILL have not read it! I can not wait till DIANA is the star of Wonder Woman again and not just making guest apperances!

[rab082154]

Gail already said it wasn't Antiope.

[Stanlos]

My review
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8ZT_6KNbGM
Starts at 3:31

Rapor, what are you saying at 03:37 of your review? It sounded like 'spooney one with a wig'; I cannot make it out.

[raporfest]

Rapor, what are you saying at 03:37 of your review? It sounded like 'spooney one with a wig'; I cannot make it out.

Yeah I said "She looks like Spoony One with a wig."