DCU Comic Book Reviews

BLACKEST NIGHT:  Wonder Woman #3

Part Three

April 2010

Written by Greg Rucka

Pencils by Nicola Scott and Eduardo Pansica

Inks by Jonathon Glapion and Eber Ferreira

Covers by Greg Horn and Ryan Sook

Synopsis

Princess of Diana of Themyscira has just become a member of the Star Sapphires, deputized by Carol Ferris to fight against the Black Lanterns.  This includes a brief battle against Black Lantern Max Lord.  Then, Red Lantern Queen Mera of Atlantis attacks Wonder Woman, apparently still consumed with the vision of Diana being a Black Lantern.   Diana fights back, using the Star Sapphire power ring and her golden lasso to reveal the love in Mera’s heart.  They share each other’s heart and bond over the lost love.  Just then Hal Jordan (aka Green Lantern) appears and tells them it is time to fight the Black Lanterns.   

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

This was an enjoyable issue.  I may be one of the few, but I think Star Sapphire fits Diana, I think she has a lot of love within her and the desire to spread that love.  That, I think, is one of the core parts of who she is as Wonder Woman, so to me becoming a Star Sapphire is a natural fit for her.  I like how Rucka has Diana deal with Mera, by showing her heart, finding the love within her.  Again, very much how I would picture Diana dealing with the situation.  However, I think the key to this issue is the art from Nicola Scott, which is dynamic and beautiful.  The fight scenes are gorgeous, energetic and brutal.  Scott’s art holds together what amounts to a very slim story.  Not much happens other than some exposition-filled dialogue from Carol and the fight between Diana and Mera.  There is not much Rucka can do with the story as doesn’t have much comic-book time to play with since both Mera and Diana need to be part of the Blackest Night finale.  Despite that, Rucka manages to get to the heart of two characters, showing the love in their hearts and paving the way for some future stories.  I am going to guess that Mera’s story will occur sooner than later (when Aquaman is resurrected after Blackest Night).  Diana’s declaration of love for Bruce may have to wait until he comes and even then, who know what DC will do. 

Maybe it is just me, but I am not quite sure what happened when Mera grabbed the lasso.  Yes, I understand that we saw Mera’s heart and apparently she hates herself.  But the reason why she hates herself is not quite clear.  Does she blame herself for Arthur Junior’s death?  Does she blame herself for Aquaman’s death?  Does she hate herself for not being able to show Aquaman love?  Given the placement of Black Manta next to the baby, is Arthur not the real father?  What exactly does she hate herself for?  I just don’t quite get it. 

The scene with Max Lord was strange.  It comes out of nowhere and ends just as quickly, with a lot of comedic overtones.  What was the purpose of it?  Why even bother bringing him back, unless it was to add pages to the slim story. 

The shared images of the two women contain a lot of similarities.  Both are being crowned, both are with the man they love, both are shown holding spears, both are shown in battle, and both show a villain they have battled.

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