DCU Comic Book Reviews

SECRET SIX #12

Depths, Part Three:  Inferno

October 2009

Written by Gail Simone

Pencils by Nicola Scott

Inks by Doug Hazelwood and Mark McKenna

Cover by Daniel LuVisi

Synopsis

On a remote island, Wonder Woman confronts the Secret Six and wants to know who killed her sister, Artemis.  Jeannette tells the group to tell her nothing.  She then tells the team to run as Wonder Woman approaches her to get the information.  Elsewhere, Mr. Smyth and his team watch the action.  Smyth tells them to wake the beast.  Meanwhile, Diana Wonder Woman Jeannette, who then unleashes the full force of her Banshee power.  It incapacitates Wonder Woman.  Catman orders Scandal to take Bane, Jeannette and Artemis, who is still alive, and leave the island.  Catman, Deadshot, and Ragdoll will stall to give them time.  The other three reach their quarters to get their stuff, but Smyth’s men are waiting for them.  Meanwhile, Smyth takes the others and Wonder Woman hostage.  He takes them to the Ninth Circle where he shows them the devil.         

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

Something didn’t click just right for me in this issue and I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that no one answers the question from Diana as to who killed Artemis.  The answer is that it was a mistake, a stray bullet hit her when they were fighting (well, as we found out later, she wasn’t dead, which is another problem, but I digress).  I think the failure to address the answer causes the rest of the issue to fall off the rails (and I should point out the question is dropped and changed to asking about the other Amazons).  Because if they answer, there is no reason for Deadshot to shoot Wonder Woman and then no reason Jeannette to unleash the Banshee, and no reason for Smyth to sow them the devil.  And, if you think about it, Diana has the magic lasso, so there is no reason for her to even attempt physical interrogation on Jeannette.  And while I can understand Diana’s anger about Artmeis and at Jeanette, her actions don’t make much sense.  Perhaps she was pushed too far, but wouldn’t Diana seek a peaceful resolution to the situation rather than resort to violence (or threaten to castrate Deadshot)?  She doesn’t seem to act like I would expect, which is strange given that Simone writes Wonder Woman as well as this title.  I suppose Diana views the Six as villains and therefore approaches the situation in that manner, but it doesn’t come across that well in the story.  And since the Six are the protagonists in the story, Simone, I think, needed to do more to make sure we know Diana is a “hero” and the Six are considered to be bad guys.  Having said all that, there are still some good moments in this issue.  I liked the second page with the alternating art of Wonder Woman and the six as they size each other up.  I also found the origin of Jeannette to gruesome and fitting with her powers and her obsession over death.  And the ending was an interesting twist, with the Six split in half and facing different threats.  Overall, this issue may have been a slight misstep, but I love this title too much not to get too worried.  Simone and Scott will get it back together next issue.   

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