WONDER WOMAN #221
Pride Of The Amazons

November 2005

Written by Greg Rucka

Pencils by Rags Morales & Cliff Richards

Inks by Ray Snyder, Mark Propst, Michael Bair

Cover by J. G. Jones

Synopsis

On Themyscira, Io wakes up in the House of Healing after the attack by Ares.  She is told of a vision by Callisto of fire burning from the sky and the death of the amazons.  Io realizes what they want her to build, but she refuses.  Meanwhile, Athena forbids Wonder Woman to turn herself into the authorities for the death of Max Lord, but Diana is adamant that this is the right thing to do.  Later, at the embassy, Diana tells her staff first of Jonah’s connection to Checkmate and then her killing of Max Lord.  In the middle of the explanation, three OMACs (children playing in the park) attack her.  They have been ordered to eliminate her and offer her the chance to surrender to avoid civilian casualties.  Diana refuses and is able to de-activate two and then throw the third away from populated areas.  The OMAC lands in a steel factory and attempts to drown Diana in molten fire, which the OMAC thinks eliminates her.  It has no effect on Wonder Woman and she is able to de-activate the OMAC.  She takes the child to the hospital.  In the emergency room, she watches on TV as the news station replays the footage of Wonder Woman snapping Lord’s neck.  She realizes that Brother Eye has killed her mission and has killed her name.

Review

This is another solid issue from Rucka.  I love the single page shot of Wonder Woman emerging from the fire.  Brother Eye has no idea what it is dealing with.  And what it is dealing with is a warrior and this aspect was fully on display here as she deployed battle techniques to take out two of the OMACs and then defeat the third.  Her moves were calculated and it showed that she is a good fighter, not only physically but mentally as well.

The ending was well done.  Earlier in the issue, part of Diana’s argument to Athena was that it was vital for her mission to turn herself in.  She cannot stand above them is what she tells Athena.  At the end, as the replay of the murder has repeated over and over, suddenly Wonder Woman is beneath the people.  Her mission of peace is shattered with that video and the people fear her and perhaps loathe her.  It will be interesting to see where this goes and whether Diana will truly be able to turn herself in and redeem her actions.

I noticed that not only are the scratches still visible Wonder Woman’s face, but her bracelet is still pulled over her broken wrist.  It is the little touches that help keep these stories fitting it with the DC universe as a whole.  It would be easy enough (especially with the multiple pencilers) to forget the small details.  Having said that, however, I noticed that the OMACs look different here than they do in the series.  In this issue, the eyes in the throat and forehead are noticeably larger.  It is also suggested that this issue takes place after the final OMAC issue by Diana’s comments that she thought the treat was eliminated, so it is possible that changes were made to the OMACs since then.

I am curious as to what the Amazons what Io to build.  First and most obvious thought is some kind of war machine, a cannon or something along those lines.  Previous issues showed that any weapon she builds will instantly disappear because Themyscira is a place of peace.  So, what could they build that would bypass this plot point (even it is even adhered to at this point).  It is also possible that weapons could be built if the island were threatened.-- MRB