DCU Comic Book Reviews

WONDER WOMAN #2

Who Is Wonder Woman? Part 2

September 2006

Written by Allan Heinberg

Pencils by Terry Dodson

Inks by Rachel Dodson

Cover by Terry & Rachel Dodson

Synopsis

The Past...Batman and Wonder Woman watch as Wonder Girl (aka Cassie Sandsmark) and the new Wonder Woman (aka Donna Troy) are battling super villains in Washington D.C.  Batman wants to know about Diana’s plans.  Diana is uncertain.  Batman suggests she become an agent for the division of Metahuman Affairs, under the identity of Diana Prince.  The Present...Agent Prince and Agent Nemesis are sent to deal with Giganta, Cheetah, and Dr. Psycho, who have kidnapped Donna and asking for the real Wonder Woman.  While Nemesis sets out on his own, Diana is sent to talk to Wonder Girl.  Cassie is hurt and upset that Diana left her for ay ear and heads out on her own to battle with Giganta, who is rampaging through New York City.  The fight gets worse.  Diana realizes that to save her friends, she must become Wonder Woman.  Before she can, however, she is stopped by...Hercules!

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

“Giganta is wearing Donna Troy on a chain around her neck and she is demanding we turn over Wonder Woman.”

This was a damn fine issue. I don’t like the ending.  I’ll get to that in a minute.  First, despite the agonizing lateness of this issue, I enjoyed it to the point that I am not all that bothered by it being late.  By all means, make it as good as you can get it.  Sometimes it is better to be late than to put out a sloppy issue, especially this early in the book’s run.  And this was good.  There are some wonderful moments in this issue, from Batman helping her with her new identity to Cassie’s (appropriate) anger at Diana to Diana’s insistence that Donna is Wonder Woman to the image of Donna Troy hanging around Giganta’s neck.  The big two-page spread in the middle of the issue did a great job introducing readers no only to the villains but also to how they have changed.  I also liked the fact that this issue filled in the blanks from the previous issue and provided more interaction with Nemesis, although I find it silly that they call him that.  Doesn’t he have a real name? 

All right, so what is it about the ending that I do not like?  Is it possible that I don’t like the sexist line from Hercules that a man can do a better job than a woman?  Possibly, although I am smart enough to realize that Hercules will probably fail; no one would be stupid enough to allow Hercules to save the day in a Wonder Woman book.  Is it possible that i don’t like the inclusion (once more) of the Greek mythology into the Wonder Woman lore?  This is very possible.  The entire Greek Gods thing has never appealed to me in any way shape or form and personally I am hoping that they are gone forever.  However, I am smart enough to realize that the gods are an integral part of Wonder Woman’s past and to expect it to vanish is wishful thinking.  Or could it be I am against the idea of Diana spinning around to turn into Wonder Woman?  Possibly, as I always thought that it looked ridiculous on the tv show, yet as I was reading I think I cracked a smile at that part.  No, the real reason I did not like the ending is that is seems unnecessary.  Why at this point do we need to add someone else to the mix?  Let’s see:  three villains, two Teen Titans, one pseudo-Wonder Woman, and now we have Hercules.  Does this seem like overkill to you?  It does to me and that is my problem.  Let’s answer the question of “Who Is Wonder Woman,” and then we can add and mix and match and whatever later.  For now, what was provided was great.  I hope Hercules doesn’t spoil it all.