WONDER WOMAN #3
Clay

January 2012

Written by Brian Azzarello

Pencils by Cliff Chiang

Inks by Cliff Chiang

Cover by Cliff Chiang

Synopsis

On Paradise Island, the amazons mourn their dead.  Earlier, Hippolyta explains to Diana that the story of her birth was a lie, in order to protect her.  Diana is the daughter of Zeus.  If Hera learned of the truth, then Diana would be target to be killed.  Hurt by the lie and the fact that her mother made her a fool.  Meanwhile, Aleka tells the amazons that, because of Diana, whom they call Clay in derision, their home has been compromised and paradise has been ruined.  Diana has brought shame to the island.  Just then, Diana appears and tells the amazons the only shame on the island is her own.  And she will take it from them and never return.  She asks them not to call her Diana or Clay, but … Wonder Woman. 

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

“Immortal life is a gift…but dying in battle is a prize, to be coveted.” 

The dreaded exposition issue (I really should formally write up the definition one of these days).  In essence, it is the issue where the writer explains to the reader what has been going on in the story.  Normally, this type of issue would annoy me, but in this case I was enthralled from the beginning to the end.  I was riveted and enjoyed this immensely.  I liked this issue because even though Azzarello is explaining things to us, he is also explaining everything to Diana.  We react as she reacts.  To add to the engrossing nature of the issue, the story that Hippolyta tells Diana (and the reader) is a giant retcon of Wonder Woman’s origins.  While that is enough to make one invested in the story, I actually think it is Diana’s reaction that is the best.  In her own way she accepts what she has been told is the truth.  But she then rejects her mother and the amazons for the lie that she had been told, for the lie that she had believed for, what, 25 years.  It is kinda like learning that you were adopted, except in reverse. 

Now, as to the retcon.  I don’t really have a problem with it.  and if handled correctly it might enrich Diana’s world.  The one thing about the Greek Gods is that are the kings (and queens) of making humans miserable so they can be happy.  Think Perseus, or Hercules, and what they went through.  So, by having Diana be part of the family, so to speak, it gives her a burden that she must live and endure, much like Bruce’s dead parents.  This is not only because of her father, but also her decision to walk away from her mother and the amazons (assuming what happened here sticks).  It gives a little bit of gravitas to her situation; I am curious to see what Azzarello does with it. 

One has to wonder (pardon the pun) when, or if, a writer will pick up on the thread of Zola’s unborn baby and use the child as the next Wonder Girl or perhaps even the next villain.  This is assuming Azzarello doesn’t do anything with the character after this. 

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