Wonder Woman #38 Review

Written by: Meredith Finch
Art by: David Finch
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: January 21, 2015

Tug of War

I haven't been too keen on the first couple of issues of the Finch's run on this book.  I wish it was just the case of me being a narrow minded jerk who still can't get over Brian Azzarello and Cliff Chiang.  At least then I could get over myself and start enjoying this book.  Unfortunately, that is just not the case.  While the book has looked fantastic, the story has been caught between the past run and forging it's own path.  It's truly been a case of jack of all trades, master of none.  Now that we are on the same page, I'm happy to tell you that this month Wonder Woman finally gets some direction...but is that a good thing?



This month's issue opens with the Amazons fighting an awesome looking two-headed Dragon minus one very crucial member...Wonder Woman.  Yes, Diana has been an absentee Queen and it's coming home to roost.  When she does show up it is a bit "too little, too late", especially when it comes to Dessa.  In a very touching moment that is also a kick ass job of art, Dessa dies while Diana and the reader look on.  Wonder Woman vows vengeance and flies off to confront the Dragon.

In one of the best scenes visually and story wise since the Finch's took over, Diana confronts the Dragon and it...bows to her?!?  It seems that this is yet another of Ares' "pets" now under the command of the new God of War.  When Donna Troy steps out of the shadows and dresses Wonder Woman down for her failures, I was really getting into it.  Then Diana wakes up.  It was all a f*****g dream and even if Strife was involved (fans of Azzarello's run know how awesome she is), I still felt cheated.

We then get a solid idea of the direction of this book.  Meredith Finch has already stressed that Diana has neglected the Amazons over the outside world, but now she adds in the effects of being the God of War.  While talking to Hessia, Diana promises she is nothing like Ares and will always be there for Themyscira, but when she joins the Justice League on an emergency call, Batman also has his doubts.  He questions Diana a little too much , if you ask me and her response isn't very comforting.  The book ends with Superman in some real trouble just as Donna Troy is introduced as the new Queen of the Amazons.  It's a cool cliffhanger that will really test Wonder Woman's true loyalties.

This is by far the best issue of the Finch's young run.  While Azzarello's run was special, it always seemed to exist outside of the New 52 because of Wonder Woman's lack of interaction with the outside world.  That is not the case here.  While I'm still not completely sold on the Donna Troy and God of War angles, I am more interested where this book is going than I was just a month ago.

One thing that should never be questioned is David Finch's art.  Every page of this book looks fantastic.  Every page.  From Diana to a dying Dessa to the Dragon to Superman and everything in between.  I also have to give a huge shoutout to the coloring team of Batt, Danny Miki and Sonia Oback for their excellent work.  There are literally two or three pages in this book worth hanging up in my bedroom.

Bits and Pieces:

Wonder Woman #38 is the best issue of the new Finch run and that's not meant as a backdoor compliment.  Meredith Finch finally gives the book a solid direction and while the jury is still out on it, at least it's got one.  David Finch's art is astounding and this issue is one of the best looking books I've seen in a long time.  If the story continues to improve, we may have a great book on our hands after all.  I hope so because Wonder Woman and her fans deserve it.

7.0/10