Wonder Woman #39 Review

Written by: Meredith Finch
Art by: David Finch
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: February 18, 2015

Clash of the...You Know the Rest

The Finch's run on Wonder Woman has had great art from the start, but a story that has struggled to find it's own identity.  It's stuck between bringing Wonder Woman back into the greater DCU and trying to honor the Azzarello run that came before it.  While I loved Azzarello's run, I really want Meredith Finch to make this book her own.  Last issue wasn't perfect, it made steps to reach that goal. This issue continues the baby steps and while it's a whole bunch of setup, It's still enjoyable enough. Is that enough to recommend it?  Let's find out.

The book opens with Wonder Woman and Batman in search of Superman, who they lost contact with at the end of lat issue.  You don't get to see a lot of interaction between these two so I was happy to see it continue.  When Superman shows up and explains things, however, I started losing interest.

While I really like the idea of Wonder Woman interacting more with the DCU, this part of the story is coming across as a sort of Justice League deleted scene.  They have found the missing villagers and it reveals a bigger threat...kind of.  Sure, it involves a mysterious villain that is disgusting, but they are so ill defined that I'm really not sure what to think..  I do know that it all is a forced attempt to show that Diana is succumbing to the God of War influence more than even she knows.

We then get back to the more interesting part of the story...Themyscira.  After an odd visit with her Mother, Wonder Woman heads off to the Amazon men.  She learns that they have been cut off by the new leaders which is news to her since she hasn't really been around.  Maybe it could have been a little more subtle, but I still liked it.  She then ends up in the middle of an Amazon youth rally and gets her first look at Donna Troy.  Awkward.  The issue ends with the beginning of what should be a very cool battle between Diana and Donna.  Why am I not that excited?

I'm sure it seems that I didn't like this issue.  That's not the case.  I just keep waiting for it to get better.  Each issus has hints of something good, but they never fully pan out.  This issue had Batman and Wonder Woman's interaction, the Brothers of Themyscira and Donna Troy to pique the reader's interest, yet it never pans out.

There is nothing wrong with David Finch's art.  The character models, the backgrounds...everything is so, so awesome.  In my opinion, it is one of the better looking books out today.

Bits and Pieces:

Wonder Woman #39 continues to be a book that just doesn't get everything right.  I love David Finch's art, but the story is far from engaging.  It has the pieces to get there, they just aren't falling into place.  I hope they do because Wonder Woman fans deserve it.

6.8/10