Superman/Wonder Woman #20 Review

Written by: Peter J. Tomasi
Art by: Doug Mahnke, Jaime Mendoza, Sean Parsons And Wil Quintana
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: August 19, 2015

Nothing but the Truth?

The Truth continues this week and we are off to the Oval Office where Superman was headed after seeing a snow globe.  I know it's not as simple as that, but it sure looked like it at the end of last issue of Superman/Wonder Woman.  After finding his childhood house ripped from the ground, the bodies of relatives taken from their graves and Lana Lang, Steel and other Smallville residents gone missing, Superman went looking for answers.  Instead, he found the Suicide Squad.  Everything must have pointed to the President of the United States in Clark's mind because that's who he ended up confronting in the cliffhanger last month...or did he?  We find out that answer, but do we find out anything else that might push the Truth story forward, at least in this book?  Let's find out...




Guess what?  The guy in the shadows at the end of last issue wasn't the President, it was Steve Trevor.  A sort-of xenophobic Steve Trevor, but Steve Trevor all the same.  After all they've been through, Steve seems as mad as everyone else about Superman's identity reveal.  The best thing about this scene is that Clark calls him on this and then tells Trevor exactly what I've wanted to hear in every Truth book so far...why he had a secret identity.  To Superman it wasn't just to protect himself and those he loved, but also to be able to keep being Clark Kent, to lead a full life.  It was a pretty good scene that puts things is a different perspective, but something else is going on during this. Something a little more sinister.

The Government has obviously been gathering people and things from Clark's life.  They are rebuilding his Smallville house which is creepy enough, but wait until you see who they've captured for questioning.  It's a who's who that includes Lana and Steel (no surprise there), but also Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen and Perry White.  Throw in his grade school teacher a neighbor and Cat Grant and you get the idea that the Government means business.  Someone else who means business is Wonder Woman.  As Clark continues his talk with Steve Trevor, she is busting into the facility holding all the above people.  She's going to have some explaining to do when Superman finds out.

The issue then takes an odd turn when the President steps out from the shadows and asks Superman to take a walk with him.  After talking, he gives Superman his word that his friends will be released soon and then...they are attacked by Parasite?!?!  Seriously, this scene made little to no sense, but when it's revealed that a Secret Service agent let Parasite out "just in case", I just scratched my head in confusion.

Meanwhile, Lois and company look as if they are being interviewed by TMZ...spilling the beans on their relationships and thoughts on Clark Kent/Superman.  It's a collection of good, bad and just awful (Perry White again looking so bad).  The issue ends with Lois about to get interviewed and also the reveal of the how and who that is asking the questions.  I want to know the why, but even then I'm not sure I'll be satisfied with the answer.  Of course, I will wait to make that judgement, but I'm worried.

I didn't love this issue, though I liked a lot of what we got here.  Though we don't get answers, we get some explanations.  Superman telling Steve Trevor why he had a secret identity was great, mainly because I've been waiting for him to tell someone, if not everyone.  I also loved that Tomasi had Steve Trevor address the idea of why the world isn't mad at Batman, Green Lantern, etc. for wearing masks.  It makes little sense to me in the grand scheme of things, but at least it was kind of addressed. Then there is this whole government conspiricy thing going on and I'm more interested in why they are rebuilding his home and gathering the dead bodies of his relatives than any interviews with his friends.  However, the cliffhanger had me intrigued and worried at the same time.  At the end of the day, this issue is all setup, but it was still an okay read in my opinion.

The art was better than okay.  I really enjoyed Doug Mahnke's character work and in an issue with more talking and less fighting, that is a big plus.  I'm still getting used to Wonder Woman's new costume, but this issue may have my favorite Truth Superman in it.

Bits and Pieces:

While this issue was all setup, I did like hearing Superman explain why he had a secret identity.  Why he doesn't just call a press conference and explain it to the world is beyond me, but I'm glad we got it and I really enjoyed his reasons.  While the art was consistent throughout, the story was a bit confusing and forced at times. I'm not sure who is really on Clark's side at the end, but I am actually interested to find out.

6.5/10