The Legend of Wonder Woman #8 Review

End of Her Rope

Written by: Renae De Liz
Art by: Renae De Liz and Ray Dillon
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date:

It's no secret that I love the Legend of Wonder Woman so I'm not going to give you a phony "I wonder if I'm going to like this" introduction paragraph and waste any of our time.  We are eight chapters into this series and De Liz and Dillon have earned my trust to the point that that they have to mess up real bad for me to lose faith in them.  Spoiler alert...it still hasn't happened after reading this chapter.  While it may seem like I'm on the payroll, I'm just a guy who loves comics and Wonder Woman and really thinks this book deserves way more attention than DC Comics is willing to give it.  However, a couple of things I've learned in my many years on this planet are the people who yell the most usually have the least to say and the cream always rises to the top.  While the first one hasn't stopped Eric and myself from recording a four hour weekly podcast, the second one gives me hope that this book will be the runaway hit it deserves to be.  I guess I should get on with the matter at hand and start my review for chapter eight before everyone writes me off as a raving mad fanboy. What, that's already happened?!?  Oh well, at least I still have my street cred...




If you haven't been reading up until now, you missed some major events recently.  Steve Trevor crashed on Paradise Island and while Diana tried to help him, he was captured by the Amazonians and sentenced to death.  It's all the plan of the evil Antiope to depose Hippolyta and seize the throne of the Amazons for herself.

This chapter begins with Diana trying to stop the madness...not because she's in love with Steve (not yet at least), but because it is the right thing to do.  While it looks as if Antiope might add Diana to her list of casualties, Zeus shows up (well, he actually speaks through Hippolyta) and shuts everyone up.

Part of the appeal of Wonder Woman for me was always her connection to the gods and while we got them a bit in the first chapter, they have pretty much remained behind the scenes until now.  It was awesome to see Zeus take an active role and it sets up something even better...a tournament to determine the fate of Steve Trevor.

After promising her Mother she wouldn't get involved, Diana is inspired by Alcippe (doing her best Obi-Wan impersonation) to enter anyway.  Really, did you think she wasn't going to?!?  I would be lying if I told you I wasn't pumped when Diana goes to arm herself and her rope lasso is right in the middle of her stash of equipment.

The rest of the chapter involves the tournament and so it's no surprise that it's action packed.  While Hippolyta laid down the rules at the start, Team Ares seemed intent on breaking every one before it was all said and done.  That's bad news for Diana as the main one is no killing and after kicking major butt, she is face-to-face with three bigger and stronger Amazonians who mean to cause her extreme harm.

I'm sure that nobody expected Diana to die in her own story, right?  I mean, this is an all ages book and all so that would be pretty messed up.  Even so, I won't spoil the ending, but it sets up at least one scene that I can't wait to see.  Diana has some 'splainin to do!

This chapter was an action movie romp that reminded me of Mulan, Gladiator, Brave and a whole bunch of other movies and stories...and that is a huge compliment.  In the limited space that De Liz has, she gave us so much and all of it was great.  The highlight for me was seeing Diana using the rope in battle.  Somebody has been practicing!

The art in this book is always fantastic and while the use of mist in the tournament took the backgrounds away, it makes the reader concentrate on the fighting which was awesome.  Besides Diana, the star in this chapter was Ray Dillon and his great color work.  From the glowing Hippolyta/Zeus to the enveloping mist, his colors make De Liz's artwork jump off the page.

Bits and Pieces:

This is yet another great chapter in the Legend of Wonder Woman.  Diana steps up to do what's right and while it's all to save Steve Trevor's life, we are left wondering who will save hers.  This is the most action packed chapter in the series so far and one that will have lasting ramifications.  If you have enjoyed the series up until now, you'll love this chapter.  If you want to see what this book is all about, this chapter will show you, but I suggest starting from the beginning.

9.0/10