Extra! Extra!
Written by: Greg Rucka
Art by: Nicola Scott, Romulo Fajardo Jr. and Jodi Wynne
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: January 11, 2017
This is the finale of a couple of things...the Year One story and also Nicola Scott's art on this book. While I am excited to see how Year One ends, it makes me so sad to see Scott leave. Her art has been tremendous and one of the big reasons (along with Liam Sharpe's art) I have enjoyed Wonder Woman since Rebirth started. I say all that, but have to admit that this book is starting to show some chinks in it's armor and I hope this issue can put it back on the very top of my pull list. Does it come through? Let's find out...
The issue opens with a cool scene between Ares and Diana as the God of War holds Steve Trevor by the neck. While Ares wants directions to Themyscira, Diana just wants the madness to end and supplicates herself to the god.
While some may have an issue with this, I loved it! Diana is going against a god and puts herself out there to save a people whom she barely (if at all) knows. Of course, she has something up her sleeve when she promises Ares the information..."If it's mine to grant."
While this is going on, Diana's friends notice a few of...Diana's friends have come to watch the proceedings. Yep, the Patrons are back and I laughed as Etta tried to figure out who was who just as I was. They don't get involved just yet, but when Ares realizes he's been duped and goes on the attack, they join in the fight by Diana's side. It ends with such an awesome full page that may not give us a ton of information going forward, but looked incredible!
If you ever wanted to see an Owl use a cellphone, now is your chance! The issue continues with Athena (still an Owl) showing them where the Maru Virus is worldwide and it's a mad dash to stop it. It all seems to going well except that there is no virus. That's when Diana figures out what Ares told her and even though it leads her to the virus, it also leads her to the TRUTH!
The issue ends with a couple friends, a couple of Tequila Sunrises and Diana getting a new name...Wonder Woman. It's a nice ending that leads into the God Watch story coming up next.
I liked this issue even though it seemed like the the ending came up a bit flat after the big buildup. I would have liked a bit more with Ares and after he was dismissed, Greg Rucka seemed to hurry things to get to the finish line. Seeing Wonder Woman get her name was cool, but even that felt rushed and had less of an impact than I thought it would.
Nicola Scott's art was awesome and I am going to miss it so much. I also want to give a shoutout to Romulo Fajardo Jr's colors which were amazing as well.
Bits and Pieces:
I enjoyed this issue even as it seemed smaller than the buildup that lead to it. It's a mix of satisfying moments and rushed bits, but Nicola Scott's art makes it all look fantastic. I liked this Year One finale more than the Lies one, but like that issue, I was left wanting so much more.
8.0/10
I officially hate WW's rebirth origin. Nothing to respect about a woman whose idea of heroism is getting on her knees before a tyrant, who she knows in advance will not keep his word anyway. And to be clear, Ares did NOT keep his word upon discovering that WW had essentially tricked him. Areas STILL attacked her and still attempted to wreak havoc. So what was the purpose of WW humiliating herself? She could have defeated Ares anyway as he actions after her supplication clearly showed. Why did WW humiliate herself?
ReplyDeleteOr should I say "Supplicate herself"? To supplicate is to "humbly beg" or get on one's knees. It makes me wonder, did WW want to get on her knees? Why supplicate herself which only had the effect of Ares discovering that she never knew Themyscira's location? Why not just kick his ass like she did anyway and keep Ares under the false impression that she actually knew Themyscira's location?
And since when does the magic lasso vaporize gods? Terribly written chapter that frankly was not only NOT saved by Nicola Scott's art but actually worsened by it..... since it portrays Diana as a doe-eyed idiot who prefers unnecessary subservience to tyranny kicking butt. (and to be clear, WW's supplication was shown to have been unnecessary as she defeated him with but a mild fling of her lasso.)
Rarely has the character of Ares suffered greater insult than under Rucka's scripts.
And are we to rejoice that Azzarello's gods have been replaced by such stunning narrative elements as an owl using an iphone? Apparently so. Myself, I'm heartbroken that WW Rebirth epitomizes weakness and humiliation. Is it any 'Wonder' that the character was stripped of United Nations recognition in our world. (Perhaps they got forehand knowledge of Rebirth WW's new origin?)
Are you a real person
DeleteI like the fact that we actually got an ending. It was an enjoyable read that allayed my fears that Rucka would never give us an ending. 8.0 seems about right to me. Good review, Jim!
ReplyDeleteyea, I did like the ending...she's now Wonder Woman as we end Year One
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