Wonder Woman #767 Review

 

Mind Freak

Writer: Mariko Tamaki

Artist: Rafa Sandoval

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: November 25, 2020

I have not been a fan of Mariko Tamaki's run on Wonder Woman thus far.  While it's intriguing seeing Maxwell Lord and Diana work together, the ill-explained nonsense that pushes the book forward is, well, nonsense.  At least Maxwell finally showed his true colors at the end of the last issue so we can get things moving, right?  Well, let's find out...

The issue opens with a brief look at Maxwell Lord's troubled childhood, but at this stage, I am not sure why it's here.  Are we supposed to feel bad for him after he was mind freaking people for no reason, including almost killing a woman last issue?  It doesn't give enough relevant information to do much at all except take up space.  That continues with an issue that seems to meander a bit to save the big stuff for later.

We continue with Wonder Woman looking for Maxwell, but getting mind freaked herself by him.  Tamaki has been very inconsistent with Wonder Woman and mind control in this run, and it seems to boil down to if the story demands it or not.  Here it does as Diana "sees" Liar Liar as she chokes herself out and more as Maxwell reveals he knows all about what happened in Infinite Crisis.  Now, a couple of issues ago, Diana spelled out that she doesn't remember what happened but was having dreams and visions of something terrible.

The issue continues with Wonder Woman tricking Maxwell Lord in an eye-rolling way and then getting on her high horse to yell at him about privilege.  Is this what we're going with now, or is Tamaki playing off what he saw earlier with Maxwell to show later that Diana was a bit wrong herself?

The issue comes to a close with Diana taking down Maxwell, bragging to Etta about some trash talk that I couldn't find (Etta says, "You said that?  Amazing," but there was nothing said that was anywhere near that) and then Maxwell having a family reunion.  Yep, Liar Liar is back, and I don't care.

That sums up my feelings for Wonder Woman right now.  I don't care.  This Maxwell Lord Tech/Liar Liar story is forgettable generic nonsense.  The art has been good even with the rotating artists, but there is nothing here besides some pretty pictures.  I hope we get a new writer after Future State, and maybe DC will get someone with a good Wonder Woman story to tell because it's been a while since fans have gotten that.

Bits and Pieces:

Mariko Tamaki continues to inch her story forward as things come to a head between Diana and Maxwell Lord.  Explanations are still minimal, but it all looks good, and maybe things will pick up from here.  I can only hope because so far, this story has been a whole bunch of nothing.

5.0/10