Aug
10
2016
0

Wonder Woman #4 Review

Written By: Greg Rucka

Art By: Nicola Scott

Published By: DC Comics

Wonder Woman’s origin is one that has been retold countless times since her introduction in All Star Comics #8 back in December of 1941. While there has been some disparity over plot points, such as whether she was born of clay or whether she was a child of Zeus, the Amazonian culture that makes up her origin has often been relegated to the background. With the fourth Rebirth issue, Greg Ruck and Nicola Scott put a stop to this. The series fully delves into Amazonian culture, and by doing so, gives a fresh, intimate look at Diana’s origins that is unlike anything seen before.

There are many instances in this issue in which I expected to see some fighting and perhaps bloodshed, yet there was none. This book focuses deeply on the Amazon’s as a peace-loving society and more than half of the issue is spent on the council discussing the ramifications of  the the crashed military plane from the previous issue. Instead of a big fight scene, there is respect, logic, belief, and an immense amount of character/cultural development. Hippolyta, General Phillipus, Areto, and Castalia come to life in the meeting of the council of Themyscira, and they bring new readers up to speed in a way that feels natural without the usual expository dump. Each of them is intriguing in their own way, and their interactions with one another flesh out the core of what it means to be an Amazon.

As a side note, as much as the Amazon’s are established as peaceful, they do emerge as a group of badass warriors in the mere span of two pages. Not to go into too much spoiler territory, but more than one Amazon shrugs off a bullet wound as a mild disappointment. In this issue Hippolyta also manages to stand out through her firm, yet open ruling as she listens to other opinions with genuine respect, while also connecting their potential moves to the will of their god’s. Her parenting, and love for Diana, while brief, packs yet another emotional charge, which seems to be the calling card for this series as a whole thus far.

Diana’s relationship with her culture and her acceptance, yet subtle sadness to leave it behind is handled deftly, in part by Rucka’s strong dialogue and Nicola Scott’s soft pencils. Scott’s art is a sight to behold as she somehow manages to make the peace lovingness of the Amazon’s come to life on the pages. Her characters are genuinely portrayed–at times with innocence and belief and when needed with a steely-eyed determination–both of which sell the stellar character work that goes on in this issue. She also draws one hell of an invisible jet, which is given an origin that works well within the military context of the series thus far.

Wonder Woman #4 is yet another superb chapter in a series that is quickly staking its claim as one of the premier Rebirth titles, and Wonder Woman stories to date. It manages to give a fresh take on many iconic Wonder Woman tropes and establishes the the Amazon’s, who are so integral to Diana’s life, as characters worthy of the Wonder.