Wonder Woman #61 the Just War pt 4 spoilers

[brettc1]

No thread for this issue yet? Did it come out earlier in Australia?

Well anyway, we kick off with Steve meeting Aphrodite and having quite a long conversation - apparently not far from the War Zone. We then cut back to the city being bombed, where Diana is busy saving two children who are, coincidentally, the grand kids of the countries Prime Minister [neither he nor they get actual names in the book].

As Diana talks to him about Ares, and he wonders what they can do if even the gods have turned against them, Steve shows up with Aphrodite. When an offer to make a peace treaty arrives, Wonder Woman, Steve and the Goddess escort the Prime Minister through the embattled city. Etta and the air force turn up to make sure they get to the meeting place in time, only to discover it was apparently a ruse of Ares to bring them to him for judgement [with his axe].

Okay. I'll start the less impressive.

First, as I said the supporting characters are rather generic, not even having names.

Wonder Woman seems to struggle a bit with even regular army weapons. She flies the kids to safety, but for some reason insists of running along the ground to get the PM to his meeting with the rebels. Also, the fact that the note for the meeting says where its going to be held but does not promise safe passage seemed weird right from the get go. In today's age of modern communication it couldn't be THAT hard to order a cease fire.

It also seemed very odd that the PM seemed to know a lot about the gods, whereas Diana does not even recognize Aphrodite when she shows up and has to be told by Steve.

On the good side, it felt like we got more dialogue between Steve and Aphrodite in the first six pages than we saw in the whole of the last two issues. Aphrodite does make some rather good comments about the downside of being goddess of love, and Steve gets some depth to him as well. Also, the art in this issue is a big improvement.

Overall? For me its largely a set up issue, and sadly Wonder Woman herself is the least impressive part of it. The Dodson cover is impressive, but the "Power of Aphrodite" [which seems to manifest itself via MY LITTLE PONY style energy butterflies] is not much evidence.

Two stars.

[Doctor Bifrost]

No thread for this issue yet? Did it come out earlier in Australia?

In the U.S. (at least, Texas and California, where I've been recently) we got almost no new comics this last week. "It's because of Christmas and New Year's," the store managers said.

[brettc1]

In the U.S. (at least, Texas and California, where I've been recently) we got almost no new comics this last week. "It's because of Christmas and New Year's," the store managers said.

Wow. Well, here we got our full complement on Wed/Thurs. International shipping must work faster. Sorry guys.

[kjn]

Wow. Well, here we got our full complement on Wed/Thurs. International shipping must work faster. Sorry guys.

Likely different distribution mechanisms, where the US is tied to their Wednesday releases. International distribution tends to be slower/more prone to delays, but also more flexible.

[starlight25]

No thread for this issue yet? Did it come out earlier in Australia?

Well anyway, we kick off with Steve meeting Aphrodite and having quite a long conversation - apparently not far from the War Zone. We then cut back to the city being bombed, where Diana is busy saving two children who are, coincidentally, the grand kids of the countries Prime Minister [neither he nor they get actual names in the book].

As Diana talks to him about Ares, and he wonders what they can do if even the gods have turned against them, Steve shows up with Aphrodite. When an offer to make a peace treaty arrives, Wonder Woman, Steve and the Goddess escort the Prime Minister through the embattled city. Etta and the air force turn up to make sure they get to the meeting place in time, only to discover it was apparently a ruse of Ares to bring them to him for judgement [with his axe].

Okay. I'll start the less impressive.

First, as I said the supporting characters are rather generic, not even having names.

Wonder Woman seems to struggle a bit with even regular army weapons. She flies the kids to safety, but for some reason insists of running along the ground to get the PM to his meeting with the rebels. Also, the fact that the note for the meeting says where its going to be held but does not promise safe passage seemed weird right from the get go. In today's age of modern communication it couldn't be THAT hard to order a cease fire.

It also seemed very odd that the PM seemed to know a lot about the gods, whereas Diana does not even recognize Aphrodite when she shows up and has to be told by Steve.

On the good side, it felt like we got more dialogue between Steve and Aphrodite in the first six pages than we saw in the whole of the last two issues. Aphrodite does make some rather good comments about the downside of being goddess of love, and Steve gets some depth to him as well. Also, the art in this issue is a big improvement.

Overall? For me its largely a set up issue, and sadly Wonder Woman herself is the least impressive part of it. The Dodson cover is impressive, but the "Power of Aphrodite" [which seems to manifest itself via MY LITTLE PONY style energy butterflies] is not much evidence.

Two stars.

So on top of that ugly art, not very bright dialogues. We have to face a WW that again finds it difficult to deal with regular army weapons? GWW can go to the crappy WW wtiters list then. I won't have any expectations. I'm tired of dealing with generic stories, origin changes plus weak and boring action.

[brettc1]

So on top of that ugly art, not very bright dialogues. We have to face a WW that again finds it difficult to deal with regular army weapons? GWW can go to the crappy WW wtiters list then. I won't have any expectations. I'm tired of dealing with generic stories, origin changes plus weak and boring action.

Actually, as I said, I think the art is much improved this issue. Xermanico does the honors.

But I will add this - I think it would be nice to have a writer begin their run on Wonder Woman WITHOUT a storyline about Diana questioning herself, her place in the world, her relevance, what have you.

[starlight25]

Actually, as I said, I think the art is much improved this issue. Xermanico does the honors.

But I will add this - I think it would be nice to have a writer begin their run on Wonder Woman WITHOUT a storyline about Diana questioning herself, her place in the world, her relevance, what have you.

An improvement isn't much.

It'd be nice. But for that you would need writers that actually love Wonder Woman for who she really is. Not writers who need to reinvent her when they get their hands on her title. Writers that can be proud of a female powerhouse, self empowerment, equal rights, LGBT icon. Instead all the writers currently are playing it safe. Going the generic and weak warrior woman route.

[Zahina]

An improvement isn't much.

It'd be nice. But for that you would need writers that actually love Wonder Woman for who she really is. Not writers who need to reinvent her when they get their hands on her title. Writers that can be proud of a female powerhouse, self empowerment, equal rights, LGBT icon. Instead all the writers currently are playing it safe. Going the generic and weak warrior woman route.

I think Xena:Warrior Princess is responsible for DC turning Wonder Woman into a generic weak warrior woman.

[Zahina]

Actually, as I said, I think the art is much improved this issue. Xermanico does the honors.

But I will add this - I think it would be nice to have a writer begin their run on Wonder Woman WITHOUT a storyline about Diana questioning herself, her place in the world, her relevance, what have you.

The writers do this to give Wonder Woman character flaws. Apparently DC thinks that Wonder Woman is a hard character to write because she's perfect.

[starlight25]

I think Xena:Warrior Princess is responsible for DC turning Wonder Woman into a generic weak warrior woman.

Ironic. Since WW influenced Xena.

Also it's dumb from DC part because her character still has access to Godly powers that are meant to put her far above a xena type of character.

And WW does have flaws. But it's just seem many writers need to start every new run dedicated to remind everybody about it. Instead of letting things flow naturally into the stories.

[brettc1]

The writers do this to give Wonder Woman character flaws. Apparently DC thinks that Wonder Woman is a hard character to write because she's perfect.

I’ve heard that rubbish for years. But it’s the SAME flaw over and over and OVER.

Thats why I gave up on Arrow - because in the show Oliver Queen NEVER Learns and makes the same stupid mistakes every season.

[AmiMizuno]

Superman has been looked at the same way but DC has no issue. Diana's biggest issues are not wanting to kill and her heart

[Fuzzy Mittens]

Alright having finally gotten to read this issue I found it to be a rather good read honestly. Putting aside that one shot, this is the best portrayal Steve Trevor has had in quite a long time. Aphrodite came off as genuinely interesting and likable which hasn't been a thing for a really long long time. Wonder Woman traveling across a battlefield and saving people is the sort of thing I always like to see with her, and ending the issue with Ares standing in the way of peace is just so perfectly fitting.

Im looking forward to seeing where this story is going

[Konja7]

I really like this issue. In my opinion, it's the best issue of Wilson so far.

However, the more interesting for me was Aphrodite o Steve. I think the characterization of Wonder Woman was just fine (although the scene where she protects the kids is great). Then, I don't if this is so good.

[Koriand'r]

Excellent, for the first time I enjoyed Wilson's choice of words. There was a flow and rhythm to her writing I hadn't noticed before. Diana seemed more like herself too. Her comments about Themyscira were as welcome as they were heart touching. Hopefully we'll get a trip there soon.