Wonder Woman #754 (spoilers)

[Frank]

This was...sweet, but slight. And let me be clear - I am not put off by stand alone issues. I *like* stand alone issues, and they don't have to be slight.

I very much like the vibe of the issue - Diana's general confidence, teamwork, and romance are all great - but it's never clear why or what kind of threat Ultraa really is, beyond sexism and homophobia, and unless I'm mis-remembering, isn't Maxima...powerful? She doesn't really do much. it's a feel-good issue, but there's not too much in the way of character here.

I do find it an interesting...choice...that DC is sticking with Finch's origin story for Donna. It's an origin story I hate, and I was hoping they'd quietly make it go away, but I guess we're at least stuck with it until 5G (if 5G actually happens?). I missed all the Deathbringer stuff, so maybe DC had already doubled-down on that origin, but I wish Orlando could ignore it - I don't know if he had the choice to or not.


I like that the four horsewomen stuff is unfolding bit by bit, much like Conway's Prime Planner/Cobra story oh-so-long-ago. I just wish the interim stories had more weight to them. Same vibe, same capable Diana, just more heft to the story.

[Artemisfanboy]

This was...sweet, but slight. And let me be clear - I am not put off by stand alone issues. I *like* stand alone issues, and they don't have to be slight.

I very much like the vibe of the issue - Diana's general confidence, teamwork, and romance are all great - spoilers:

but it's never clear why or what kind of threat Ultraa really is, beyond sexism and homophobia, and unless I'm mis-remembering, isn't Maxima...powerful? She doesn't really do much.

end of spoilers it's a feel-good issue, but there's not too much in the way of character here.

I do find it an interesting...choice...that DC is spoilers:

sticking with Finch's origin story for Donna. It's an origin story I hate, and I was hoping they'd quietly make it go away, but I guess we're at least stuck with it until 5G (if 5G actually happens?). I missed all the Deathbringer stuff, so maybe DC had already doubled-down on that origin,

end of spoilers but I wish Orlando could ignore it - I don't know if he had the choice to or not.


I like that the four horsewomen stuff is unfolding bit by bit, much like Conway's Prime Planner/Cobra story oh-so-long-ago. I just wish the interim stories had more weight to them. Same vibe, same capable Diana, just more heft to the story.

Um, I guess this is because Diamond lifted the release date restrictions. Could you explain in detail how and how much they're keeping "it" and how "it" squares with Diana's flashbacks training Donna from just two issues ago?

[Artemisfanboy]

Ok. I've read the issue now my thoughts

spoilers:

Donna returns to her apartment after having been cured of her Infection in Hell Arisen #4(don't ask how this is suppose to work with timeline.) She notices Diana has been trying to contact her via her own magic sphere she has. In regards to Donna and her origin. Donna has a flashback to Diana talking to a young Donna on Themyscira. Diana tells Donna that she was created to destroy the amazons and they hid that from her, but it's framed as more a caring sisterly talk. Diana isn't antagonistic as she was in titans with Donna. And they obviously didn't brainwash an adult Donna or the other Titans into thinking she was their friend as you may have gotten an impression of from that annual. While I would have preferred Donna to simply have been returned to her classic origin, I'm still willing to give Orlando a chance and see what the full story is. While he is using an element of it, it isn't the the full Finch Origin. I've thought of the possibility that they may utilize the Heinberg Post infinite crisis origin, while adapting Magala's motives for creating Donna to be more sinister. Regardless I still get the feeling that by the end of this Diana and Donna will have reconciled and have a good sisterly relationship. I'm get the feeling Orlando is doing an exploration of a nature vs nurture thing here in regards to Donna and Helen. I'm willing to see how he executes it. Also update on the Four Horse women and Genocide. The Island was located in Tyrrenian Sea. The Island is not Identified as Thalarion, but Genocide's guards are refered to as Gargareans. They don't seem to be as alive as Simone's were. No lines, and Helen refers to them as "Braindead" and and "Undead". Achilles does not appear. Genocide was imprisoned in a tomb with broken bust of Diana on it and Warmaster revives Genocide with some of her blood. The Ameraac plot, there's not much to say Diana and Maxima meet up with Maxima's lover who has an Absorbascon with the truth of Almeraacs founders, they crash Ultraa's coronation, and Maxima and her lover get married. No mention of the older Maxima at all either.

end of spoilers

Some disappointments aside I'm still really engaged with the book. It's sad to think things might be going on hiatus for an indefinite period of time with all the shutdowns and quarantines from the Coronavirus going on. We'll have to see what DC decides to do about digital distribution during this uncerain time.

[Psy-lock]

Ugh, DC just won't let go of the worst origin for Donna Troy.

[Artemisfanboy]

Ugh, DC just won't let go of the worst origin for Donna Troy.

Now strictly speaking they've ditched just everything about the finch origin, except the idea that somebody(we don't know who) "created"(We dont know if this mirror clone, Finch golem, or maybe just the the Titans of Myth making Donna a Titan Seed) Donna with the intent of her to destroy the amazons. New 52 Themyscira is gone, Donna being created as an adult is gone. So it's not the New 52 origin.

We have Diana mentoring a young Donna on Themyscira (this comes from Diana's own memories two issues ago which don't contradict Donna's here) and having a sisterly relationship with her. It seems like Diana and the Amazons hiding information from young Donna was more of a "we waited until you were older and ready to told" type thing.

I'm thinking maybe we have a alteration on the Titans of Myth and the Titan Seed thing with more of active plan against the Olympians and the Amazons that Diana foiled and saved a young Donna from as another possibility?

I'm waiting to see what Orlando does here. But yeah slightly disappointed right now.

[Psy-lock]

Now strictly speaking they've ditched just everything about the finch origin, except the idea that somebody(we don't know who) "created"(We dont know if this mirror clone, Finch golem, or maybe just the the Titans of Myth making Donna a Titan Seed) Donna with the intent of her to destroy the amazons. New 52 Themyscira is gone, Donna being created as an adult is gone. So it's not the New 52 origin.

No matter which route he goes, it's pretty much the same origin as Devastation. That's just lazy.