It was a pretty eventful 12 pages, but not completely satisfying; it really needed to be a full issue, I think. Or maybe two or three issues: one about WW's conception and birth, and one about the events leading up to her exit form the island.
Spoiling a 12-page story doesn't leave much room for the imagination, so go away if you want to be able to enjoy the book!
Only one more page of Zeus and Hippolyta after the preview.
"In the face of a forbidden love," they "came together and created a legend." And then it shows them enjoying said "forbidden love" while winds swirl around them, and there's a panel that focuses on the winds blowing on the clay statue. Maybe it's too early and I'm not awake enough, but I'm still not sure what this means, exactly--that they created a cover story (or legend) by collaborating on making it appear that the statue was animated? Or that they really did animate the statue together (thus creating the soon-to-be-legendary hero Diana) by making love? The latter would, as Vonter pointed out on the preview thread, raise the question of why Hippolyta in #3 didn't tell her that she really was made of clay even though she was Zeus's daughter. I really would have liked a little more on Hippolyta and Zeus.
Aleka, clearly in love with Diana, is hurt that Diana's determined to leave, so she lashes out by calling her "Clay," leaving Diana grim-faced. "Later that night," Hippolyta is warning about Man's World (the first time that phrase has been used in the run, I think?) and how it "only desires one thing. While you believe it longs for another." [Sex and love, I assume.] Seems like evidence not only of what Hippolyta thinks of having been abandoned by Zeus, but also perhaps evidence that mens' use of women as sex objects is a reason that the Amazons despise men and their world. Hippolyta leaves after suggesting that someday maybe one day they can visit Man's World and "make a weekend of it" [which we hope would not involve visiting sailors]. Diana's thinking about how badly she longs for a place where she won't have to hide who she is. Exaclty what she's hiding is a little unclear; people "know" that she's clay, so I suppose she's referring to god mode, though it's not mentioned. Whether or not she's also referring to her heterosexuality, I think it's all at least a metaphor for having to hide one's sexual identity, as suggested by the title of the comic where this story is supposed to have first appeared: "Closet of Mystery."
So, she's thinking about this and the shadowy figure reveals herself: finally, Athena! She's an owl woman with an aegis shield bearing what appears to be Zeus' face, and wearing gold banded bracelets (and not much else). Her eyes are orange/gold, lending support to those who think Zola's eye color in 34 shows a connection to Zeus. Having apparently read Diana's mind, she offers her support for Diana's desire to find her own path, but says she can't help because "this struggle is one you must go alone."After she leaves, cut to....
Finally, Steve Trevor! His place is approaching the Bermuda Triangle. (Interesting that PI, or at least the way to get to PI, is still in the Bermuda Triangle. From Demon Knights, I thought the island was in the vicinity of Greece.) Cue sudden blast of wind (which reminds me of the winds around Hippolyta, Zeus and the statue at the beginning), leading to a crash landing. Diana sees the crash, finds Trevor, and there's banter about being "strong for a woman," "paradise," and the stimulating ups and downs of mans world. Hippolyta and her guards find Diana with Steve, whom Diana declares to be her "ticket" off the island. Nothing about a tournament, or about Diana having to help Steve escape (as rumored, according to reporters in JL). Athena is watching from the woods and thinking about her faith in Diana; the implication, as I read it, is that Athena engineered the arrival of Diana's "ticket." I like that the goddess seems to have taken an active hand in bringing Diana to the larger world to be a hero. Once again, it seems to me that Azz's book has built towards a stronger theme of female empowerment in the end, after first perhaps trying to hook readers who might have been more interested in "bad ass" than female empowerment.
With Athena having apparently summoned the wind to down Steve's plane, it seems more likely that she's emerge in 35 as the one from the prophecy to whom Zeus abandoned fate, who can blow away the smoke if she chooses. Her shield suggests that she's loyal to Zeus (or at least was, five years ago) but maybe she'll have been moved by Diana's courageous and heroic actions and will decide to take Diana's side by exposing Zeus' plan (whatever it is). If the wind imagery is important, maybe there's some connection between Athena and Siracca (besides being half sisters), and maybe Siracca will show up in 35 too.
One observation that may be a big stretch--I noticed that when Hippolyta is visiting Diana in her room, her shadow is big and lumpen. It seems realistic enough for a shadow cast by torchlight, but I still wondered whether it foreshadowed a revelation that Hippolyta herself was secretly made from clay. I've speculated before that a clay Hippolyta would foreshadow a few things; and if it having been made of clay makes a powerful and singular being, it could mean that Diana's power comes from both her parents.
Diana looks pretty young considering that she's just about to become Wonder Woman. But then, the Minotaur looked pretty different in #0; it seems like there are some details we should take with a grain of salt when this run's "retro" style is used.