Wonder Woman #21 - Discussion & Spoilers

[Nyssane]

Well, things certainly are wrapping up pretty quickly now...

As we saw in the preview, Wonder Woman makes quick work of Colonel Maru, and tracks Veronica Cale's helicopter to an island on the Black Sea (where Cale is attempting to find Themyscira with Cheetah's help). Meanwhile, the amazons prepare to attack the tree. Deimos and Phobos (in their dog forms, of course) start howling while Cheetah immediately attacks Diana and Veronica holds a gun to Steve's head. The tree appears out of nowhere and a drop of Diana's blood opens a portal. Deimos and Phobos immediately run inside, and faceless Izzy follows behind. Cale and Diana also head for the portal, leaving Steve and Cheetah outside (cute scene). Inside the tree, Diana thinks they're dead, but they hear singing and come across the real Izzy. Veronica immediately embraces her while a very attractive, naked man in chains sits close by. He greets Diana and reveals that he's Ares, and they're in his prison.

Veronica's story is coming to a close which is nice. I think with Izzy back she should take a rest from crime.

I'm interested to know what exactly the Amazons are doing... did they go through the portal when it was on Themyscira? I'm thinking the story will end with Diana reuniting with them after so many years of being apart.

I'm also really happy Ares is back to being a sexy dude again. We have to sit through dozens of Poison Ivys and Mystiques and Enchantresses, why can't we get some hot villainous dudes too? I just wish he was blond like in Rucka's original run, but that's just personal preference.

What did everyone else think?

[RealWonderman]

MAN! This was GREAT! I can't wait to see how it wraps up! And Ares was SO HOT.

[Outside_85]

I dont know if it's just me, but while the issue is perfectly functional... I kinda feel like it's just very predictable at the same time.

It's unlikely we will see Maru again I reckon, so she is what she is atm. Cale appears to be getting what she wants... and I am almost certain Izzy is not going to last the series. Cheetah having a complete relapse also feels kinda predictable, and I recall mentioning her being human wasn't going to last, but it does seem to have gone to the level of her time as being human had no effect on her.
And Ares... I am going to be the first, at time of writing, who does not want Ares to be a beach-stud. I get why Perez drew him as the brother of Lord Sauron, he was the ultimate evil of Diana's world and he had to look the part. Likewise I get why Azzarello wanted him to look like a tired old man, that was simply symbolic of how War felt... old and tired. Him being hansome however may resemble classical myth Ares... along with Xena, Wrath of the Titans, and all the others who makes the bad guy sexy... I just dont see the point of it here. I mean, if all it's for is to be eye candy... why not make Steve that sexy instead?

[Rakzo]

Oh boy, I honestly feel ripped off here. This was a clear transition issue, meaning that it mostly serves as a set-up for more important plot-points coming but still the lack of content really bothered me, not to mention that the things that actually happened were not that interesting. Add Cheetah's unimpressive portrayal and you simply get an unsatisfying issue.

Sharp's work is also getting weaker with more off-looking characters and awkward storytelling. Just waiting for this to end already.

[Doctor Bifrost]

And Ares... I am going to be the first, at time of writing, who does not want Ares to be a beach-stud. I get why Perez drew him as the brother of Lord Sauron, he was the ultimate evil of Diana's world and he had to look the part.

For eons Sauron had a pleasing and charismatic form. It was only after his body was destroyed in a cataclysm - which he brought about - that he was no longer capable of making himself look attractive.

I think the view that evil characters - supervillains or even gods - can't be physically attractive is kind of arbitrary. As someone pointed out, a lot a evil female supervillains are pinup-level bombshells. Why not the males?

I mean, if all it's for is to be eye candy... why not make Steve that sexy instead?

Shirtless Steve has had a lot of admirers. And a few readers who complained because they thought he was being used for eye candy.

[Outside_85]

For eons Sauron had a pleasing and charismatic form. It was only after his body was destroyed in a cataclysm - which he brought about - that he was no longer capable of making himself look attractive.

I think the view that evil characters - supervillains or even gods - can't be physically attractive is kind of arbitrary. As someone pointed out, a lot a evil female supervillains are pinup-level bombshells. Why not the males?

I have read the Simarillion, but I was referring to how they both always... when they did appear, wore armor that hid everything.

And this is where I would ask... why are they only 'attractive' when they look like they spend the day strutting down a catwalk in Milan?
I mean, take into account that nearly every male hero or villain in comics can present a 6-pack... isn't it really only the residents of Arkham who really look ugly? Is Zod, for example, an ugly dude? Is the First Born (if he'd stop scowling)? I'd very much argue Lex Luthor definitely is not.

[marhawkman]

I think Vandal Savage would be considered handsome.

then you have guys like Lobo who go for the "rugged" look, but it's simply a different type of handsome.

[Doctor Bifrost]

And this is where I would ask... why are they only 'attractive' when they look like they spend the day strutting down a catwalk in Milan?

I can't speak to that, since I neither said it nor think it. But then I have eclectic tastes - I thought Roger, formerly Porcupine, as recently presented in Spider-Woman, was very cute - a "bear," in the modern parlance - and I was a little disappointed to find out that he wasn't gay. (He's Jessica's boyfriend now.)

[Nyssane]

And this is where I would ask... why are they only 'attractive' when they look like they spend the day strutting down a catwalk in Milan?
I mean, take into account that nearly every male hero or villain in comics can present a 6-pack... isn't it really only the residents of Arkham who really look ugly? Is Zod, for example, an ugly dude? Is the First Born (if he'd stop scowling)? I'd very much argue Lex Luthor definitely is not.

There's attractive (Zod and Luthor would apply... the First Born is absolutely not attractive IMO) and then there's sexy. The majority of female villains fall on the sexy spectrum because femme fatales are a straight man's fantasy. There are very few male villains who are actually sexy, villains who use their sex appeal to enhance their manipulation and deception. Ares in this comic is depicted very sexually – nude and in chains, and yeah, he's drawn muscular but not overly so. The last shot of Ares is something that you really don't see with male characters in comics.

[Joao]

I was certainly not expecting that bunch of things happening at once! Of all this issue made me feel, curious to see how Godwatch will be handled from now is the most proeminent. As Rucka said, the storylines will meet at the end, and Diana is helping Cale here while she haven't met her in Godwatch yet. And from Bilquis's wips on twitter/instagram, she's also drawing Diana on the island that leads to Themyscira. Intriguing. I think they will tell the same stories from different perspectives, maybe focusing on the Cale-Izzy meeting there? We shall see.

As for this issue: wow, Ares what is not what I expected AT ALL. And he seems like a nice person! Am I deceived by his looks? Probably yes lol.

I'm curious to see how Diana will react to him. They'll probably have a nice talk and Rucka knows how to write his dialogue. I wonder if she'll free him not (just) because of Izzy, but because she has mercy for Ares.

I liked it a lot. The art was a little inconsistent, but things are finally happening and I can't wait for more.

[Joao]

Duplicate post, so let me use it to show the Bilquis's wips I mentioned:

Steve and Diana next to the tree.

Cale's helicopter.

Cale.

Weird stuff

[Nyssane]

And Ares... I am going to be the first, at time of writing, who does not want Ares to be a beach-stud. I get why Perez drew him as the brother of Lord Sauron, he was the ultimate evil of Diana's world and he had to look the part. Likewise I get why Azzarello wanted him to look like a tired old man, that was simply symbolic of how War felt... old and tired. Him being hansome however may resemble classical myth Ares... along with Xena, Wrath of the Titans, and all the others who makes the bad guy sexy... I just dont see the point of it here. I mean, if all it's for is to be eye candy... why not make Steve that sexy instead?

I agree that the issue did feel predictable, but in a good way for me.

As for Ares... let's be real here. If he was a female villain they would've *never* made him an unattractive elderly character. I don't think it's just for eye candy; Ares under Rucka's pen has always been devious and manipulative. He probably uses his appearance to help with that.

And are you saying Steve ISN'T sexy?

Add Cheetah's unimpressive portrayal and you simply get an unsatisfying issue.

Cheetah's a strange case for me in this issue. She did this to herself in order to SAVE her friends, and now she's lashing out against them? The curse must be doing something to her brain (which I hope is one day resolved and she gains more control over it).

As for this issue: wow, Ares what is not what I expected AT ALL. And he seems like a nice person! Am I deceived by his looks? Probably yes lol.

Rucka does love to write a very deceptive Ares (my personal favorite version of the character).

[Outside_85]

As for Ares... let's be real here. If he was a female villain they would've *never* made him an unattractive elderly character. I don't think it's just for eye candy; Ares under Rucka's pen has always been devious and manipulative. He probably uses his appearance to help with that.

And are you saying Steve ISN'T sexy?

They do when they feature Hecate? And Nyx. But you are right they probably wouldn't... they would settle with what consider 'average', like Cale and Chiang's Hera aren't ugly people, but they aren't attracting men like flies with their looks either. And if its for the manipulation... ehh, I really do not want the God of War to be Tom Hiddleston's Loki, while I know deception has long been part of Ares' character in DC.

To be honest, I wouldn't really know since dudes are not my cup of tea I just assumed he must not be if Ares needed to fill that spot.

[sakuyamons]

To be honest, I wouldn't really know since dudes are not my cup of tea I just assumed he must not be if Ares needed to fill that spot.

There can be more than one hot guy in Wonder Woman!

[Nyssane]

They do when they feature Hecate? And Nyx. But you are right they probably wouldn't... they would settle with what consider 'average', like Cale and Chiang's Hera aren't ugly people, but they aren't attracting men like flies with their looks either. And if its for the manipulation... ehh, I really do not want the God of War to be Tom Hiddleston's Loki, while I know deception has long been part of Ares' character in DC.

To be honest, I wouldn't really know since dudes are not my cup of tea I just assumed he must not be if Ares needed to fill that spot.

Steve is the wholesome nice guy you bring home to your parents.

Ares is the bad boy you date secretly without your parents knowing.

They are completely different types of sexy men.

And since you brought them up, Hecate's most recent appearance had her as a sexy snake woman. Nyx only appeared in maybe one panel in the entirety of her comic career. But yeah, she was spectacularly haggy.