What do you say when a woman reaches her 750th anniversary? Whatever you DO say, be kind!
It’s easy enough to be kind when reviewing most of DC’s Wonder Woman issue 750. First, this bonus length issue runs 96 pages for ten bucks, so we are getting lots of reading and celebrating.
The issue is chockful of pinups, full-page colour illustrations of Wonder Woman in various time periods, posing heroically. And with eight (8) variant covers showing WW through the decades, there are plenty of visuals available.
The big numbers are there in other regards: more than 8 writers listed, and even more artists!
Since 1941, Wonder Woman, the powerful amazon from the island nation of Themyscira has been fighting alongside Batman and Superman, showing that a capable independent woman can stay out of bondage (most of the time) and capably battle Gods, Women, and Men. Usually in that order. Which is befitting, because issue 750’s tales mostly involve just that: battles. And tributes to memorable battles. Plus some good old patriotic hoorahing.
The overall theme of the issue shows us that Wonder Woman is sensitive, tough and a good negotiator. She tries to avoid physical combat, tries to reason with her antagonist. The bad guy (or bad woman) is usually a misguided, angry God or other Powerful Being, who needs to be convinced to put down the sword and have a cup of Chamomile tea. Time for a chat. If it comes to that.
First, the current storyline arc wraps up, courtesy of Steve Orlando’s script, with Jesue Merino on art, inked by Vincente Cifuentes and coloured by Romulo Fajardo Jr.
It’s Wonder Woman and Hera against Cheetah.
Cheetah shows up again in the issue, in “Never Change”, by Greg Rucka, Nicola Scott, and Romulo Fajardo Jr.
One very pleasant surprise in this collection of stories is “From Small Things, Mama”, written by Gail Simone and penciled and inked by Colleen Doran. HI-FI provides colours. This tale of a young girl with powers, is simply stunning. Doran knocks it out of the park! Every single panel, every pose, every detail in this short story is immaculate and breathtaking. Honestly, a full-length tale in this colourfully choreographed line style would be a best seller. The characters are positioned in classic poses, the angles are unique, the floral and illustrated effect detail is extremely good.
On the eccentric side of the scale, “Emergency Visit”, written by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale, with Riley Rossmo on art, with Ivan Plascencia on colours is a real departure. Off model, Wonder Woman is burly and tough. Think Darwyn Cooke on steroids, with a side dressing of Jack Kirby, blended into an edible line style. It’s exaggerated, wacky and offputting, but perhaps the editors saw this wide-eyed version of Wonder Woman as a nod to her rather stylized, heavy line art beginnings back during World War II.
As always in these big landmark issues, one wishes for more special guests. Perhaps the JLA reminiscing about all the past adventures. A visual retrospective. Well, it ain’t really so. But all in all, this is a wide-ranging collection of stories and tributes to Princess Diana of Themyscira.
DC, Wonder Woman #750, $9.99 for 90 pages of content. Teen
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