Been sighted as one of the best 'Wonder Woman' comic books in the last decade, as penned by Gail Simone. Sure I was hyped up - even the packaging was immaculate and handled with extreme care when it was posted to my door. But experience has taught me to always keep my expectations low on anything.
In the end I couldn't help it - the book and its cover make it look like a Greek mythology treasure trove!
Nonetheless, I enjoyed 'Wonder Woman, Vol. 3: The Circle'.
The plotting is solid - nothing and no one, no matter how small the role, is left out at the end. The action is amazingly drawn and moves everything forward with ease. Athena praise the artwork!
But of course the main talking point is Wonder Woman. She is tough, smart, savvy, and most of all she's compassionate and seeks redemption and forgiveness in everyone, even her worst enemies.
Gail Simone was once quoted saying:
'When you need to stop an asteroid, you get Superman. When you need to solve a mystery, you call in Batman. But when you need to end a war, you get Wonder Woman.'
Wonder Woman is a paragon for truth and justice in all places - not only in America or her once homeland of Themyscira, but on other planets as well, as seen in the last story of ‘The Circle’.
Other 'Wonder Woman' comics I've read seem to portray her as being rather bloodthirsty and quick to stab her opponents even in public places in civilian form; implying that Amazons and thus all "strong independent women" are like that. However, Simone seems to understand the original purpose of the most famous superheroine of all time. I get the feeling that, even with the numerous bad decisions made by 'Wonder Woman' writers before her, Simone is able to find ways of making them work for her own stories. Or at least she can make up for them without retconning anything.
Wonder Woman can be formidable, yet caring and reasonable; she is a negotiator first before she's a warrior. Though unafraid of knocking out those who stand in her way - nor will she back out of a challenge - she knows when the time is right to fight. She's a hero who will not give in to hatred and use violence to try to solve every problem, and that's admirable, not weak or an effeminate way of looking at the world. Wondy can navigate through any situation with a calm head on her shoulders - no matter what, she will put peace and family community first.
Her lasso of truth is a fully effective instrument (not necessarily a weapon) – it’s frightening in how far it goes to uncover the truth in a person.
Weapons in Wonder Woman’s arsenal include a sword and a bow, and in battle she can wield both just as well as her lasso.
Aside from Wonder Woman herself there are other things to love about 'The Circle', such as the complex development of Hippolyta, queen of the Amazons. There is the backstory of four Amazon warriors who were chosen above others to guard the queen, but who then came to betray her when they saw her child - Diana, the future Wonder Woman - as an abomination and a threat to the Amazons. So “the Circle” conspired to kill Diana as a babe. The flashback scenes are bold and manage the trick of creating suspense when you already know how things are going to turn out. Diana's relationship with her mother is also very well handled.
Despite a war going on, entertaining comic book antics are present. Neo-Nazis are the bad guys (so satisfying to see Wonder Woman rough them up!), and super intelligent gorillas hide out in Agent Diana Prince's apartment!
Her friend, Lt. Colonel Etta Candy, is an awesome female ally for her - incredibly smart, witty (she's given brilliant dialogue), not skinny, and able to put anyone in their place, even men who outrank her. She even reasons with an alien planet destroyer! Too often I see Wonder Woman partnered with men, and while that is good for her given her sheltered upbringing on Paradise Island, girlfriends outside of there are sorely missed. Etta is an Amazon in her own right; Diana even refers to her as a sister.
So, fabulous artwork, great writing, great history, great Wonder Woman. What didn't I like?
Unsurprisingly, the dishonour goes to the romance. It lacks tension, is unnecessary, and does nothing to advance the plot. Thomas Tresser, aka Nemesis, barely does anything throughout the whole book, shifting between continuing DC storylines as it is. Granted, Wondy is shown to be wearing the pants in their relationship, and Tom is a good guy, who struggles to find in himself what someone like Wonder Woman would see in him. However I still feel it was only there for the main female to be with a man, in a story that has nothing to do with romantic love. Not helped by the fact that Diana's human role is downplayed in this comic in favour of the Nazis-vs-Amazons-and-the-Gorillas arse-kicking.
And a few things were a bit confusing to me - especially in the last story - since I have not read many of the previous comic book issues. But I can live with that.
Because I agree with the general opinion that 'Wonder Woman, Vol. 3: The Circle' is the 'Wonder Woman' story most dearly needed in recent years. Is this Wonder Woman done right – as a princess, a banished Amazon, a feminist icon, and a hero for peace? Yes.
Beautiful, strong, smart and brave, she is really is a wonder, as she was originally meant to be. A goddess, as the intro by Mercedes Lackey proclaims.
Final Score: 4/5
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