Written by (See Credits Below)
Art by (See Credits Below)
Cover Art by Ivan Reis; Joe Prado; & Carrie Strachan
SUMMARY:
Published for December 2014, this Wonder Woman anthology series prints another three tales (one of which is a cliffhanger) initially released via the internet. This issue’s stories are:
- “Bullets and Bracelets (10 pages).” Writer: Sean E. Williams and art by Marguerite Savage & Deron Bennett. Moonlighting as a lead singer-guitarist of a touring all-female rock band, Wonder Woman plays a concert in Athens (maybe it’s Athens, Georgia?). Seeking some quiet time, Diana bonds with two young female fans at a diner before a shotgun-toting teenage bore tries testing the Amazon’s famed bullet-reflecting powers.
- “Morning Coffee (10 pages).” Writer Ollie Masters and art by Amy Mebberson & Deron Bennett. In London, Selina “Catwoman” Kyle’s latest heist is the mystical ‘Golden Fleece’ from the British Museum. Anticipating Wonder Woman’s arrival, Selina expects an exhausted Diana will be distracted by the Fleece’s guardian dragon, so she can make a discreet escape.
- “No Chains Can Hold Her! (6 pages).” Writer & Artist: Gilbert Hernandez, with help from John Rauch & Deron Bennett. An over-confident Wonder Woman falls prey to Kanjar Ro’s scheme to make her his ‘zombie slave’ in conquering Earth. Supergirl makes a cameo appearance, as this story is left to be continued.
REVIEW:
Only the delightful trifle, “Morning Coffee,” is a complete package, in terms of a satisfying short story with cartoony artwork. “Bullets and Bracelets” teases some unknown dilemma re: Steve Trevor, but it never elaborates upon this potential twist. Diana, as a rock star, is a stretch, but her poignant interaction with two adoring young girls at least salvages the tale. Its insertion of a male gun-packing creep is unnecessarily forced, as writer Sean E. Williams could have easily plotted a better twist to wrap up his story. Still, Marguerite Savage & Deron Bennett’s classy artwork and the two girls’ touching interaction with Wonder Woman makes this comic mostly 2-for-2.
That leaves the awful third story. Depicting a ridiculously-muscled Wonder Woman (as if she’s on mega-steroids), writer-artist Gilbert Hernandez apparently serves up a Golden Age/Silver Age spoof mixed with tongue-in-cheek, subversive (and sexist) humor. Talk of ‘zombie slaves’ and Wonder Woman’s Golden Age weakness of being rendered powerless, if shackled by a mortal man, woefully falls short of entertainment. At best, the deliberately rudimentary “Chains” artwork is okay, but its script is regrettably unfunny. Lastly, the top-caliber cover image deceptively implies that a battle sequence, but this scene doesn’t happen. Sensation Comics # 3 makes a good read, but its last story deserves the trash bin.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
The single-page “DC All Access” column dubiously hawks a commemorative Batman: Death of the Family softcover book & a ghoulish Joker mask box set.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 6½ Stars
