A little transitional time.
Creative Staff:
Story: Renae De Liz
Art: Renae De Liz, Ray Dillon
Colors: Ray Dillon
What They Say:
Surprised by an old friend on the streets of Boston, Diana redoubles her efforts to join the war. She can’t enlist, but nurses are needed on the front lines, and ships leave Boston Harbor every week.
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
The Legend of Wonder Woman series has worked its arcs well in order to build and expand a fully realized world that it wants to exist in. Each has accomplished a lot in a relatively small amount of time and it’s hard to believe it’s been just fifteen issues so far. The coverage of the history of the island and its people, young Diana and then shifting to teenage Diana before throwing her out into the world at large. That arc draws to a close with this installment, or at least her American based adventure, and when you realize the travels and the scope of what she’s been through you realize just how much has been done. Renae De Liz and Ray Dillon have crafted an intricate but accessible story here that’s building smoothly layer upon layer.
With Diana having now literally bumped into Steve Trevor in Boston, that’s ready to set up all kinds of awkward moments – at least until you realize that he did lose his memory of Themyscira after going through the barrier. Interestingly enough, however, he does seem to recognize her on a subconscious level and that offers up a tantalizing bit about why their connection may be more than just a first meeting that sticks around kind of thing. Where this encounter becomes fun is in that Etta is all over the famous soldier for his miraculous return to the world after being thought dead. Since she’s totally into celebrity, she’s totally into him. It works well to explain how he’s been shifted out of the war to do public relations instead while also reaffirming his “warrior” side to Diana, now given a last name of Prince by Etta as a cover, as he hates it and wants to be a part of the effort.
All of this dialogue works well to make them feel more lived in and the movement and placement of the camera to take it all in is solid. It’s very, very, dialogue heavy and that can be hell to lay out and make engaging. What it shifts to is the idea of Diana heading overseas to be a nurse volunteer, as they’re taking anyone who wants to volunteer. Time to hit my history books to research that. Regardless, it offers her a way to France as well as for Etta as she’s going to go the USO style route in order to get away from that awful face cream advertising that’s spreading like a plague. Naturally, Etta’s rival is in the mix as well as we later find out, but I love just how smoothly and naturally it all comes together, even if it all falls into place far too easily. The end result is solid and the motions work surprisingly well.
In Summary:
Diana’s journey is a long one to be sure and she’s coming across some interesting things along the way. The series has smartly avoided making it full of references and easter eggs to other things so that the focus is where it should be. It’s why the Perry White bit works in the previous issues as it’s not overdone. Bringing Steve back into the mix, seemingly briefly for now, helps to nudge that storyline forward a bit without really digging deep into it as it’s not necessary. It’s also not Diana’s story, which is the focal point here. There are historical aspects that just kind of rub me the wrong way a bit, but it’s likely just my own lack of knowledge, so I’m looking forward to exploring that rabbit hole. This issue is solid throughout with a lot of things explored and covered in its characters while pushing Diana, and now Etta, forward on an exciting new journey towards danger.
Grade: B+
Age Rating: 13+
Released By: DC Comics via ComiXology
Release Date: February 18th, 2016
MSRP: $0.99
