Timala Elliott
Timala Elliott
Wonder Woman #788
DC Comics
Written by Michael W. Conrad, Becky Cloonan, and Jordie Bellaire
Art by Emanuela Lupacchino and Paulina Ganucheau
Inks by Wade von Grawbadger
Colors by Tamra Bonvillain and Kendall Goode
Letters by Pat Brosseau and Becca Carey
The Rundown: Steve Trevor and members of Checkmate assist Wonder Woman when a protest turns deadly. Diana’s latest adventure leads to danger.
The chapter opens with an advertisement for a new food product by Cizko. Later, Steve takes the same product to Checkmate HQ for testing. When he and his teammates Seigfried and Etta learn of a protest outside the Hall of Justice, they rush to lend assistance. Soon, the protest turns deadly as Wonder Woman is caught up in a surprising turn of events. Then Steve and Siegfried battle Dr. Poison. Afterwards, Cizko and his crew discuss their future plans and a new enemy is revealed.
Diana and Antiope sneak out of the palace for a late-night ramble. However, and encounter with a mystical animal puts them in a precarious situation.
The Story: Conrad and Cloonan craft a timely story that explores the influence that a cult of person can have on society. There were many interesting nods given to current culture including protest agitators and the hosts of a television show using their platform to stoke fear and hate. Also, I appreciated the way this chapter added to the level of chaos by including two female characters as agents of destruction for an anti-woman movement. It felt very relatable as globally many women are choosing to advocate for laws and governance that are categorically against their own interests. I applaud the writers for their bravery in storytelling.
The Young Diana storyline ties into the main story as it shows the effects of a negative influence. And I though it was clever that Antiope’s talk of being self reliant mimicked the tone of the protesters and their leader Cizko.
The Art: The artwork in this issue is crafted in two different styles, each perfectly suitable for the tale they represent. The A-Story uses a traditional comic styling to create a serious and intense mood, while the B-Story has a youthful feel that is connective to Young Diana’s innocence and much simpler life in Themyscira.
Wonder Woman #788
