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This issue follows on from Wonder Woman #60.
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Summary: |
Inside Circe's Lair, the sorceress, Guillermo and two Bana-Mighdall Amazons peer into the magical crystal sphere as it shows a group of super heroes advancing towards them. The Amazons, panicked that their hideout has been compromised, ask Circe what she intends to do. Circe sees that the group of heroes is being lead by Black Adam and comments how handsome he is. Annoyed at her casualness, the Amazons rage that this is their tower and not hers. The witch replies that they have as much to lose as she does and suggests they mount a very good defense of it! She then tells them to make haste their preparations, adding sarcastically that they are supposed to be great warriors so "make war!".
Circe them instructs Guillermo to join them, adding that she is appointing him as her new captain of the bestiamorphs. She explains that she needs time to launch the next phase of Hectate's revenge and that these delays and distractions are becoming a nuisance. She warns him not to fail her as his predecessor, Mikos, had done...
Meanwhile on the shore of Cephalonia, Circe's former Greek island retreat, Gregori Davalos, Stavros Christadoulodou and their men dock their boat and make their way up the beach. Armed, the group warily look around, having expected to be met by the "Wonder Woman" cultists that have taken over the island after Circe's departure. The men murmur under their breath, wondering why they are doing here in the first place, seeing as they have come purely based on the fact that their leader, Gregori, has experienced a nightmare about the island and wants to investigate.
Suddenly one of them spots something and turning his flashlight they see that the ground is littered with dead cultists. Gregori realises that the screams he had heard in his dream had been real! All the "Wonder Woman" worshippers have been slaughtered, including their leader, Katina Leikos. The crazy girl had wanted to honour the Amazon Princess for ridding the world of Circe. But it seems that rumours of the witch's demise have been greatly exaggerated...
Meanwhile on New Olympus the battle continues to rage between the Greek and Roman Pantheons. Aphrodite asks Hephaestus why he has stopped forging more weapons and he replies that the fire is calling to him. As they both peer into the flames they see Hephaestus face take shape in them. It speaks to them, saying that Pandora's Pyre must not be allowed to die ...
On Earth, Halciber Filius breaks into the laboratory of Dr Magnus and steals the robots known as the Metal Men...
Elsewhere
in the dark limbo where the God Cronus rests, Harmonia tells Hermes that Halciber
Filius has completed the first part of their mission. The spirits are duly gathered
- now all that is left is the merging. The Messenger God replies that
she puts a lot of faith in the Roman. How does she know he will not simply destroy
the shells of the Metal Men and send the spirits sputtering into nothingness?
Harmonia responds that that she believes in Fate. As a daughter of a War God,
one thing she has learnt from a young age is how to distinguish between friend
and foe.
She continues to say that she wishes Hermes had not summoned Wonder Woman from the Bana-Mighdall temple because there is still so much to be done. Circe grows more powerful with each passing minute and the Amazon Princess is not ready to face her yet. Hermes replies that he could not simply ignore Diana's pleadings to him because he had done far too much of that already. He could not bear her disillusionment any longer. Harmonia says that his pride will be his downfall. She reminds him that they cannot afford impetuousness here of all places. Surely he knows how limited their powers are in this realm. He replies that this is what he is counting on.
Just then there is a flash and Wonder Woman, carrying the badly wounded Hippolyta, appears. She looks around dazed, wondering where she has been transported to and sees Hermes. She says that her mother needs his help because the Amazon Queen is dying and it is all Diana's fault. She begs him to save her but Hermes says that he does not have the power to do so. He explains that in this limbo, the Gods have little power. Wonder Woman demands to know why they are here in that case. She requests that they should go to Themyscira instead but Hermes replies that they do not have the time.
He continues to explain that just as a God's power is limited in this Limbo, so too is Circe's. This is where he had originally banished the sorceress and it is here that he must return her now so that Wonder Woman can kill her! As tears run down her face, the frustrated Amazon Princess yells "How dare you!". She rages that she had come to him pleading for her mother's life and he instead prompts her to play the assassin for him! She adds that Circe has already proven too powerful for her to defeat. Also, there is the matter of Hectate's curse - that if Wonder Woman kills Circe then Diana will be cursed just as the sorceress is. If this nether realm is so debilitating to the witch then how did she manage to escape in the first place? Why can Hermes not simply kill her?
Hermes replies that Eris had made a pact with the witch and freed her. Enraged, Wonder Woman retorts that once again it is left to humanity to clean up after the Gods' mess! Hermes tries to reason but Harmonia places a comforting hand on his shoulder and says he should return Diana back to Themyscira as she requests. The Messenger God looks at Harmonia in surprise as she steps forward and holds Diana's face tenderly in her hands. She tells Wonder Woman that she is right and that her duty is to her mother right now. As for Circe...Diana will know what must be done when that time comes. She then bids the Amazon Princess farewell as once more Wonder Woman is engulfed in light and Hermes transports her and Hippolyta to Paradise Island.
The confused Hermes then asks what Harmonia is playing at? It had after all been her that had said how Fate had demanded that Wonder Woman be Circe's executioner here. Harmonia nods, replying that it had however been left to her to determine the time. There is much left for Diana to do before she is ready and hopefully Harmonia has assisted in that. Hermes says that Fates ways have rubbed off on Harmonia and her words are like riddles. She replies that it is only because she herself cannot yet fully comprehend their meaning. All she knows for sure is that the time is not yet right.
Ironically it is Wonder Woman who has shown her where next Harmonia must go. She suggests that Hermes leaves this realm too but he shakes his head. He tells her that he has no place to go. Olympus is closed to him and Earth does not want him. He intends therefore to stay here and one way or another, his battle with Circe will end here. Harmonia bids him a fond farewell before vanishing, leaving him alone in the dark pondering what lies ahead...
Meanwhile on Earth in Salem, Dr. Fate and the other Mystics have gathered once more in the tower and explain what intentions to the hero known as Animal Man. They want to use him as a channel for their magic to nullify the threat of Circe's Bestiamorphs...
In the Amazon Jungle, the assembled super heroes battle their way through Circe's bestiamorphs towards her lair. Nightshade, Boomerang and Javelin see Black Adam take an underground passageway hidden beneath a waterfall and follow him inside. Black Adam smashes his way through more bestiamorphs before bursting through the wall of the tower and streaking towards a waiting Circe. He demands to know what strange magic she has wielded to draw him here and smiling, she replies that it is the God Set who has drawn him. She indicates one of the Totems on her altar dedicated to the Egyptian God and waves her hand. Suddenly Black Adam holds his head in agony as his powers are drained...
Outside in the surrounding jungle, a hiding Mnemosyne and Timandra spot Konrad Kaslak trying to make his escape and one of the bestiamorphs giving chase after him. The two Amazons charge after him to give assistance but they see that Kaslak has run towards a cliff ledge, trapping himself. He leaps over the edge followed by the creature and they plummet into the river far below. As the two Amazons watch they suddenly find themselves similarly trapped as more creatures advance on them! They too have nowhere to run!
Back in Salem, the Mystic's spell continues as they tap into Animal Man's abilities to command creatures...
In Gotham City, Hawkman and Hawkwoman finally track down the homing signal in Shayera's costume, now abandoned by Wonder Woman. As she picks up the helmet Shayera hears the radio crackling into life and hears Batman's voice calling for Diana. Shayera tells him she is not here and asks why he is using Hawkwoman's secure frequency. He replies that there is no time to explain as he has just discovered that the military is planning to launch an air assault on Themyscira. Hawkman and Hawkwoman rush off towards Paradise Island intent on stopping the attack...
In Circe's lair meanwhile, lightning bolts rock the skies and strike the roof as Nightshade, Boomerang and Javelin find Black Adam rolling in agony on the floor. Suddenly he gets up and flies straight out through the roof and away. They had seen the fear in his eyes and look towards the door where Circe waits for them inside...
On the cliff edge Timandra and Mnemosyne fire on the advancing creatures with little success as each one killed is replaced by another. As they are forced back they realises they have no choice but to jump for it. They dive down into the waters below, escaping one threat only to confront another as underwater beasts grab them! As they struggle to break free Aquaman suddenly arrives and summons sharks to fight off the beasts...
Inside Circe's Altar Room the witch draws more power from the assembled totems but is suddenly interrupted by Nightshade, Boomerang and Javelin. Javelin throws his weapon but Circe casually waves her hand changing its direction and sending it back towards him. As Javelin tries to run away from it the spear continues to follow him until it catches up, killing him!
Above the skies of Themyscira meanwhile, the Amazons look up into the blue skies as flashes of light begin to appear. They wonder what the Gods have in store for them now after the recent earth tremors...
High
above in the chaos portal that divides Paradise Island from Patriarch's world,
Wonder Woman, still carrying Hippolyta, realises she must get through one of
the dancing holes at just the right instant or else she may get caught halfway
through the portal. As she prepares herself she hears a roar and turns to see
fighter jets at the outskirts of Chaos. Whatever is causing the spasms has caused
breaches at both sides! She muses that if she tries to go through to
Themyscira and they try to follow her, they will be destroyed before they can
turn back.
In the lead plane the pilots radio back to base that the openings in the sky are coming closer together and their instruments are still OK. They are told that according to calculations, it will be another ten minutes before the bursts are clustered together enough to get a shot through and they can destroy the island...
Meanwhile in Areopagus Ares and Mars continue their battle with each other. High above Eris watches the proceedings, holding aloft her Apple of Discord and murmuring that her father's time is at an end. Just then Harmonia appears in front of her and unleashes a godly blast, destroying the apple! She tells the stunned Eris that she should have realised Eris' part in Circe's plans sooner.
Down below Ares hears Harmonia's voice as she surrounds her sister in energy tendrils, saying that Eris had counted on their father's ambivalence towards Harmonia to dull his senses, so that he would not see the treachery from his favoured daughter "Eris". Harmonia adds that she will not allow Eris to now murder him. Re-invigorated by her words of love towards him, Ares launches a blistering attack on Mars...
In Egypt, in the Bana-Mighdall Temple, Black Adam arrives and joining Lobo, battles his way through the Amazons. However, the two men soon find themselves heavily outnumbered. Just as it seems they will be overwhelmed there is a bolt of lightning which fries the Amazons. Black Adam and Lobo look up to see Halciber Filius standing there. He points towards an entranceway and tells them that the answers they are looking for are inside. They step inside to find the boy named Billy Batson, other known as Captain Marvel, lying motionless on a bed surrounded by the Metal Men. Also standing there is the Wizard Shazam, who greets them and says that he needs Black Adam to help save the boy's life...
Meanwhile at the perimeter of Chaos, the two fighter craft suddenly find themselves under fire. At first they assume it is coming from Themyscira but soon realise that the blasts are coming from Starman, who is quickly joined by Hawkman and Hawkwoman, as they try to buy Wonder Woman time to get through the portal to her home. The Amazon Princess thanks them for their help and darts through one of the openings.
On Cephalonia, Gregori, Stavros and the others suddenly find themselves under attack from Circe's bestiamorphs responsible for the slaughter of the Wonder Woman cultists earlier. In Boston, Ed Indelicato too finds himself under attack as he tries to rescue Vanessa Kapatelis but just as they are about to be overwhelmed the Mystic's spell, using Animal Man's powers, is finally completed and bestiamorphs everywhere revert to their harmless animal forms.
A furious Circe cannot understand what has just happened and raising her hands, yells that they will suffer for this before disappearing in a flash of light. Nightshade and Boomerang manage to make their escape before the tower explodes! The rest of the heroes outside see Pariah appear above the smoking ruins and Firehawk tells the others that he recognises Pariah from the "Crisis", a being doomed to turn up weeping at the site of any great calamity or disaster. But something is different this time. Pariah seems to be laughing! As they try to approach him though they are forced back by an energy force surrounding him and he screams in agony...
Simultaneously on Olympus, Troia also screams and the Gods stop their fight and look up at her. They know that she is supposed to be a favoured of their Ancestors, the Titans and wonder if it is their cries that fill the heavens now? Jupiter, beginning to realise the implications of the God War, tells Minerva that Olympus is in agony! "What have we done?".
Meanwhile a surprised Circe finds herself transported to the dark limbo where the God Cronus rests and where Hermes is waiting for her. He tells the sorceress that this time she will not be leaving this place as there is no Eris to help her. Circe smiles back and replies that he is no longer the God he was and that she has no need of Eris' help - particularly when it comes to dealing with him...
In Areopagus, Harmonia continues to surround a struggling Eris in her energy tendrils, demanding her sister surrenders. But Eris snarls back that she would rather die. As Harmonia tells her that Circe has been playing all the Gods for fools, Phobos creeps up behind her unseen. He unleashes a deadly blast, killing Harmonia, whose final scream momentarily distracts Ares. Mars sees his chance and advances on Ares but the furious God blasts Mars over the cliff edge...
Elsewhere, Hermes uses his Caduceus to blast the witch, swearing that this fight will end here and now, one way or the other...
Back on Areopagus, Phobos and Eris have already made good their escape by the time Ares reaches the spot where the murdered Harmonia lies. He lifts her limp body up in his arms and bows his head in grief...
Beneath the increasingly violent skies of Themyscira meanwhile, Wonder Woman has landed and Epione and her healers attend to the dying Hippolyta. The Amazon Princess is overjoyed to find that Julia is there too safe and sound and she thanks Pythia for rescuing the professor, who sadly replies that she only wishes she could have saved Timandra and Mnemosyne too. Epione then advises Wonder Woman that the Queen's wounds are beyond the flesh. Circe has laid a curse upon her soul that only she can remove. Perhaps if Circe is killed it might negate the spell. Wonder Woman asks if there is another way, but Epione shakes her head.
Suddenly
the chaos portal around Themyscira disappears in a blast of light and the fighter
jets find their way clear to fly over the island. Wonder Woman swiftly zooms
up to meet them, intent on not letting Paradise Island suffer the same destructive
fate as Bana-Mighdall had. She instructs Starman, Hawkman and Hawkwoman to stay
back as this is her island and her fight. She intends to try and and
reason with the pilots.
But without warning a huge column of water shoots up from the ocean and strikes her, carrying her back to the beach. The water slowly slips away leaving a soaking wet Amazon Princess lying there dazed. As she gets to her feet she sees Mnemosyne and Timandra running over to her followed by Aquaman. Wonder Woman greets her Amazon sisters, happy to see they are safe and well. She then asks them how they had gotten here and Aquaman explains that they had been in the Amazon river when the next second the whole river had gone berserk and a whirlpool had swept them away. The next thing they knew they and all the others heroes around Circe's lair had been transported here!
Meanwhile the planes circle above waiting for their orders. Suddenly another column of water shoots up and the others back away as it crashes down on the beach. But Wonder Woman stands her ground and says that the time for running away is over. "It ends here. This beach will be the final battleground."
As the waters recede they reveal Circe standing there. She jokingly asks the Amazon Princess if the idea of killing the witch seems a lot less abhorrent to her now? She recites Hectate's curse - "Upon the death of witch and birth of witch, Hectate by name and choice shall posses her soul". Wonder Woman replies that she knows that either of their deaths could strip Circe of Hectate's influence, remanding her soulless shell to ashes. And if she kills Circe, Diana is doomed to inherit Hectate's legacy. Wonder Woman however adds "But if you kill me...and I'll give you little choice in the matter...then the curse is broken as well. Even Hectate cannot bequeath her power to the dead".
Circe smiles and says that Wonder Woman thinks she is so clever..."Like this clever friend". Circe then holds up the smoking bones of the slain Hermes and a horrified Wonder Woman unhooks her lasso and charges at Circe in a rage. ""I'll kill you!" she spits. Circe sarcastically replies "Hmmm...rather fickle about our strategies aren't we. Diana, you've always been a fool. Even to your dying day!".
With that Circe unleashes a spell and Wonder Woman suddenly finds the clay on the beach beneath her feet engulfing her. She is thrown back by another blast of magic energy as Circe begins her reversion spell. The watching Amazons and super heroes try to race forward to aid Diana but find themselves blocked by an invisible force field. The Amazon Princess squirms in agony as Circe's magic surrounds her and the witch chants "Struggle all you want "Wonder Woman". This time Circe will have her revenge. As my spell turns your flesh to clay, your spirit dies once and forever!".
The ever weakening Wonder Woman whispers "Dear Gaea..I've failed you..forgive me...". Suddenly her body is engulfed in a blinding explosion of light and when the smoke clears all that remains are the smoking remnants of her tattered costume lying on the beach. Wonder Woman is dead!
Even Circe cannot at first believe her eyes. She has finally done it! Devolved the Amazon Princess out of existence as if she had never been born! Now Hectate's power is unstoppable! Circe then turns to the horrified onlookers and crows how they were all witness to their one shining hope - snuffed out with but a breath. She then transports herself off the island leaving those she leaves behind her to look in stunned shock at where a valiant Wonder Woman had once stood...
Above, the watching pilots finally get their go ahead to commence the bombing run but advise that there is a new problem. The pilots and those on the island below look up in shock and awe as New Olympus itself appears in the skies over Themyscira!
At that moment, hundreds of miles away, Terry Long gets a telephone call from New York. He is told by Lilith that something has happened in his apartment and that she thinks it is to do with the missing Donna. She begs him to come home at once as she looks down at the bed upon which the being known as Pariah lies in a catatonic state. She tells Terry "Donna's life may depend on it!"...
To be continued in Wonder Woman #61
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