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Comments: |
This issue follows on from the shocking events of War of
the Gods #3 in which Wonder Woman is slain by Circe, who uses Hectate's
power to devolve the Amazon Princess back into the clay from which she was first
created.
Considering such a monumental event i.e. the death of the lead character, it
always seems surprising to me why Perez chose not to depict these events in
the pages of Diana's own book, where they could have been given more
significance. While Wonder Woman's death is not exactly brushed over in War
of the Gods #3 (unlike how John Byrne would later depict her death during
his post crisis run), it still feels somehow to be less impactful than it should
be. Admittedly, her fans knew all too well that with one more issue of the "War
of the Gods" story still to come, it was highly unlikely that Diana would
stay dead for very long.
Perez instead uses this issue of Wonder Woman's own book to reflect on the impact
her death has on other characters. In this he is more successful and the final
pages raise a tear to the eye as we truly understand the impact Diana has made
on the world and how she really stands out as a totally different kind of hero.
In my opinion the obvious affection and respect that Perez himself holds for
the character are eloquently voiced in Superman's speech at the end.
Perez also uses this issue to fill in the plot gaps and tie together all the
disparate loose threads of what had by now become a very complex and convoluted
storyline. Finally, readers were able to see how all the events within the crossover
itself, as well as those recounted over the past year's issues of Wonder Woman,
came together.
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Synopsis: |
In
his apartment, a drunk Ed Indelicato lies slumped on his sofa staring numbly
at the newspaper headline proclaiming "Wonder Woman is Dead" and showing
a full page photo of the Amazons gathered around the remains of her body. He
hears a knock at the door and irritated at being disturbed, throws away the
paper and shouts "Go away". He hears the voice of Julia Kapatelis
outside, asking to speak to him and he manages to stagger to his feet and stumble
across the room to let her in.
He opens the door before crashing back down on the sofa and Julia, seeing the state he is in, apologises for intruding on his grief. She explains that she wanted to thank him for rescuing Vanessa and had tried to phone him. He replies in a slur that he had disconnected the phone as it had been giving him a headache! She places a tender hand on his shoulder and asks if there is anything she can do for him. He replies that he is glad he was able to help her daughter and at least he had not botched that up. She tells him that he must stop admonishing himself but he responds that he should have told Diana about what Cheetah had revealed, as it might have helped save her life.
He reflects back to the night when he had gone to the African House to rendezvous with Barbara Minerva, otherwise known as the Cheetah. He had told her he only wanted to ensure the safety of the kidnapped Vanessa and Cheetah had snarled back that she called the shots here because she was risking her life even being here. Ed had then heard Vanessa' muffled voice coming from a nearby locked store room and Cheetah had warned him not to even think about trying to free her.
He had then asked her what she wanted from him and Cheetah had replied that she wanted to pass Wonder Woman some important information. A skeptical Ed had asked why she would want to help the Amazon Princess, considering it had been Cheetah who had murdered Hellene and Phillipus at the Gotham Grand Hotel. He had demanded to know if this meeting was all part of Circe's master plan, but the angry Cheetah had snarled back that if it was, he would have been dead in a pool of his own blood by now!
She had told him that she was not doing it for Diana, but for herself. If she was ever going to be free of Circe's influence the witch had to die! She had then gone on to tell Ed how she had become involved in Circe's scheme...
It had started when she had seen a small bird perched on her cell window at Arkham Asylum. Before her eyes it had changed into a man who introduced himself as Mikos. He had told Barbara that he had come to set her free and had poured a potion down her throat. Everything had gone blood red and Barbara had found herself transforming into the Cheetah. She had broken free of her bonds and Mikos had disappeared before the orderlies had rushed in to try and subdue her - but they had not stood a chance!
Listening to Ed's recollection of Cheetah's tale, Julia recognises the name of "Mikos" as belonging to one of Circe's minions. Ed nods, adding that he had killed "Tiny One", the Amazon messenger dove, some time after it had delivered the message to Julia at her dig in Turkey. The puzzled professor cannot understand why and Ed suggests she listens to the rest of what he has to say...
Circe had wanted to use Barbara's knowledge of archeology and Amazon history to assist her in her plan. She had made Cheetah part of her bestiamorph army and treated her like one of her pet cats, controlling Barbara with the drug. It had not however been like the one created by Chuma from the Vine of Urzkartaga - this potion's side effects were markedly different. It actually turned her own bloodlust against her and Cheetah had become a slave to Circe - something Barbara was determined to make the witch pay for...
Elsewhere,
repairs are proceeding on Themyscira after the recent effects of the tremors.
On the Island of Healing Heracles asks Epione how Hippolyta fares. She tells
him that the Amazon Queen is dying. Although she has done everything she can
for Hippolyta it seems it is not enough. Epione has never had to treat so many
patients before after recent events and even some of her own healers are among
the wounded. An angry Heracles curses Circe for freeing him from his bondage
beneath the island, only so that he can stand impotently by as all he holds
dear die around him. They wonder whether it is perhaps best that Hippolyta does
not recover, because then she would not have to see how miserably the Gods have
failed her and the other Amazons; how her people face impending demise and how
her own daughter lies dead, having been slain by the witch Circe. Even now a
funeral pyre is being prepared upon which rests the clay remnants of Wonder
Woman and her tattered and torn costume...
On the main island Iphthime rages to her fellow Amazon sisters that they should take up arms and not lay down and die without a fight. The Gods will not help them now and the Amazons must stand alone - as they have always done - and defend their homeland. Mnemosyne replies that on their own, they do not stand a chance against Circe, who has already demonstrated her immense power by killing both Hermes and then Diana in rapid succession. But together with the super heroes from Patriarch's World they might have a chance. Indeed, the Amazons would not even be standing here today had it not been for the intervention of the outworlders. Iphthime nods, saying that she remembers - just as she remembers that it was also the outworlders who had nearly destroyed them...
They reflect back on recent events as the fighter jets over Themyscira had prepared for their strike run. The pilots had been instructed to regard Starman, Hawkman and Hawkwoman as enemies if they attempted to interfere with the attack, but as they had prepared to fire the planes had found themselves confronted by none other than Superman! He had told them to turn back as this had all been a dreadful mistake and for them not to do anything that they would regret. The pilots had then received a transmission from base that the mission had now indeed been aborted and the grateful pilots had turned away, but not before taking a quick surveillance photo of the island below showing the remains of Wonder Woman on the beach.
Iphthime tells her sisters that the outworlders are merely warring amongst themselves to decide which of them shall have the privilege of conquest over the Amazons. Mnemosyne replies that this is exactly how the outworlders view the Amazons! She explains that there is another Amazon faction out in Patriarch's World that has convinced them that the Amazons seek world domination. Her fellow sisters however cannot however believe their ears at this latest revelation...
Hundreds of miles away at Hanscome Air force Base, Etta and Steve are lead into General Hillary's office under armed guard. The General tells Etta that he assumes she is aware of recent events on Themyscira. She nods and he continues that it seems amazing that Starman and the Thanagarians had found out about the bombing mission against the island. Even he had no idea that General Yedziniak would take things quite so far. He continues to explain that the leaking of the top secret mission had been investigated and traced back to computers here on the base. The perpetrator had been an expert and there had only been three such classified experts on the base at the time.
An annoyed Steve tells Hillary to stop the "song and dance" as he had already confessed to the crime. But with tears in her eyes, Etta tells Hillary that she freely confesses to sending out the signal in direct violation of the implicit orders of her commanding officer. She adds "I'm sorry. I had no choice." The General replies that he too is sorry because he also has no choice but to charge her and remand her into military custody pending an official motion for court martial!
Back in Ed's apartment meanwhile, the inspector continues recounting Barbara's tale...
She had bided her time until she could find a chink in Circe's armour and had only performed the task which she had been freed to do - to help a Professor from Chicago named Konrad Kaslak determine which ancient relics to steal from which museums. Each artifact was important for putting together Circe's Hellfire spell. But the sorceress could not just have a bunch of wild bestiamorphs charging into each museum because that might have tipped her hand too soon. She had needed a diversion.
Circe had therefore managed to engage what was left of the Bana-Mighdall Amazons. In exchange for their services she had promised to restore them to what they believed was their rightful place of power. And for that they would need a new Queen. Circe had duly melted some of the shards of metal from Shim' Tar's armour, which had been salvaged from Egypt by the Bana-Mighdalls, and casting a spell, had made the molten metal come alive. A strange chalice had then been brought forward and the liquid poured over it, cooling into a Patina -a second skin.
Cheetah had then gone on to tell Ed that it was only when she had witnessed Hippolyta drinking from that same chalice at the United Nations that she had started to understand Circe's plan. It had all been part of a conspiracy to turn the world against the Themyscirans - and Wonder Woman. It was why Circe had also hired the services of Doctor Psycho too!
On hearing this, Julia is shocked as Ed explains that it was with Circe's help that Psycho had managed to get to Lord Hermes and also how he had managed to escape Wonder Woman's lasso. Diana had probably only imagined that she had tied him up. He tells Julia that she and Vanessa should count themselves lucky. If Psycho had decided to use his mind tricks to make people think he was them, he would have made quite sure they would ever be seen again.
Julia
nods, knowing that this had been the fate of Doctor Stanton... "and poor
Horace Westlake! Oh God!" Ed apologises for saying too much and suggests
they call it a day, but she is determined to hear the rest. She tells him that
if the Cheetah said this information might help Diana to save the world, then
maybe they can take up the mantle where she left off. As a tear runs down her
face she adds "I owe it to Diana to hear it all."
Meanwhile at the offices of the Daily Planet Newspaper in Metropolis, Clark Kent sits at his desk staring at the paper's front page story in somber mood. No matter how many times he looks at the picture he still cannot believe Diana is dead. If only he had got there sooner. He remembers the faces of the other Amazons after he had arrived at Themyscira and turned back the fighter jets. Sobbing, they had raged at him to leave the island as he and his fellow outworlders had already caused enough sorrow for a lifetime. Their Princess was dead and their Queen lay dying...along with countless other Amazons. And all because they thought Patriarch's World was ready to listen to their message of peace. He had tried to plead that he only wanted to help but Julia Kapatelis had then stepped forward and suggested that although she knew he meant well, it might perhaps be best that he left together with the other heroes. He had duly carried Julia back to Patriarch's World followed by the others, leaving the Amazons in their grief.
Clark pictures Diana's beautiful face and muses how she had placed her trust in Humanity and this is how she had been rewarded. Those eyes of hers...so hopeful...so honest. It is no wonder he had nearly fallen for them. "A Wonder Woman who just wanted to be everyone's friend...and mine...". But when the going got tough where had her best friend Superman been when she needed him? Not even a news item in the Daily Planet to support her. Not even a rebuttal to the charges. Not even a phone call.
As he rubs his eyes, he swears to her that although he has gotten late into the game, he is going to see it through to the last innings. It's time this beleaguered planet started earning the faith she had in it!
Just then Lois Lane enters the room and seeing his expression, asks if he intends to go after Circe. He nods and concerned, she asks him to promise her that he will be careful. If Diana can be slain by the sorceress then so can he...
Back at Ed's apartment, Julia continues to listen as
the inspector recounts Barbara's tale. The Themysciran Goblet must have been
worth a fortune and if she was going to get her revenge on Circe, Cheetah would
require financing. This is what had brought her to Gotham the night of the massacre
at the Grand Hotel. Unfortunately for her, Mikos had gotten there first. Cheetah
had watched from the shadows as Hippolyta had greeted what she thought had been
"Tiny One" at the window. Having been mesmerised by Mikos, she had
stood transfixed holding the Goblet as it began to glow. It's Patina, the metal
that had been dug from the ruins of Bana-Mighdall, started to engulf her and
Circe's intentions had become clear to Barbara. The Middle Eastern Amazons needed
a new Queen and Champion. So the witch had given them one: Hippolyta - the new
Shim' Tar!
The Amazon Queen had looked totally confused as the armour of Shim' Tar encased her, most likely because the curse had not taken full hold of her yet. A couple of flying bestiamorphs had escorted her quickly out through the window while Mikos knelt to retrieve the Goblet. Cheetah had known she would have to move quickly to grab her prize but before she could react, Maxie Zeus's men had burst into the room with guns blazing. They had almost ruined everything as Mikos had fled without the Goblet.
Barbara had apparently made an arrangement with Maxie Zeus, whom she had met at Arkham Asylum, to fence the Goblet after she had acquired it. However, it seemed that he had gotten impatient and taken matters into his own hands! If only everybody had realised at the time that the Goblet was actually a fake, then perhaps Phillipus and Hellene would not have charged after the escaping crooks down the stairwell...
Meanwhile at a secret military installation where the wounded Phillipus is being held, Phyllis Haller, watched by General Yedziniak, continues to question the Amazon Captain about what had happened at the Gotham Grand. Weakly, Phillipus groggily tells them how she had come across one of the Bana-Mighdall Amazons struggling to wrestle the Goblet from the fleeing Gunman. The Amazon Captain had rushed to the aid of who she thought at the time was a fellow Themysciran and forcing him to drop the Goblet, the panicked gunman had fled down the stairs. Phillipus had then tried to help the Bana-Mighdall Amazon to her feet but had been punched and sent flying down the stairwell!
Phyllis asks her to reconfirm what she had just said - that she had confronted an Amazon of unknown origin? Phillipus nods, continuing that the Bana-Mighdall Amazon had then grabbed the Goblet but before she could make her escape, the Cheetah had attacked her! As Cheetah first ripped the Amazon apart before turning her attention to Phillipus, Hellene had arrived on the stairwell and Phillipus had warned her to keep back. But Cheetah had turned and pounced on her before she could attack, mauling her to death...
In his apartment, Ed continues to tell Julia the events from Barbara's perspective. As she had retrieved the Goblet she had heard someone else coming down the stairs and had made her escape. She had told Ed that she made no apologies for killing Hellene. The Amazon had simply been in the way and Cheetah wanted nothing to stand between her and her vengeance on Circe.
It seemed the witch had thought it rather appropriate to have Hippolyta's disappearance coincide with the attack on the Gotham Grand in order to place a connection in everyone's minds. The Cheetah had then told Ed that the sorceress' plan had started with the Goblet's curse and perhaps by thwarting it, a domino effect might occur. She had instructed him to tell Wonder Woman that her mother was to be found in Egypt and that Hippolyta may well be the key to everything.
Suddenly Cheetah had frozen and her keen animal senses had detected sounds outside. She had swiftly fled, warning him that they had been discovered. Ed had been unsure what she meant but when half a dozen of Circe's bestiamorphs had crashed through the window into the building, he had quickly understood! As they attacked he had drawn his gun and killed one of them, but their numbers had been too great and he had soon found himself overwhelmed! But then everything had gone crazy! The bestiamorphs had started thrashing and screaming as if someone had electrocuted them! Before his eyes they had started to change and revert back to normal farm creatures. As they scampered away he had unlocked the storeroom door and freed the grateful Vanessa who sobbing, had rushed into his arms.
Ed tells Julia that once he had made sure Vanessa was safely back home, he had returned here only to find that Diana was already dead. According to Batman, she never even tried to call the inspector before or after she met the Caped Crusader in Gotham. She probably believed Ed was still annoyed with her. Ed slumps, bowing his head as the pain of grief overwhelms him again. "I never even got the chance to say I'm sorry. Not even goodbye." He reflects that it no longer probably matters much anymore. While the world would have been a pretty empty place without Diana, it does not look like there will much of a world left to matter.
In Metropolis, Superman stands before the assembled super heroes of the world, holding aloft a copy of the Daily Planet and its sad headline. "Wonder Woman is Dead. Four words printed on paper that should weigh on our hearts like the Earth upon Atlas' shoulders."...
Hundreds of miles away on Themyscira, the assembled Amazons stand sorrowfully around the funeral pyre as a flaming torch is applied to the pile of wood upon which Wonder Woman's remains rest...
Superman tells the listening heroes that Diana had been born in a land of peace and compassion - a place where she could have remained safe for the rest of her life. But instead she chose to commit herself to sharing the secrets of paradise with a society long resigned to living without it. Diana preached peace above all else and like so many peacemakers she had died for her beliefs.
"We super heroes face evil so often that we too become jaded. With all the ignorance and hate around us, how easy it is to forget why we chose to be heroes in the first place. But Diana never forgot. Nor shall we. Wonder Woman is dead. But her dream must not die with her."
On Themyscira, the Amazons raise their bracelets in the traditional salute as the pyre erupts and the flames engulf the body of Diana, Princess of Themyscira, known to the outside world as the "Wonder Woman".
Superman continues "Diana died trying to save a world she loved, a world she believed in. She must not have died in vain. In the name of our fallen ally...let's end this war once and for all! For Diana!"
The other heroes raise their hands in unity and defiance and as one cry "FOR DIANA!!!"
To be concluded in War of the Gods #4
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