Comments
A New Era begins for Wonder Woman! Or does it? When DC announced that they were cancelling the “Wonder Woman” series, fans feared the worst and assumed that Diana was going to die at the end of the “Infinite Crisis” crossover event. However, as Infinite Crisis played out it became clear that the “Wonder Woman” book, at any rate, was going to continue with a new series launched soon after the crossover ended, helmed by respected writer Allan Heinberg and hot artists of the moment Terry and Rachel Dodson.
Speculation was rife as to whether this meant Wonder Woman was about to receive yet another “re-boot” as she had experienced at the end of DC’s previous landmark crossover event, “Crisis on Infinite Earths”. The fan forums were full of endless speculation – that Diana was still going to die at the end of Infinite Crisis; that she was going to return to her pre-crisis version including alter-ego “Diana Prince”; or that someone else was going to become the new “Wonder Woman” and that Diana was going to retire gracefully.
As it turned out – it was revealed that pretty much all of these scenarios had at least some element of truth when issue 1 of the new series finally hit the shelves.
The set up is a nostalgic nod to the “mod” pre-crisis comic book and 70’s TV versions of the Amazing Amazon. During the late 60’s/early 70’s, Wonder Woman had relinquished her powers and had become a normal human being calling herself Diana Prince, in the vein of Emma Peel from the popular 60’s British TV show “The Avengers”. And of course, everyone remembers the CBS TV series of 1975/1976, in which the stunning Lynda Carter played Wonder Woman, operating under her secret identity of Diana Prince while working as an agent of the U.S. Government’s Inter Agency Defence Command.
As we can see, apart from a few “adjustments” to history, such as Wonder Woman being the founding member of the Justice Society and that Donna is in fact Diana’s true sister, this new Wonder Woman series was not a re-boot and appeared to be within the regular continuity of post crisis.
However, would Diana eventually re-claim her mantle as the true Wonder Woman or was this really Donna’s moment to take over from her sister? Certainly some of the National Press thought so as articles were run such as “Wonder Woman Retires at the age of 65”! Only time would tell…
Volume 3 sees the introduction of variant covers on the book, something which became an increasing trend in the comic book industry as a way to entice die hard collectors to buy both issues and thus increase publishers’ revenues.
Synopsis
At the end of “Infinite Crisis” #7, Diana, Kal El and Bruce Wayne decide to go their separate ways for a year and to take a long hard look at themselves after their recent falling out. At the beginning of “Wonder Woman” #1 therefore, we learn that Diana has been on her “walkabout” for over a year and that nobody knows where she is, or if she is even coming back. Before she had left however she had asked Donna Troy to take over the mantle of “Wonder Woman” in her place.
Donna, sporting a new costume loosely based on the traditional costume but leaning towards a more “Greek Armour” look, arrives at the scene of a hostage situation where terrorists have apparently taken Deputy Secretary of Defense Steve Trevor hostage, demanding that Wonder Woman comes out of hiding to be held accountable for her crimes.
Donna makes it clear to Sarge Steel, the Director of the Department of Metahuman Affairs in charge of the operation that she is Wonder Woman now, before entering the museum where the terrorists are hiding.
She discovers Steve Trevor tied up and is confronted by the terrorists, who reveal themselves to in fact be Barbara Minerva, otherwise known as the Cheetah, and Giganta. Barbara is now apparently human but has the power to control real Cheetahs and Donna has to fight off a couple of the attacking big cats.
Donna then rescues Steve and they are pursued into the nearby park by the villainesses. A fight ensues and Donna finds herself trapped by Barbara, who raises Donna’s own sword to kill her.
But suddenly a golden lasso appears from nowhere and yanks the sword from her hand. Donna is surprised and relieved to see Diana, in her traditional Wonder Woman costume standing there, but is soon shocked when Diana promptly wrestles Barbara to the ground intent on killing her once and for all!
Donna tries to stop her, yelling that she will not allow Diana to “kill again”, but Diana easily swats Donna aside. Donna perseveres though and knocks Diana away from Barbara. An angry Diana uses Donna’s sword to first smash her bracelets, before slicing across her chest and finally impaling Donna through the stomach! As Donna collapses to the floor in shock she sees Diana’s image fade and be replaced by that of Doctor Psycho, who has been manipulating her mind with visions of the faux fight all along! She murmurs “You’re not the real Wonder Woman” and he replies “With respect – neither are you!”.
The villains then take Donna away as hostage to lure Diana out of hiding, but realise that they seem to have lost Steve Trevor during the scuffle.
Trevor meanwhile has snuck away and returns to the HQ of the Department of Meta Human Affairs, where he removes his disguise to reveal himself to be none other than agent Tom Tresser, also known as Nemesis, who is working for the government organisation.
He tells his boss Sarge Steel that he is determined to find and rescue Donna and is told that he will be allowed to – but not by himself. He is then introduced to his new partner – agent Diana Prince!!! The last panel reveals Diana smiling back at him wearing a white jumpsuit…
