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In a final extra sized issue Rucka brings his two story lines together and sets the scene for new writer Shea Fontana and new artist Mirka Andolfo.
As Liam Sharp and Bilquis Everly shared art duties on this it’s unfortunate that the editors did not do a better job of ensuring consistency in the way Diana’s costume is depicted. There is a noticeable difference in the length and design of the skirt between the two artists. Personally I much prefer Liam’s version as the skirt, the one Bilquis draws is rather unflattering and cumbersome looking.
Synopsis
As the Justice League work together to bring down a rampaging Shaggy Man, Wonder Woman plays her part and quickly takes down the creature with brute strength.
As her colleagues arrive by her side at the fallen Shaggy Man Flash says for her to bind him in her lasso. But a stern faced Diana replies that as they have the situation under control now she will bid them farewell and says they know where to reach her.
As she flies away Superman asks Batman if he noticed something and when Bruce nods, Flash asks what he means. Kal El replies that Diana no longer has her lasso.
Meanwhile operations are almost back up and running at A.R.G.U.S. as Etta briefs Sasha, who has now recovered from her ordeal. As Etta explains how Godwatch have covered their tracks well and they cannot locate Doctor Cyber or indeed find anything to pin on Cale and her team, Sasha still feels guilty and frustrated that she cannot remember anything that can help them.
Etta replies that she has made it through the trauma of what she went through which is all that matters. When Sasha prioritises the location of the Cheetah who has managed to escape custody, suggesting that they should ask for Wonder Woman’s help, Etta coldly replies that she would rather hunt down Minerva without the Amazon’s help.
Elsewhere FBI agents are questioning Cale in her offices, who is surrounded by her team of lawyers. They suggest it would be quicker and easier for everybody if Cale simply assisted them with their enquiries instead of playing hard ball but her lawyers reply that if the FBI want to search the offices they will need to go through the long and laborious process of obtaining a warrant.
As the lawyers and the frustrated agents leave Cale is left alone and walks out onto her balcony, where she sees Wonder Woman hovering above.
Cale says that the FBI could have done with her help during the questioning but notes that Diana is lacking her truth telling golden lariat. Wonder Woman ignores her dig and says that Barbara has escaped custody and that as Cale is responsible for reinstating the Urzkartaga curse she asks Cale removes it again from her friend.
Cale refuses and an angry Wonder Woman asks why she would purposely put another human being through such torment. But she in turn snaps back at Diana that how dare she accuse her and that Minerva wanted it.
As things get frosty between the two women Wonder Woman receives a message from Superman that he and Batman would like to talk to her in private. Reluctantly she flies off as Cale watches her go..
A short while later Wonder Woman touches down in the Nevada desert and as she snappily asks what they want, Batman and Superman ask what had happened to her lasso. They want to determine if that is why she is acting so out of character lately.
She asks if she is not allowed to be angry occasionally and Superman replies that of course she is – and that it must be for good reason. They just want to know if they can help her with whatever it is that is troubling her. She replies that the lasso is not lost but that it is being used to bind two gods.
Superman asks her which two gods but Batman says that is the wrong question and then asks her what truth the lasso had revealed to her. She replies that her Gods had deceived her right from the start. And it is not the fact that they did – or the reason why they did – but that they abused her faith in them.
Superman suggests that she should have a face to face talk with her Patrons and she says that it is not so easy to talk to them nowadays. But he responds that she has always had hope and that what is she waiting for – isn’t it worth trying?
On a beach house that has been obtained for Diana by Steve, he waits for her return with dinner and flowers on the table. He gives her a call and says that he and the guys had finished getting the new accommodations set up and she thanks him but days that she is busy right now and she will see him later.
Wonder Woman calls out to her Patrons, saying that she deserves an answer. Just as it seems her pleas are falling on deaf ears Athena – as an owl – appears and leads her to a forest clearing where the other Patrons – in animal forms – are waiting for her.
Athena transforms into a human form and says that Diana is angry. Now what will she do with that anger? Raise her fists? A meek Diana responds that she has been wrong and that she deserved better from them.
But Athena disagrees and tells her that she has everything she ever wanted. The girl who always wondered has seen wonders to behold. She has travelled the world as well as to other worlds. A woman who has touched countless lives and made them immeasurably better. SHe has brought hope, joy and love. A woman who is the hero to so many.
As Athena lead Wonder Woman to a pool and the Princess stares down at her reflection, smiling for the first time in ages, Athena adds “The Truth of you has never changed Diana. Even the Gods themselves could not take that away from you.”
Then, before her amazed eyes, Diana sees via her reflection that her golden lasso is materialising by her side once more as the Goddess finishes “Why would we? It is one of the many reasons we love you.”
Wonder Woman holds the glowing rope in her hands as the other Gods and Goddess assemble and Diana’s heart is filled with happiness. Her world is complete once more.
Later that evening she arrives at the beach house and is greeted by Steve, who has decided to shave his beard off and be like he was the first day they had met. As she smells the flowers smiling, he adds that he hopes she likes the place – somewhere that is not an embassy or a hotel suite – a place that she can call home.
He offers to show her round the place and smiling she asks to see the bedroom. Hand in hand they retire together and for the first time in many years they find the pleasure of being with each other once more…
