chezkevin: Wonder Woman Volume 2: Guts

Wonder Woman Vol. 2: Guts

by Brian Azzarello, Tony Akins and Cliff Chiang

Collects issues # 7-12

Azzarello and team continue their exploration of Wonder Woman in the second half of their first year. This run lasted for nearly 3 years, so they have this freedom to build the world that they want for the next few years. Similar to Wondy's controversial origin retcon in Volume 1, there's another retcon here of the Amazons -- particularly, to re-populate their island, they participate in a Siren-esque ritual, where they seduce young men for their seed (SEX) and then murder them. The newborn girls are celebrated as future Amazons, while the boys are given to the God of Masonry, Hephaestus.

It's a noticeably brutal truth that must have been hard to swallow for long-reading fans of Wonder Woman and Themyscira. As a new reader, it fits well with the tone of the world that they've built, so I have no issues with that.

As we learn about Wondy's world, we also learn about herself too. In a bid for Zeus's now-empty throne, Hades schemes to wed Diana, in exchange for Zola's safety and her unborn baby. Ever compassionate, Diana agrees but, in his insecurity, Hades gives Wonder Woman her "ring" early: a noose made out of her lasso! Either she will confess her true love to him, or die. In a splendid twist, Wonder Woman, compelled by the truth of her lasso, does confess her love. It's utterly confusing as the reader. How could that be the truth? How could she love him, even when he's willing to murder her and condemn her to eternal suffering in Hades? Wondy explains:

She loves everyone. There is just that much goodness in her heart, and it shames us, as the reader, to feel incredulous when she said it earlier. It's a great character moment that fleshes her out for us. Like Batman and Superman, she has her cool gadgets and abilities. But her greatest weapon is the truth, and when others resort to their weapons, she resorts to hers.

God-Count: In these issues, we meet for the first time Hephaestus, Eros, Aphrodite, Demeter, Artemis. . . hmm I think that's it.

One comment about Azzarello: He's really into wordplay, which . . . plays really well with these Greek characters. A dialogue between Hades and Strife:

Hades: You're happy? THAT gives me pause.

Strife: Well then, that gives you something in common with your bride, though HERS...

...are CLAWED.

It's these kinds of tics that add value to the comic. It makes you pause and re-read it, to unlock the puzzle that he's presented to you, and it's a whole lot of fun.

BONUS PANELS:

Diana undergoes many wardrobe changes here, and it's fun to see. Here's warrior woman Wondy:

Bride of Hades Wondy:

Trenchcoat Wondy:

And lastly, flying-because-she-got-a-feather-from-Hermes Wondy:

Matthew Wilson just kills it on the colors. There's this dark, relentless feeling with the truths that Diana is learning about herself and the world. But at the same time there are bold, dynamic lines that helps her serve as this light, with this relentless positivity. It's inspiring, and a completely unique feeling from the other two heroes of the trinity, Batman and Superman. Last one, of Wonder Woman protecting Zola from Artemis's Moon-arangs: