chezkevin: Wonder Woman: Flesh and Bones

Wonder Woman Volume 5: Flesh
Collects WONDER WOMAN #24-29, and WONDER WOMAN #23.2 FIRST BORN
by Azzarello, Chiang and Sudzuka

This volume focuses, at last, on the First Born's rise to power in Olympus. Or at least, his attempt to rise to power. There's some great action sequences with a huge twist at the end, although that defines this trade paperback for the most part.

Wonder Woman comes to grips with her (necessary) murder of War while Apollo continues to secure his throne on Olympus. The trade treads water for a bit, while the climax sets up an exciting battle for next volume (and Azzarello's final trade on Wondy!). Apollo commits some kind of supernova suicide which grants Hera her immortal status back, and she un-does the curse she laid on Themyscira in Volume 1, to form an Amazon army against the First Born!

I feel like Volume 4 and 5 could have been condensed into a single volume, but we'll take the wait-and-see approach for the final volume closing off Azzarello and team's Wondy run.

Wonder Woman Volume 6: Bones
Collects issues # 30-35 and a story from Secret Origins #6
by Azzarello, Chiang, and Sudzuka

All Hades breaks loose in this rousing finale for Azzarello's Wonder Woman.

The first few issues help set up side characters like Orion and Strife, while the last few issues involve Wonder Woman trying to fulfill the prophecy, by placing the baby (Zeke) on the throne and replace the First Born.

There's a huge plot twist regarding Zola, which I didn't see coming at all, and Cliff Chiang returns for the last three issues. Diana offers her version of "tough love" to the First Born, and the status quo is restored, somewhat. It's a satisfying conclusion to a 35-issue-long run.

BONUS PANEL: Azzarello dials up the puns particularly in this volume. Here's an example: