But which issue? I had my copy of the War of the Gods trade, and I wasn't sure which issue to cover, until I decided to cover #62, the last issue collected in the trade, and the epilogue of the War of the Gods? What is the War of the Gods? Well basically, the Greek Gods find themselves with their Roman counterparts, and it drags other pantheons and DC's superheroes into the mix. It's a...dense storyline.
So, let's take a look at Wonder Woman #62, shall we?
The cover is a simple one, but it's very nice. Wonder Woman flying away from Themyscira, a bag slung over her shoulder. I like it, it gives the idea that Wondy is heading for a new home, a new life, a new start.
"Pages Turned"
Writer: George Perez
Artist: Jill Thompson
Inks: Romeo Tanghal
Colorist: Nansi Hoolahan
Letterer: John Costanza
Associate Editor: Tom Peyer
Editor: Karen Berger
The issue begins with Wonder Woman flying over a wrecked Themyscira.
Queen Hippolyta is taken to get some rest so she can finish recovering from a spell Circe had on her. Diana then next has to preside over the funeral pyre of the Amazons that died during the War. The comic then goes to the present with Diana nearly colliding into a mountain.
Steve Trevor and Etta Candy are watching TV, and it shows a man speaking for the United Nations. The UN is announcing that they are admitting they had made a mistake. Yeah, during this whole kerfuffle, there were terrorists acting in Themyscira's name as part of a smear campaign against the Amazons. The UN, based on the testimonies of several heroes, state that the Amazons are innocent.
Etta is thrilled to hear this, but Steve has concerns about what could happen in the future. The next day, Steve and Etta go to a military tribunal, wanting answers about a bombing raid on Themyscira.
The scene then goes to Julia Kapatelis and her daughter Vanessa. In the post-Crisis on Infinite Earths history of Wonder Woman, Julia was the first woman outside of her fellow Amazons that Diana met and befriended. At this time, Julia and Vanessa were two of Wonder Woman's closest friends and allies. I think we can safely say these two no longer exist in the DC Universe.
Julia is conversing with her parents in their native Greek. Yup, Julia's knowledge of Greek (She was a Harvard professor of history and a Greek immigrant) was what allowed her to speak with Diana at first, as Themysciran was not that different from Greek. Her mother, Maria Deneiros, is reassuring her that she and her husband Agostos are doing just fine. Heck, Agostos is going out treasure-hunting.
Maria mentions something about a bunch of Wonder Woman cultists (I have no idea) were dead, and she laments their lost, confused lives. Again, I have no idea. Julia then watches the UN's statement while her daughter Vanessa talks to Maria. Vanessa would eventually become the Wonder Woman villain Silver Swan.
The scene then shifts to Boston policeman Ed Indelicato, who was one of Wonder Woman's allies at the time, and mostly likely no longer exists in the "Rebirth"-ed DC Universe. He watches the whole thing on a pocket TV while mentally grumbling about their casual apology about nearly, in his own words, "blowin' up the whole freakin' planet".
He then looks at a picture of his old partner on the force, a man named Shands, who died (I don't know), and Eddie laments never listening to him.
Indelicato's captain comes in, saying he found Ed's resignation in the trash. He wants Ed to stay on the force as some higher-ups find him important. He tries to reassure Ed that everyone makes mistakes, and blowing a chance at getting a pension would not help anything. Ed says its his problem, and he's leaving.
The comic flashes back again to Diana attending the funeral pyre for the Amazons who died in the War. The Hawks, Captain Marvel (Billy Batson), and the Inza Nelson Dr. Fate (Yup, women taking up the mantles of male characters was nothing new) are there with her. The Amazon Penelope presides over it, shedding some tears over her love Menalippe. And people flipped out when Wonder Woman was established to be bisexual. Menalippe's body is burned, her soul hopefully heading towards the Elysian Fields.
The flashback continues, showing Diana and Hawkwoman conversing, Hawkwoman convincing Wondy that she should find a place of her own. In a neat moment, they are conversing on the beach whose very sand was used to create Wonder Woman in the first place. She says that she misses Hermes (who died during the War of the Gods), and Captain Marvel tells her if she needs a shoulder, she's got his. Aww.
We next go back to the present, and see the results of Etta Candy's tribunal trial:
Etta Candy was determined to violate no regulations, and she is returned to duty with full rank. She discusses things with Steve Trevor, who is deciding to resign from the Air Force. A lot of resigning in this comic. He's tired of the crazy Air Force bureaucracy. He also has an admission to make of Etta: He's been in love with her for a long time.
Yup, Steve springs marriage on her. Meanwhile, Diana goes to visit the Amazon general Philippus, who was in the "care" of someone named Yedziniak. I think. A LOT happened during War of the Gods. I'm just going by the context of the issue. Philippus wants to know if it's true that Menalippe is dead. Diana confirms it, and a teary-eyed Philippus remembers that Menalippe always thought she was a poor warrior.
Diana and Hippolyta talk while she recovers from the injuries she endured when she battled Wonder Woman as Shim'Tar. Yeah, that happened. The two discuss Themyscira's exposure to the outside world, and Hippolyta worries that it may mean the end of the Amazon way, but Diana believes that the Amazons will be strengthened by this.
Back with Ed Indelicato, he's gone back to his apartment building...only to find that it's on fire. Ed tries to run in, but a fireman stops him. Ed explains there was a book in his apartment he was working on for the past five years in there, even got interest from a movie studio, but the fireman tells him it's most likely burned up.
Should've waited until you could collect your pension, Ed. He's now got no job, no house, and no money coming in. On a happier note, Vanessa Kapatelis is about to graduate high school! Julia is waiting for Diana to arrive. And Wondy does.
Julia happily hugs her, saying Vanessa will be thrilled to see her. Diana reacquaints herself with Vanessa's guidance counselor. Diana helped deliver her son. On Themyscira, Hippolyta and another Amazon, Iphthime, are discussing what will happen to the Amazons now that they have been exposed to the outside world. Which does make me well, wonder. How long was Diana adventuring at this point? You'd think the outside world would have had some idea about the existence of the Amazons. I can't imagine Wonder Woman would've kept quiet about that if asked. The conversation ends with Hippolyta reassures Iphthime that regardless of what happens next, the Amazons will be alright.
The scene shifts to Nessie's high school, where Julia and Diana watch the graduation ceremony for Vanessa.
The graduation speech mentions a girl named Lucy, who was a friend of Nessie's who took her own life. Julia never truly recovered from it, which was one of the events that would lead her to become the second Silver Swan in post-Crisis on Infinite Earths continuity. But enough foreshadowing, look at Nessie in her little graduation gown and hat. The graduation goes off without a hitch.
In a nice little epilogue, Mayer Publicists, the group that represented Diana when she first came to Man's World, they're trying to contact Diana. Someone working on Diana's official comic book is retiring, and they sent a letter.
It's a bit of a fourth-wall breaking moment that is actually rather sweet. You see, it was George Perez's last issue as Wonder Woman's writer, and the letter is a wonderful thanking of Diana for letting him chronicle her adventures, and wishing her luck under William Messner-Loebs. It's a really sweet letter.
This issue was wonderful to read. It did have some head-scratching moments in it, mainly the fault of War of the Gods. The book promised an end of an era, and it does feel that way. There's a real sense of finality and change in this issue, both positive and negative. A marriage proposal, the loss of a home, a graduation. It gives a real sense of change in the air. It does have flashbacks, like Marvel Fanfare #10, but unlike that comic, we do see other stuff happening in this comic.
Jill Thompson does some fine artwork in this issue, I saw no real issues with it. It was a shame that Perez's final issue with the Amazon Princess didn't feature his artwork (This issue would've looked GORGEOUS with his artwork), but since he did do the main War of the Gods mini at the time, he probably was unable to draw this one. Still, Thompson does fine work.
I would recommend this issue if you find it. Just make sure you bone up on the War of the Gods before you read it, just in case. Next time, we'll take a trip back to Earth-712, where we'll check on the Squadron Supreme, and look into their progress on making their world better...
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