Last month, I took a look at the first Labor of Wonder Woman in Wonder Woman #218. I had decided to do a two-part review because this comic had two Labors in it for some reason, and I wanted to cover one Labor each month. The first Labor in this comic I found rather lacking. Hopefully, this second Labor will be more fun! Let's take a look at the second story in Wonder Woman #218!
As I have said in the past, I liked this cover. It's a Nick Cardy piece, and this Labor is is what is being previewed here. You'll see what I mean. Look at Part 1 for my review to hear more of my thoughts on this cover.
"Give Her Liberty--and Give Her Death!"
Writer: Martin Pasko
Penciler: Kurt Schaffenberger
Inker: Kurt Schaffenberger
Colorist: Unknown
Letterer: Unknown
Editor: Julius Schwartz
The story begins on the Justice League Satellite. The JLA are debating over who should monitor Wonder Woman's 8th trial. However, one face basically steps in and says, "I'll do it!"
Meet the Phantom Stranger. I'm not sure if we've talked about him much here in this blog. He's had a variety of possible origins. What is known is that he's a being of incredible godlike power, who basically uses it as a guide to help others take care of crises.
He shows the League a crystal ball that, as you can see, is showing the Statue of Liberty coming after the Amazing Amazon like she owes money to the statue. The ball then shows an old enemy of the League: One Felix Faust. He's managed to escape jail again, and he's summoned some demons. He's been trying for years to mystically conquer America, and he keeps failing. The sorcerer is at the end of his rope, and doesn't know what to do. The demons give their response:
After their little impromptu poetry slam, they leave behind some mystic texts for Felix to look through. The ball than shows Diana Prince enjoying the sight of the Statue of Liberty at New York Harbor. The statue then comes to life, and she is hacked off.
"When she said 'give me your huddled masses yearning to breathe free', she meant it."
Diana tries to use her magic lasso to get the Statue to stop, but Lady Liberty is able to resist her command. She then notices that the angry statue is shrinking in size as it flies off. Diana pursues the rogue landmark in her Invisible Jet, until she ends up powerless thanks to some magic chains linking her bracelets. She's knocked out by a spike being fired from the tiny Lady Liberty's crown. When she wakes up, in typical Wonder Woman style, she's bound and in peril.
"Marston would be proud, Felix."
Diana notices that Faust is wearing the tiny Statue of Liberty around his neck like an amulet, and wants to know why. Faust had allowed her one question before he finished her off with the gas in the chamber she was trapped in, but not that one. Diana lets out a scream that causes her manacles to disappear. You see, when Felix Faust cast the spell that allowed him to animate the Statue of Liberty, he did it as a high-frequency signal that most people can't hear. However, the vibrations of Wonder Woman's lasso allowed her to hear it. And since Diana knows every language, she was able to translate it, and reverse her imprisonment.
Felix tries to flee, but Wonder Woman is able to easily catch up with him. She screams to reverse Faust's statue spell, and the statue starts to grow. He chants his own spell, but Wondy shuts him up thanks to her lasso.
"BAH GAWD, KING! SHE SHATTERED THE DARN SOUND EFFECT!"
Faust is furious. All his years of scheming down the drain. He had learned than when the Statue was built, certain mystical forces had been in alignment. These forces would cause the statue to become an actual spirit of liberty and freedom. It's very Golden Age.
Felix tries to blast Wondy with some magic bolts, but she's able to use her bracelets to make him eat his own mystic energy. And with that, the day is saved. The Statue of Liberty is restored to her home, and Faust's mystic tomes are confiscated by Wonder Woman and kept on Paradise Island. The Phantom Stranger vanishes, but it's clear. Diana has shown once again she is worthy of rejoining the JLA, not that the League likely ever questioned it.
The story ends with Superman being worried. Diana was able to handle a crisis the JLA didn't know about. What if another crisis happens, and the JLA is unable to be there to handle it because they're monitoring Wonder Woman?
This story was, in my honest opinion, was better than the last story in this issue. I liked seeing Green Arrow freaking out about the Phantom Stranger. It's an insane story, but considering that the villain is a sorcerer, I felt that the sillier stuff is more forgivable. After all, magic can make things loopy. Also, Kurt Schaffenberger, like in the last story turns in some great art. I think he would have made a great regular artist for Wondy like he did for Lois Lane. His art is a joy to look at.
If you want to read this for yourself, I recommend hunting down the 2012 trade paperback Wonder Woman: The Twelve Labors. Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves, and each other. Stay safe, stay healthy, stay home, wash your hands often, and wear your mask! See you next time, when we join up with the original X-Factor as they battle a pair of dangerous, and tragic mutants...
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