Posted in: Comics, DC Comics | Tagged: Carlo Pagulayan, darkseid, dc comics, diana prince, giganta, grail, hercules, james robinson, justice league, new gods, rebirth, steve trevor, wonder woman

Wonder Woman #31 Review: Let's Add More Dudes To Diana's Story

In Oregon, a mysterious man is hunted down by Grail, the daughter of Darkseid. Elsewhere, Giganta is on the hunt for mysterious artifacts, and Wonder Woman goes out to stop her.

After the fight with Giganta, an older gentleman tells her that she has inherited an estate. What do all of these things have to do with one another, though?

This issue is…fine. It's fun and fast-paced. James Robinson certainly knows how to put together a tale, and Carlo Pagulayan is an excellent artist. Seeing Wonder Woman throw down with a classic villainess like Giganta is always welcome.

I also like the idea of adding Grail as a foe of Dian.

But, there are some things that bother me here. Some of those things may not just fit in this issue, and others are worrying for the issues to come.

I am aware that this story is supposed to introduce a brother for Wonder Woman. That's cool in theory, but, in practice, it just adds more men to a narrative that has been at its best when it's focused upon sisterhood and motherhood. The fact that a good chunk of this issue focuses on Hercules, one of the bro-iest Greek figures of all time (though I adore the Marvel iteration of the character) doesn't help things.

Plus, there's not the emotional presence in this story which was in the previous arc by Shea Fontana or the Greg Rucka material. This story just feels like a conventional superhero tale.

That's not bad. Again, Robinson is a good writer, and the tale isn't missing anything inherently. It just needs the extra things that make it a Wonder Woman comic.

It almost certainly foreshadows some interesting things that will be relevant to Wonder Woman and the greater DC mythos since Grail and (tween) Darkseid are involved.

As I already said, Carlo Pagulayan is a damn fine artist, and his work here is detailed and presents its figures in a fashion appropriate for the people of legend within. Romulo Fajardo Jr. blends the colors well and presents a palette that is as eye-catching as ever.

This is a good comic, but it lacks what I've come to expect from a Wonder Woman comic, and I worry about where it's going. I am still interested in the implications of Grail and Darkseid's roles in this story. I do recommend it. Pick it up.

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