Writers: Tom King
Art: Daniel Sampere and Belén Ortega
Colors: Tomeu Morey and Alejandro Sanchez
Letters: Clayton Cowles
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $4.99
Release Date: December 19th, 2023
In Wonder Woman #4, as the President of the United States prepares to give a speech to the country saying Wonder Woman is an enemy of the people, Wonder Woman spends time with a young boy dying of cancer, fulfilling his wish to see Paradise Island. All the while, a man seemingly as old as time itself manipulates events, determined to destroy Wonder Woman and the Amazons forever.
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The Story
Wonder Woman #4 continues the “Wonder Woman: Outlaw” storyline and amps up the tension. As with the real world, a small tragic event continues to be spun and publicized until anger and resentment spreads across the country. In that way, the story really reflects what’s going on in the world today. The story jumps between several plot points, with Steve Trevor lashing out at other servicemen for insulting Diana’s honor, the President getting ready to present a speech to the country formally designating Wonder Woman as a traitor, and Wonder Woman taking a young boy with cancer named Jack to Paradise Island for a day of fun.
It’s a startling contrast to see the President and his men talking about Wonder Woman has if she were the greatest threat to the country in history then cutting to Paradise Island, where Diana is playing games and telling lovely stories to Jack. It makes the book terribly moving, similar in tone to Roger Stern’s classic story “The Kid Who Collects Spider-Man”, a story that also focused on a terminally ill child who idolizes a hero. Where that story had the boy’s sickness as a twist ending, in Wonder Woman’s story, we know from the start how little time the kid has left and it makes every scene with he and Wonder Woman heart-rending.
The scene with Steve Trevor is great also, as we see there’s nothing Steve won’t do for Diana. Even though the whole country is turning against her, he still stands up for, backing it up with his fists in a tense scene. On the negative side, I’m discouraged by the “master villain” of the story. The President is being manipulated by a VERY old looking man who is part of an ancient group similar to the Freemasons or Illuminati, who subtly (and not-so-subtly) control world events. I feel the addition of this villain cheapens the story. Why have some misogynistic villain pulling strings throughout this arc when we’ve witnessed in the real world that stupidity and hatred are usually enough motivators to make a person or a country do bad things? Why do you need to add a Lex Luthor or Doctor Doom when news agencies with three letters are broadcasting hate and fear every day from their networks?
Still, I’m mostly enjoying this story arc and I’m curious to see how it ends. Tom King is taking his time building the tension, nothing’s happening overnight, it’s over weeks, and it makes us sympathize for Wonder Woman, who’s desperately trying to turn the tide even as the downfall of the Amazons seems inevitable. There’s also a backup story set in the future, with Diana’s daughter Lizzie being babysat by Jonathan Kent and Damian Wayne, and Lizzie is fused with a Black Mercy (from the classic Superman story “For The Man Who Has Everything…”). Jonathan and Damien desperately try to figure out how to free her from it in a cute story to end the issue.
The Art
Daniel Sampere’s art on Wonder Woman #4 continues to be one of my favorite renderings of Diana. In every scene she’s in, Wonder Woman looks tall, athletic and regal. She looks like how I imagine an Amazon would look in real life, not bulky and covered in muscles, but having a streamlined toned body. The other characters are drawn perfectly also, with Steve Trevor looking as rugged as he has ever looked and the villain of the story arc looking elderly and wicked, as if he’s being kept alive with demonic energy. Belén Ortega’s art on the backup story is also good and suitably cute, as Lizzie lives out her dream life through the Black Mercy. The comical scenes between Jonathan and Damian are enhanced by the art.
Final Thoughts
Wonder Woman #4 tugs at the heart. It has beautiful scenes with Diana and Jack on Paradise Island, alternating with scenes of the President and the villain of the arc. The villain seems unnecessary to the story and is a bit cliché, but overall the story arc is good and I’m invested in wherever it goes next.