Wonder Woman #20: A Murder, You Say?

Wonder Woman #20 is the start of a short, two-issue arc that serves as a palate cleanser for the main, ongoing series of events. This issue opens with Diana’s mother, Hippolyta, warning her daughter of some events that have transpired, resulting in a night spent with Ares and his death the following morning. Hippolyta’s warning is more so a “I want you to hear this from me,” rather than a “please absolve me;” however, being the loyal daughter and hero that she is, Diana jumps to the task of clearing her mother’s name with the help of none other than the world’s greatest detective, Batman.

More so than anything else, this issue is an excellent exploration of Bruce and Diana’s relationship, especially as it sets up a conflict within Olympus, a setting not very familiar to the Dark Knight. This allows for a lot of fun interplay that is juxtaposed by the rude and sometimes insulting way that the Gods treat the heroes. This brings up a very striking discussion of faith, specifically how Bruce and Diana feel about the idea of Gods or God, and what that means for their own characters.

One of the most poignant parts of this is towards the end of the issue when Bruce lets down his guard a bit, revealing some parts of himself to Diana that really make their relationship more well rounded, especially for fans of the animated Justice League series. Diana is a complex character, and her feelings about the Gods are very tied to the way that the Gods have treated her people and the way that Gods view mortals in general, but for Bruce, he had a major crisis of faith when his partners were murdered. These two juxtaposing experiences showcase a more direct reason for despising the Gods and one that is more based in a relatable reality. Either way, they do an excellent job of exploring these characters in a space that is perfect for this kind of story.

Guillem March does a fantastic job with the artwork here, really giving this arc an aesthetic that gives it a unique charm. Most pages are 9-panel grids (this is Tom King so you have to expect that at some point), save for brief action shots that are blown up to full page splashes for dramatic effect. It is almost a shame that this is just a minor, fill-in arc to the overall Wonder Woman run, because a more full blown, 6-12 issue miniseries with this art and the fantastic interplay between Bruce and Diana would be a very enjoyable read.