Wonder Woman #762: The Way of the Battlefield

Before we get to the exciting and twisted reveal of the new villain Liar Liar in Wonder Woman #762, it’s important to first say that once again, writer Mariko Tamaki and company have once again achieved a powerful vision of Wonder Woman truly being put to the test.

This new arc of Wonder Woman pits the titular character against one particularly manipulative Maxwell Lord and has done quite well in plotting a mysterious rise with dangerous implications for Diana. In issue #762 we see the consequences of Lord’s actions come to light, but the mystery isn’t resolved, in fact it’s quite the opposite. With a strong sense of pacing, the secrets of this story are coming out at just the right time to make for a thrilling reading experience.

While the reveal of Emma’s identity as Liar Liar isn’t exactly all that surprising especially given the white rabbit elements surrounding her character and her unknown motivations. The strength of this new villain isn’t necessarily focused on her maintaining a secretive identity though, instead, it keeps the spotlight on Wonder Woman and how she must continue to strive to be a hero against increasingly difficult circumstances. This is what makes it such a well executed superhero comic, the emphasis on not just danger but the impact that the presence of a real hero can actually have. Yes, Maxwell Lord and Emma are interesting counterparts that pose quite a threat to Diana, but it’s not their charm that carries this story. It’s Wonder Woman and the heart she injects into every page.

Tamaki is certainly crafting a wonderful narrative that continues just as strongly in Wonder Woman #762 as prior issues in the arc, but the artwork is every bit as good. Classic illustrations of Diana being a hero in action by Barberi & Santorelli makes this issue worthwhile on their own. While some of the colors fall into less than spectacular territory, it isn’t enough to actually hinder the book. With some strong lettering from Brosseau particularly in the SFX that give life to the more dynamic sequences, the visuals help this issue to land successfully.

For fans of Wonder Woman, I only have to agree with the other writers here at Comic Watch who are all excited for this new arc and what it means for Diana. There is intriguing character drama that brings something new and fresh to the series’ lore while still punctuating all the right elements that make WW such a timeless character. It’s got the depth to stand out in the long list of excellent WW stories and feels poised to reach new levels of drama with the reveal of Liar Liar this issue. Be sure to stick around because it seems things are only going to get more wild from here!