Wonder Woman #764
Recap
Wonder Woman and Max Lord are on the hunt for some missing and extremely dangerous weaponry from Lord Industries, and the search has brought this unlikely duo to…Miami? Fun in the sun will have to wait-because if Diana and Max can’t uncover this illegal arms trade, the entire city could be blown sky high! But we’re sure Max Lord will be nothing but helpful… right?
Review
After the momentous events in Wonder Woman #763, things take a turn for the fun in the latest issue, showing Diana and Max on the beaches of Miami confronting stolen tech potentially from Lord Enterprises.
The Liar Liar arc was full of intense developments that were emotionally charged to say the least, but in Wonder Woman #764 the series takes a bit of a breather. This approach immediately comes through in just the setting alone and while the issue is a quick read, it still hides a twist at the end to make it feel worthwhile in the ongoing narrative.
Tamaki isn’t reinventing the wheel with her work on Wonder Woman, especially in this issue, but it remains a strong superhero story that checks all of the right boxes to keep readers coming back for more. Even in an issue that could have easily been just another filler with baddies that feel like we’ve seen them before, Tamaki makes sure to bring wonderful characterizations and an engaging plot to keep you entertained.
The artwork by Steve Pugh takes a bit of a backseat in this issue when compared to the level of quality we’ve seen so far, however. It isn’t bad by any means, but the moments that allow the art to shine such as the fight against the robots when a huge shark appears don’t really pop like that should. It’s technically proficient and there are panels that are undoubtedly amazing, but the overall aesthetic sort of fades to the background with a more casual tone. Strong colors from Romulo Fajardo Jr. and letters from Pat Brosseau keep the issue feeling overall tight and well-executed though.
The back and forth between Diana and Max is fun and their relationship feels poised to take a turn for the worst at any moment, but for now we get to enjoy a more lighthearted story with some good banter. Sometimes that really is more than enough to make a book feel worth both the time and money it takes to read it. Wonder Woman #764 excels on its strong characterizations and does just enough with the plot to keep you engaged. The dark twist at the end isn’t exactly unpredictable but it does set the stage for some interesting developments to come very soon.
All in all, this is an issue that might not be the most impactful or memorable, but it’s still a great time. It’s the type of comic that knows how to have fun even amidst a serious situation and this approach works uniquely well for Wonder Woman as a character.
Final Thoughts
Wonder Woman #764 (Tamaki, Pugh, Fajardo Jr., Brosseau) is a comic that knows how to have fun even in a serious situation, helping to make the issue a worthwhile read for any fan despite falling a bit short on impact.
Wonder Woman #764: Goddess Help Me, I Don’t Trust You
- Writing - 8/108/10
- Storyline - 8.5/108.5/10
- Art - 8/108/10
- Color - 8.5/108.5/10
- Cover Art - 8.5/108.5/10