[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]
Writers: Amanda Conner & Jimmy Palmiotti
Art: Chad Hardin
Colors: Alex Sinclair
Letters: Travis Lanham
Summary
Justice League of America Giant #3 leads off with another brand new Wonder Woman story. This is supposed to be the first in a long series of connected stories in this title. This issue also includes “The New 52’s” Justice League #3, The Flash #3 and Aquaman #3.
The new Wonder Woman tale begins with Diana and Steve Trevor spending some alone time on a beach picnic. Steve has a test flight the next day and he and Diana are trying to spend a little time together before he leaves. They return to her place to find Etta Candy on guard, they’ve surprised her! Etta’s staying with Diana while Etta’s place is being remodeled.
After Steve leaves, Etta and Diana see a story on the news about a terrible forest fire in Montana. Diana leaves immediately to assist. The fire has trapped a number of firemen and is endangering the wildlife in the area. Diana quickly puts together a plan into action to save them all. This includes Wonder Woman using a rarely used power- the ability to talk to animals! I checked, it’s real, not made up…. Both, pre-Crisis and post-Crisis, I kid you not. (And, people make fun of Aquaman!)
When Diana returns home, she learns that Steve and his escort planes have disappeared off the radar and she rushes off to investigate!!
Positives
While this story feels like it takes place in current continuity with Etta Candy appearing as she does in the regular Wonder Woman title, and Diana’s house is of the same design, the story is clearly structured to be all-ages. Current continuity borrows from a number of different eras.
The opening sequence of this tale focuses heavily on the Wonder Woman/ Steve Trevor relationship. It almost feels like a teen romance comic from the 1950’s for the first couple pages. This wouldn’t have been out of place in a Wonder Woman comic from the same time period. It’s executed effectively as Conner and Palmiotti channel the romance genre. It is a bit surprising for Wonder Woman, but at the same time appreciated. Pulling in the under-used “Wonder Woman talks to animals” power goes a long way in keeping this story all-ages, as well as doubling down on the 1950’s style of Wonder Woman story.
Wonder Woman’s celebratory drink with the fireman is an enjoyable moment that evokes a classic moment of camaraderie.
The Justice League reprint in this issue is Wonder Woman-centric and re-sets the Diana/Steve relationship for the modern reader as well as making the “The New 52” Wonder Woman more familiar than her own title did at the time.
Negatives
Chad Hardin’s art in this issue doesn’t fit the same style as the previous two issues. It has an all-ages feel to it that while fitting the story, detracts a bit from the overall impression. The balance with an all-ages comic comes when the story is content appropriate for the all-ages, but doesn’t look like it was designed that way.
Verdict
The new Wonder Woman tale is very enjoyable and accomplishes two specific things: 1. It feels classic and timeless, and 2. It fits within the current continuity of her main title. All three reprints are solid “New 52” offerings. You can’t go wrong with this one.
