Wonder Woman #14 Review (spoilers!)

Warning, spoilers ahead - fair notice to readers.

---

I have been eagerly awaiting this issue ever since I first heard Gail Simone was shifting over as writer. So eager in fact that I started seeing patterns with numbers that didn't have any connection to reality. So gleeful that I actually thanks Dan Didio in person earlier in the year for the move, and we had a brief chat about it (and Amazons Attack, but that's a different story).

So here we are, issue 14 (ruining my numerology).

I first have to say that I really enjoyed the issue. As a baseline it is far above what the title had been suffering through. Heinberg's arch wasn't bad, except where deadlines were concerned. The whole lead into, conflict, and aftermath of Amazons Attacked felt really arbitrary, coerced, and simply pointless. The only good thing I think to come out of it was the resurrection of Hyppolyta, which didn’t require all the bloodshed and mayhem – in character or not.

This new start is the beginning of a new title, but keeping the name. Simone barely gives any nod to the previous 13 issues, in fact only a few plot points are touched upon or carried over. I’m also glad she has kept her sense of wit she had on Birds of Prey.

I’m sure the albino apes will play into the future issues. Can anyone say “gorilla warfare” with the Nazi’s on Paradise Island? You know Simone would consider it. It’s just too good to ignore.

Also, Captain Nazi’s new outfit looks menacing. I sort of miss his old horrible green and yellow outfit, but this new one actually makes him look like a potent foe. Black looks good in an outfit anyway.

The art was fantastic. Nothing much else I can say.

I’m also glad the title will be in sets of four issues per story. That just feels like the right number for any ongoing story arch. Intro, buildup, peak, fallout. It’s also a bit kinder to those jumping into a title after having it suggested.

I feel like maybe I’m cheating myself by giving such glowing remarks on this book, but let’s face it. It’s about time.

Highly recommended.