Wonder Woman #787 // Review
The place where Diana grew up is in shambles. Her mother has been killed. All that's left is to figure out why. She has lessons to learn and a life to resume in Wonder Woman #787. Writers Becky Cloonan and Michael W. Conrad open a new multi-part story that is brought to the page by artist Emanuela Lupacchino, inker Wade VonGrawbadger and colorist Tamra Bonvillain. Also, in the issue: the continuation of another tale of Young Diana written by Jordie Bellaire with art by Paulina Ganucheau. Once again, the pairing of the saga of an adult Diana and the drama of her coming-of-age proves to be enjoyably well-balanced.
Queen Nubia assures Diana that it's okay to leave. Really. The rest of the Amazons are going to rebuild everything. (It wouldn't be the first time.) Diana has one last thing to do before she can return to life beyond Themyscira: she's going to do a little investigation as to how everything went wrong. Returning to the US isn't going to be that easy: Dr. Psycho has been amassing a following. Meanwhile, in the past, Young Diana is excited to get a bit of time with her Aunt Antiope, who has been away from the island for quite some time. If only her mother shared her enthusiasm.
Cloonan and Conrad neatly wrap up the aftermath of the Trial of the Amazons crossover with an intriguing little bit of Themysciran prehistory before rolling into the US with a clever set-up for a conflict with the new Villainy Incorporated. Cloonan and Conrad have a very deft handle on the pulse and pacing of a thoroughly engaging transitional issue. With Young Diana, Bellaire explores more of the background that helped make Diana Wonder Woman. It's a cleverly delicate drama that rests purely in a casual social drama. Bellaire examines a very thoughtful mood on a casual evening for the girl who would become Wonder Woman.
Lupacchino and VonGrawbardger capably articulate that action beneath the ocean between Wonder Woman and the man who threatened the lives of the Amazons. Diana is given a quiet, compelling intensity out of costume as she discusses matters with Etta. Lupacchino is at her best this issue in nuanced drama as Diana returns to the U.S. She even manages to give Dr. Psycho a bit of criminal charm reminiscent of Peter Dinklage. Ganucheau's manga-inspired art casts a soft light on the tale of Young Diana that closes out the issue. Carefully exaggerated emotion plays out on the faces of Diana and Antiope in a dialogue that carefully plays on emotion as Aunt and niece converse.
The current run of Wonder Woman has been a great deal of fun. It was inevitable that the two-feature format would eventually land on an issue without a whole lot of physical action. There's more than enough going on in both stories to maintain interest from cover to cover. It's odd to have a drama-heavy issue that has as much going on as there is in Wonder Woman #787.
