Review: Wonder Woman #48

Wonder Woman #48 came out last week, an issue in which Diana appears on exactly one page. Critics (including me) have bristled a bit about Wonder Woman's secondary role in her own book since James Robinson took over and this issue is probably the strongest evidence of that. In reality, this should be called DC Comics Presents: Jason and Supergirl.

But as a fan of Robinson, in particular his run on Justice League of America - a team where Kara was the muscle, I enjoyed this issue. This read a lot like one of those JLA issues. I don't know if that is praise for the story or criticism for the complete lack of Wonder Woman in her own book. The super-powerful villains of the piece just disappear in the middle so heroes can talk a lot. But if comics are supposed to entertain me, this one did. Your mileage may vary but this is a Supergirl blog and this was a Supergirl heavy issue.

Jesus Merino is on art and I've always liked his style, thin-lined and precise. There's a lot of 'standing around chatting' in this book but he brings some character and expression to the proceedings. And this Jenny Frison variant of an all-female hero group is just gorgeous. I very much like how Supergirl looks younger here, appropriately.

On to the issue.

Diana is off on Zamaron leaving Jason alone to deal with the four Dark Gods floating in the sky.

Three of them spring to life and reveal themselves. They are the God of Mob Rule, the God of Nothing, and the God of War/Power.

The fourth god, King Best (sounds like a Dragon Ball Z villain), remains in monolith form.

I like the design of these gods. But they seem, in the long run, utterly forgettable.

We get pages of Jason trying to battle them with limited success.

Just when it looks like the War goddess has him in her fiery clutches, Supergirl arrives and bashes her.

Hard to believe but between her and Jason, she is the veteran. I kind of like her yelling at him to look alive and keep his head in the game.

And nice, iconic, double-fist bash here.

These gods are magic based and so even that successful shot weakens Supergirl.

I like the 'old school' stars around her head showing she is dazed.

I also like that Supergirl's reputation precedes her. Jason can only imagine what a fight between Kara and Diana must have been like. (So well drawn by Stephen Segovia last month!)

But Jason is an unknown. I am glad that Robinson knows enough to have Supergirl wonder just who the hell he is.

She hasn't even heard of him.

As for the three Dark Gods they are fighting? Well, for some reason they just up and disappear, leaving just King Best there.

Then the Justice League arrives. That makes sense given the enormity of the Dark Gods presence. I like how Supergirl says that the Dark Gods remind her of the Source Wall gods. I have been saying that too!

For unknown reasons, Superman isn't among the Leaguers. So Supergirl gets to say that she'll take Superman's place.

I love this panel! There is this look of a sort of whimsy on her face. I love the arms out like 'who else can take his place but me!' She is the legacy character!

And with that the League flies off. Remember, Robinson wrote a stretch on JLA of all legacy characters - Supergirl, Dick Grayson Batman, Donna Troy, Jade, and Jessie Quick. I can't help but wonder if he was trying to call back to that time with this grouping.

Sure, Batman, Aquaman, and Flash are there but in the background. The big images are all legacy or replacement or 'not Big 7'. Pretty cool.

Unfortunately, I don't think Robinson knew where to go from there. So he has King Best sprout legs and with a wave of his stony hand teleport the JLA away. Just like last issue the threat of Supergirl fizzles, just like earlier in this issue the dark gods fizzle, now the JLA blips away. Too many easy story contrivances to make things unfold the way Robinson wants.

It is Jason alone against King Best.

That is, until it isn't.

Robinson brings Diana back on the last page.

Okay, 22 pages to get Diana and Jason to face off against the toughest Dark God. It seems like a lot of filler between this issue and the last to simply get us to this point. And the filler doesn't seem to have significant impact to the story. Things come and get knocked out. Or they come and disappear. So not exactly compelling.

But it is, for me entertaining. I love the Supergirl stuff in this issue.

Overall grade: C+