Wonder Woman #210
DC Comics
Writer: Greg Rucka
Pencils: Drew Johnson
Inks: Ray Snyder
Colors: Richard & Tanya Horie
Price: $2.25

Rating: 4 stars

For sometime now, Wonder Woman writer Greg Rucka has been promising a big pay off in terms of the plot building that has consumed much of his first year and a half on the series. Issue 210 is that pay off. With Medousa and Wonder Woman in a fight to the death, only one can walk away, and the one left standing must face the repercussions of their victory.

In comparing Rucka?s run to other creators on the series, I can now safely say that he is second only to George Perez in terms of breaking new ground. From his clever use of the Greek Gods Diana worships to the full on battle scenes, Rucka plans to leave the Amazon in turmoil and keep her there throughout his tenure.

Issue 210 is the ultimate battle for Diana. She has been challenged under the auspices of an ancient oath to Ares and must fight Medousa to the death. There is no room for conjecture here, and the inevitability of her actions brings a seldom seen persona to the surface. Most often, we as readers see Wonder Woman as a compassionate person with all the forgiving qualities we should have, but here she is as ruthless as the God of War himself. The battle itself and the end result are stunning in its entirety.

Art-wise, it has taken me awhile to become accustomed to Drew Johnson?s style. He portrays her more as a warrior then the glamorous woman she has been in the past. Her outfits are more utilitarian then fluff, and her armor is used in dazzling ways. I will probably always favor the George Perez look, but have come to respect Johnson?s work here, especially when it is inked by Ray Snyder. In this issue the art team?s skills were never more aptly used then in portraying the battle. The last three pages especially are visually stunning.

A year and a half ago, I did a review of Rucka?s work on Wonder Woman and was distinctly unhappy. Today I am happy I stuck around to see the end results, and hope that he stays on the book as long as he wants. His work with Johnson in bringing an extra dimension to the character is well worth it.

If you aren?t reading Wonder Woman, go out and pick up this issue at your local comic book shop. At $2.25 it is a bargain. The battle and the ensuing results are sure to bring pathos and action to this book for quite some time. Wonder Woman has reclaimed her place in the top three DC characters with this story arc, and will hopefully remain on top for years to come.

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