REVIEW: ‘Knight Terrors: Wonder Woman,’ Issue #1

Knight Terrors: Wonder Woman #1 is published by DC Comics, written by Josie Campbell, art by Juan Ferreyra, and letters by Pat Brosseau. There is a backup story titled “Nubia and the Well of Monsters Part One,” written by Stephanie Williams, art by Meghan Hetrick, colors by Marissa Louise, and letters by Becca Carey. This is part of the Knight Terrors event. Wonder Woman, Detective Chimp, and John Constantine manage to combine within the Nightmare Realm, but that does not make it any easier to get out of it.

For some dragged into a world of dreams, it is easy to determine that sense of place. Knight Terrors: Wonder Woman #1 starts with that, with a team-up of sensible figures and a plan of action. They set off, with a safety net and communication, to try and find others. But it is not long before things go wrong. Campbell toying with safety and danger, making them one and the same, is superb.

It is great to see the heroes fighting back, with a range of things to actually fight, and it isn’t easy for them at all. Dark histories are brought up from multiple angles, from demons to Mythology. It is fascinating to see the way things are derailed so quickly. The pacing of the book, especially in the main story, is fantastic. It’s not scary, but the sense of adventure is terrific, and the use of other characters for the purpose of manipulation is awesome.

The choice of characters to be bound together in one dream is interesting. There are two incredibly powerful and resilient heroes, Wonder Woman and Constantine, and they have experience with this sort of illusion and reality-bending. Their strength is individual but props up two sides of the first story. Wonder Woman takes the lead, simply fighting what she comes up against, staring down anything that wants to cause her harm. Constantine is more bravado, but he has moments where he has to take charge and be a swashbuckling fighter too. But his plans don’t take long to go wrong, and he is more than eager to run away if need be. With John, he has several ideas to try, with various possible solutions being trialed. 

Then in between them is Detective Chimp. He is the weaker being involved, with it often being his fears that are being pitted against the trio. But his presence is necessary as it provides Constantine and Diana with someone that needs protection. The confidence of the others balances his panic and unease. The dialogue is so layered and unique for each character and creature as the trio venture through the labyrinth. 

The art is mesmerising. Like with the writing, it is always changing and evolving to fit the situation. Much of the book appears using double-page spreads and sequences that stretch over two pages. This leads to some big panels. The detail in these is jaw-dropping. They are creating a world within the nightmare realm. But the large pages also benefit the creation of the maze, making it imposing and easy to get lost. Both Wonder Woman and Constantine are magnificent in their design by Ferreyra. They are to be looked towards and followed into danger because they will keep you safe. 

Constantine’s whole demeanor and body alter depending on what he is doing. At times, he is brave and square-jawed. Then his face can contort in fear, becoming close to inhuman. Speaking of inhuman, the expressions of Detective Chimp are brilliant. He looks so terrified it is heartbreaking. There are some superb creature creations, with the disheveled, wild-eyed Constantine hurtling toward them. Whilst Wonder Woman always looks stoic and composed. There are pages when a spell is cast, or we just need to pay attention, where the style changes. There is no better artist when you need someone to showcase not just the most perfect detail imaginable but a morphing world of magic and manipulation.

The colors are just as stunning. The art style can be realistic at points, and the textures generated by Ferreryra are immaculate. The situational adaptability is flawless, going from dark to light effortlessly. The magic from Constantine is extremely pretty, whilst the bags added to Wonder Woman’s eyes details her exhaustion. The lettering is extremely easy to follow, crucial in a book with panel layouts such as this one.

The backup story is filled with just as much action and monsters as the main one, as Nubia gets flung against freaky creatures. She is literally grabbed by the neck and dragged into the adventure. The monster designs are beautifully horrifying, and the story being told, even within eight pages, is very exciting.

Knight Terrors: Wonder Woman #1 is a masterpiece. The adventure is remarkable from the start, but the way in which it develops and grows is unlike anything I’ve seen before. It’s like the book is living and contorting, able to shift into whatever the creators choose to be. The writing is excellent, and the art is simply some of the best I’ve ever seen. Ferreyra is phenomenal.

Knight Terrors: Wonder Woman #1 is available where comics are sold.