REVIEW: ‘Wonder Woman,’ Issue #4

Wonder Woman #4 is published by DC Comics, written by Tom King, art by Daniel Sampere, colors by Tomeu Morey, and letters by Clayton Cowles. There is a backup story written by King, art by Belén Ortega, colors by Alejandro Sánchez, and letters by Cowles. As the national conversation around Wonder Woman changes following a tragedy, Diana takes a dying child on one last trip.

The plot of this issue is beautiful, implementing something different into this run that has been missing: heart. The previous issues have been filled with action and dark storytelling, as the Amazons are scapegoated for a crime, and their existence gets more threatened by the day. The hardened nature of Wonder Woman and the warrior race has been well-documented. This story captures the other side, being a hero. The pacing is slow, but it grants a genuine story full of emotion the time to be explored. It’s sweet yet heavy on the heart. The rest of the storyline, the exposition of the book, plays out in a parallel fashion, often in the background and through captions. 

There is a deep political spin unfolding, stemming from the secret society that appears desperate to discredit Wonder Woman. Much of the plot is setting up something huge, but it’s for the future. Right now, however, all that matters is that the kid gets the time of his life. Diana takes him to paradise, but even that is a place filled with tension. All of the pain and the agony and the oncoming disaster can wait. The small bit of life that is left is more important.

King’s dialogue is heavy, but it’s extremely thoughtful and powerful. At times, the two storylines run next to each other, split down the same page. On either side is a monologue, but with very different tones. The darkness and the nefarious feeling of all of those in the Government plotting with each other coincides with the gentle and caring attitude that Wonder Woman has toward the young man named Jack.

Diana is a warrior; she is fearsome and powerful. But she is so much more than that. She is loving, caring, and devoted. How she speaks to Jack is filled with so much love and compassion, a real maternal tone. The dialogue, especially towards the end of their time together, actively made me choke up. It’s a discussion about the choices made in life and how that reflects on what happens once we’re gone. For a woman who has met and fought gods, King makes her words carry worthwhile gravitas.

The art is utterly sensational. This is a quieter issue than its predecessors, yet there is still so much to see. The tension and emotion within a scene is more palpable when it is slower. It is the small things that make this big comic so impressive. The individual hair follicles on the back of a person’s head. The ultra-realistic interpretation of faces, denoting their age and wisdom, with eyes that bore into the soul. When Wonder Woman lands at her destination, Jack clings to her leg like a terrified pup, knowing nothing in the universe could hurt him. The montage of their day together is filled with joy and freedom.

The colors are just as jaw-dropping. Spending so much time outside, the natural look of Wonder Woman #4 is achingly beautiful, with a decisive decision to prevent the book from being too vibrant. Where that choice wavers is on any outfit or item owned or worn by Wonder Woman and the other Amazonians. The red on them stands out against the greens and blues of the natural world. Likewise, another example of brightness is in the green uniforms of the US Army. The textures on these clothes, denoting their camouflage, are creative and effective. The lettering isn’t always the easiest to follow in this book, especially with how the scenes split down the pages in various moments. The montage in particular, lacks cohesion and a sense of direction that can be easily tracked by the human eye.

The backstory is an adventure that is isolated within a single location. Robin and Superman continue to look after the young Wonder Woman. This possible future in which a young Trinity is being gathered is adorable, with both sensational art and terrific dialogue. It captures the children’s youth as well as their desire to be something older.

Wonder Woman #4 remembers the hero’s heart. That is what makes Wonder Woman so special: the fact that she’s a weapon of war with a soul that shines brighter than any star. The story of the issue has echoes of The Kids Who Collects Spider-Man, one of the first comics to use the concept of a dying child to add humanity to the superhumans. It’s perfectly written, never lessening the horror of cancer or trying to treat it with magicians. There may be a haunting sadness to the book as it nears its conclusion, but it has so much compassion within it that a smile can be found among the tears.

Wonder Woman #4 is available where comics are sold.