REVIEW: ‘Wonder Woman’ Issue #13

Wonder Woman #13 is published by DC Comics. Written by Tom King, art by Tony S. Daniel, colors by Leonardo Paciarotti and letters by Clayton Cowles. There is a backup story. Written by King, art by Khary Randolph, colors by Alex Guimarães and letters by Cowles. This is a tie-in to Absolute Power. Wonder Woman and Robin break into the prison where all of the heroes and villains are held, finding Steve Trevor at the same time.

Wonder Woman #13 features one of the most critical factors of the whole event. The prison holding all the heroes and villains has been a crucial target, filled with pain, suffering, and mysteries. King infuses that plot with both drama and humor. A running gag is established early in the chapter following the reunion of Steve and Diana. It’s quirky and humorous, but perhaps overused by the end of the issue. This tie-in favours comedy, lightening the tone. This is crucial after such a heavy event; it invokes the feeling of hope that is beginning to build towards the event’s ending.

There is a long start to the issue, combining the exposition that has occurred over various series and scenarios. But as soon as there is a synchronised smash into the guard office, the pace and the scale ramp up immeasurably. There is a tremendous amount of suspense and drama. Wonder Woman lacks her powers, which suddenly makes her more vulnerable. But it also leads to the potential of sacrifice, which leads to a beautifully profound finale. It generates a word that isn’t often used within a Wonder Woman comic: sweet.

The cast for most of Wonder Woman #13 is small, magnifying their brilliant personalities. The Absolute Power event has manufactured one of the best partnerships: Diana and Damian. Robin’s snarky confidence works fantastically with the gentle force of Wonder Woman. Wonder Woman also finds her true partner, Steve Trevor, and the consequences of that reunion remind the reader that Robin is a petulant child.

Steve draws affection and softness from the warrior princess. King loves repetition and recurrence. Wonder Woman’s “no, thank you” has been used so much that it is established as a theme within this series. When it is used, it is a symbol of defiance and power.

The art is sensational, capturing both the characters’ sensitivity and badassery. Wonder Woman’s design is terrific in Daniel’s art style. Her armor has been upgraded since losing her abilities, providing more protection. It makes her look like a medieval warrior, with immaculate detail. There is one splash page in particular that is simply stunning. Robin has more of a stealthy demeanour, but his confidence often makes him look bigger than his physical stature. The whole place is filled with superheroes in the second half of the issue. The battle becomes an excellent cacophony of noise and chaos.

The colors are interesting. Even with characters who wear vibrant costumes, there is a muted quality to the pages. The shades are beautiful, dark, and atmospheric. The tones get brighter in the second half of the book. The bullets shine when they clash against Wonder Woman’s bracelet, and the characters who are released seem to be brighter than the heroes who are doing the rescuing. The lettering is pretty, clean, and easy to read.

The backup story is mesmerising because, for the first time, the bridge is beginning to be built between the main story and Trinity’s involvement. That all revolves around Robin. A conversation between Wonder Woman and Robin directly leads to Damian, Jon and Trinity later in the issue. Many of the scenes included are extended from both the last issue and the present chapter. The pages are recreated by a different artist, which is an exciting concept. It doesn’t answer every question, but it is more than we have ever had before.

Wonder Woman #13 uses its levity to instill hope. The whole book is fun and freeing, with humor laced within the action. It’s ultimately a positive reading experience. After so many issues of darkness within Absolute Power, the injection of light is infectious and refreshing. It has also taken us close to answering questions that have been there from the start. This issue is a vital part of the Absolute Power event, opening many doors that will turn the tide in the final battle.

Wonder Woman #13 is available where comics are sold.