REVIEW: ‘Wonder Woman’ Issue 18

Wonder Woman Issue 18 is published by DC Comics and written by Tom King, with art by Daniel Sampere, colors by Tomeu Morey, and letters by Clayton Cowles.

The Sovereign has taken shelter in the White House. And as Wonder Woman strides towards it, the final defenses are unleashed.

Wonder Woman Issue 18 finally sees Wonder Woman enter the fray. The previous issues of this arc have seen Diana take a step back, raising her daughter while the Wonder Girls and the other heroes have fought for her. They have taken down the Sovereign’s financial assets and defeated his allies, boxing their leader in and forcing him backward constantly. But for this final stretch, the role has changed, with Diana enacting the final part of her revenge. The pacing is slow yet relentless.

Everything is thrown at Wonder Woman, from weapons to familiar foes. And each time, there is an answer. She is Wonder Woman, after all, and King captures her immense aura superbly. It is similar to other situations and issues but with the backdrop of the White House. Wonder Woman Issue 18 feels circular, like a rematch between Diana and many characters and figures. Every time The Sovereign aimed at the Amazonian, it went wrong for him. And we are incredibly close to that showdown. Wonder Woman Issue 18 builds up to that moment, ending on an unbearable cliffhanger because it felt like the conclusion was coming here and now. Instead, there is more to come.

Wonder Woman Issue 18 features many of King’s common techniques at their best. There are his structural jumps, bouncing around scenes whilst constantly reverting to the central spine of the chapter. As Wonder Woman stalks across the front lawn of the White House, batting away bullets and fighting supervillains, the plot will then move to the Wonder Girls or the characters inside the White House itself.

It is fascinating to see the portrayal of the President in Wonder Woman Issue 18. He is walking around the Oval Office, panicking, while The Sovereign is sitting behind the Resolute Desk. This shows the true power and how the villain has always presented himself as King of America.

That leads to another part of King’s storytelling: his sense of humor. He has a sarcastic, subtle way of telling clever jokes. Wonder Woman doesn’t deliver quips, but the put-downs and brilliant deliveries shine. The Wonder Girls have more energy, bouncing off each other while looking after the baby. The captions, told from the viewpoint of the villains, are at their best on the precipice of this showdown.

Wonder Woman Issue 18 is gorgeously poetic, using a terrific vocabulary to explore what we see with our own eyes in even more detail. Often, the Sovereign explains their incredible expense and dedication to developing weapons or creating an institution, and Wonder Woman is now tearing them apart with ease. This is another part of the hidden comedy within this run.

The art is sensational in Wonder Woman Issue 18. Any time Wonder Woman appears, she exudes power and strength. Her size and stature, dressed in her iconic outfit, draw all attention. It’s even more remarkable when bullets and missiles bounce off her like they’re pieces of paper. Diana striding towards the White House is a powerful, instantly memorable image.

The ultra-realistic art style Sampere enthuses into his art reaches another level in Wonder Woman Issue 18. This is because most of Wonder Woman Issue 18 occurs in a recognizable location. You have the front of the White House torn up, and the fence knocked down.

These sci-fi elements and superheroes are battling it out in front of such famous iconography, and the realism makes the gravity of the situation more intense. Each section that Wonder Woman walks through has a different opponent, from machines to supervillains. And yet, she never runs or exerts herself too much. She looks calm and composed for Wonder Woman Issue 18; every move is effortless.

The colors are incredible in Wonder Woman Issue 18. Wonder Woman’s costume is a crucial return in the arc, bringing the vibrancy back to the series. It’s also essential for the themes of the issue. The American flag often appears in this issue, and Wonder Woman’s outfit is a visual anagram of those famous colors. It accentuates the premise of one of America’s most high-profile figures attacking America’s most senior institution.

The lettering for the word balloons is very easy to read, but the white text on the blue backgrounds in the caption boxes has always been a slight problem. They are uncomfortable to read through and can be challenging to focus on.

The comic is also not anti-American in the slightest. This is a story about a deep-seated secret society that has laced its way through the fabric of the government. However, the heroes and creators still respect the symbols and ideals many Americans hold dear. If anything, it is the villains using the flag or the White House that are presented as sickly and repugnant.

Wonder Woman Issue 18 is a remarkable reward. Readers have been speculating on when Wonder Woman will return to the front in the war against the Sovereign. And she has delivered a fantastic build-up to a final confrontation with someone King has crafted a boiling hatred towards. It’s a stunning book both in terms of storytelling and visuals.

Wonder Woman Issue 18 is available now wherever comics are sold.