REVIEW: ‘Wonder Woman’ Issue 29

Wonder Woman Issue 29 is published by DC Comics and written by Stephanie Williams, art and colors by Jeff Spokes, and letters by Clayton Cowles.

Wonder Woman returns to Themyscira to rest, leaving Baby Elizabeth in the care of Nubia and the Wonder Girls.

This issue features something incredibly rare. Wonder Woman arrives on the shores of Themyscira broken and defeated. She’s tired and hollow. Nubia, queen of the Amazons, takes the baby and sends Diana away, and Wonder Woman genuinely departs the book from here. The rest of Women Woman Issue 29 is focused on caring for the infant Amazon, creating a peculiar pace, tone, and structure to the comic.

There’s a slow introduction, simply enjoying the time spent with the characters. It’s jovial and charming, with the Wonder Girls deciding to spar to calm the crying child. But a feeling that something’s wrong starts to creep in, and the scene escalates quickly. The sisterhood collapses, leading to increased noise and intensity. It becomes clear that something else is interfering, and the issue takes on a more insidious, intriguing aspect.

As  Stephanie Williams takes over writing for a couple of issues, the focus shifts to characters she knows so well. Williams understands Nubia better than anyone, but she can also shine when scripting the other Amazons. It is disconcerting to see Wonder Woman so exhausted at the beginning of Wonder Woman Issue 29. She’s quiet, upset, and haunted, so it falls to Nubia to be a caring sister. The Queen takes the world off of Diana’s shoulders for a short while, letting her be alone. There’s also a whole host of Wonder Girls, including Donna, Cassie, and Yara.

It makes the comic lively, humorous, and heartfelt. They are great sisters to Diana and to young Lizzie.
At first, their conversation is familial, but as things start to destabilize, barbs emerge meant to hurt. It takes the ever-serious Nubia to ground them. With Diana away, Nubia has to be the wise, matriarchal figure, and excels at it.

The art showcases a selection of incredible women. Every character in Wonder Woman Issue 29 is their own person and a fierce warrior. Spokes’ illustrations are exceptional. The muscle definition is terrific, making the heroes appear tall and tough without being over-the-top. The detail in Wonder Woman’s face is stunning. It’s the tiny points that show her exhaustion, as she tries not to burst into tears whilst holding her baby. It’s almost imperceptible in a face that’s usually so stoic.

The Wonder Girls clash, battling with an intensity that grows fiercer. Their movement and athleticism are amazing, and they have their own individual weapons. Cassie and Donna wield swords whilst Yaya twirls her boleadoras.

The colors are stunning. The very start of Wonder Woman Issue 29, with the Amazons on the beach underneath an orange sky as the sun comes up, is agonizingly beautiful. Donna wears her uniform that resembles a starry night sky, while the other two wear shades of red and gold, showing how influenced they are by their mentor. Nubia has golden armor and a bright blue robe, which gives her a different shade than the other Amazons in her presence.

The centre of the panels often features a completely white background behind the characters, making their vibrant tones pop. There’s also a reason behind it in the universe: the vast, baking sun rising over Paradise Island. The lettering is fantastic and crucial to the storytelling. Particular attention must be paid to Lizzie, as her cries are integral to shaping the tone and suggesting changes in her voice.

Wonder Woman Issue 29 features Amazon adventures in babysitting. It’s a wonderfully written comic that had delicate yet powerful emotions. Wonder Woman is so conflicted and out of sorts, so Nubia and the Wonder Girls just take the baby and absorb that pressure too. They don’t pry, and Diana never asks for help, but she doesn’t need to. The way the threat starts to blend into the story is beautifully executed, fusing subtlety with superheroes.

Wonder Woman Issue 29 is available where comics are sold.