Wonder Woman #4 Review

Writer: Greg Rucka / Artist: Nicola Scott / DC Comics Truly this issue displays such a thorough understanding of the spirit of the Wonder Woman Amazonian tradition and gets so many things right it’s hard to know where to begin. Perhaps it’s best to start with the Amazons themselves. As I mentioned in previous reviews, the idea of Themyscira as a literal paradise for women has often historically become obscured by the male gaze in comics, leading to only occasional glimpses of thoughtfulness and strategy. Here, from the very first page we observe four different panels that demonstrate Amazonian mastery over technology, embalming, medicine, and weaponry (despite its foreign origin). And why shouldn’t they be? I adore this idea that a Utopian society consists less of glamorous frolicking with the odd lesson in archery thrown in and more of a thirst for knowledge and perfection of its application. Nicola Scott’s art only emphasizes theses women’s brilliance more with steady, serious faces absorbed in work, and yet not so much that they seem panicked or inexperienced. And that’s not even touching on the system of government. Rather than a power structure led by the cult of Hippolyta, we very clearly observe a council in place whose seats are held by not one but two Black Amazonians (Philippus and Areto). Significantly each member actually contributes to the discussion and is listened to in turn, even when there are differences in opinion. It’s very clear that these are women who …