Reviewed by: Mathan “I love Rags” Erhardt
Story Title: The Bronze Doors Part One
Written by: Greg Rucka
Penciled by: Rags Morales
Inked by: Michael Bair
Colored by: Richard and Tanya Horie
Lettered by: Todd Klein
Editor: Ivan Cohen
Publisher: DC Comics
The issue begins with Wonder Woman cracking a sexual slavery ring. After rescuing the women involved and apprehending the criminals she uses her lasso to make the leader confess to the press. After the impromptu press conference, reporter toss questions her way, one such question is about the difficulty doing her hair with no sight. Wonder Woman is disgusted at the question, hops on Pegasus and flies off.
Next we find Ares being escorted by Kharon, on the river Akheron, on his way to meet Hades, Poseidon and Zeus. Once there Ares faces ridicule from Poseidon. Ares responds with a veiled threat. Hades steers the conversation back to the matter at hand. Ares tells Zeus to prepare his army for war with the Amazons.
We are then back at the Themysciran Embassy where Leslie laments Veronica Cale’s involvement in the latest Silver Swan scheme. Ferdinand tries to comfort her and the moment become awkward quickly as he tries to make a “move.” (It should be noted that Ferdinand is a minotaur and Leslie is a regular human.)
Later Cassie and Bobby are doing a puzzle, when he questions why Medousa killed his brother. Cassie comforts him, but not too long, as Athena calls to her. Cassie gets Wonder Woman, and they learn the deal; Hermes is trapped in Tartarus and they’ve got to save him. Then we flash to a chess game in the park where Jonah discusses how Martin’s death has affected Diana.
Back at the Embassy Cassie worries that Wonder Woman won’t want her to go on the mission. Ferdinand tries to explain how dangerous the mission is, but Cassie takes it as him treating her as a child. Wonder Woman exits her private conversation with Athena and they prepare to leave. Ferdinand manages to plead himself along for the ride.
They venture to Doom’s Doorway. As they prepare to open it, Cassie is full of questions about what they could achieve and what Wonder Woman will gain. They open Doom’s Doorway and enter the darkness, as the door shuts behind them. As they begin their descent Cassie and Ferdinand are distracted and eventually captured by Harpies. To Be Continued!
I’ve picked up the last two issues of Wonder Woman and I’m still lost. It’s not Rucka’s fault; I only have three issues of the title in my substantial collection. I get a good gist of the characters, most of which are new to me, and the story moves nicely. I managed to pick up almost everyone’s relationships to everyone else. On one hand I wish DC had made this issue a more “reader friendly jumping on point” (because of the new art team) but then I also applaud DC allowing Rucka to continue the tale he’s been weaving.
Morales and Bair are a fine team. Wonder Woman looks glorious as she battles the criminals in the opening pages of the title. And Ares actually looks more off-putting without his helmet. I have to admit that I like how Ferdinand looks; he looks oddly natural. The sequence at the end with the Harpies is pretty creepy and ends with quite the visual cliffhanger.
