Wonder Woman #800
Writers: Becky Cloonan & Michael W. Conrad.
Artists: Joelle Jones, Alitha Martinez, Mark Morales, Nick Robles, Todd Nauck, Skylar Partridge, Cully Hamner, and Jen Bartel.
Colorists: Jordie Bellaire, Tamra Bonvillain, and Jen Bartel.
Letterer: Pat Brosseau.
Cover Artist: Yanick Paquette.
Wonder Woman #800 hit our shelves last week and I highly advise you to run and get this extra-size spectacular before it’s gone as it lives up to its title. It’s a sentimental goodbye as the team joins several other artists to celebrate Wonder Woman. Building us up for the new creative team to take up the mantle of this iconic character. I find it refreshing when more than one artist gets involved as we get a variety of styles and hidden gems within the pages.
I have to give thanks to Cloonan and Conrad for reviving my love of the character as I had grown distant over the years – it wasn’t until I picked up their run that I fell in love all over again. Thanks to the setting and lore they brought forward it was a truly captivating run. From the art to the fun characters it really was a magical experience. They managed to build a world of fantasy around us all the while keeping mundane lessons and messages. I believe this run has opened up a lot more possibilities for Wonder Woman while bringing back all the best traits that make her who she is.
I’ve enjoyed every concept and plot brought to the series as I mentioned it really brought me back to the roots that I love so much about her. Ancient Greek Mythology has been executed well, zoning in on the history and pushing it forward once more into modern-day comics. I thoroughly enjoyed the placement of other characters as they elevated Diana’s story rather than overshadowing and getting lost in subplots. They worked very hard to blend action with character development, always keeping us on our toes with excitement and sorrow.
The art is focused and refined. It doesn’t seem rushed even for the smallest panels, which is a bonus especially reading about beloved characters – you want the whole experience paired with great art to enhance the books as a whole. The colors/filter on the pages really pulls you into the universe. Warm, soft tones push the sense of a dream-like state which is very fitting for this issue.
I enjoyed how Yara Flor and Wonder Woman teamed up to defend Man’s World. I fell in love with Yara from her debut. She’s the fire Diana needed. Her character blends humor with fantasy well, giving us comedic relief at the least unexpected times.
Having Diana view herself through numerous characters’ eyes was interesting – it was heartwarming to see how many characters look up to her and value her as a true friend not just a work colleague or acquaintance. I felt it was a great tribute and showed everything Wonder Woman stands for.
The series offered an array of laughs, tears, and shocking gasps and I thoroughly enjoyed each issue. Cloonan and Conrad have poured their souls into their work and planning for Wonder Woman – I’d recommend starting from the beginning of their run to experience the story as a whole and to enjoy Wonder Woman #800 even more than simply reading it as a stand alone as it is such a gorgeous tribute to her character.