Wonder Woman #35

By Brian Azzarello, Cliff Chiag, Matthew Wilson

This is it. This is the end of a terrific run and even though Wonder Woman isn’t ending, there’s still a feeling of loss. Azzarello and Chiang have changed Wonder Woman and unlike a lot of the New 52, they changed her for the better. Wonder Woman and her world have been updated for a new generation of fans, while still retaining what makes her so special. Let’s just thank the comic book gods that DC didn’t ruin her like they did Harley Quinn.

The finale is (obviously) Wonder Woman’s last stand against The First Born. First Born has become a wonderful villain and is second only to The Court of Owls in terms of new New 52 baddies. By the middle of the issue, the reader feels a genuine sense of dread for the protagonist, which is a rare feat. Of course, WW receives a little help from friends like Hermes and Zola. These two have been with Diana since the start of the New 52, so it’s only fitting for them to be there for her at the end of all things.

Overall, Azzarello delivers a satisfying ending to his incredible run. The only complaint would be how Wonder Woman finally decides to deal with The First Born. We don’t want to get into too many spoilers here, but her decision seems a tad out of character. After spending most of the issue speaking of the act of mercy, Wonder Woman shows none at a time when The First Born has possibly been shown the error of his ways. All of First Born’s hatred stems from a lack of love from others and Wonder Woman not only refuses him love, but actually tricks him with said emotion.

Cliff Chiang certainly saved his best for last. The entire issue is full of great action and real emotion pouring from every panel. The sense of panic and doom on Diana’s face when The First Born appears to have one is something truly special. If you haven’t been reading Wonder Woman (shame on you), you owe it to yourself to at least flip through this issue the next time you’re at a comic shop.

This is truly the end of an era. Wonder Woman hasn’t been this great in years and it’s sad to see it sail off into the sunset. The new creative team looks promising, but they have some enormous shoes to fill. I don’t think anybody would live up to the standards that Azzarello and Chiang have set.