Wonder Woman w/o Powers Pt. 6: Wonder Woman #183

Not a Wonder Woman, but a heartbroken girl runs into the night… until, totally exhausted she stops…

Return to Paradise Island Part 1

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A messenger from Paradise Island finds Diana and tells her that her homeland has been invaded and the Amazons are at war. Before she will go with her, Diana wants to tell Ching, who says he will go with her.

Diana finds that her grandfather Ares, god of war, wants from Hippolyta the secret of dimensional travel. He, his sister Eris, and his "loathesome" sons, Deimos and Phobos, have gathered an army and wish to bring war to Earth. When she wouldn't cooperate, Eris placed her into a deep coma.

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As Diana weeps over her mother, Ares appears and demands that she convince Hippolyta to tell him her secret. She seems to be torn…

Diana ultimately resists and stands before an army of Amazons that gives Ares pause to take a temporary retreat. Diana says,

I am only a human now. What can I do against a god?

After a pep talk from Ching, the Amazons rally and say that Diane needs only to lead them.

And so, a girl – wearing the armor of her queen mother, leads her army of Amazons forward – knowing in her heart that they are marching to certain defeat…

In the first wave of battle, Ares sends the beast men of Deimos and Phobos. The sight of them is "so horrifying that armies are paralyzed into inaction until it is too late – and they are overwhelmed." Luckily, Ching is blind! This gives the Amazons an idea for how to fight: they cover their eyes with their shields and prevail.

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During the confusion of the battle, Hippolyta is abducted. However, Diana and her warriors quickly retrieve her and retreat into the mountains where they believe they will be safe.

Thoughts

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Again, we have a colorful cover with the purples of Hippolyta's bed of flowers complementing the skies of Paradise Island. The only thing out of place is Ching, who stands among the other Amazons.

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I really enjoyed a return to the action on Paradise Island. It's a situation that really tests Diana's decision. Much like Clark Kent in the great Superman II (1980), a former superhero finds herself in a situation where the consequences are dire. She now has to learn to fight for the ones she loves as a mere human being.

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I also like the sentiment from the very first page. Yes, Diana, being a human is hard, and sometimes we hurt! I'm glad to see writer Mike Sekowsky examining Diana's decision from a number of angles, letting her truly experience it, and sometimes suffer, because of it.

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As mentioned, Ching's presence seems a little odd. Then again, at this point in Wonder Woman continuity, I don't know if the Amazons are as strict about men stepping foot on Paradise Island.

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We're left with a real cliffhanger this time. Please return next Wednesday as we find out what happens next…

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Title: Wonder Woman

Issue #: 183

Cover Date: July/Aug 1969

On Sale Date: 5-1-69

Writer: Mike Sekowsky

Penciller: Mike Sekowsky

Inker: Dick Giordano

Editor: Mike Sekowsky