Review – Wonder Woman #57 (DC Comics)

Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: James Tynion IV
Pencils: Emanuela Lupacchino
Inks: Ray McCarthy
Colours: Romulo Fajardo Jr.
Release Date: 24th October 2018

Part four of “The Witching Hour” sees things hotting up in Wonder Woman #57 with all of the members of Justice League Dark really coming into their own and starting to pull their own weight. After last week we saw the Amazonian warrior attempt and fail to fight back at the evil Hecate, who took control of her in the last few panels. With her other two counterparts destroying the source of the Green to keep Swamp Thing busy and chasing off the remainder of the League it was left to Constantine and a powerless Zatanna to try and save what’s left of the crumbling Nanda Parbat – and the even more lost Wonder Woman.

This issue opens with Diana lost in some form of purgatory, with the last remnants of her the last shreds of her holding on to existence while Hecate burns her body away with magic. It’s a great way to keep this a Wonder Woman issue while still giving more than adequate time to the rest of the team.

While she tries to figure out a way to regain control we see Z and John trying to just survive in what seems like the end of days (along with yet more little Easter eggs to old Vertigo storylines, which may hopefully play a part in the future of the series). Here we finally see Z take the lead once more, and while powerless she’s still every bit as cunning as she was when she was in charge of the League using what and who’s around her to save the day. Detective Chimp, Man Bat, Deadman and Swamp Thing aren’t to be outdone either.

Backed into a corner they react in the only way they can, by fighting back against the oncoming threat and finally proving that this new incarnation of the JLD is worth its salt. At least up until the end…

It’s a good little juggling act, this part of The Witching Hour. This is another issue that shows the creators just plain ‘get’ these characters, revealing their pasts just enough to inform their actions and roles within the team while also introducing them to readers who may not of come across them before. Plus, it leads on nicely from Snyder’s recent storylines in a way that continues to justify (pun intended) a heavy hitter like Wonder Woman into this dirty dozen collection of misfit heroes.

The art has been great, the issues have flowed with a great pace and it bodes very well for future stories after the end of The Witching Hour coming next week. You know, because of the invincible beings who control all of magic and want to destroy everything that we’ve forgotten about while Hecate tries to kill everyone. A great warm up before the magical boss battle next week.

Rating: 4/5.

[PREVIEW ARTWORK]