Some
random Wonder Woman books, Part 10
Wonder
Woman saves Superman
Because
sometimes Supes isn't so Super
"Dangerous Lady"
Script/co-plot/layouts –
Kurt Busiek & Richard Howell
Finished art – Eduardo
Barreto
Letters – Richard
Starkings
Colors – Lee Loughridge
Associate Editor –
Nachie Castor
Editor – Matt Idelson
March 2005
THIS
is the type of team-up I want to see from Superman and Wonder Woman. I'm not in
the "they should be together romantically" camp.
I
feel that most people who go in for that type of Superman-Wonder Woman story
really never look much beyond the superficial aspects of their power set. Sure
they both can fly and are super strong. However Clark and Diana are not exactly
cut from the same naïve world view.
Diana
doesn't know much about Patriarch's World, a society that Clark seeped in the
values of because he grew up in it. Her natural instinct may lean toward
peaceful, compassionate outcomes for her conflicts, but her Amazon heritage and
training grounds her in a warrior's mindset when in battle. As Maxwell Lord
found out the hard way, back Diana into a corner and she's a solider as well as
a superhero. Clark will always try to find a non-lethal solution up to and
including letting Aliens facehugger him.
I
believe there would be issues between them after a bit.
Not
that those wouldn't make interesting stories. I believe they would, however I
would much rather see stories about Diana like the following one from noted
scribe Kurt Busiek.
Because
you see, Diana is quite frankly a …
A
dangerous lady who can rip apart a car in front of an arena full of people for
the benefit of a local charity that helps battered women. There's a theme in
the background here, but I'll let it percolate for a bit.
And
since we are in Metropolis…
Lois
and Clark wouldn't miss an event like this for the world. Plus it will give
these three some much needed social time, which is something they don't get to
do because they are always fighting aliens or causing traffic jams.
I
love the natural banter and good-natured ribbing between Lois and Clark. That
is something you only get from couples who know the grass may look greener over
the other side of the fence, but they really love THEIR grass. That metaphor
might have gotten a bit lost in the weeds, but I'm going to let it stand.
Love
the questions Lois throws out about how Wonder Woman looks because we can tell
it isn't coming from a place of insecurity, but she is just needling Clark. And
Clark's answers shows he is in on the joke. It feels very authentic to me.
So
later the trio attend a museum gala to benefit charity. All are in their
civilian identities, with Diana hiding behind a pair of rose tinted glasses,
which is a cute take off Clark's own disguise. They stroll around the Greek
antiquities and Diana gives Lois her story material.
When
suddenly this crazy lady, who is actually one of the museum's benefactors,
shows up and starts taking back pieces of her collection…in a rather unorthodox
manner. Clark moves to obstruct her destructive impulses…
…which
might not have been the smartest move…
…because
she uses some kind of magic power to drain him and expose his costume. Here's
the thing about Diana too, most of her enemies are magic based. That makes a
relationship with Clark, even a working one, a very dangerous proposition.
She'd spend most of her time rescuing him.
And
speaking of rescuing, this lady looks to take Superman with her and he appears
to drained by her touch not to say no. Diana moves to block her escape and…
…appears
the woman keeps the strength she drains as her own.
Lois
moves to help Diana up from where she cracked the wall and to allay any bystanders'
eyewitness accounts of the ordeal. By the time Wonder Woman and Lois make it
out the door, the mysterious woman has vanished with Superman in tow.
While
the ladies walk back to Lois's apartment, Diana realizes the woman's real
identity…
and
tells the reporter the story.
So
again it is Zeus not being able to keep is peter in his pants. The horndog of
the gods curses Khyrana and she is doomed to need the touch of a man forever.
Doesn't sound so bad.
Except
the part where she starts draining the energy from the men she is with due to
Zeus's curse just to stay alive. Lois has a hunch and ducks into a cyber café, which Diana appears
confused by the concept of a "computer cafeteria." Using the
computers, Lois uncovers Khyrana's secret identity.
They
both become suddenly very concerned about Clark. Wonder Woman flies ahead while
Lois calls in the boys in blue. Diana doesn't wait however, she bursts through
the door to find…
Supervillain
lair number 152: Greco-Roman style penthouse. Love that Superman is more
concerned for Diana than he is for himself. Look at him being so gallant and
selfless.
Khyrana
explains she plans on keeping Superman, who at the level she's drained him
should be in a coma, but is still strong enough to speak against her, even if
he can barely move. She even slights Diana's outfit.
But
that doesn't stop Wonder Woman from giving it one more try. She attempts to
reason with Khyrana…
…but
it doesn't work. Appears she likes draining men, and Clark more than most. Without
the first round bell dinging, we have a cage match going, with Khyrana
resorting to throwing a chair right off the bat. However Wonder Woman gets an
assist from her partner…
..a
barely vertical Clark. Who is defiant enough to want to decide his own fate in
this. Khyrana starts throwing punches that Clark can barely dodge while she
lets off steam at the idea of being with a man who would "rule" her.
We
quickly get a feeling that Khyrana is a bit of sympathetic villain. She has
done monstrous things to survive, but in that way she is also filled with a
very human self-loathing. And again we have a villain that is more in need of compassion
and not just being punched unconscious.
Zeus
is really a bastard, is all I've got to say. This woman might never have wanted
to be with ANYONE, but that is her choice. His curse was overly cruel and
completely unjust.
If
this were a Wonder Woman book, she would talk Khyrana down and they would work
this all out. Instead…
…Clark
finds she's keep the heads of her victims as a kind of odd sort of trophies,
and out the window goes all that goodwill gained in the last two pages.
Wonder
Woman tries to restrain Khyrana again, but instead gets the draining touch. She
threatens Superman, who intervenes only to find himself in her grip too.
Khyrana decides to drain BOTH of them and take out the two threats at once,
unfortunately this doesn't go as planned for the vile woman.
With
Khyrana being the one feeling faint now, the two heroes join forces and with
one blow…
…lay
her out just as Lois and Metropolis' finest show up.
All
three head back to Lois and Clark's apartment, which gives us this cute little
end scene.
I
liked the story and the art had some really great moments (that splash page
opening is dynamite.) However, I'm saddened that we ended another villain by
punching. Remembering whose book this is takes much of the edge off that
criticism.
Superman
and Wonder Woman appeal to different audiences in that way. And there, yet
again, is another reason to allow them to work together and even play together,
but to not ball all that up into a super-romance story.
Have
fun at the movies! The Crapbox will be back on Monday with MORE Wonder Woman
books. We've barely scratched the surface.
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