Wonder Woman, Tome 2: À travers le miroir

Wonder Woman (2016)

by Becky Cloonan, Travis Moore, Marcio Takara

Après avoir sacrifié sa vie pour sauver le multivers, Diana a parcouru les mondes de l'au-delà, recouvrant progressivement le souvenir de son passé et de la super-héroïne qu'elle a été. Refusant le repos et la place qui lui était promise aux côtés des dieux de l'Olympe, elle décide de revenir à la vie et de reprendre du service sur Terre. Mais alors que le monde entier fête avec allégresse le retour de l'Amazone, Diana sent qu'elle n'est plus tout à fait la même, et qu'un nouveau danger menace...

Contenu vo : Wonder Woman #780-784 + Annual #1 + extrait de Wonder Woman 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular #1 (2021)

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Dc Comics, Wonder Woman, Superheroes, Fantasy, Fiction

208 pages, Hardcover

First published August 16, 2022

About the author

Becky Cloonan is an American comic book creator, known for work published by Tokyopop and Vertigo. In 2012 she became the first female artist to draw the main Batman title for DC Comics.

Reviews

[Krystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as Afterworlds but still fun.

I really enjoyed the return of Wonder Woman, and how the world rejoiced. It was really cool to see the support for her.

The story after that, though, fizzled a little. There's a thread with Dr Cizko doing nefarious things and causing a bit of trouble, but ultimately there wasn't really a huge threat here to raise the stakes.

Added to that, I've read more recent issues so one of the big reveals that would likely have delighted me was already kinda spoiled.

The artwork wasn't anything particularly spectacular, but I did still appreciate it and it was easy enough to follow.

Overall, kinda average all around but building towards something bigger.

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5, rounded up.

Back from the Sphere of the Gods, Wonder Woman finds herself in a world that might not actually need her any more. But threats from beneath the waves and another dimension prove that there's always a need for Wonder Woman!

This volume's kind of a placeholder, since it's the four issues or so before Trial Of The Amazons takes over and redirects the title for a while. Through A Glass Darkly itself isn't bad, but the idea of Wonder Woman fighting herself feels like something we've done before, and better, elsewhere.

The annual sets up a new villain and potential history for Themyscira, which I thought might be a bigger threat going forward, but it's actually resolved in Trial Of The Amazons (for the most part), so it feels a bit like a last minute addition to justify another annual.

I think my biggest gripe with this series remains that the dialogue never feels like it rings true. A lot of the last volume had Diana speaking fairly colloquially, but now she's back to her usual slightly-detached stuff, and then swaps between the two as needed. It's jarring, and makes me wonder if the writers know what they want Diana to sound like at all.

The art's pretty good too - Marcio Takara handles the Wonder Woman issues, bar the first one which sees the always welcome Travis Moore joined by Steve Pugh. The annual is Andy MacDonald, who's...fine.

Presumably the Trial Of The Amazons prelude back-ups aren't collected here, but they're actually fairly solid if they are, which surprised me considering how many people were involved with writing them.

Wonder Woman's latest adventures aren't bad, but they could definitely be better with a few little tweaks to the dialogue and some stories that feel a little more impactful.

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wonder Woman is dead, so her grieving friends memorialize her.

But wait, Wonder Woman is alive! So her friends celebrate her return.

But wait, there's no time to celebrate. Wonder Woman has to get involved in some bland adventures where a bank gets robbed, a mystery man accuses the Amazons of colonizing his homeland and blows stuff up, Wonder Woman doppelgangers wreak havoc, and Dr. Psycho mind controls a bunch of people including a new amnesiac Shining Knight whose secret identity is not very mysterious at all.

So a lot is happening, but none of it seems particularly important or urgent or even interesting. I might read another volume after seeing what's happening in some of the spin-off series I have on hand, but I could see myself forgetting to bother.

FOR REFERENCE:

Contents:
• In Memoriam (selection from Wonder Woman 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular (2021) #1) / Michael W. Conrad and Becky Cloonan, writers; Jim Cheung, artist
• Where the Heart Is (Wonder Woman #780) / Michael W. Conrad and Becky Cloonan, writers; Travis Moore and Steve Pugh, artists
• The Exhibition (Wonder Woman 2021 Annual #1) / Michael W. Conrad and Becky Cloonan, writers; Andy MacDonald, artist
• Through a Glass Darkly, Part One (Wonder Woman #781) / Michael W. Conrad and Becky Cloonan, writers; Marcio Takara, artist
• Through a Glass Darkly, Part Two (Wonder Woman #782) / Michael W. Conrad and Becky Cloonan, writers; Marcio Takara, artist
• Through a Glass Darkly, Part Three (Wonder Woman #783) / Michael W. Conrad and Becky Cloonan, writers; Marcio Takara, artist
• Through a Glass Darkly, Finale (Wonder Woman #784) / Michael W. Conrad and Becky Cloonan, writers; Marcio Takara, artist
• [Covers and Variant Covers] / Travis G. Moore, Becky Cloonan, Mitch Gerads, Carlos D'Anda, Terry Dodson, Rachel Dodson, and Will Murai, artists
• Concept Art / Andy MacDonald and Michael W. Conrad, artists

[Anna Quilter · Rating 3 out of 5]

After Diana returns from the dead...
A kind of fresh start....

[Tony Laplume · Rating 4 out of 5]

This second volume of the Cloonan/Conrad era weaves a complex tapestry that both looks backward and forward while helping Wonder Woman, and the world, adjust to her return from the dead. The results are a new tone to her adventures, one a lot of writers have struggled to grasp over the years, even a few women; this is kind of exactly what a woman (and a man) should feel like writing this character. As a character so often begging for context, one who never really had a secret identity, who came from some fantastic land straight into a heroic career, figuring out what kind of life Wonder Woman would lead, the characters surrounding her, even though she does have an established supporting cast, so little has been done with it she has still tended to exist in a vacuum. Etta Candy is settling into fangirl/ally/friendly shoulder nicely. Steve Trevor, who is the great romantic foil in comics who never quite sealed the deal, is now reconciling that fact, at long last. As of last volume, the classic hero Siegfried has joined the mix, creating a dynamic that has long been missing. And very strangely, Deadman is fast becoming essential! Who knew? Well, Cloonan and Conrad did. They’re figuring it all out. That’s what’s happening in this collection.

[Khurram · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good return for Wonder Woman. I wanted to give this 3.5 stars, but I thought it deserved a round up rather than down.

Wonder Woman has returned as happy as her friends and family to see her back, she has no time to catch up it is right back to work. Old and new enemies are emerging.

A lot of things set up for the Trail of the Amazons, but the thing that put this up to 4 stara for me is the action. Since coming back Wonder Woman does not shy away from a fight. I like that her warrior side has been highlighted in this book.

[Christopher M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonder Woman's feeling a lot better after being dead in the last volume, but struggling to rediscover her place in the world. There are some fun adventures here with Dr Psycho and a villain who definitely isn't Mirror Master, although the identity of Shining Knight is the most obvious mystery in the history of literature.

[Sesana · Rating 3 out of 5]

The art is generally really good. However, the dialog is often off, especially for Diana. And the story feels unfocused. I think there's a lot of setup for stuff that will happening who knows when, and not much payoff for what's actually going on now.

[Mariano · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok, I guess. A little bit uninspired and obvious. Vol 1 was better

[Adam Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonder Woman fully returns to life in the DCO here in Volume 2. Of course she must jump right back into action, but it looks like the writers are leading her back to dealing not only with things on Themyscira, but also with the multiple "Wonder" characters. We've had family stories with Superman and Batman already, so I actually think it is nice for Diana to have some of this dynamic added to her comic.
Highlights:
- Trevor, really missing Diana, has been working on a documentary about her life. (Total sobs here!)
- Not knowing exactly what to say to him, Diana avoids Trevor, but the world rejoices at her return, and he knows he'll get to speak to her soon enough.
- Altuum the Survivor (of the Enki people) fights Diana at a Themyscira exhibit. He claims that his people were the original inhabitants of the island and they will be reclaiming it soon. (This is a very exciting development! Seems like we are going to finally get some upheaval in the Wonder Woman side of the comics.) Excited to see when this will happen. NEW ENEMIES!
- Dr. Psycho, an old enemy of Diana's is now going by the name Cizko, and is a famous guru on tv. She knows that he is up to something and will fight him... (more on that soon...)
- Diana enlists the help of Deadman to track down the grave of Siegfried, the man who's sword she carries, as it was given to her during her time in the afterlife in the last Volume. As they head towards the site, they are attacked by shattering mirror clones of Wonder Woman, and eventually a knight. Turns out Image-Maker has teamed up with Cizko and they are causing trouble. Diana is able to unveil and release the knight, as it is Siegfried, who once released from mental control, is now alive in the modern world.

Overall, its been a while since I read a Wonder Woman comic. After all the stuff that happened because of Death Metal, it's nice to see her back doing her own thing.
Recommend.

Really looking forward to what's next.

[Marsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonder Woman is back from the dead and the emotions engendered by her return are a little mixed. While most of the world is rapt with joy at the miraculous resurrection of the Amazonian warrior, her enemies are naturally bitter.

Dr. Ciszko is peddling his garbage on public television. Thanks to his psionic powers, a lot of people are buying into his misogynistic messages. However, these people tend to be mostly men, which is initially puzzling. You’d think his hatred and resentment of women would lead to his forcing females to commit humiliating and degrading acts. But his victims are largely male. These men are manipulated into self-destructive acts and threats against females—starting with Wonder Woman herself. Huh. Maybe there’s a method to his madness, after all. Why hurt women when you can get men to do it for you and spread your message of woman-hate while doing it?

This anthology reinforces the respectable quality of the Wonder Woman character, i.e., her desire to help others above all things. Her return to the mortal world is heralded by her rescuing people from a burning building and lifting up a malfunctioning airplane on the verge of crashing(reminiscent of one of Superman’s heroic feats from the 1978 Richard Donner film). This is a Diana who helps and strives to save people. She demands no fanfare, waits for no thanks and doesn’t care about gratitude. She helps and she does so from a place of compassion.

What the authors don’t neglect is showing how various people react to her return. The Justice League is thrilled and welcoming; her fellow Amazons throw a party; Steve Trevor is exuberant and Etta Candy is just eager to get a few minutes alone for a girlfriend-to-girlfriend confabulation before inevitable disaster strikes.

It’s glorious storytelling, filled with pathos, joy, friendship, travel, surprises and Wonder Woman doppelgangers. Fun for the whole family! In short, this is a WW comic I fully endorse.

[Belle · Rating 3 out of 5]

The odyssey that was Afterworlds was an amazing preamble to Diana’s return. It efficiently built up what was supposed to be such a big return to comic book history. (Imagine killing off Diana and making it head cannon?)

Surprisingly, they made her return quiet. And without the whistles and bells. Sure, there were visages of happiness and celebration that she, Wonder woman, Diana of Themyscira had returned. But through it was a comfortable feeling of being unmoored. It was refreshingly relatable and it reminded me of why I love Diana more than any other superhero. Her motivation just makes sense. And her character development (which was the central theme of this graphic novel) is palpable.

Here she struggles with the person she was and the person she is after coming back to life. You know? Because clawing yourself back from Asguardian purgatory changes you. And finding your footing in between all that; from what was to what is, kinda sounds familiar for anyone who’s ever experienced a big life transition

This deserves a 3.5 out 5 ⭐️ because while there have been many graphic novels that were better in comparison to this it still retains the emotional flair and resonance I love about Wonder woman comics and in that sense, it shined.

[Jamie Revell · Rating 4 out of 5]

In many ways, this has the feel of being a bridge between two different storylines, dealing with the fallout of one while setting up the other but not doing too much in its own right. Having returned from the afterlife, Diana attempts to adjust to how things have changed while she has been gone, and finds that she hasn't left the otherworld behind as thoroughly as she would like, while a new threat simmers in the background. There's quite a lot of talking and dealing with relationships - the entire first issue is taken up with people's reactions to Dian's return - so it's not one for those who only want fast-paced drama. And there are plenty of threads being pulled on that don't conclude as yet.

But, on the other hand, it is peppered with warrior action, some of it mundane (bank robbers) and some of it more outré and, at least in this collected form, I found that the balance worked well. It's far from standalone, linking into other Wonder Woman releases beyond the core series as well as setting up its own upcoming plotlines, but it's actually more fun than such a bridge would normally be, successfully hinting at a wider world without becoming confusing.

[Ian Raffaele · Rating 3 out of 5]

The good news is the artwork is solid. Unfortunately, the storyline didn't do much to keep my attention. It bounced around from one D-list villain to the next (Altuum came and went real fast) while Diana, as usual, is biting off more than she can chew. Etta and Diana need to turn their phones off for 45 minutes and get through one lunch together. I know they're both constantly being called on to save the world but after a while I feel like they're using it as an excuse to avoid their friends.

I don't know. Maybe I'm a bit grouchy because the Wonder Woman storyline has ignored Cheetah for so long that I'm beginning to think that DC just doesn't know what to do with her. Her character screams for a redemption arc. Diana should at least show that she is still concerned about her friend. Luckily, I've heard that she'll be showing up in the next month or two in the comics. Hopefully it won't be long before that story ends up in the next trade paperback so we can get an update on the good doctor.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt like I needed to keep going with this Wonder Woman and I'm glad I did because this volume really sees Cloonan settle down and find her voice. She clearly wasn't having a blast writing about the afterlife, but here she feels at home as a writer and the memorial issue was tonally the most perfect thing I've read in a while. it feels like the run starts here, though, and this volume is mostly about setting up the plates and tying up a few loose ends from the last volume, but it works very nicely indeed - the mirror Wonder Women were a little bit chilling, as was the creepy dude at the Wonder Woman exhibition (colonialist nod appreciated, and ties in quite nicely with the way the series is trying to portray ethnic diversity). There's a terrific balance in this volume between heartfelt earnestness, wacky adventure and longform storytelling that gives me real reason to think that the Cloonan masterplan will pay off. looking at other reviews she doesn't seem the most popular of WW writers but I'm digging this now.

[Joseph Morin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Set-ups greatly outweigh the payoffs in this meandering volume, which feels like filler.

Through a Glass Darkly suffers from awful pacing. Near every issue features Etta and Diana trying to catch up and be normal, while Diana avoids Steve Trevor, before mandatory action happens to break up the excessive talky bits. And we sometimes get a set-up for (mildly intriguing) plot threads which don't pay off in this volume.

Even Wonder Woman herself lacks interest in the proceedings-- treating the threats as more inconvenient then... well, threatening. And Diana is more dismissive and arrogant around her enemies than I'm used to seeing. She's abnormally aggressive. I'm curious if that's intentional, or just strange characterization.

The artwork didn't stand out to me one way or another, but it flowed nicely, presented good character expressions, and told this story well.

Wonder Woman: Through a Glass Darkly is alright to Read Passively.

[Luke Malone · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't a huge fan of the first volume. Long story short, it didn't feel like Wonder Woman to me. I'm relatively new to Wonder Woman comics, and volume 1 wasn't what I was personally looking for.

However, this volume really sealed the deal for me being a fan of the character and this run! I absolutely loved seeing Diana back in the main world, kicking butt alongside her friends/allies. The art's great, the action's fun, and while the plot around the villains isn't anything amazing or mind-blowing, it's fun. This is a fun Wonder Woman book and I recommend it to anyone wanting to dive into Diana's world. Next up is Trial of the Amazons, which I'm excited to read after reading Wonder Girl and Nubia!

[MK · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally getting caught up on the Cloonan run. The first book, In Memoriam, has Steve Trevor giving Diana a beautiful tribute in a world that believes her dead. Where The Heart Is continues the examination of who Diana is as well as her adjustment to coming back to a world that learned to live without her. It just gorgeous writing. In the subsequent books in this collection we see some of the aftermath of Diana's journey to return to the world as well as the setup of a new villain and a new threat to her home island. Diana's reunion with Steve is delayed and when it does happen, they are in athe middle of a battle, which is so them, and it's brief and lovely. Etta rocks throughout. An excellent WW book.

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wonder Woman finally returns to our universe and has to deal with people thinking she was dead for the better part of a year. There's some stupid stuff with a new character, Image Maker, who is sending hundreds of glass Wonder Women after her that shatter with one punch but for reasons can find her even midair on a plane. Dr. Psycho is lurking in the background nonstop throughout. This collection is something of a wheel spinner as we wait for Trial of the Amazons to begin.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Basic Plot: Diana has returned from the land of the dead, only to be attacked by mirror images of herself.

This volume was short compared to the previous, but it was a pretty solid effort. There was consistent story and pacing. The action was good. The art was ok, but kind of sloppy at times, which was disappointing. The side story attached at the end of each issue was about the Bana Mighdal, so there's clearly further plotting afoot. This short arc was fairly clearly mostly about setting up both Diana's return and events to come. Still, it was a pretty solid volume. I enjoyed it

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vol. 1 of this series was a mess. It featured Wonder Woman hopping through the afterlife and multiverse and didn’t make much sense. Vol. 2 is more of a linear narrative but continues the same plot.

The world thinks Diana is dead but are elated to find out she’s still live. The villain, Cizko, however, is back at it again and there’s no time to celebrate.

This volume felt incredibly long but was fun.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Becky Cloonan is one of comics best writers, but the art here! - so many of these pages could be poster or jigsaw puzzles. This may be the best collection of Wonder Woman stories i've read. Maybe the original stories in the 40s, maybe George Perez' in the 80s maybe they equal Cloonan's but only because she stands on their sholders.

[Cass Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Certainly my favorite moments were people losing their shit at Wonder Woman returning and saving civilians instead of fighting villains. Dr. Pyscho is an interesting enough villain but the whole thing doesn’t hit like Afterworlds.

[Anthony Rizzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh. Something in this just feels off. Every time I think I am going to like it something or someone comes into the story for humor or some other plot device and pulls me out of it. I don't suspect I will enjoy the rest of this run either at this point but will give it a chance.

[Kris Ritchie · Rating 3 out of 5]

While it was great to see Diana back, this volume felt kind of less stakes than the previous one. I think this is because while it was still a decent story, Diana herself didn't really have some urgent overarching goal other than to stop whatever is going on.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm loving becky cloonan's run on wonder woman

[Jairo Ortiz · Rating 3 out of 5]

La serie normalita, Deadman un tío chulisimo. Lo mejor del volumen son los especiales.

[Daniel Butcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coming back to life is hard!

Hey…Dr Psycho is back and bitter!

[Jaime Vinal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Volume 2 in story arc.

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5 stars)