There’s really no reason that DC Comics‘s Wonder Woman #13 should be the funniest comic released this week. And yet, the issue by Tom King, with art by Tony S. Daniel and Khary Randolph is, indeed, laugh-out-loud funny. From an action-packed and romantic front story to a ridiculous backup story, the issue is a laugh riot.
Just to double or triple down on this a bit. It’s a Tom King book, and traditionally King is dealing with some heavy stuff in his work. Look no further than this week’s Jenny Sparks #2, which dealt with the specter of 9/11, literally opening the issue with the burning Twin Towers. Add in that this is an Absolute Power tie-in, an event that has brought the grim reality of disinformation and fascist rule to the DC Universe. And nothing against Diana, but Wonder Woman isn’t necessarily a comedy character. At all.
However, where King has been bringing laughs and joy is in his backup stories focusing on Wonder Woman’s daughter, Trinity. Usually drawn by Belén Ortega, those tales have been delightful, as Damian Wayne and Jon Kent try to babysit Trinity from uncontrollable baby to petulant teen. That sense of delight infuses the front story this time around, and it works as a salve to the grim intensity of Absolute Power.
Diana and her love Steve Trevor are reunited, you see, and they cannot stop kissing. Much to the chagrin of Damian, who is teaming up with them. And to pretty much everyone else. Because despite this being a key issue where — spoilers — they break the heroes and villains out of Amanda Waller’s prison, Diana and Steve comically can’t keep their hands off each other. It’s a running joke that softens the blow of some of the darker moments like Wonder Woman breaking her powerless wrists while stopping some bullets. Daniel nails these action bits, but the fact that this commensurate superhero artist can also highlight exhausted reactions from Damian is superb, as well.
And the backup story is even better. It recontextualizes the past few issues from the older Damian’s perspective. Naturally, he’s the hero of the story, everyone loves him, and he’s right all the time. We the reader know better. Trinity and Jon know better. But that tension teases out plenty of guffaws throughout.
Look, it’s pretty clear that part of this is giving us a respite from the absolute horror show Diana has been dealing with the rest of this run. She ate a rat, for goodness sake. In the next issue, the series returns to that story with the birth of Trinity and what certainly seems like the death of Steve Trevor. But for now, we can enjoy an injection of joy, before it all comes crashing down.
Wonder Woman #13 Rating:
Wonder Woman #13 Official Synopsis:
Gamorra found! Wonder Woman and Robin have finally located Amanda Waller’s super jail holding the powerless heroes they once fought alongside. Can the new dynamic duo break them out before they become trapped themselves? An undercover ally may hold the key to everything!