Review: Wonder Woman v2 #164-167

            For his very first arc on Wonder Woman, writer-artist Phil Jimenez teamed up with veteran comic scribe J.M. DeMatteis to deliver one of the most captivating and epic Wonder Woman stories in existence. “Gods of Gotham” saw the devious deities Phobos, Deimos and Eris taking possession of three of Batman’s most dangerous enemies -- the Joker, Poison Ivy and Scarecrow -- and wreaking havoc on Gotham City. It’s up to Wonder Woman, Batman and their allies to stop them and bring order back to Gotham.

            Jimenez and DeMatteis should be applauded for their keen ability to write each character with incredible precision and for understanding the essential components of Wonder Woman’s personality. She is both warrior and diplomat. As such, we see her win not only win physical battles but spiritual ones as well. Furthermore, the juxtapositions between characters are amazing in this arc as Jimenez and DeMatteis pair off Wonder Woman and Batman’s cast. As such, scenes between Artemis and Huntress become electrifying to read as their similarities and differences are highlighted brilliantly. Similarly, Nightwing and Troia are a pleasure to read due to their palpable chemistry as friends and teammates. Most notably, there's a cute little exchange between them wherein Nightwing chastises Donna for accessorizing but she gets in the last laugh when she ribs him for his former usage of a utility belt. Above the more superficial layers of heroes versus villains, we also see a larger philosophical debate going on between the world of Wonder Woman and that of Batman. Wonder Woman comes from a world of magic and Gods where nothing is impossible while Batman is dark and cynical where everything must have a scientific explanation. Therefore, there is a fascinating clash between Wonder Woman’s faith and Batman’s realism. This additional layer within the story gives it context and opens up larger discussions about religion. The open debate between Artemis’ beliefs and Huntress’ in particular serves as a mirror for those present in society today. "Gods of Gotham" also puts things into perspective between its two starring heroes -- while Batman battles thugs and psychopaths, Wonder Woman battles Gods and monsters. Though Batman may have a more recognizable rogue's gallery, Wonder Woman has the deadliest.

            There is something special about Phil Jimenez’s art. He has a more realistic aesthetic in that his proportions are more anatomically correct and he has an incomparable eye for detail. His drawings are expressive and dynamic so much so that it is much easier to relate to the characters he draws due to their emotive presentation. He is an excellent visual storyteller. His panels do tend to be tighter and more detailed, opting to forego larger splash pages. This is perhaps due to the more talkative nature of Wonder Woman's stories where she makes attempts to engage with her opponents intellectually.

            “Gods of Gotham” is easily one of the best Wonder Woman and Batman stories out there. It features an all-star cast and an incomparable narrative that is both epic and intimate. Jimenez and DeMatteis did wonders with the material and delivered a must-read story not to be missed by any fan of the Amazon Princess or the Dark Knight.

Grade: A+