Review: Wonder Woman Volume 5 - Flesh

Having bested the deadly First Born in battle, Wonder Woman is crowned as the new God of War. While she’s expected to take up her rightful place on Mount Olympus, it’s clear that the Amazon Princess has no intention of doing so. Meanwhile, the nefarious Cassandra is hellbent on rescuing the First Born after he is captured by Apollo. As the First Born’s most devoted (and demented) follower, she will stop at nothing to find him.

Wonder Woman Volume 5: Flesh collects issues 24-29 of Wonder Woman and Wonder Woman #23.2, written by Brian Azzarello and illustrated by Cliff Chiang and Goran Sudzuka.

As Azzarello’s run on Wonder Woman hurtles towards it conclusion, Flesh serves as a brilliant reminder of where we are in this epic and how far these characters have come. This volume, on the surface, appears transitional. It serves a bridge towards the climax of Azzarello’s tenure on the book, functioning as the set-up for Wonder Woman’s final fight against the First Born. Of course, this is nothing new for the New 52 Wonder Woman title. From the get-go, it has unfolded like an ancient Greek epic – expansive and never-ending, consistently building towards and hinting at something bigger and badder for the Amazon Princess. Where the preceding volume suffered from the transitive nature of Azzarello’s storytelling, Flesh is so much more layered and exciting.

The overall themes of this collection are rebirth and redemption. Azzarello hones in on his characters, catching them at a distinctive moment of change for each of them. Wonder Woman is the new God of War, Hermes is actively seeking forgiveness for his past indiscretions, Zola seeks her independence, and Hera’s role within the Wonder Woman family shifts drastically. The interplay between Wonder Woman and the Gods is really interesting, particularly since we’re getting to see the different facets of Diana’s personality. She toys with Artemis, consoles Hera and rebels against Apollo. Most fascinating, however, may be her relationship with Hermes. Despite all Hera has done, Diana has forgiven her – but she has not extended the same privilege to the messenger god. It shows that our titular heroine is not without flaws or beyond holding grudges.

Volume after volume, Azzarello continues to make me love and care for these characters. They grow and evolve, especially in Flesh. Once again, I find myself drawn to Hera. She’s been a source of comedic relief, particularly when played against Zola. Here, she’s given even more dimensions. We see Hera mourning her former life more seriously, as well as embracing her new life as a mortal. She provides readers with an interesting commentary on what it means to be human.

Wonder Woman Volume 5: Flesh is yet another exciting entry into Azzarello’s impeccable take on the Amazon Princess. Chiang and Sudzuka’s art work in tandem to create a stylish and cohesive aesthetic for this world, something which has been consistent across the entirety of Azzarello’s tenure on Wonder Woman. The changes made to the characters in this volume are intriguing and breathe new life into this series. Unlike most other writers who write for the Big Two, Azzarello proves how rewarding and engaging a comic book can be when you abandon the six-part storyline format. By the end of this collection, you realize that you’ve been reading a seamless continuous story not contrived solely for the purpose of being sold as a trade paperback. Above all else, you’re left loving Wonder Woman and waiting with bated breath for what’s going to happen next.

RATING: A-