‘Wonder Woman #50’ (review)

Writer: James Robinson
Artist: Jesús Merino
Published by DC Comics

Wonder Woman’s newly discovered long lost family member, her brother Jason, reveals his true self at the end of Wonder Woman #49.

Or perhaps he is just under the influence of the Dark God, Savage Fire, as he knocks his powerful sister to the ground.

Issue #50 is the climax of James Robinson’s ‘The Dark Gods’ storyline for DC Comic’s Wonder Woman.

The issue starts out, much like a scene out of Marvel’s The Avengers, in a familiar environment for old soldiers and flyboys, the deck of an aircraft carrier.

Steve Trevor bids Wonder Woman a farewell as he heads out on a mission.

Then, interestingly enough, we find that this is present day and the previous issue’s events have happened one month before this one, flashing back to conclude the tale of Jason and The Dark Gods through exposition.

We last left the Justice League and friends spreading out across the globe to stop the threat of The Dark Gods attacking the four corners of the Earth.

The Dark Gods have the power to hypnotize anyone in their path to grow an army of millions. Unfortunately, Diana will be forced to make some intense choices about her brother Jason who is now entirely consumed by the dark forces. After a decent fight, Jason is able to whisper to Wonder Woman that he is fine and playing a trick on The Dark Gods as a tactical move.

It has been stated in previous issues, and thankfully repeated in this issue for me and anyone picking up Wonder Woman #50 strictly for the Anniversary occasion, that Jason can tap into the power of any Greek god. He can and use one power at a time such as Hermes for super speed and so forth. While in the astral plane inside The Dark Gods’ subconscious

Jason offers himself as a sacrificial lamb to grow The Dark God’s power infinitely to leave Earth alone forever and to release the Justice League from their psychic wrath.

By the end of the issue, Diana loses her brother to The Dark Gods just as Steve is leaving for a mission (relax, everyone they aren’t broken up)! She enters her next chapter alone and hoping someday she will get to free her brother from The Dark Gods clutches.

This was a fantastic story arc and I am glad I went back a few issues to get caught up. The “The Dark Gods Are Coming” scene with Cheetah in issue #46 was great foreshadowing even if a little cliche. I think what I can appreciate about Robinson’s storytelling here is that is very cinematic and lots of drama. Diana is best with some mythology sprinkled over the story, and having Jason be raised in the pantheon of Greek Gods was a great contrast to Diana’s Themyscira upbringing. Stephen Segovia was on art duties #46-47 and Jesus Merino wrapped up with #48-50. Both great artists for the book, creating dynamic fighting scenes and larger than life god figures!

The good outweighs the bad on the DC front at the moment. Cheers to another issue #50 as DC Comics Rebirth continues to crank along with more good titles and impressive runs like this one.