Wonder Woman #800
- Writer:
- Becky Cloonan, Tom King, Michael Conrad
- Artist:
- Cully Hamner, Daniel Sampere, Todd Nauck
- Letterer:
- Pat Brosseau, Clayton Cowles
- Cover Artist:
- Yanick Paquette
- Publisher:
- DC
- Price:
- $5.99
- Release Date:
- 2023-06-20
- Colorist:
- Tomeu Morey, Jordie Bellaire, Tamra Bonvillain
Wonder Woman is at a crossroads, wondering if she ever made the impact she thought she did. With the help of the Oracles, Diana Prince enters the world of dreams -- and learns exactly what the people she loves most think about her. Later, her daughter Elizabeth -- taking the moniker of Trinity -- is living up to the Wonder Woman legacy, recruiting Batman and Superman for a dangerous mission.
Written by Michael Conrad and Becky Cloonan, featuring the art of Mark Morales, Joëlle Jones, Nick Robles, Alitha Martinez, Todd Nauck, Skylar Patridge, Jen Bartel and Cully Hamner, the colors of Jodie Bellaire, Tamra Bonvillain and Jen Bartel, and the lettering of Pat Brosseau, Wonder Woman #800 celebrates the life and legacy of one of DC's greatest heroes, and ushers a new era for Wonder Woman.
As the 800th installment of the long-running Wonder Woman continuity, there was no doubt that this issue was going to be a milestone. Wonder Woman #800 consists of two stories. Writer duo Becky Cloonan and Michael Conrad cap off their thirty-issue run on this series with the first chapter, "Whatever Happened to the Warrior of Truth?" a retrospective devoted to Diana Prince's life, legacy, impact and relationships. The second part introduces her daughter, Trinity, as the next generation Wonder Woman working alongside Jon Kent and Damian Wayne, uncovering a well-guarded secret protected by a series of dangerous and archaic trials.
The first story, told via a dream-walking ritual performed by the Themyscira Oracles has Diana entering the dreams of her allies, friends, and even rivals, reliving intimate moments, volatile battles, or conversing with them one on one. This chapter is dialogue heavy, with the action in the panels acting as supplementary to the conversations or musings Diana has. While this segment is rather verbose and veers towards the heavy-handed, sentimental side, it does provide Wonder Woman #800 with some of its most poignant moments.
The theme of inspiration runs deep in this issue, with Wonder Woman being the inspiration for many people–though the way that inspiration takes form depends on who she's talking to. To the Wonder Girls: Yara Flor, Donna Troy and Cassie Sandsmark, Diana Prince is a beloved mentor, a leader, a guiding light. To her mother Hippolyta, she's an inspiration for change and hope. For her friends, Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne, she's an inspiration for inner strength. It's her moments with these two fellow icons that are the strongest, with these great heroes speaking to each other as equals, revealing mutual vulnerability and respect in only the way that longtime friends can. It's as cathartic for the characters as it is for the readers.
The second half of this issue, introducing Diana's daughter Lizzie Marston Prince, a.k.a. Trinity, is just as verbose, but with a more linear narrative. Immediately, the chemistry and banter between the three legacy heroes of Jon Kent, Damian Wayne and Lizzie Marston Prince is undeniable. Trinity's cockiness is a good midway between the dark, dry humor of Batman and Superman's gentle, easygoing attitude. For however fun the dialogue is, this arc isn't all fun and games. High stakes, intrigue and a sense of mystery and foreboding are gradually introduced, culminating in the eerily calm climax.
Wonder Woman #800 is a visual wonder. Given its dreamworld setting and Inception-like plot, with Wonder Woman traveling from one person's dream to the next, it makes sense that this chapter would have multiple art shifts to reflect Wonder Woman's entering of a new dream. This segment boasts a staggering list of artists. Despite this huge roster, the aesthetic shifts are subtle and cohesive. The color palettes are bright, vibrant and ethereal, all rendered in a distinct haziness and sweeping color washes, utilizing celestial, heavenly blues, gloomy purples, fiery oranges and jungle yellows.
Though heavy with dialogue and at times meandering, Wonder Woman #800 is a tender and fitting end to a very long arc, with poignant tributes to a beloved hero, nicely setting the stage for the next chapter and new player.