Review: Decompressed Storytelling Is Beginning To Be An Issue In ‘Wonder Woman’ #4
by Olly MacNamee
Summary
‘Wonder Woman’ #4 continues to unfold the main storyline at a snail’s pace in an example of decompressed storytelling that’s beginning to have an effect on the book’s attempts at retaining the reader’s attention. Slow, but with stunning artwork, here’s hoping that we don’t have too many more issues like this one.
Overall
7/10Christmas is well and truly over which means it’s time for a few comic book reviews. Albeit for comics that were out last week, like Wonder Woman #4 from DC Comics. An issue that breaks with the rather formulaic pattern writer Tom King has adopted for the first three issues of his run and gives Princess Diana a time out from the current Amazonian bashing storyline that is clearly a none-too-subtle commentary of toxic masculinity. The type that fuels so many ComicGaters and the like online and, one can assume, is the target of King’s current storyline. But, there is a lot that is similar too; the liberal use of the rigid nine-panel grid which often includes talking heads, as it does here, and the decompressed storytelling that is a big trope of King’s writing. But a trope that, after three issues, is beginning to grate.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s still a great issue with the stellar art of Daniel Sampere continuing to offer up a Wonder Woman that is statuesque, state-like and stunning in equal measures. How development as an artist over the past few years at DC Comics have really been a steep learning curve that has seen him propelled into the top tier of artists working in comics today. He’s an amazing artist who takes up any challenge thrown at him with ease, whether it’s breathing life into the many various dialogue-heavy scenes or laying out a very busy double page spree in which Wonder Woman spends her time with a terminally ill boy. It’s all so majestically depicted by Sampere.
Plus, there’s the continuation of the Robin/Superman/Lizzie back-up strip that, at this point in a plodding, procrastinating feature story, is thankfully welcome. And a great take on the classic Alan Moore/Dave Gibbons Superman Annual #11 (‘For the Man Who Has Everything’), but with Lizzie at the mercy of the Black Mercy which imagines her ideal future. One in which she is Queen of the Amazons battling against Damian Wayne and Johnathan Kent on Amazon Island.
Four issues in and it’s beginning to be something of a slog because of King’s adherence to a rather decompressed storyline that is beginning to loss its intensity as the plot plods slowly forward with very little being added to the advancement of the narrative whatsoever. Beautiful to look at, but dull to read, even with the sentimental sick kid storyline desperately trying to get an emotively charged reaction from the reader.
Wonder Woman #4 is out now from DC Comics