Wipe Out In Washington: Reviewing ‘Wonder Woman’ #6

If feels like it’s been a long time coming, and that’s because it has — thanks to writer Tom King’s decompressed storytelling style and his love for character-driven narratives. Clever dialogue often substitutes for the requisite action one would expect from a comic with a powerhouse like Wonder Woman fronting it. But, finally, we get a dramatic, dynamic, large-scale knuckleduster of a fight between everyone’s favourite amazing Amazon and the villains recruited to take her on. And right in the heart of the capital with the iconic Washington Monument appropriated by Giganta as a weapon to pound at Princess Diana. 

It’s a frightful team of some of Diana’s most powerful rogues’ gallery trying to take down an experienced and powerful combatant with the ever-present misogynistic narration of the Sovereign as the voiceover. The whole issue is one big beat down, with each archenemy stepping up to take a shot at Wonder Woman more powerful than the last. All choreographed from the shadows by the Sovereign’s stooge, Sarge Steel. 

As well as a cleverly scripted battle by King, who delivers a battle plan that’s precisely and perfectly plotted, artist Daniel Sampere delivers in the drama and captures the enormity of this destructive confrontation with amazing skill. His use of splash pages to better present the bigger moments are well paced and well-placed in a wildly entertaining issue that tests Wonder Woman’s stamina and strength to their very limits. 

Balancing out this taut and terrific main story is another jovial backup strip featuring babysitters, Jon Kent/Superman and Damian Wayne/Robin who are themselves tired out, much like Wonder Woman, but for far more domestic reasons. 

Wonder Woman #6 finally delivers on the promise fans have been waiting for all this time, with a cover-to-cover masterclass on superhero smackdowns that’s as smart as it is sensational. And out now from DC Comics.