Written by G. Willow Wilson
Illustrated by Xermanico
Published by DC Comics
Steve Trevor faces his most incredible threat yet, the love goddess Aphrodite in the latest issue of Wonder Woman written by G. Willow Wilson and drawn by Xermanico.
Luckily, the imprisoned Navy Master Chief falls on the right side of The goddesses’ favor and she heals his wound instead of smothering him this time around.
Though he can hardly believe he is in the custody of this immortal being, you would think after 75 years, he would be used to such mysticism.
Diana is still trying to deal with the war on the ground, saving the grandkids of the Prime Minister in the process.
Trevor pleads to Aphrodite to find his love and the goddess takes him there, soon the super team of Wonder Woman, Aphrodite and Trevor are escorting the PM to peace talks with the insurgents.
The healed Trevor picks up a piece of tin roof and an AK-47 to join the fray as bullets ping off of Diana’s battle armor and Aphrodite twirls her hair and dazzles away incoming shrapnel in her aloof manner.
This is all in one glorious splash page that gets to the essence of the book and this story arc as it draws closer to a conclusion. Xermanico’s art here is great, in the style of Dan Panosian or Sean Murphy, inked and colored with skill to mimic the ‘zip-atone’ halftones of 80s and 90s books by John Byrne and Howard Chaykin. Colors by Romulo Fajardo Jr., this from a drawn book to a painterly art style that is fitting for the godly heroes.
Our old foe Ares has not disappeared completely from the story, as humans are looking to resolve their problems, Diana proclaims, “Ares is fanning the flames” of this battle — but to what end?”
Aphrodite also has some choice words about the God of War, calling him ‘sulky’ and ‘needing to be soothed, cosseted and told how wonderful he is’. Would Ares fair well on the latest season of Survivor?
Ares is obviously conflicted about his post-imprisonment way of life, will be able to take on Wonder Woman, Aphrodite, Steve Trevor and Etta showing up with reinforcements? Does Aphrodite think that humans deserve a feeling so powerful as love?
Tune in next issue with me as the conflict on Durovnia seeks a resolution.
I believe G. Willow Wilson to be the best choice to take on the character in 2019. Her introduction of Aphrodite was solid and I love the way she plays with her interactions with the rest of the cast, aloof and powerful, like a female Sandman controlling the most powerful emotion available to human kind. She’s love and compassion incarnate but still has secrets to keep to her immortal being.
Tune in next time for the next chapter of “Maybe don’t trust the guy literally called the God of War”!
