Blackest Night : Wonder Woman #2

Blackest Night: Wonder Woman #2

Blackest Night #6 set up certain plot points for Wonder Woman.  The fight between Mera and Wonder Woman and Wonder Woman's acceptance of a violet ring making her a Star Sapphire.  This second issue of her mini-series delves more into those points, Expanding the story.

I really enjoy the conception of Black Lantern Wonder Woman.  The choice to remove all color and life from the characters was a smart choice.  Her eyes are empty, her smile is devious and she craves death and destruction.   I must point out the changes in her costume.  It definitely has a lot of Greek influences.  The changes of her tiara add more of a warrior helmet. Metal armbands, extensions from her belt, and even chin guards and sandals give a better sense of her roots in her Amazon mythology.

Like I mentioned, this issue expands on the fight between Mera and Wonder Woman.  I never have read any of the Aquaman comics from the past.  I know that Mera is not of earth.  Her original home is in another dimension where she lives completely under water.  She fought along side Aquaman, falling in love with him and eventually becoming his wife and Queen of Atlantis.

I am somewhat torn by the choice to pair Mera and Diana together.  Though I feel that Mera is strong and most likely can stand on her own in a fight.  A fight with Wonder Woman?  Diana has been blessed with strength, speed and near invulnerability by the Greek Gods themselves.  How can this battle even be fair?

I will tell you how it is fair. Greg Rucka's writing.  From the start you can see the struggle Diana has with the control of the Black Ring.  I love that she is strong enough to still be fighting the connection that the ring is trying to make.  She does not want to fight Mera.  Her inner dialogue is reminding her of what is right and wrong. I cannot explain how much I love the strength that Mr. Rucka has given her.  I knew that of all the heroes infected by the ring, Diana would be the one that would break free of it.

As strong as Diana seems, even a Princess needs help!  I find fascinating the amount of Greek Mythology is tied into Diana's origin.  The Amazons were created by the Gods, They appointed Hippolyta , Diana's mother, Queen of the Amazons. Diana's even creation was possible by gifts from the Gods.  It would make sense that they would take a hand in helping Diana break her connection with the black ring. THe violet ring was looking for a woman who had the greatest love in her heart. It found that in Diana, but because of the control of the black ring it was having a hard time connecting with our favorite Amazon.

The gods created a space for Diana to continue her struggle to free herself of the black rings control, they brought images of the people that she loved. Donna Troy, Wonder Girl even her mother Hipployta, Every time the dark ring would beat Diana and she would kill or hurt her family.  The final chance to save Diana brought about a lot of controversy.

 Bruce Wayne! I love how the changes in her costume reflects the conflict that she has in her soul.  She is both Wonder Woman and Black Lantern Wonder Woman. The kiss of Batman brings about the Violet ring in the upper corner. This kiss caused many, many topics on boards in almost every comic website out there. I myself have no problem with this expression of her love for Bruce Wayne.  In the Justice League cartoon, her second volume of comic books, there has always been a hint of the relationship that could be between Bruce and Diana.

That love for Bruce allowed the Violet ring to finally make that connection of love inside Diana.  Here we have Aphrodite explaining to Diana that the Gods themselves could not let Diana fall victim to the darkness of the Black ring. She is a Warrior, Amazon, and champion,  That she has the greatest love and light inside her that anyone has ever seen. With the acceptance of that love, the Violet ring frees Diana from the dark bond of the black ring.

Diana becomes a Star Sapphire. Wielding the power of love, the Violet ring transforms her costume and her power. Though this change is only good for 24 hours, I am very excited to see what Wonder Woman will do with this new advantage!