Blackest Night : Wonder Woman #3

 Blackest Night: Wonder Woman #3 is finally out!  First, I have to comment on Greg Horn and his great covers. I was a little scared at first when I read that Greg was going to be in charge of the covers for this mini-series.  Usually I am not a fan of his work, his females are a little too busty, a little too on the adult entertainment side.  I will admit though that I love all three covers. His Wonder Woman still had his normal sexy elements, but I still found her strong and beautiful.

This is the third and final issue of this tie-in to Blackest Night and it did not disappoint.We left off in Blackest Night with our Amazon accepting a Star Sapphire ring.  This issue opens with Diana admiring the violet ring on her finger.

Here we have Diana talking with Carol Ferris, the Guardian of the Star Sapphires and the person responsible for the current transformation of our favorite Amazon.  Carol is amazed that Diana was able to accept the violet ring seeing that she was already being controlled by a Black Lantern ring. Carol explains that enough of Diana remained in her that the violet ring could reach out to her and the she did something no one else could do, reach back.  That has never happened before. Carol is amazed at the love that Wonder Woman carries for everything. The entirety of creation is limitless and no lantern has ever encountered anything like it.

During their discussion they come upon Wonder Woman's old friend, Max Lord!  We saw him in Blackest Night: Wonder Woman #1.  He grabs a rope and lassos around Diana's neck. He yells out to her if she is into Bondage, Wonder Woman replies "No, LIBERATION" and grabs the rope and flings Max Lord into the growing army of Black Lanterns. 

 

I really like this panel. Diana is shown very strong and very determined to take control of the situation with Max Lord. Once again, It seems that Max has underestimated the power of Wonder Woman. She freezes him a violet crystal and shatters him into hundreds of pieces

. 

Of course this commotion does not go unnoticed and Mera, who is know a Red Lantern, sees Diana and goes in for the KILL! 

 

We first saw Round 1 in Blackest Night #6 and in Blackest Night: Wonder Woman #2.  Mera is enraged with the power of the Red Lantern ring.  Diana's ring is searching for love and hope inside Mera, but only finds that she is filled with rage, fed by inconceivable pain. Mera takes some swings at Diana and follows her into the air, next shoving her staff into Diana's thigh. Bad choice Mera! 

When is the Queen of Atlantis going to learn that you cannot mess with a Warrior Born??  Thus ensues a fist on fist fight. Each taking swings, hurting each other. The Rage inside Mera is getting to strong, and the Love inside Diana wants to save her. Diana reaches out to Mera, telling her that she is not the enemy, that they are friends and they have fought side by side for the greater good. I love that even when Mera is drawing blood from our warrior, she still wants to love and help her friend. 

Wonder Woman realizes that her ring is not going to save Mera on its own, so Wonder Woman uses the power that she already has. The Lasso of Truth!! 

I love that even after years of Diana having her Lasso that she still finds new ways to use it, new powers that it can possess. She wants to use the Lasso to show Mera her true self. The very things that Mera holds dear to hopefully over-power her rage. 

Here is the page that just took my breath away. In the process of Mera showing her thoughts and truth to Diana, you see Diana's truth being shown to Mera. We see with Mera her receiving her crown , becoming Queen. Her love for Arthur, Aquaman, and the death of their son and her rage over his killer, Black Manta. And then a mystery clue of her standing over a sleeping Arthur?? What does that mean?

With Diana, we see her recieveing her tiara, crowning her Wonder Woman, her fighting as a warrior, her love for Bruce, Batman, and the love he is showing for her. The transformation of her friend Vanessa to the villian Silver Swan. Diana's mystery image is of her wearing the cape of Superman?? What does that mean!?!?

Though it brings many questions, the lasso does exactly what it is meant to do. It saves Mera and releases her from her Rage. Diana acknowledges that not a word was spoken because what was shown could not be said.

After Diana and Mera share a moment, they finally have an understanding with each other. I am really happy with this renewed team of Mera and Wonder Woman. I hope that it is seen more often in their future stories.

The final page of the issue shows Hal Jordan, Green Lantern showing up with the "New Guardians" and the deputized recruits.  I think that Nicola Scott draws a very sexy Hal!

What do you think??