Writer: Will Pfeifer
Artist: Pete Woods
Publisher: DC Comics
Be sure to check out my review of Wonder Woman #8 for more information on Amazons Attack.
Wonder Woman has been dragging in the mud lately. If you check out my review of Jodi Picoult’s latest issue, you will find praise for what is the best issue of Wonder Woman since Greg Rucka’s run. Allan Heinberg dropped the ball with Wonder Woman, and the first two issues of Jodi Picoult’s arc were very good yet very slow for some readers. DC needs to get Wonder Woman back on top of her game, so what’s the best way to accommodate? A major event that brings the Amazons back into the DC realm and has them invading America and essentially becoming manhunters. Underrated Catwoman scribe Will Pfeifer, who wrote a pretty good fill-in issue of Wonder Woman, handles script duties on this event. The Amazons are coming, and hell’s coming with them.
First off, let me just emphasis the fact that you really should read my review of Wonder Woman #8 as well as actually read Wonder Woman #8 before you even touch this issue. I stress this because Amazons Attack offers no background, no reason why, nor any real motivation for why the Amazons have suddenly popped up to destroy Washington D.C. There’s not even a recap or the classic editor’s note for you to check out Wonder Woman #8. Because if you don’t read this week’s phenomenal installment of Wonder Woman, you will have pretty much no idea what is going on in Amazon’s Attack. Seriously, I’m not joking. Jodi Picoult hits a grand slam out into the parking lot, and Will Pfeifer gives us a bunch of violent, spear-chucking, armored women who apparently have no reason to start wreaking havoc on Earth. Not to mention the fact that Hippolyta, the original Wonder Woman who was killed in “Our Worlds at War” years ago, is leading the attack. So once again, for the answers to these matters, check out my review of Wonder Woman #8 or stop being cheap and pick up Wonder Woman #8, the best issue of the Amazon Princess since Greg Rucka’s run almost two years ago.
This issue is basically violence and bloodshed as the Amazons invade Washington D.C., killing any man who enters their sight. This marks the second time in recent history that Washington D.C. has been the center of a major super-attack. Remember Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters? A great mini-series that concluded only about two months ago that featured a major battle in Washington D.C. Aren’t there patriot missile systems guarding our nation’s capital? Maybe it’s time for the U.S. Government to recruit their own protector, but then again, the Hall of Justice is in Washington D.C., and out of all the members of the JLA only Black Lightning shows up? There’s nothing wrong with Black Lightning, and the way he shows up and displays his power while protecting the President is my favorite moment of this issue, but Washington is completely obliterated before Superman even shows up? Unless he’s saving Lois, strapped down by Kryptonite or in the Phantom Zone he’d have been there before Hippolyta chopped off Lincoln’s head at the Lincoln Memorial. But of course, if Superman were locked in the Phantom Zone during this, our eternal ruler Zod would not stand for such insolence, and these crazed women would have been quelled immediately.
Back on track, there is pretty much no substance to this issue besides getting an answer to a question raised in Wonder Woman #8: Why is Sarge Steel working with Circe? Other than that, this issue does nothing but show off Pete Woods’ artwork which is pretty well done. There’s absolutely no substance and no meat to this issue, and Wonder Woman #8 explains everything that is going on, leading me to believe that Jodi Picoult should be the one scripting this event. I don’t know what happened because Will Pfeifer may very well be the next Geoff Johns, but this issue will not attract any new readers nor bring readers back to Wonder Woman because of the sheer fact that without Wonder Woman #8 a reader will have no clue what is going on.
I have a feeling that this series will definitely pick up and help re-establish Wonder Woman at the top. But this issue serves no purpose (unless you want to see Washington D.C. destroyed and Black Lightning briefly save the President), and can easily be replaced with Wonder Woman #8. Skip this first issue and get Wonder Woman #8 instead, you’ll get a great issue and the real meat behind Amazons Attack including the reason why they are attacking.
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