In the premiere issue of Athena I complained about how the writer failed to reveal enough information about the title character. Writer Doug Murray fills in some necessary details in this second issue.

Athena, when not clad in a fetching suit of armor, is a police officer. We know this since she packs heat when not bearing shield and spear. Her long-haired friend now named Ully, short no doubt for Ulysses, is also a cop. I feel better now.

When last we left Athena, she had just armored up to stop a would-be assassin. Stop him she does, and in a way that contributes to the notion that Athena is Doug Murray's rethink of Wonder Woman.

Wonder Woman uses her magic lasso to force the truth. Athena, in a powerful scene, merely needs to look at her quarry. Neves' and Renaud's execution of the scene differs strongly from the trance-like states that Wonder Woman induces. Athena sees her enemy's entire life unfold and leaves him weeping with guilt.

Whereas Wonder Woman deflects bullets with her bracelets, Athena's armor protects her in a fascinating way. The bullets slow down when coming into Athena's vicinity--the visual in a way replicates the effect of bullets penetrating the Daleks' personal force fields.

Over the years, Wonder Woman has grown more politically correct, but Athena has no issue over killing the villains. However, Murray, Neves, and Renaud once again come up with a unique spin. They emphasize a literal mythical dispatch rather than the gore associated with violent death. This technique preserves the fantastical elements of Athena but still makes her one tough cookie.

In this issue of Athena Murray reimagines the Trojan War. Menelaus and Paris are now rival gangstas sidelining in the music business. Helen, Manny's woman, is a recording star. Hector still has the brains in the family. It's a clever facade for The Iliad and Murray creates different circumstances for the war to unfold. Homer's Athena took part in the apple ceremony, but this incarnation of Athena had no recent argument over Eris' spoiler. Homer's Athena also sided heavily with the Greeks, but there aren't any Greeks in the story. So, everything appears ripe for rewriting.

The second issue of Athena is stronger because the reader knows more about the characters. The impressive art merely gets better as Athena reveals her powers.

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