I was a bit skeptical when this story started, because Cheetah was actually reformed in a pretty compelling story not long ago and this seemed to reset heruntil I realized that she hadn't gone evil. She was simply starving, and another victim of the Sovereign's single-minded sadism and ruthlessness. Read Full Review

Wonder Woman #10 serves as a fantastic conclusion to the second arc with excellent character moments in both the main story and the backup. Read Full Review

Wonder Woman continues to be the best superhero comic written today. There's a wholesomeness in how it conveys her heroism and strength, which end up being her greatest superpowers. Read Full Review

I remain pleased with the way Tom King is continuing Diana's journey in Wonder Woman #10. I give him credit for baiting and reeling me in as a follower. I hope that he doesn't disappoint in the end as he's been guilty of before. Diana deserves the pedestal he currently has her on as a member of the Trinity. Read Full Review

Sampere delivers some beautifully detailed art throughout the issue. There are some beautifully detailed backgrounds and environments along with brilliantly detailed characters and action. Read Full Review

All that can be said is thank the goddess that this Sovereign storyline is over. Whether forced to end due to Absolute Power or because this was the intended natural end point doesn't matter. The failure of this story arc built around a poorly developed villain is finally over. And that is the only positive that can be said about the story itself. We at least had another great example in Wonder Woman #10 that showcased why Daniel Sampere is one of the best artists in the industry. So, there is that as well. Read Full Review

Wonder Woman #10 introduces a scenario where Sovereign decides to pit Wonder Woman against Cheetah on a deserted island for no apparent reason at all. Daniel Sampere's art is gorgeous, but it's clear Tom King has no ideas, no plan, and no justification for being on this title. Wonder Woman fans deserve better. Read Full Review

There are a lot of gaps in the storytelling and a big lack of resolving any of the issues from the start of this run. Instead it's random hard shifts from Diana's struggles last issue to some hugs at the end of this one. The only redemption this issue has is that the art is beautiful. Read Full Review

Wonder Woman #10 by writer Tom King, artist Daniel Sampere, & colors Tomeu Morey serves as the final act in the ‘Sacrifice’ arc ahead of DC’s upcoming Absolute Power event. The issue’s main story focuses on two plots which converge by the issue’s end: 1) the Sovereign banishing Wonder Woman to an island where he had a kidnapped & deprived Cheetah waiting; & 2) the Wonder Girls attempting a rescue mission while trying to figure out how to use the invisible jet.

I've loved King's run so far (& love his work in general), but his past excellence on this run makes this issue feel like a bit of a let down even — though it was still a good issue! King introduces a compelling thought experiment centered on superhero foils via one of the Sovereign's increasingly excruciating monologues. He posits that the Batman/Joker & Superman/Lex Luthor relationships can be reduced to the fact that they're mere foils over singular spectrums. The thought experiment starts to fall apart when it transitions into a means of proving the Wonder Woman/Cheetah relationship is more complex. Yes, these two definitely have a different relationship, but the explanation didn’t feel earned. I thought King's writing for the Sovereign here was too heavy-handed and that's saying something given how drawn out the Sovereign's monologues have been!

This was also the first issue where it felt like the Sovereign's plan wasn’t actually as big of a threat to Diana as he, nor King, tried to make it seem. Even though we've seen Diana overcome everything he's thrown at her so far, her trials always had a level of credibility that made you think Diana really did have to dig extra deep for something special saved in the tank to overcome the odds. Did the Sovereign really think sending Diana for a solo fight against an opponent she's beaten multiple times would be the solution to his Wonder Woman problem? The math didn't math. I never once thought she was in trouble, nor did the ultimate resolution teach us anything new about her resolve. King has already emphasized that Diana's true power isn't in her physical strength. It's a great point of differentiation compared to other super heroes, but did we need to be reminded once again so soon?

Daniel Sampere's art continues to soar in this series. He brilliantly choreographs the issue's epic battle, comparing Cheetah’s animalistic ferocity with Diana's elegant fighting technique. He adds beautiful detailed environments in the background to complement his detailed character designs and action sequences. He also draws one heck of an invisible jet! It's a unique tack, fully embracing the invisible aspect of it in every regard. Tomeu Morey’s colors also does a lot of work in establishing the story, helping to tell the passage of time with a change in palette. Together, these two make this book look like a million bucks.

The backup story again centers on Lizzie, Jon, & Damian. Similar to the main story, this entry also wasn't my favorite compared to others we’ve gotten. The bickering between Jon & Damian felt redundant to arguments we’ve seen between the two, but I did love their solution which resulted in a fun cameo! What I will never tire of is Belén Ortega's designs for young Lizzie. Her costume is absolutely adorable and if someone doesn’t turn it into a real-life Halloween costume this year I will be so disappointed. more

SPOILED REVIEW.

We find Yara, Donna, and Cassie looking for Diana’s invisible jet at an airport, on runway 26 due west. According to Donna, the plane is “one of the greatest weapons on earth and the absolute key to saving Diana and setting everything right and dandy again.” They just have to find a way to find it because, you know, it’s invisible.

Elsewhere on an island, we find Diana sunning by the water on a beach. She decides to move from lying in the water to sitting further away on the sand.

Back at the airfield, Cassie uses her head to figure out where the jet is hidden. Yara informs the others how she prefers to have sexual intercourse.

Back on the island, Wonder Woman wanders through the foliage looking for someone. Suddenly, without surprise, Cheetah, aka Barbara Minerva, springs from the tall grass with a menacing, “Rrawwrr!” Diana stumbles over a tree root as Barbara tries to give her a hug. Barbara begins to nibble on Diana’s neck. Diana kicks Barbara away and chastises, “Must it always begin with us in this fashion? In the decade we have spent bleeding on one another, have we truly learned nothing?!” Barbara responds, “You always talk. I only hunger!” and leaps towards Diana. They kick, punch, claw, and punch some more at each other.

Back at the jet, Donna makes sure the pilot ejection seat button works properly. It does.

Back on the island, they punch, tackle, punch, punch, swim, lunge, wrestle, and choke each other for days and nights. And nights and days. Barbara suggests to Diana, “Die and be chewed.” Diana politely responds, “No thank you.” Barbara continues to choke Diana until she passes out. Satisfied that she has defeated her arch-nemesis, she lays down beside Wonder Woman and celebrates her hard-fought victory.

Back in the jet, Yara and Donna make fun of Cassie’s fear of heights. Yara says, “Cassie! You must look! This horrible world of men—from here, it is all beautiful!” Cassie, refusing to look down, responds to their harassment, “I want you to know I hate both of you deeply and meaningfully and from now until forever.”

Back on the island, Cheetah and Wonder Woman hold each other’s hands, embracing tenderly by the campfire. Barbara informs Diana that she understands how Diana came to be on the island, “You knew I was taken. You let them capture you. You endured their torture to free me.” Diana confirms it. They shake hands. Besties for life.

Back at the jet, at the beach, at the island, Cassie wonders what will become of Sergeant “balls of” Steel when the government finds out he gave them access to his satellite network. “I mean without that, we couldn’t have traced Diana and the whole thing wouldn’t have worked really.” Donna answers, “They’ll probably try him, then hang him as a traitor.” Cassie wonders if they should rescue him. Yara, satisfied with his outcome, answers, “No.” Donna suggests that it is their duty. Cassie, still confused, says, “Super. I’m glad that’s clear.” Diana and Barbara emerge from the jungle. Diana offers her wisdom, “Nothing is ever clear. We are birthed into the fog. And so we must hold each other’s hands or be lost alone.” They all pile into the invisible jet. TO BE CONTINUED.

This part of the “World’s Finest” backup story has us at Wayne Manor. Young Lizzie Prince is struggling to fly a kite. Jonathan Kent tries to help by blowing on it. Unfortunately, Lizzie loses her grip on the string, and the kite flies away. Damian Wayne suggests, “Nothing in this world has any meaning. Religion, morality, family, friends, even kites. All worthless. Whatever happens, we’re all going to be thrust one day into the endless void of death.” Jonathan returns the kite to Lizzie. However, after many more failed attempts to fly the kite, they come up with a plan to break Kite-Man out of Arkham Asylum. Kite-Man advises, “Don’t tense up, worrying about getting it up there. Just be content and watch the kite fly.” Apparently, that’s all Lizzie needed in order to fly her kite. THE END.

Let’s let Sovereign sum up this issue: “This is, in the end, a tragic tale.” more

The problem with this run is that there's no coherent flow or structure in the story. Wonder Woman was in prison, yet she somehow escapes and is on a beach. How did this happen? Well we dont know, it happened off-screen. Cheetah comes up, and the only reason this isnt lower is because this is Daniel Sampere's best work (even better than Dark Crisis), and I really do like the back up story.

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Toonstrack - Jun 19, 2024

She didn't escape. Sovereign dropped her on the island, they say this in the narration.

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