The Legend of Wonder Woman #11: O̶u̶r̶ My American Cousin

[zapbiffpow]

I wasn't very familiar with Etta Candy going into this issue, but based on just this, I like her so far. Here's how Diana and Etta first met, plus Diana's Xena + Samurai Jack + Quantum Leap origin. (At least for this arc. I think.)

Also, look at that sickass cover! That'd make an excellent character poster.

Writer & Artist: Renae De Liz
6 pages from a nice 20 page issue.

The Story: Diana escorts an escaping Steve Trevor to the ocean boundaries of Themyscira. That goes to shit when a sea monster attacks them,separating the two and tidal wave-ing Diana in Man's World.

Diana does a 'Lucy in Narnia' bit before finding herself in Holliday College, where she rescues a falling frat boy:

Etta Candy here is a collegiate runaway heiress, who dreams of touring the country as a successful musical artist. She clocks that Diana's a total stranger and gives her an easy out, introducing her as a foreign cousin.

I'd have gone for a better cover country than 'Gargantuania', though.

Also: calling your attention, whoever s_d'er that was who got me into Bombshells:

As they leave, they're accosted by Pamela, Etta's rival, who claims Etta stole her boyfriend (which wasn't true):

I like this scene. They could've easily gone with 'fat person is bullied, which changes when Diana defends her' or gone the other (equally-problematic) side of the pendulum with 'everyone totally loves Etta', but no. It's clearly shown that there are people who love her and people who don't, which is a better portrayal of the average human situation, and bases Etta's ideals from there.

That scene shows Etta's willingness to stand up to opposition, displays her moral standards (even towards enemies), and the resourcefulness to roll off disparagement: qualities similar to what our ideal Wonder Woman should have. It also gives Etta value as a supporting character, especially in the context of Newbie!Diana.

After Etta takes her in, we find out a truth about this version of Themyscira:

So the plot is: Diana, Themyscira's champion, must search Man's World for a way back home before a holding-the-fort Hippolyta gets Mufasa'd, I don't know how it stacks with other Wondy origins (or even if this is the origin intended here), but it seems solid.

I haven't got the next issues yet, but I'll continue my coverage if and when!

Comments

[zapbiffpow]

Glad you do! Full disclosure: I haven't really posted any scenes from this series yet, it was someone else. I just got into it after Bombshells and some of the posts here. Totally excellent feeling.

[informationgeek]

That person would totally be me who did posts on The Legend of Wonder Woman previously! :D

Glad some of my posts are encouraging others around here to check out some of these series. I hope it makes up for me doing posts on Countdown. :)

[zapbiffpow]

Oh, so that was you who did those Bombshells posts! In that case, thank you. Your honey caught at least one fly.