World of Wonder: Wonder Woman #8

[zapbiffpow]

With Patty Jenkins on board for the WW sequel, there's the question of present-day Diana's supporting cast, now that Steve Trevor and Etta Candy have been canon-locked into World War One.

Luckily, WW: Rebirth provides an answer to that, in the form of (and starting with) Barbara Minerva. Check it!

 

Words: Greg Rucka

Art: Bilquis Evely

Rebirth's been kind to Cheetah's characterization. By recasting her as a sympathetic figure: one of Diana's original friends and the first person to truly communicate with her, Rucka's made her subsequent transformation and then redemption an even more flavorful story.

We begin with a glimpse into Dr. Minerva's childhood. It's seriously tailor-made for Scene 1 of the sequel:

I love this scene of her grasping for a name - it rings true to those childhood playtime scenarios where you're forced to break character because you're still building the story in your child-ass head.

 

 

 

Years later, Barbara looks for archaoelogical evidence that leads to the location of Themyscira.

 

 

 

Later that night, Barbara discovers that Dr. Martins, the bald guy, went behind her back to proceed with the dig. She wises up in time, and finds the burial place of the Twelfth Queen of the Amazons.

 

Unfortunately, the dig site collapses:
 

 

 

[]

 

Later, Viktor, a rogue member of the expedition, steals Barbara's phone evidence. 

 

Luckily, she's committed enough of it to paper, and follows a globe-spanning trail that leads to a dead Viktor (revealed to be a member of the Sear Group), and a cameo from a certain tribe from Wonder Woman lore: 

 

 

 

 

Also, this makes Barbara Minerva, in fact, the first mortal to find Themyscira.

Although there's also that Greek sailor who sailed her there. Stand and be counted, guy. 
 

 

 

 

For the record, it's expanded how Themyscira isn't just a physical location, but we're focusing on Barbara's evolution, not the plot. 

 

Setting up Barbara Minerva (and Veronica Cale) as Diana's new friends offers not just a shift from mildly problematic, war-oriented old friends to less-paradoxical, academic-centered new ones, but the dynamics Rucka established between these three in this run make for plenty of inspiration for a Wonder Woman sequel. Two, even. 

In conclusion: if there's DCEU insiders lurking here, please gift all of WW: Rebirth to Patty Jenkins. Oh, and the Gotham City Sirens book might not be the best inspiration for the GCS movie. Gotta head off these things before commitment sets in. 

Next up is more Wonder Woman. Because durr-hey. Stay tuned!

Comments

[sarahnewlin]

Circe would be a good villain for the sequel. I wanted Nicole Kidman or Eva Green to play her. But I can see someone like Carice van Houten or Valentina Cervi playing her actually.

(As a side note, when Nicole asked exactly what she would be doing in Aquaman, James Wan basically said the character is a Mermaid warrior. She said that was literally all she needed to hear and she signed on lol)

[zapbiffpow]

Yeah, Circe, totally! I think Eva Green would be great for the part - she won't match up to the peppy, affably evil portrayal of her during this run, but they could always switch to her DCAU portrayal. If 'This Little Piggy' is any proof, that version of her could work.

[bruinsfan]

Shohreh Aghdashloo would be my choice.

Green is actually fairly close to my mental image of Athena.

[thehood]

On the other hand, i'd love to see her classic villains too, like Cheetah.

[lbd_nytetrayn]

Saying "May I?" and "Thank You" before tossing the stuff trusted to you into a fire doesn't make you any less of a dick, dude. If anything, it makes you more of one.

[zapbiffpow]

Yeah, it's totally horribly manipulative of her dad, since by asking her permission, he's passing on the burden of guilt onto her, like "Hey, you were the one who gave it to me. I just asked, didn't I?"

[q99]

On the one had, I really like Barbara Minerva as an enemy, so I'm not sure how I feel about this.

On the other hand, I really like Barbara Minevera as a friend, so I'm not sure how I feel about this.

[zapbiffpow]

Hey, no problem! I'd like to take it as Barbara finally being written enough of a multi-dimensional character to cast reservations about her ultimate fate.

[q99]

Yes, she's always been interesting enough for it to be clear she needed more ^^

[liliaeth]

no reason she can't be both. If Doctor strange can start out Mordo as a friend and teacher, and Smallville started Lex Luthor out as a friend, no reason something similar can't happen to Barbara Minerva

[q99]

True!

[bradygirl_12]

Kinda Smallville-ish with Clark's greatest enemy his friend once upon a time.

[zapbiffpow]

I was going to mention that! Two of my favorite stories had villains who were close friends and/or initially decent people: Smallville, with Lex, and the The Dark Knight, with Harvey Dent.

Rebirth!Cheetah has a truly major advantage, though, being not so far gone as Luthor and Two-Face.

[bradygirl_12]

I love this dynamic, because the hero always has that hope, however small or buried, that there's something of their old friend within their enemy.

[scorntx]

Now with 70% more subtext, text and overtext!

[bradygirl_12]

That covers all the bases! :)

[starwolf_oakley]

Marvel also has a Dr. Minerva, a Kree geneticist who fought Mar-Vell and Carol Danvers. She was also in Galactic Storm.

She could work in the MCU, as a villain who sees the Inhumans are Kree property.

[thehood]

Though in her case her Kree name is Minn-Erva. Incidentally, i wish she was used more.

[zapbiffpow]

Hey, I mostly source only this place when it comes to Marvel lore. Still! Filed for future reference.

[lascoden]

So, are comic book Steve and Etta part of WWI as well, now? I'm still trying to figure out what WW current backstory actually is.

[scorntx]

Nope. Comic Book Steve and Etta are modern day.

See, Steve and a bunch of redshirts were on a plane going off to do things, and mysteriously their plane crashed onto Paradise Island, which should've been impossible.
Steve's the only survivor. The Amazons patch him up, and figure someone should take him back, knowing it's a one-way trip.
Hippolyta suggests Diana maybe sleep in when they chose the person to go. She doesn't. So Diana, given the lasso (which is here called the Golden Perfect), goes back to Man's World with Steve, where she meets his C.O., Etta Candy.
Translation issues ensue, so Etta and Steve look for an expert with foreign languages. Doctor Barbara-Ann Minerva comes along and makes friends with Diana, despite the occasional issues with translation.
While the four are out introducing Diana to the wonder that is the shopping mall, some gunmen hopped up on a rage-inducing virus attack. Diana stops them, and is introduced to the world as Wonder Woman.

[thenicochan]

I'm digging this rendition of Minerva, who I've never particularly connected with until now. Creating a deeper union between her and Diana feels like a smart move, narratively speaking, and makes her a far more developed character.

I'm also really loving the art here.