Diana was transformed in Infinite Frontier #0 finds herself a stranger in a strange Asgard. She finds an ally with Siegfried and discovers the nature of the Ragnarok cycle from the talking squirrel, Ratatosk. He is part of the world tree, Yggdrasil, and there is a change with the disappearance of the Valkyries. Diana sees a mysterious figure, one of the Quintessance?, I’m guessing the Phantom Stranger. He has been the supernatural guide to others. The regular cover by interior artist Travis Moore has Diana in her armor about to be swallowed by a massive serpent along with Ratatosk! There is also a stunning variant cover by Joshua Middleton featuring Diana with sword and snowy background. “Afterworlds Part 2” is written by Michael W. Conrad and Becky Cloonan. It opens up at the tables in Valhalla with red-bearded, shirtless Thor thinking everything is just a part of the cycle. Diana tries to bring up the change with the missing Siegfried, but Thor only cares about the battles.
She leaves Valhalla and walks with the more sensible Ratatosk. The squirrel perched on her shoulder I’m thinking there should be a Ratatosk stuffie toy with magnet. They are headed to Nidavellir, the land of the dwarves, the entrance is a dark cave. The squirrel warns Diana about the Murk Elves, Dokkalfar?, I’ve seen them called Dark Elves. They are ambushed by several Murk Elves, pale hair, and luminous eyes, but Diana is still a warrior and can wield her sword. Still, Ratatosk tries to warn her about the boulder dislodged by Murk Elves. The shadowy figure still tries to warn Diana that she doesn’t belong in Asgard. Diana bursts free from the boulder, regaining her powers?, and defeats the Murk Elves cheered on by Ratatosk. They continue on walking down steps in a tunnel to reach the forge. I’m loving the red-tinged colors of the forge by Tamra Bonvillain. At the forge, is a short man in a white shirt and tie, Dr. Psycho! Long time foe, Edgar Cizko, was introduced in Wonder Woman #5 (1943). He says is in Asgard by astral projection and offers to forge a sword for Diana. She wants to know what happened to Valkyries and takes out a length of rope, telling Ratatosk to avert his eyes, very funny!
Cizko threatens to tell the serpent, the enchanted weapons put their owners under his control, and gives up the location of a key to the Valkyries’ fortress. Apparently, the rope works as a Lasso of Truth for Diana, a new power? Diana leaves Dr. Psycho tied to a chair. They continue on, Diana carries a torch through a tunnel, and Ratatosk explains that the serpent is Nidhogg, who will eat the world! The beast did appear in the Marvel Universe with Thor #339 (1983). Diana says she will be careful, but trips and falls! She has wakened a presence with an evil voice. It is the massive, red-scaled snake, Nidhogg. The beast is lurking in the roots of Yggdrasil. Diana is looking for the key which Nidhogg has eaten and Ratatosk mentions the eagle’s egg. She makes a bargain for the key. Ratatosk leads Diana climbint to the top of Yggdrasil. I really like that we can see world tree and its parts in this story.
Diana reaches the tree top and finds what looks like an elderly man hanging from a rope. He has an eyepatch so was instantly identifiable, it’s Odin. They are watched by ravens, Huginn and Muninn, thought and memory, that gather information for Odin. She tells him all that she has learned and also that Thor doesn’t understand any of it. The rope snaps and Odin falls. Diana hears the war horn that signals the battle. She thinks of Siegfried and sees him in his armor, a vision? They reach the top of Yggdrasil and find the giant eagle, something out of Ray Harryhausen, in its nest atop a giant egg. It shrieks and Ratatosk tells Diana that someone said something to the eagle, which has no name in Norse mythology, and it grants them one egg. Diana lifts up the giant egg and Ratatosk is happy that they can take the secret ways down Yggdrasil, a slide! There is a trick Ratatosk has for the egg and Nidhogg! Young Diana’s story continues in “Lessons Learned” by Jordie Bellaire and Paulina Ganucheau. She is told the history of the Amazons by Clio, the Amazonian scribe, and is set on finding a missing book. Wonder Woman #771 brings a detailed slice of Norse mythology without the battles which were in the first issue and more Ratatosk!
Five Lassos of Truth out of Five!
#WonderWoman771, #Nidavellir, #MurkElves, #DrPsycho, #Nidhogg, #Odin
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