Wonder Woman #773 brings Diana to Fortress Valkyrie with some funny moments and Wonder Woman restored! The cover by interior artist, Travis Moore, has Diana in the background with a hammer throwing lightning around her! Can you say Mjolnir?, because I can’t do it. The variant cover has Diana taking comfort on the shoulder of Siegfried who had previously died. “Afterworlds, Part 4” features the creative team of writers, Michael W. Conrad and Becky Cloonan with art by Travis Moore. Last issue, Diana discovers a boatman who will take her to Fortress Valkyrie, it is Odin! He has taken the identity of Harbard the Ferryman. She travels with her talking squirrel companion, Ratatosk, who advises Diana about all things Asgard.
They reach the fortress, massive shards of crystals which look like white quartz, suspended above the misty sea. Odin wishes her luck and Diana walks up to the gate using the key that she had taken from Nidhogg in Wonder Woman #771. The portcullis gate starts to open and Ratatosk covers his eyes! A shouted warning and the gate is about to slam down. Diana catches it and tries to introduce herself. An explosion hurtles Diana back and she sees the ghostly images of the trio of valkyries. The leader is Gundra with blue green armor complete with an eagle and headdress and double swords. The archer, Brunhilde, has gold plated armor and hat, she almost looks like a Mongol warrior. Lastly, there is the Titania-like Fey who has green-blue hair, robes, and a headdress that has flowers and antlers. I love the designs of the valkyries and there is also some great character expressions by Travis Moore.
Gundra orders Diana bound and this is done by Brunhilde with a glowing, purple rope. Brunhilde tells Diana that the warrior souls are in the void. Gundra says that they have tired of the endless war. Diana knows about wars and Fey poses to her if the Amazons would be warriors without the violence of men. They are interrupted by the angry voice of Thor! He has brought the warriors of Asgard and the valkyries fly into battle. In a splash page, we get the two sides starting the battle, Thor wants to force the valkyries to return. Thor goes into battle, throughout the comic, he has funny lines. Diana is apart from the fighting and draws to summon her memories and power. She remembers everything and frees herself from the enchanted rope. Thor is about to bring down his hammer onto Gundra, but Wonder Woman catches it and strikes him backwards.
Another good line this time by Wonder Woman, “The women were talking.” Thor calls her “Wander Woman” and she corrects him with a slap! The comedy just keeps coming! Thor with lightning-wreathed hammer strikes Wonder Woman. They struggle and Diana has Thor in a chokehold. He unleashes a full lightning blast at Wonder Woman and gets her in a chokehold. Wonder Woman takes “Mjolnir”, she must be worthy, and slams it against Thor throwing his helmet. She takes the hammer and crushes it like an aluminium can! Thor is shocked and Wonder Woman explains that he got the hammer from Cizko, Dr. Psycho. He appears in her mind, a blank canvas, Cizko tries to mind control her. He gets a right cross instead and then a head butt that puts him to sleep. Deadman shows up and tells Diana she is right, Dr. Psycho was projecting himself and controlling all of the cursed weapons. He takes custody of him and tells her to return to Olympus.
Diana revives to find herself at a conference table with the valkyries and Thor. Now restored, Thor is back to his usual self, still full of himself. Wonder Woman wants a drink like Thor. The others discuss the conflict until finally Ratatosk mentions Yggdrasil. The tree needs the blood of the fallen warriors and of course the valkyries are needed to return the warriors to fight another day. The decision is made to give the valkyries a day off from the eternal battles. Thor celebrates with a frosty one and calls the day “Thirsty Thorsday”! Thursday is of course named after him. Friday is the Day of Frige, the goddess Frigg. The celebration continues in the halls of Valhalla, but Diana is alone until she is joined by Siegfried! They kiss and spend the night together. Diana puts on her armor, Ratatosk wants to go with her as a vacation, and Siegfried too. Diana wants him to stay in Asgard and he gives her the sword Gram. Wonder Woman sits atop the giant eagle and it shifts from Asgard, again brilliant colors by Tamra Bonvillain. The back-up story, “Stories to Tell” by Jordie Bellaire and Paulina Ganucheau has Young Diana shown secret pages by the librarian Clio. The truth of Themysicra is on pages given by exile, Magala. Wonder Woman #773 brings Wonder Woman’s Asgard adventure to a close, but gets to a surprise in Olympus!
Five Lassos of Truth out of Five!
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