As many of you know, Brian Azzarello and Cliff Chiang's run on WONDER WOMAN came to an end this week with issue #35. Because it was the last issue, there were a ton of shake-ups and things were wrapped up pretty well before David and Meredith Finch take over with issue #36. Let's chat about a few of the things that happened during the course of this issue.
Warning: There are spoilers from the issue below.
Minotaur shows mercy to Diana
During the battle, Wonder Woman is bested by First Born and he orders Minotaur, whom he calls "Less-than-a-man," to finish off the job and kill his sister. Minotaur remembers the time before when Diana showed him mercy and he decides to not kill her off. This is not something you'd expect from a beast as powerful and ruthless as Minotaur. But against his master's wishes, he shows there is some humanity left within him. It's a great turn for the character, one who became visually unsettling in the past year and had a brutish nature to match. It all seemed to be going well for Minotaur until this happened.
First Born unmasks Minotaur
Because of Minotaur's decision not to finish off Wonder Woman, First Born punishes Minotaur with full-fledged brutality. What results is Minotaur being unmasked and revealing a less-than-human face. The S&M revamp of the character, halfway through the run, led a lot of people to believe that this version of Minotaur had become more man than beast. After all was said and done, First Born ended Minotaur's life for disobeying him. It's an emotional moment for readers as a villain makes a turn for the better, only to be struck down moments later.
Zeke takes the throne
As legend states, Zeke, the son of mortal Zola and the god Zeus, is meant to take down a god and take over the Olympian Throne. Zeke has gone through a lot in this run and people have been fighting to the death for him. Here, his mother, Zola, takes him to the throne and sits him down. Lightning strikes and the prophecy has come true, almost. It seems as though there's something even bigger going on here. Zeke may be the son of a god, but he still has mortal blood, right? What makes him worthy of the throne? Don't worry that question will be answered soon, but first, something big happens.
First Born meets his demise
Once Zeke takes the throne, lightning strikes the area where First Born and Wonder Woman are fighting. They both start falling into the pit which will take them to the bowels of the universe. Wonder Woman seemingly offers her hand to First Born to save him. He grabs her hand, but Wonder Woman tosses him into the pit, leaving him to fall to his demise, for now. Wonder Woman flies back to safety. It was another point where it seemed like a villain could make a turn for the better, but First Born cannot be trusted. He's a monster and a murderer. He's killed many, including Apollo and cannot be trusted. It seems like the Amazon's greatest threat is defeated.
Athena was inside of Zola
After all is said and done, First Born is defeated and Zeke has taken the throne. However, Zola reveals that she is actually Athena, and twenty years prior, she was born into Zola's body and been in a state of hibernation and Zeus is actually inside of Zeke. Zeus may have wanted a chance to be different or maybe he thought this would all be amusing. Zeus once gave birth to Athena and in turn, Athena gave birth to Zeus. The proper king is back on the throne. Athena releases herself from Zola, turns into an owl, and flies away.
What did you all think about the finale of WONDER WOMAN? What moment was the most shocking?