Don't go to the North Atlantic, you'll find only Doom there.
This is a really good start to a series with a lot of promise and it avoids what I think would ruin the book slightly and instead gives you a big action book with a very deep character relationship. I really enjoyed the issue and was engaged from page 1, but at the end I was fully committed to what was going on here I mean who wouldn’t be with that ending. I think that this issue was quite slow on the build-up in scenes, but it was a difficult issue to do really well and building each individual character up separately worked very well before they actually met and had a talk as it establishes parts of their private lives also coming up with their own little subplots.
A large part of the issue would be set over the Atlantic and it was a interesting way to the start the issue and this story was returned to the issue and the mystery established in parts of the issue as to what Superman found (later revealed I believe) and also this scene was spectacularly done with all the action and the plot elements that were introduced to make it more interesting like the plane and the battleship. The best part was the storm and how powerful the storm looked around Superman/Wonder Woman and I loved Tony Daniel’s use of rain to make the scene look dark and give the impression of a thunder storm.
This issue would also see a fair bit of interaction between Superman and Cat Grant (believe that is correct) and while I am not familiar with her she was quite interesting and I was happy to see Clark’s own job and personal life being explored. Same with Wonder Woman although I’m not sure who the character in that scene was. I just like the idea of developing each characters own background and personal life, so that it can all get involved in the story and also several interesting plot lines are produced. I especially liked it when they actually meet and how Wonder Woman is portrayed in those scenes although one moment will need more development to properly sell me on what has happened.
SPOILERS FOR THIS PARAGRAPH!!!!!!!!!
So as rumoured at the end of the issue (last warning) Doomsday appears and it's well worth it and I utterly loved how this scene was executed and seeing him turn up was just worth it especially the double paged spread where he appeared and not only is the last page suitably epic, but all sends a very strong message about Wonder Woman. I do however think that this cover is suitably epic, but when it was solicited a large clawed hand could be seen in the background and it is Doomsday's, but the logo now completely hides it and you can just see a finger and it ruins this otherwise glorious fold out cover.
The artwork is totally gorgeous from page 1 and Tony Daniel really went to town with this one producing some truly detailed and pretty artwork and every page looks amazing and the renditions of both Superman and Wonder Woman are incredible and I think Daniel captured Wonder Woman's character best of all showing her to be a character of true strength, especially with the final page of the issue. Daniel also drew the big villain of this issue very well and made him look very ominous and scary on the page. Daniel as already mentioned drew the thunderstorm scene very well and his rendition of a battleship is pretty awesome as well.
I think this issue is building to something very interesting with a lot of potential and I cannot wait for more of this, but it's a little slow and a few minor things rubbed me the wrong way minor, but they all count up. I do think that with that final page who wouldn't be interested in what is to come? I really enjoyed the issue and I'm really looking forward to what else Soule and Daniel have got coming.
4 stars
