Wonder Woman, Vol. 3: Iron
Written by Brian Azzarello
Art by Cliff Chiang, Tony Akins, Dan Green, Amilicar Pinna
Colored by Matt Wilson
Lettered by Jared Fletcher
Cover by Cliff Chiang
DC Comics
Release Date: September 11, 2013
Cover Price: $24.99

Starting with the events that happened between Diana’s 12th and 13th birthdays, Wonder Woman, Vol. 3: Iron shows the training Diana received at the hands of War and the lesson of compassion and mercy that would lead her for the rest of her days.

Jumping ten years, she is now trying to help the mother of her infant half-sibling track and rescue from Hermes her baby. With a unique group assisting her made up of other half siblings, a now-mortal Hera, gods playing both sides, and Orion, Diana has to travel the world, and underworld, to find the missing baby. All the while, Cassandra is resurrecting the One with No Name, who has been buried for seven thousand years.

The first story is beautiful. Elegant and simple, it shows how Wonder Woman came to have the fierceness of War but yet came to follow more in the footsteps of Athena. The rest of the book is a little muddled. Jumping between the two storylines of the search for the baby and the resurrection of the One with No Name, the cuts are done well to link the two stories. Showing the potential misinterpretation of the prophecy all the gods are worried about concerning the vague prophecy, it allows the readers to determine for themselves how they view it.

The biggest issue is that throughout the whole story, Wonder Woman is in reaction mode. Though quite often she has to react to the danger and decisions of those around her, especially the bizarre meddlings of the gods, what is special about Wonder Woman is her planning. Though she never shies away from the fight, she is known for being able to be one step ahead of others and controlling the fight. That really doesn’t come across here. Instead she seems to be constantly one step behind, chasing others much more in control of not only the situation, but her reactions as well.The focus of this book is definitely on her fighting skills and the relationship she has with War because of it, it seems War is more strategic than her in this book and that just feels off.

That said, the storylines of the potential of the first and last born of Zeus, who they fundamentally are and what they will become and do, is fun. Both stories left open-ended, making the reader want to continue to the next volume to find out what will happen to and because of both of them.

Aside from the first part, this really isn’t a story about Wonder Woman but really the origin story of two new characters, Zola’s baby and the One with No Name. When viewed from that perspective this book is a lot of fun and worth the read to continue to follow the characters. But if you are looking for the smart, dynamic Wonder Woman, it’s not really in this story. Though she is always compassionate, this story is definitely more brawn than brains.