Wonder Woman isn't traditionally thought of as having a deep rouges gallery of villains, particularly in comparison to Batman or the Flash. And this design of Mars, or Ares, isn't helping. From 1979, Wonder Woman #260, "A Warrior in Chains!" Written by Gerry Conway, art by Jose Delbo and Vincent Colletta.
Fortunately, this issue doesn't spend a lot of time on the women's prison aspect of it. With Zeus "off on a quest to the furthest star," the god of war Mars is free to play a gambit to enslave mankind. First, he has Hermes steal Wonder Woman's bracelets of submission, which turns WW into a berserker. She goes on a rampage in New York City, only to be stopped by the convenient, and planned, arrival of Hercules. With Hercules hailed as a hero and the Amazons' reputation in tatters, Mars can now present himself as the savior of earth.
Meanwhile, Diana is struggling to restrain herself, to the point she can barely even talk. Pretending to be beaten, she convinces a guard to uncuff her, but the jail cell wasn't holding her back, it was being bound by a man. Recovering her lasso during her escape, she changes back to her Diana Prince identity, so she can get back to her apartment and contact Paradise Island, but Mars already thought to block that. Enraged, she nearly smashes her transmitter, but instead finally controls her berserker rage and prepares herself to face Mars...as a mysterious hooded figure (no, not Pandora!) holds her bracelets...
Although it doesn't live up to the promise of the cover (like a lot of DC Comics I've read lately!) this wasn't a bad issue, and it seemed like a step in the direction of getting rid of some of the more iffy aspects of Wonder Woman's continuity, like the "bracelets of submission."
From the reviews I've read, the current WW title by the 100 Bullets guy is fucking awesome and well-written. Who knew a WW title could actual be considered that, outside of the Perez era I mean?
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