Wonder Woman #12 // Review
Captain Boomerang is NOT talking. He knows the location of Waller’s secret facility--a place that is currently holding some of Earth’s mightiest heroes. Typically Diana would se her lasso on the captured villain in order to get the information out of him, but THAT has been impounded with all of the heroes. She’s going to have to work with Robin to get the information out of Boomerang in Wonder Woman #12. Writer Tom King continues a fun run with Diana in an issue drawn by Tony S. Daniel. Atmospheric color is lent to page and panel by Leonardo Paciarotti.
Robin has been trained by Batman, who has a very aggressive appreciation for the motivating power of fear. Wonder Woman’s wisdom of Athena and Themysciran upbringing emphasize love and understanding as fundamental motivating factors. Diana and Robin take turns alternating love and fear to try to get the location out of Boomerang. Neither of the heroes can seem to completely commit to their interrogation In a way that’s going to be terribly successful. There will be lots of anger and dangling, sharks and the threat from crocodiles. There will be attempts at food and logical, rational thought. There will be family. Captain Boomerang isn’t giving-up the information easily.
It’s one, long interrogation. THAT’S something that has possibly never been tried in the history of superhero comics. At the very least, it’s rarely attempted. A concentrated, issue-length interrogation to try to get one, tiny bit of information runs the risk of tedious repetition, but King cleverly uses the format as an opportunity to examine some of the psychology of a pair of DC’s best-know characters and the overall nature of interrogation itself. It’s worth noting that King had worked with the CIA counterterrorism after 9/11. He served with the CIA for seven years. He’s probably had quite a lot of time to think about interrogation, which makes an issue-length interrogation featuring Wonder Woman and Robin all the more interesting.
Aside from a hell of a lot of dangling, there really isn’t a whole lot of action in the issue. It’s all drama that focusses almost exclusively on three different characters. Daniel does a remarkably good job of capturing the tension, frustration and humor of a largely psychological psycho-emotional journey. There’s is subtlety and nuance drawn into the faces of Diana, Damian Wayne and Captain Boomerang. All of that intensity would feel very oppressive were it not for delicate work done on the part of Paciarotti and his colors. There are some beautifully immersive moments on the page as Wonder Woman and Robin tour various locations for the interrogation.
This is not the first Tom King issue of Wonder Woman that likely reflects on KIng’s seven years with the CIA. Her capture at the hands of the Sovereign featured an extended PSYOP-style attempt to break Wonder Woman down. This kind of focus on captivity and interrogation is an interesting one for the DC Universe that adds quite a bit to the darker edges of a world populated by Superman, Green Arrow and the Justice League.
