After “Side Quest,” so to speak, Wonder Woman is back on track with the ongoing epics of Tom King and Daniel Sanpele. Wonder Woman #23 aims to start explaining people with the mouse on a cliffhanger a few issues ago. In a question with little words, Wonder Woman looks at what was right before doing what she was told to do.
Wonder Woman #23 starts with a digital mouse clock with the words “Mouseman Know” written on it and flips to “Mouseman Knows.” The alarm screens “Mouseman knows.” The child says, “The mouse has ears… the mouse has ears…” and clicks on it. This is a bit worrying.
He then cuts into a hang-eyed Wonder Woman who interacts with Batgirl, aka Stephanie. It’s a great moment with nothing to do with the story and reminds me that Wonder Woman is truly loved and is like a celebrity among the heroes. Judged with this scene is his encounter with Mr. Triffey, revealing that he forbids him from helping anyone in the “Mouseman Knowledge” area.
At face value, there isn’t much to this issue. We chase after a young girl spending her day in the mouse area. There, everyone can only say, “Mouseman knows” and “Mouse has ears.” Something strange can be for everyone who speaks just a little, as if they were prisoners who can’t speak and therefore cannot fight back.
What a strange world.
Credit: DC Comics
These scenes are driven by Sanpele’s art. Sanpele’s art lifts heavy things in terms of what they are actually saying and feeling. They may have said two lines many times, but between facial expressions, actions, and well-positioned question and exclamation points, the reader needs to see what is being said. It becomes an interesting interpretation driven by art. This is something we can only get in comics.
It’s an interesting experiment, but these scenes run too long. The cliffhanger finally takes us somewhere, but tries your patience so that the gimmick continues for a long time.
The intercut with these scenes is a meeting where Wonder Woman films with Mr. Triffy, Superman and Batman. There is a great moment between Batman and Wonder Woman, going back to the final arc, but once again, there is not much progress and dialogue. This is a gentle subplot that makes the mouse area feel as if it is overextracted.
Tom King and Daniel Sanpele make a big swing in Wonder Woman #23, offering a visually driven and conceptually unstable chapter that highlights the unique strengths of cartoon storytelling. This issue offers a powerful moment and a rich atmosphere, but its slow pace and long-term gimmicks may make some readers keen on more movements in the plot.
“Wonder Woman” #23 Visually Driven Start to a New Story Arc
Wonder Woman #23
Tom King and Daniel Sanpele make a big swing in Wonder Woman #23, offering a visually driven and conceptually unstable chapter that highlights the unique strengths of cartoon storytelling. This issue offers a powerful moment and a rich atmosphere, but its slow pace and long-term gimmicks may make some readers keen on more movements in the plot.
Daniel Sanpele’s art beautifully carries emotional weight and storytelling.
This issue lives in cartoons as a visual medium with a bold dialogue-light approach.
Interesting and eerie concept surrounding an oppressive environment.
The strong character moments with Batgirl, Batman and Superman strengthen Diana’s relationship.
The “Mouseman” sequence is creative, but I feel it is overstretched and repeated.
Minimizing the progression of the plot feels like a slow burn with limited payoffs.
