Wonder Woman #36

Hermes tries to adjust to life on man's world, while Diana faces discord among her Amazon sisters on Themyscira.

As the Amazons prepare for the Feast of the Five, they discuss the possibilities of outsiders joining them and Hermes loses his godly powers.

Hermes stands naked on top of Steve's apartment when a dove from Themyscira and the dove updates him on the Feast of the Five. Steve appears and is shocked to see his naked state and asks him to wear a bathrobe and where the dove has come from. Hermes explains that it has a brought a message from Princess Diana. Using his powers, he allows for Steve to hear the message and the both of them listen to Diana's recount of recent events...

The Amazons are preparing for the event and Hippolyta tells Diana that she has put her in an awkward position. As the Amazons are sheltered from the horrors of the outside world, Hippolyta also understands Diana's opinion, who wishes to extend their culture to the outside world which rejected them in the first place.

Ipthime questions Diana's seriousness – she cannot be serious that she wishes for outsiders to attend the festival. Hippolyta replies that they have allowed men on the island, so why is this any different? Hellene responds that they should wait before allowing others to come. However, Diana reminds her that she had given Diana a chance. She asks whether the Amazons are to be left in yesterday's tragedies, or they can be the Amazons they are and spread their message of love and humanity to the outside world.

Ipthime replies and says that it appears Diana is a woman of Sparta, wanting the Amazons to go forth into the world with their swords or on them. Diana says that Ipthime twists her words. She responds, urging Diana to think about how the Amazons have not changed for a long time. Can Diana say that the outside world has?

In Massachusetts, Hermes explains that the rest of the message contains instructions on guiding the United Nation's representative to Themyscira for the Feast of the Five. But Hermes knows there is something more.

In Harvard University, Julia Kapatelis is reading in the library when Mr. Vicks enters with a letter in his hand. She opens it and is overjoyed by what it contains and rushes out of the room.

Back on Themyscira, Menalippe tosses and turns in her sleep. Penelope places her hand on Menalippe and urges her to wake up. Then, a charge of energy comes from Menalippe and knocks Penelope unconscious. Upon hearing the noise, Philippus and Euboea dash into the temple. Diana also appears and they find Menalippe next to Penelope and tells them she found her like this after waking up from her meditations. Euboea checks on Penelope. Diana asks Menalippe what she knows of this but Menalippe doesn't know that much. She then asks Diana if the outside world has tainted her trust for the Amazons and suggests that she flies Penelope to the Isle of Healing straight away. As she flying towards the island she wonders why Menalippe was so calm when her friend had been injured. Or maybe she was correct; maybe she was losing her trust in the Amazons. She then sees a dove approaching...

In Boston, Vanessa Kapatelis and her friend Lucy Spears have finished their English exams and Vanessa dreads that she will not pass her Geometry exam. Lucy asks if Vanessa has asked Diana for help. Vanessa replies that she didn't want to, as she had troubles in Egypt and she had to prepare for the Feast of the Five. It would just seem unfair to unload her problems on her. They say goodbye to each other and Vanessa makes her way to her mother. She then spots Eileen Flowers talking to some scruffy looking man. She calls out to Eileen and her friend gives a cold response. Vanessa just wanted to check if everything was okay and that they were waiting to take her home. Eileen asks coldly whether by "they", Vanesses was referring to her and her new friend, Lucy.

The man then introduces himself as Mike Flowers, Eileen's flower. Vanessa reacts to his appearance and smell and Mike apologises for this and explains that he is the janitor and the incinerator has been broken and has been surrounded by garbage. Vanessa hears her mother call her from the waiting car and she waves goodbye. Mike and Eileen watch Vanessa get into the car and Mike comments on Vanessa, saying that she seems "kinda flighty" and Eileen nods in agreement.

Meanwhile in Themyscira, Wonder Woman makes her way through the storms and lighting and makes her way to Steve's apartment. She asks why there is a hole in the apartment wall and Steve reminds Diana about living with a god. Diana realises that he is talking about Hermes and explains he is not destructive by nature. Steve agrees and explains what has happened. That morning when Hermes received the message, he became pensive. Steve asked him what was wrong and Hermes finally broke down and explained that Hermes was worried about his essence. Steve then understood what he meant as the Caduceus was not as bright as it used to be. Hermes then shot through the roof and he felt that Hermes was perhaps feeling left out. As the God of Messengers, he should be able to pass through its realities but it appears as if the Fates have decreed that this is longer his gift Hermes needed someone to talk to and that is why Steve had sent the messenger back to Themyscira. Only Diana can help him.

In Beacon Hill, Julia explains to Vanessa that the National Geographics Society has agreed to fund her and this means that they are interested in Julia's theory on the location of the original Themyscira. However, Vanessa seems distracted. Julia wonders if she doesn't want to accompany her and wonders who will take care of Vanessa if she doesn't want to go?

As they enter the house, Vanessa empties the mail box and is excited because she has been accepted to Camp Monroe and urgently tells Lucy over the phone. Julia then realises that Vanessa has sorted out where she is going to stay while she is away.

In New Hampshire, Wonder Woman flies searching for Hermes and wonders if he does suffer from maelvolence and there is only one place he would take refuge – his Temple. As she approaches, she sees that it is in ruins with Hermes sitting on the rubble. She watches him as she holds his Caduceus, requesting that his power be returned. He shouts, "Restore me!" and energy arcs come from his staff. Wonder Woman prays that his wish is granted but there is an explosion of energy and Hermes is thrown backwards.

Wonder Woman asks if Hermes is okay, but he lashes out at her, throwing her back. She cannot bear to see Hermes like this so she unhooks her lasso and loops coils around Hermes in order to reveal his true self.

He stops his rampage and she then hears words of adoration and realises that Julia had been correct all along – that he had feelings for her. She then orders Hermes to release the demons in him and he murmurs, "Yes" and he then falls to the ground. He tells her that she can remove the lasso. Hermes replies that Gaea is selfish with her gifts, as the lasso can be corrupted only once and Barbara Minerva had already used that opportunity. He adds that there is nothing sadder in the universe than a fallen god. Diana tells him that he is not a fallen god. He nods and says that he promised to transport the dignitaries for them to attend the festival. He then asks Wonder Woman for her tiara. He uses it to cut himself and Diana is shocked to see blood coming from the wound. He adds that mortals cannot cross the void which is why he was going to guide them. But he can't anymore because he is just as mortal!