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    Wonder Woman #41

    Wonder Woman » Wonder Woman #41 - The Ties That Bond released by DC Comics on April 1990.

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    Letters from camp from Vanessa, Lois Lane's article about Paradise Island, and Diana's letter to Julia are all presented in this unique issue.

    Julia Kapatelis is at an archaeological site and is digging for the ruins of Themyscira. The mail arrives from a jeep and Julia looks through the pile for Vanessa’s mail. She sits down to read it. Reading it, Vanessa says that she is having fun so far and has a crush on a boy called Dennis Dunn and wishes she had a real bra like her friend Lucy. Vanessa has to stay with nine and ten year old kids and a senior counselor and are to say the Pledge of Alliance which she finds annoying, seeing as this is meant to be a camp of fun and not school.

    Curtis steps out of the tent for coffee and Marty follows him, asking how long they are going to stay here for, as it has been two months and nothing has come up. Curtis steps back inside the tent and Julia asks him if Marty is thinking of quitting. He then asks Julia if that is Vanessa’s letter and she nods and adds that she hopes she has made the right decision by allowing her to go to Summer Camp. She adds that she has a strange feeling. Curtis asks for the newspaper on Julia’s bed and asks if he can read it as she continues to read Vanessa’s letter. Vanessa had been on a nature hike and took a swim in the lake. She noticed that Lucy had a real bust and she looked like nothing next to her and knows that Dennis likes Lucy too. She adds that Lucy is so lucky, having her period as well. She asks her mother when she had her period. “Fourteen,” Julia shouts out. She then asks Curtis what news he is reading, and says it’s about Wonder Woman. He goes to read the first paragraph:

    Amidst the rubble of fear and bigotry left in the dust of Eris' departure, Queen Hippolyta and her Amazons re-dedicated themselves to the spirit of fidelity and sisterhood that was the basis for their Feast of Five and this Themysciran Summit. Princess Diana, known to the outside world as Wonder Woman, spoke of her Gods and their dreams of fulfillment through humanity's common destiny.

    Somewhat shamefacedly Amazons and delegates had returned to the city to clean up the aftermath of the recent brawls. Of all the Amazons, Menalippe suffered the most. She felt her complicity with Eris had disavowed her sacred trust with the Goddesses. Everyone, including the delegates, worked to persuade her that any one of them could have fallen and indeed had fallen to the tainted sweetness of the Golden Apples. But according to the article's author, Lois Lane, it will be a long time before the Amazon oracle can face her Delphi again.

    Soon the disparate cultures stood and faced each other for a final time. For a little while they had come together but would it last? Queen Hippolyta spoke all the right words - about harmony and understanding, optimism and hope. She promised to come to the United Nations soon. But it is so hard to make plans with immortals as their time frame is so different from the rest of the world.

    Asmund Lindel promised the queen would be made welcome whenever she comes. Then amidst tears and hugs, the Themysciran Summit ended. With the goodbyes done, Wonder Woman told them it was time to go and like a biblical angel, she had lifted into the air, looping her golden lasso around the waiting delegates. A shimmer of light enveloped them all and they faded from view, returning across Chaos and back to Patriarch's World.

    Julia continues to read her daughter’s letter: Vanessa tells of campfire for dinner and they told and listened to stories and Lucy asked if Vanessa could tell her story about Diana. Vanessa was uneasy about this, as she wanted people to know her for her, not who she knows, but then again, Lucy was never the one to be jealous. Also, Dennis was there so she may as well tell her story. She told the story of how she dived off a cliff from Paradise Island and tries to be honest just like Diana, but finds it difficult. Sometimes she looks in the mirror and hates herself, but realises everyone has their own time to develop, as unfair as that is. Vanessa and Lucy then had a walk and Lucy said that having breasts is no big deal. Vanessa asks if there is something wrong with her, and Lucy reassures her that nothing is. She continues to write how Lucy is perhaps the luckiest girl in the world, being able to travel to Europe and told Lucy about it. Lucy replies that Vanessa is the lucky one, as her parents don’t treat her like a child and adds that because of that, Vanessa understands life better than her. Vanessa knows she’s saying something of importance here but doesn’t understand.

    Outside, the archaeologists see something fall into one of their digging spots and pick up a pigeon with something wrapped around its neck and let Julia know. Back in the tent, Julia continues reading about Vanessa’s experience at camp: Vanessa ran into the changing rooms all excited and yelled to Lucy, “I got it!” Lucy smiled and knew what Vanessa got: her period. Vanessa apologises in the letter to her mother about being immature and now she knows better and promises not to be like that in the future. She tells her mother that she loves her. Curtis then comes in and sees that she is crying from the letter. He offers to leave the tent for some alone time, but Julia shakes her head and Curtis continues, saying that they have found a tired bird. Julia recognises it and reads Diana’s message.

    She reads: Diana says that she had accomplished this journey, and but felt she was rude that she just dropped off and left the delegates at the United Nations, but all she could think about was Julia, Vanessa and home. She sometimes wonders what it’s like just living as a “woman”. She wonders what it would be like if she could just be normal like Julia and Vanessa. But she doesn’t mean “normal” as unimportant, but rather doing everyday things like Vanessa “studying” when she is really talking to her friend on the phone, and it shames Diana to say that this life makes her jealous. But Julia and Vanessa have loved Diana for herself. She continues to say that she was disappointed when she found Julia had her archeological dig with Vanessa being on camp. She also looked for Hermes and thanked him for helping her through the situation with Eris. But now, he is not omnipotent and is a mortal, though some humanity should do him good. However, Hermes doesn’t deserve pity. Even though he is sometimes arrogant, he does what’s best for humanity. He had given her the Caduceus when in fact he needed it to save his fading power. She continues, saying that she couldn’t contact anymore, so she went to Steve Trevor’s apartment. The land lord had given her some verbal abuse about Steve sending a woman to do his bidding. Diana flew off and was frustrated and thought of returning to Themyscira, but she doesn’t want to run home everytime she feels down and wonders if she could join Julia on the dig. She doesn’t want to be a nuisance, but Etta Candy is away on an assignment, and Superman is busy. The people at Meyer Agency didn’t seem to have time for Wonder Woman. She adds that she misses Julia and would like to join; is that possible? Julia asks Curtis if that’s okay and he says that they can use some extra help. Julia writes a “Yes” and sends the messenger on its way. Julia asks if the bird is sick, as it looks like it has fear in its eyes but the others suggest that it’s tired. They let the bird fly and it struggles for a while but makes flight.

    In Beacon Hill, Diana is reading a book recommended by Vanessa and wonders what Julia’s reply will be.

    Meanwhile, the bird making its way back to Diana looks startled, as something flies right above it. A huge winged figure makes the bird fall…

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    User reviews Add new review

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    2.3 stars

    Average score of 2 user reviews

    TMI 0

     This issue takes the form of a series of correspondences between Julia and Vanessa and then Julia and Diana.   I felt the Diana part of the story was better told, but I still didn’t like the format.   Vanessa’s letters have a bit too much to do with growing pains than I would care to read about.   Women go through parts of their lives where they develop breasts and have their first period and I guess these are significant moments, but I don’t really see the need to put it in a comic.   I mean i...

    2 out of 4 found this review helpful.

    The woman behind the curtains 0

    Vanessa isn't feeling like herself, between child and woman. And Diana wonders how her mother is a queen while being still a woman. Maybe the narrative of the story wasn't enough to connect Vanessa's letters to Diana's letter. But I understood how Diana was feeling like she could or not, be a ruler and a woman at the same time. And the desire to be normal, not as less remarkable, but having small things that comfort you, things that make you feel you belong somewhere. Too sentimental? Indeed. Or...

    1 out of 1 found this review helpful.
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