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| Wonder Woman v2 | ||||
| Issue # | 5 | |||
| Cover Date | June 1987 | |||
| * Release Date | March 5, 1987 | |||
| Previous Issue | Wonder Woman v2 #4 | |||
| Next Issue | Wonder Woman v2 #6 | |||
"The Ares Assault"
- Written by Len Wein, George Pérez
- Pencils: George Pérez
- Inks: Bruce D. Patterson
- Colors: Tatjana Wood
- Letters: John Costanza
Synopsis
Back on Themyscira, the mood is dire as Menalippe attempts to commune with the Gods of Olympus and is met with silence. Even the flowers of Paradise Island begin to die as Ares' power increases.
Beneath Mount Olympus, the gods prepare to cross into the Underworld, as Charon arrives on an ark of bone. Athena however, encourages the gods not to board the ship and to place faith in Diana to save the world.
In Man's World, news of war begin to break out all across the world, including the Middle East, Nicaragua and reports of terrorism in French and Belgian airports. Meanwhile the manhunt for Steve Trevor continues, and people begin to ask questions about the mysterious Wonder Woman.
At the Kapatelis' winter home, it is revealed that Michaelis simply startled Etta Candy and she slipped and hit her head. He is actually here to help Steve. The group pool together their information about the Ares Project and Harmonia's amulet.
Back in Phobos and Deimos' realm, Deimos brandishes the other half of Harmonia's amulet, gloating about Ares' plan coming to fruition. Phobos however, feels he must do something to make up for his failure.
Back at the Kapatelis residence, Julia deciphers the amulet's meaning into a strange geometric pattern. As Diana reflects on the strange world she finds herself in and how different the people are to the Amazons, she suddenly realises that the geometric pattern matches a map of the world. Cross referencing the two reveals that the pattern maps onto a map of nuclear bases and attack facilities, with a vulture symbol marking out a location on the upper midwestern United States. Michaelis calls General Hillary to reveal what they've found, but General Hillary is interrupted by news that General Tolliver has led a group of renegade soldiers to commandeer a nuclear missile base, with the intent of starting a world war.
Diana and her allies assemble, ready to finally take the fight to Ares. By pressing the amulet to a mirror, the group is magically transported to Phobos and Deimos' realm, where Deimos, with the second half of the amulet of Harmonia, is ready to greet them.
Deimos attacks Diana with his serpents, while Phobos incapacitates her allies using magical constructs of their worst fears - the fear of being buried alive for Etta, the fear of spiders for Steve, the fear of drowning for Julia and the fear of cats for Michaelis.
Diana and her allies overcome these constructs, before Deimos knocks everyone unconscious with a bolt of magic and attacks Diana once more, poisoning her with his snakes' venomous fangs. Diana realises that Deimos must die to save the world, and throws her tiara, which cuts through Deimos' snakes and then his neck, decapitating and killing him. Phobos flees, promising to avenge his brother, while Diana unites the two halves of the amulet, bringing the entire group to Ares.
The group finds themselves teleported too a military base, surrounded by Tolliver's soldiers, ready to execute them. It is then that a swirling light appears and Tolliver's master reveals himself - Ares.