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| Wonder Woman v5a | ||||
| Issue # | 760 | |||
| * Release Date | August 11, 2020 | |||
| Previous Issue | Wonder Woman v5a #759 | |||
| Next Issue | Wonder Woman v5a #761 | |||
What Have I Done?
- Written by Mariko Tamaki
- Art by Mikel Janin
- Colors: Jordie Bellaire
- Letters: Pat Brosseau
Synopsis
Inside Stryker's Island Penitentiary, Wonder Woman stands facing Maxwell Lord. The prisoners she had been fighting a moment ago now lay dead at her feet, having killed themselves at Lord's psychic command. "I just saved you," he declares.
She lassos him around the neck, demanding to know why he's there. He explains that his presence is the result of budget cuts and "good behavior." She accuses him of causing the chaos but he denies it. When the military arrive she warns them to stand back as Maxwell Lord has the ability to manipulate their thoughts.
But Max insists that things are different; he's not the man she knew. As if to validate this claim, the soldiers lower their weapons and regard him as an ally. Diana departs unconvinced.
Later, at Disaster Relief Headquarters in Washington, Etta Candy briefs her on efforts monitoring social and emergency channels for reports of unexplained hallucinations resulting in tragedy. Etta says there are some that resemble the incident with the mother who thought she was on a joyride to get ice cream when in reality she had driven into oncoming traffic — and would have killed herself and her young son had it not been for Wonder Woman.
Alas, there appears to be no link connecting the afflicted. Etta states that Maxwell Lord is under 24/7 surveillance which includes brain activity and all he does is read in his cell. But Diana can't believe that he is not involved. "He is a killer. A destroyer of lives. Whatever he is doing now, that is who he is. That is what he is capable of." Etta assures her that the department is on it and advises she go home.
Diana takes her friend's advice and leaves for her new apartment. She is surprised to find Emma, her new neighbor, waiting inside. The young girl has taken it upon herself to assemble Diana's new couch. "Hopefully, that's not weird." The two order Falafel for dinner and share the meal on the couch (along with Emma's pet rabbit, Mullaney). Their discussion turns to Emma's parents. They died in the same car accident that resulted in Emma's brain injury when she was a child.
The next day at a building demolition site in downtown Washington, Matt, a crane operator begins to swing his wrecking ball at the wrong building — an occupied building. His eyes glow red. In his mind he's smashing into a derelict hotel. But before the ball can make contact, Wonder Woman appears between it and a window full of people, receiving the brunt as it crashes into her. Pushing it away, she jumps down, landing atop the operator's cab, pulling Matt out from behind the controls.
A small crowd has gathered and they applaud. Diana is concerned, believing this to be no accident, no coincidence, that something is happening to the city; that someone is playing with its mind. A small girl asks Diana if she can take a picture with her. She agrees and they smile into the camera which applies a halo filter on them.
Next, Diana is in her bed and startled awake by a loud rumble. "How did I get in my--" but a giant robotic hand cuts her off as it comes smashing through her bedroom ceiling. She dodges as red energy beams slice through the walls. Diana can make out robot silhouettes with glowing red eyes. She flees, calling out Emma's name, but they are soon upon her. The beams strike the floor, disintegrating it beneath her feet. She falls. And falls. Blackness and rubble and falling. She wonders, "Where am I?"
She hits the ground hard and then hears it: the unmistakable wail of Parademons. The blackness is gone. She is suddenly on a different plain, red sky crackling with lightning as they swarm at her. She reaches for her sword and shield which lay on the ground beside her. She fights them off. They continue their attack. "Wherever you came from," she grunts. "Now...you die!" She is relentless.
Then a voice. Distant. Calling her name. Getting stronger. Closer. Familiar. It's Etta. "Diana, can you hear me?" Wonder Woman slowly, drowsily opens her eyes. The Parademons are gone. She's back in Washington. She stands, clutching her sword and shield. At her feet lay multiple military soldiers in a landscape of debris and rubble. Diana's face twists as she takes in the horror.
Gallery
