Some things can’t be healed.

Writer: Greg Rucka
Artist:  Liam Sharp
Colors: Laura Martin
Letterer: Jodi Wynne
Assistant Editor: Dave Wielgosz
Editor: Chris Conroy and Mark Doyle
Variant Cover Artists: Liam Sharp and Laura Martin; Frank Cho and Nei Ruffino
Creator: William Moulton Marston
Price: $2.99
Publisher: DC Comics

Cheetah, one of the most iconic villains in the DC universe, also has one of the most complicated relationships in comics with her equally iconic foe: Wonder Woman. In every iteration these two characters lives are intertwined, mirror images of each other: both gifted, driven and powerful but where Diana’s powers come from love, hope and wisdom Barbara Ann’s are a curse, a punishment for her lack of ‘purity’ in the eyes of the one enemy she and Diana unfortunately have in common: man.

Greg Rucka takes a look at these two women, who love each other dearly, yet who may be doomed to be at each other’s throats for eternity (it’s implied they’re both immortal now, which changes the game considerably) and how the scars that have been imposed on them and the ones they’ve given to each other may be insurmountable. It’s a new take on their dynamic that I really like, as old school Cheetah was little more than a vapid narcissist who couldn’t handle not being the center of attention or a power hungry madwoman who was in it “for the evuls“ depending on the writer. Meanwhile, Steve Trevor and his team deal with some real world issues that have a mystical underpinning which puts everyone on a collision course to disaster.

Liam Sharp’s artwork makes you feel every inch of the jungle environment and you can sense the danger build for both sets of characters with each panel. There’s a truly upsetting scene wherein our leading ladies deal with the aftereffects of violation that is brutal yet so beautifully drawn that while you want to look away you simply cannot. It’s very well done but I’m not going to lie, I had to walk away from the book for a minute and then come back because it really messed with my head.

This issue is a hardcore continuation of the story that is not for the faint of heart, but well done nonetheless.

5 out of 5 Sentient Jungles