Overview: Diana’s and Steve’s vacation is interrupted by an unknown guest and Bruce investigates a situation in the Irish Quarter.
Synopsis (spoilers ahead): The issue opens with Cernunnos among the disgruntled crowd of Fomorians and Tuatha Dé Danann trying to quell the tensions. He laments that in their pursuit of freedom from the younger god who usurped them, Cernunnos has “damned them all.” Their kingdom, in Tír na nÓg, was old and stagnant. Because of their lack of progress, they descended into chaos.
The camera then “intrudes” upon Diana’s and Steve’s romantic vacation in Antarctica. Well, they are in bed together, so… For two days, they have enjoyed the “resort” of Villa Las Estrellas (The Stars Town for you non-Spanish speakers) and they have enjoyed each other.
Diana and Steve focus their pillow talk on how their lives are so abnormal and crazy that despite the irregularity of their schedules, the perilous missions they undertake, and the lack of quality time they have with each other that their relationship is worth it. Diana, satisfied with Steve’s commitment to her, reflects on their splendid day but is worried that they might be called into action before their vacation is over. Steve reassures that since there are no phones nor electricity that there is no way for them to be interrupted. On cue, “Speak of the devil and he (Cernunnos) doth appear.” Cernunnos requests Diana’s help in resolving a matter.
We pan to a shirtless Bruce doing bicep curls. Alfred comments that Bruce never lifts them unless something is troubling him. Bruce is worried about the people of the Irish Quarter because they are showing uncharacteristic lethargy. He suits up and goes to the there to investigate the area. He interrogates one of the citizens, and they reveal that they are terrified of “them.”
Trigger happy Steve pulls his gun on Cernunnos; Diana tells him to stand down because they are in front of a deity. Diana, showing hospitality to a god, apologizes for Steve’s aggressive “welcoming.” Cernunnos, after reading the room, apologizes for his intrusion of their “union.” He offers to help the couple with their endeavors; after all, he is the god of fertility. Steve freaks out and Diana politely declines.
Cernunnos shares why he has come for her help. Long ago, he was made regent over the faerie folk, Fomorians and Tuatha Dé Danann, who are the forgotten gods and fighting men of old Ireland. But, their paradise now has become their prison. With his inability to bring peace, he asks for Diana’s help in brokering a lasting peace. He states that because she is the ambassador of the Amazons with the people of earth, Diana is well suited for this task.
Steve reluctantly acknowledges that she needs to go; instead of leaving immediately, she asks Cernunnos for one day to get ready for the journey. He obliges and leaves their company. Steve comments that it never takes Diana more than an hour to get ready for a mission. She responds by dropping her sheet. Steve now understands.
We pan to the Irish Quarter in Gotham, where a man named Patrick O’Schull says to himself that he is not mad for camping in that location. He is at the door to Tír na nÓg, and he hopes to gain entry.
Cernunnos tells Diana the history of the faerie folk and how they got to Tír na nÓg while traversing the Giant’s Causeway between Earth and his realm.
Upon arrival, a goblin shares that the great King Elatha of the Fomorians, a guest of the De Danann court, is dead. He shares that a lynching is about to be had over the supposed murder of the King. Diana interrupts the proceedings asking Captain Furf (Fomorian) if they had any evidence on why the boy deserves to be lynched. He states that the boy is guilty because he was the only one in the room when they found the body. Furf dismisses Diana and tells Cernunnos that vengeance shall be had and not even Cernunnos can stop his judgment.
We come back to Bruce and we see what he sees, terrifying monsters. He tells Alfred that he was wrong, he was wrong about the terror. Bruce becomes overwhelmed with terror and develops the same lethargy as the other citizens of the Irish Quarter.
Analysis: Wow, Liam Sharp. You did one hell of a job!
Let’s decompress this issue. I know many of you are not up to date with Celtic mythology. So, here is a rundown of the Celtic references in my synopsis:
- Cernunnos – He is the Celtic god of fertility, life, animals, wealth, and the underworld.
- Tír na nÓg – It is a paradise and supernatural realm of everlasting youth, beauty, health, abundance, and joy.
- Fomorians – They are often portrayed as hostile and monstrous beings who come from the sea or underground.
- Tuatha Dé Danann – The people of Tír na nÓg that have supernatural powers that control aspects of nature.
Now that we have our miniature encyclopedia finished, let us get to the heart of this analysis.
In the New 52, Diana was in a relationship with Clark (not the pre-New 52 Clark who is Superman currently). Her Clark died at the beginning of Rebirth after the events of Darkseid War. In Rebirth, Steve Trevor and Diana Prince are together again.
It is unclear if this series is or is not in continuity, but it does keep Diana’s and Steve’s relationship intact. In many Rebirth stories, the only romantic moments between Diana and Steve are when they address each other by their pet names. For their vacation, they go to the “resort” of Villa Las Estrellas, which is a remote military and research base in Antarctica, to have complete privacy from the outside world. It is nice to see them in a situation where they focus solely on their relationship. Often not, we do not see heroes and their partners struggle with their duty and their relationships. Seeing both sides of them humanizes them in a completely new way. I deeply appreciated Sharp’s grounded approach to their relationship.
When Cernunnos enters their bedroom, Steve wants nothing to do with him and Diana shows respect. She immediately recognized her guest was a deity. In Greek mythology, there is a concept called theoxenia in which humans demonstrate their virtue or piety by extending hospitality to a random stranger (xenos), who turns out to be a disguised deity (theos) with the capacity to bestow rewards. Also in Greek mythology, Zeus is the protector of guests. So Diana, as an Amazon and the daughter of Zeus, must be hospitable to Cernunnos; it was not just because Diana is a kind person, she is morally bound to do so.
Due to Cernunnos being a Celtic god, he would have been familiar with Greek customs and ways (because the Celtic and Greek pantheons knew about each other). Diana was uniquely special in brokering a peace between the Fomorians and Tuatha Dé Danann because she knew the concept of ekecheiria: the spirit and personification of truce, armistice, and cessation of hostilities.
Liam Sharp seriously did his research in Celtic and Greek mythology and customs for this story.
I felt that the Batman B-plot is okay. I think it is a good setup to the rest of his story in this series. I am very curious how the Irish Quarter of Gotham relates to the instability of Tír na nÓg.
Overall, I felt Sharp earned his paycheck with his writing in this issue. I felt that he completely grasped the voice of Diana. I really appreciated the vulnerability that she had. With the inclusion of the Greek and Celtic mythologies, Liam Sharp wrote one of the better issues I have read in a long time. For writing alone, I would rate this comic a four and a half.
Now for the art, it was just beautiful. Buy this book for the art. Seriously.
I always love seeing Diana with her cape. To me, it elevates her costume/habit to a more regal level. It gives her more gravitas and authority.
Sharp also included numerous Celtic themes in the art of this book. To keep it short, just lust look at the chapter page in the beginning. This page has the same art style as “The Book of Kells” (as seen above to the left). The Book of Kells is an illuminated manuscript of the four Gospels in Latin. An illuminated manuscript is supplemented with highly ornate decorations such as initials, borders, and miniature illustrations. The illustrations and ornamentation of the Book of Kells are more complex and extravagant than other illuminated manuscripts. It includes figures of humans, animals, and mythical beasts together with the Celtic knots (as seen in the example above on the right).
Celtic knots show up multiple times in this issue. Needless to say, Sharp went above in beyond in including Celtic elements in his art. Like I said before, the art is just beautiful.
Final Thoughts: This is one of my favorite issues since the start of Rebirth. I highly recommend that you buy and read it.
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