DC artist Joshua Middleton's upcoming variant for Wonder Woman #772 is another stunning piece of art worthy of one of DC Comics' most recognized and beautiful female superheroes. The former Aquaman and Batgirl cover artist has been regularly contributing variants since Wonder Woman #760 and his artistic style has not only made him a fan-favorite over the years but continue to add momentum to this new chapter in the famous Amazon princesses life.
In Dark Nights: Death Metal, Wonder Woman played a prominent role fighting alongside her comrades against the armies of evil, eventually ascending to another plane of existence to combat a mysterious future threat. In DC's Infinite Frontier #0, Diana meets with the conference of nigh-omnipotent beings called the Quintessence, who offer her a place among them as a watcher of the universe. Surprisingly, Diana turns down their offer, even after an insightful tour of the DC universe with the Spectre, and creates a new costume for herself to wear when she returns to Earth.
In the upcoming Wonder Woman #770, Diana finds herself on DC's version of Asgard, specifically on the mythological battlefields of Valhalla. In this world where warriors fight all day and then celebrate at night, unafraid of dying due to regenerating just in time for dinner and drinks, nobody knows who Diana is much less has any answers to how she died. In Wonder Woman #772, Diana's problems continue as her quest for answers is complicated further by the appearance of her dark self, personified and heavily armed. She has to rely on an alliance with DC's version of Thor to save her from an eternity of endless death and destruction preventing her from her responsibilities to Earth. Check out Joshua Middleton's variant cover for the upcoming issue below:
Middleton's artwork brings to mind the fairy tales of Snow White or Red Riding Hood, traveling in a dark and foreboding forest where the possibility of danger lurks around every corner. The rising hands out of the ground contribute to the fantasy horror appeal of it, especially since the heroes of Valhalla spend eternity fighting resurrected corpses to earn the bounty of a victorious feast for the rest of eternity. Diana's connection to mythology and legend help her fit into whatever scenario creators come up with, comfortably fighting vengeful gods or supervillains who have an axe to grind.
Being one DC Comics' oldest and most popular heroes, Wonder Woman has been the muse for some of the most talented and creative artists in the genre, creating a vibrant portfolio that shows how much the character has evolved and changed over the years. Joshua Middleton's work is a welcome addition as Diana continues to explore her place in DC's new Omniverse, hoping to prepare her world for a dangerous threat that grows stronger every minute that passes. Wonder Woman #772 hits the stores May 11th, 2021.