Issue #3 of Lazarus Planet: Revenge of the Gods brings all of our heroes together for the first time in the series. Billy and Diana both struggle with decisions they’ve made and the consequences of their actions. Will they muster the courage to take on the armies of the Gods and save humanity? Read on to find out!
SPOILERS AHEAD for Lazarus Planet: Revenge of the Gods #3!
The issue begins with Wonder Woman returning to Washington, DC and witnessing the carnage wrought by the war with the Gods. The whole city is ablaze, and the bodies of defeated monsters like the Hydra litter the area. Diana blames herself for choosing her Amazon sisters over mankind and the destruction it has caused. Cheetah finds her among the ruins, comforts her, and assures her they will fight back.
Credit: DC Comics
Meanwhile, on Olympus, Billy Batson remains imprisoned. When he transforms into Shazam, he becomes weak and emaciated, as we saw at the end of issue two. Billy is hard on himself, regretting his decision to charge into Olympus with no real plan and his overconfidence in taking on the Gods. Fortunately for him, Hecate and Yara break him out of his cell. It is unclear why Hecate is working against Hera at this point. The last time we saw her in issue #1, she was distracting Hippolyta while Hera tricked Diana into becoming a goddess. Additionally, it is not clear how Yara escaped the wrath of Hera, except for a quick aside about jumping out of a window.
One of the most intriguing parts of the story takes place in the Palace Gardens of Olympus. Aphrodite and Hermes are flirting with each other when Yara, Hecate, and a disguised Shazam are escaping. An argument between Hermes and Aphrodite erupts, and Billy realizes just how shallow and petty the Gods are. They are no different from humans, really, and not worth worshipping because of it. This realization could potentially lead to the downfall of the Gods.
Credit: DC Comics
Billy’s powers are restored by Hippolyta, and everyone ends up back in Washington, DC just as the armies of the Gods arrive to finish the job. Led by Apollo and Hermes and supplemented with minotaurs, centaurs, pegasus, and other mythological creatures, the army of the Gods is formidable. Even with Steve, Etta, and Siegfried joining the battle, our heroes are severely outnumbered. With her new goddess powers, Diana can go toe-to-toe with Hermes for a bit, but the tide of battle quickly turns. The issue ends just as the hooded stranger arrives and finally reveals his true identity.
The art by Lupacchino, Tormey, and Fernandez is stellar throughout. Facial expressions are on point, really showing the doubts and depths of feelings, especially Diana’s anguish at witnessing all of the destruction in Washington. Shazam’s withered form is also unsettling and pathetic, in some ways matching Billy’s feelings of inadequacy. Bellaire’s colors do an excellent job of setting the tone, whether it’s the dank dungeons of Olympus or the fiery battlefield of Washington. The double-page splash showing our heroes lined up against the forces of the Gods is particularly impressive. The fight scenes are well-choreographed and exciting. Wilson’s writing is excellent and does a great job of exploring the emotions of Billy and Diana. Even though they are blessed with the power of the Gods, they still have human doubts and struggles.
Credit: DC Comics
In the backup story, the Amazons hold back the endless hordes of Hades thanks to their bevy of divine artifacts hidden in their vaults. But even these incredibly powerful items are not enough, and Philippus prays to Hippolyta for help. Hippolyta returns to Themyscira and brings with her the patron goddesses of the Amazons, except for Hecate. With these reinforcements, the Amazons may just have the strength to defeat the undead hordes of Hades. The art and writing are first rate, providing a great mix of epic battle scenes as well as touching moments between Hippolyta and Philippus.
Lazarus Planet: Revenge of the Gods #3 is a thrilling issue that unites the disparate plots from previous issues. The emotional struggles and doubts of Billy and Diana are explored excellently through Wilson’s writing, while the stellar art by Lupacchino, Tormey, and Fernandez brings the action-packed battle scenes to life. The arrival of the hooded stranger and their true identity finally being revealed leaves readers eagerly anticipating the next issue. Additionally, the backup story featuring the Amazons and their battle against Hades’ forces provides an exciting and intriguing side plot. Overall, Lazarus Planet: Revenge of the Gods continues to impress and captivate readers with its dynamic characters, intense action, and mythological themes.
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