- This pitiful circus has not concerned itself with the needy children of this city - but with promoting Princess Diana as some sort of feminine ideal no real woman could ever hope to become!
Wonder Woman (Volume 2) #16 is an issue of the series Wonder Woman (Volume 2) with a cover date of May, 1988.
Synopsis for "Bird of Paradise/Bird of Prey!"
As the Silver Swan's ultrasonic cries raze the fair, Wonder Woman and Steve rush to protect bystanders. Meanwhile, police open fire on the Swan - in vain, as their target can create a bulletproof force-field simply by humming. The Swan herself is disturbed by the collateral damage she has caused, but nevertheless hews to Armbruster's plan and demands the fair organizers surrender their earnings.
These orders are quickly obeyed, none of the participants knowing the robbery is only a cover for corporate espionage; Armbruster and his business partner Choi are actually pursuing two bags of computer chips stolen from a rival firm, which a confederate had mixed among the fair's receipts. Per further orders, Wonder Woman flies these bags to the Swan, all while a horrified Maxine watches.
Maxine suddenly spots Buchman in a nearby tree, aiming a crossbow at the Swan. As the Swan drops her force-field to receive the loot, Buchman fires, spurring Maxine to shout a warning that lets Wonder Woman deflect the arrow. The Swan, thinking herself betrayed, unleashes another ultrasonic cry at Maxine and Buchman; Steve pushes Maxine out of its way, but Buchman is less fortunate. An instant later, Wonder Woman tackles the Swan away from the fairgrounds and out to sea.
The two women begin brawling in midair, the Swan quickly finding herself outmatched in genuine combat. As Wonder Woman tries to subdue and reason with her, she makes one final, desperate cry - a cry that knocks herself and Wonder Woman into separate counties. By the time Wonder Woman returns to Boston, the Swan has been collected by a frustrated Armbruster; Buchman lies in critical condition, under police watch; Maxine has fled the city; and even with its receipts recovered, the fair is deemed a public failure. Only Steve leaves the day better off, finally learning the true fate of his mother - and receiving her sidearm - from Wonder Woman.
Several days later, Vanessa learns of Wonder Woman's feelings toward Superman, which she encourages (partly to prevent the Amazon from "tempting" her own crushes). On Vanessa's advice, Wonder Woman has Myndi arrange a private rendezvous with Superman, little suspecting a new enemy is already on the move - and attacking Mount Olympus.
Appearing in "Bird of Paradise/Bird of Prey!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Henry Cobb Armbruster
- Darkseid (Behind the scenes)
Other Characters:
- Allison Clooney
- Barry Locatelli
- Maxine Sterenbuch
- Solomon Buchman
- Boston Police Department
- Inspector Ed Indelicato (First appearance; unnamed)
- Lt. Michael Shands (First appearance; unnamed)
- Clark Kent (Behind the scenes)
- Hermes
Locations:
- Atlantic Ocean
- United States of America
- Massachusetts
- Boston
- Mayer Publicists, Inc.
- Martha's Vineyard
- Gayhead Cliffs
- Pilgrim's Village
- Wakefield
- Kapatelis summer home
- Massachusetts
- Mount Olympus
Items:
- Wonder Woman's Armaments
Vehicles:
Notes
- This issue is reprinted in the following:
- Lieutenant Michael Shands is depicted as Caucasian in this issue; in all subsequent appearances, he is depicted as Black.
- The attack on the Wonder Woman Fair, and its aims, will be revisited in Wonder Woman #20.
- The final pages of this issue are roughly concurrent with events in Superman #17; the overall story is continued in Adventures of Superman #440 and Action Comics #600.
Trivia
- Buchman is mentioned to be in the care of St. Eligius, the setting of the Boston-based medical drama St. Elsewhere. St. Eligius would later appear in Wonder Woman #20.