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"A God Among Men": The Kapatelises' visit to Themyscira draws considerable media coverage, and Vanessa soon grows drunk on her renewed celebrity. While this alienates her longtime friend Eileen Flowers, it ironically endears her to Lucy Spears, who is shocked to l

Quote1 History has shown that reward is the cornerstone of faith, whether it be the promise of an afterlife... or something more immediate. Quote2
Hermes

Wonder Woman (Volume 2) #23 is an issue of the series Wonder Woman (Volume 2) with a cover date of December, 1988.

Synopsis for "A God Among Men"

The Kapatelises' visit to Themyscira draws considerable media coverage, and Vanessa soon grows drunk on her renewed celebrity. While this alienates her longtime friend Eileen Flowers, it ironically endears her to Lucy Spears, who is shocked to learn why Vanessa dislikes her.

Meanwhile, Wonder Woman tries to outline Themyscira's future plans for cultural exchange at the United Nations, only to be interrupted by a strange figure who mistakes her for Donna Troy. This figure disappears when confronted, but a larger issue soon emerges: Hermes has abandoned the New Olympus effort, and returned to Earth to help Wonder Woman proselytize Man's World.

Though not malicious, Hermes proves an incredibly divisive figure, gleefully lavishing potential devotees with gold, jewels, and miracle-cures.[1] While many - including Vanessa - are impressed, the Messenger-God is scorned by Julia, who accuses him of ransoming faith. Wonder Woman attempts to mediate, but to no avail; when forced to choose, she reluctantly adheres to her heritage and leaves the Kapatelis household to follow Hermes.

Over the next week, the Amazon Princess grows more and more alienated by Hermes, who asserts they are humanity's superiors, not equals. At Hermes' suggestion, she takes a brief respite, during which Hermes is approached by a young woman fluent in classical Greek. The woman and her breathless reverence easily flatter Hermes; at her request, he eagerly enters Boston's slums to treat her dying father.

Too late, Hermes discovers the young woman is the gorgon Euryale, and her "father" Ares' surviving son Phobos. The monstrous duo quickly overpower Hermes and steal his caduceus, leaving the powerless God to face yet another ancient monster: Ixion, the mad king of Thessaly.

Appearing in "A God Among Men"

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Links and References

  1. In Classical mythology, medicine was more commonly the domain of Apollo. In bestowing healing powers upon Hermes, Pérez has likely confused (or intentionally conflated) Hermes' caduceus with the Rod of Asclepius.
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