This month of Captain’s Comic Log, our friend Josh “Captain Nostalgia” Burkey of Victims and Villains takes a look at the graphic novel “Wonder Woman” by Mike Deodato. While discussing the themes of this book, Josh also brings up a great conversation about the meaning of life!

This month, we are talking about the graphic novel, Wonder Woman by Mike Deodato. Over the past couple of years, DC Comics have been publishing these more rare or iconic runs from the 80s and 90s into fresh graphic novels. During Deodato’s run, Diana is stripped of her rank as Wonder Woman and becomes a pseudo-Wonder Woman. Thanks to Amazon traditions, the famed contest is reintroduced, and Artemis actually takes up the mantle of Wonder Woman. This is a pretty interesting take on the Wonder Woman mythology. It is an often forgotten period of her history. If you are a Wonder Woman fan, I would recommend this one and will include a link in the description. However, in the two penultimate issues of the book, we are introduced to a different title: Legends of the DC Universe. These were basically one to three issue stories that would tell adventures of the members of the Justice League.

Diana was lucky enough to have a two-issue arc entitled “Moments.” Throughout these two issues, Wonder Woman takes down a street gang who get their hands on experimental, almost alien-like, weaponry. Listen to some excerpts from the comic’s opening pages:

“A moment ago, Professor Kapatelis was hurrying home after a day’s shopping. So Julia Kapatelis had done her shopping, then she remembered that she needed to deposit her last paycheck and had decided to stop off on her way home in this small branch she seldom used. Suddenly she was surrounded by huge, armored figures. There was gunfire, and she was thrown roughly to the floor…Only a moment ago, she had been safe. Only a moment.” (William Messner-Loebs)

Let’s be honest this thing called life is made up of just that: moments. It can go from bad to worse or good to great in a split second. We find something like this with a gentleman named Peter in the gospels. During the last supper, this is what we find:

30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 31 Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” 33 Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” 34 Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” 35 Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same.

–Matthew 26:30 – 35 ESV

So as this prophecy about Jesus’ road to the cross begins to develop, so does this moment that Jesus was talking about to Peter. You know this one that Peter says would never happen. Later in this chapter, verses 69 to 75, depict this very moment Jesus was talking about. One moment, Peter is saying I will never deny you. In the next though, he is doing just that.  Life can change in a matter of a moment. Throughout the next few days, Jesus is led to the cross and the grave. On the third day, He is resurrected. We find this moment where Jesus and Peter are introduced.

15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this, he said to him, “Follow me.”

–John 15: 15- 19 ESV

Peter goes on to actually become one of the earliest pioneers of the first church. He was there when the Holy Spirit fell upon the church, and the gift of tongues was given to man. He was boldly martyred on the upside cross because he stated he wasn’t worthy to die the same way his savior had died. All it took was a moment.

Peter’s story is one filled with grace and redemption. It shows us that all it takes is one moment, one gesture, one conversation or even one sentence can change the course of direction for life. For me, it was a moment of sadness that led to doing suicide prevention and ultimately turning my life over to Christ.

God has great and wonderful plans for you. Whatever drew you here to this video and this moment in time was something divine. God is full of grace and though we will have moments of shortcomings and failures – we are already covered by grace.

I want to redirect your attention back to Wonder Woman:

“Only a moment ago, Travishaa McArthur, whose street name is Pepe, was on the phone. Carla told her to get her gear, that the redblacks were getting together today. It was a raid. They were supposed to rip off the weazles, a male gang that had plenty of cash and rock. But it went down wrong. It was a setup. The pigs busted in and if the redblacks hadn’t been supplied with cannons and armor, they’d have all been wasted.”

–William Messner-Loebs

In the same vein, in a moment, God’s love and grace cover us. His word says that he tosses our sin as far as the east is from the west. That by his stripes we are healed. That the punishment that has delivered us peace was placed upon Him. In a moment’s notice, God delivered his wrath for us upon his son. He died so we could live. His love, his grace, his mercy, He is sufficient.  Your life changes in a moment’s notice.

In one moment, I was laughing and the next I was broken to hear the news of a friend’s suicide. In one moment, I was living for one and the next I was dedicating my life for Him and showing others who He is.

What is your moment story?

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