Episode 29: Homecoming
Takes place 3-9 January 2011.
Short version
Paul visits Themyscira and pledges himself to Eris, goddess of chaos and discord, as he wants to shake up their society. He also fights off an attack by minions of the Light and narrowly prevents John Constantine from killing the Shadow Dog and unleashing the Beast.
Longer version
Wonder Woman takes Paul and Superboy to see Themyscira and introduce them to everyone, as well as Cassandra Sandsmark and her mother. A number of citizens are displeased by the presence of men, but others are welcoming, including Queen Hippolyta.
In keeping with Amazon custom, both Kon and Paul choose patron deities. Kon chooses Helios, Titan of the Sun, at Paul's suggestion, because Helios doesn't have many worshippers, so Kon can get more personal attention — and because Kryptonians are solar-powered. Paul considers various options, but settles on Eris, the goddess of strife and discord, because he intends to shake up the near-static Themysciran society.
His first test comes when Eris appears to him in disguise and brings him to meet her "Nanna", who is distraught over Zeus' unfaithfulness and Cassandra's presence on the island. Paul, oblivious to her identity, expresses his opinion that Hera should divorce Zeus, since he isn't upholding his end of their marriage, and although initially horrified and dismissive, "Nanna" comes around to the idea — then vanishes in a flash of light. Eris is thrilled by this development, kisses Paul, and gives him a "business" card.
Immediately afterward, Paul addresses a public gathering to offer ring-based female-female IVF, triggering a strong emotional reaction. However, the discussion is interrupted by an attack from Circe and Johnny Sorrow. The attack is fought off with minimal casualties, but Paul is unable to stop Sorrow from obtaining the artifact he was looking for.
At the victory celebration, Paul seeks out Io the smith, and quickly forms a partnership; his ability to purify metal makes her transmutation much faster, while she is able to produce extraordinary materials such as a room-temperature perfect conductor.
The next morning, Paul is woken by a call from John Constantine, who plans to kill the Shadow Dog and wants to check this against Paul's meta-knowledge. Paul recognises the story, panics, and tells him to immediately stop what he's doing, but John is in the presence of the real enemy (a nameless creature known as the Beast) and has to conceal what he has learned, hanging up without giving any reassurance. While waiting for the world to possibly end, Paul speaks with Queen Hippolyta about the reaction to his IVF offer, learning about the Amazons' fear of their own maternal instincts, and about an 80-year-old conspiracy to kill Wonder Woman. He visits the leader of the conspirators, all of whom are imprisoned, but she cuts the conversation short.
John finally calls back to report that the Beast has been destroyed, and they agree to meet up later for Paul to share his other meta-knowledge. Paul is also approached by an Amazon couple who want to bear a child together.
The Renegade has a much less cordial visit, being openly dismissive of the stagnation of Amazon society and personally insulting to the Amazons. His public statements about Zeus' unfaithfulness actually cause Zeus to smite him with lightning, but his Apokoliptian armor and rings are sufficient to take it. On the more positive side, his divine nature allowed him to locate and destroy the Beast before he ever came to Themyscira, and one of the Amazons accepts his offer of Super-Strength augmentation.
The title likely refers to Themyscira being Wonder Woman's home, and since Kon and Paul have citizenship, their home in a sense as well.
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Accidental Innuendo: When Menalippe asked whether Paul intended to convert to the Amazons "to the worship of your giant orange snake," she didn't realize her words could be misconstrued because the snake metaphor doesn't exist in her society
. - Children Are Innocent: Garfield doesn't realize what his mom means when she calls Danni her "special friend".
- Continuity Nod: The method by which Atlantis punishes Royal Treason is brought up again.
- Deadly Gaze: Looking at Johnny Sorrow's face is purported to drive the viewer mad, and given that he appears to be an Eldritch Abomination, this is plausible. However, Paul can make ring-based attacks without seeing him.
- Didn't See That Coming: Paul volunteered to look at Johnny Sorrow's face without his ring. Sorrow didn't realise that Paul had a second ring, which kept him blind. And as soon as Sorrow's mask was removed, it was vulnerable to attack.
- Emotion Bomb:
Word of God is that Hera's decision to divorce Zeus is in part because of the orange light pushing her to admit what she wants. - Everyone Can See It: Paul spots the attraction between Queen Hippolyta and Captain Phillipus immediately, to the exasperation of Amazons who have been seeing it for years and are now vindicated by the fact that even a newcomer can do the same. Although in fairness, Paul's empathic vision makes him unusually capable; he can literally see the violet light in them.
- Evil Brit: The Renegade's teammates' idea of the voice of one is the Renegade's voice.
- Forced Transformation: Scylla is stuck the way she is due to how she was transformed.
- A God Am I: The Renegade asserts his own budding divinity to the Amazons, acknowledging that he's less powerful than Zeus and Apollo (for now), but considering himself morally superior.
- I Was Just Joking: Wally jokingly asked the Renegade if he could Awaken Mister Tawny a few days after he already did it.
- Not What It Looks Like: Wonder Woman mistakenly believes Paul and Io slept together before she finds out they were only forging together. In fairness, she did find them hot, sweaty, dressed down, and excited.
- Shout-Out:
- Word of God: Mr Zoat gave a general breakdown of Darkseid's abilities.
- Eris didn't reveal herself openly because she's not wanted on Themyscira. However, she had a good laugh at Kon's choice of deity (and Paul's reasoning), especially since Helios had no idea what to do with him.
- Hera deciding to finally divorce Zeus is due to Paul, Eris, alcohol, and lots of orange light forcing her to confront her own desires honestly.
- Lack of worshipers don't weaken deities, but it does make it harder to show their full might.
- Guy is undertaking the M'eelam Na'aquall ritual.
- Wonder Woman knows Paul lied about his age.
- Some of what happens is similar to Worm. It is a coincidence as Mr Zoat has never read it.
- The Renegade is not on the Guardians' watch list, unlike Paul.
- Paul is unaware Ted Kord has a Reach Scarab in his possession.
- The Guardians don't want their Lanterns learning certain abilities.
- Eris didn't reveal herself openly because she's not wanted on Themyscira
