What a mess. This book did nothing to make me change my opinion of Grant Morrison - occasional brilliance, but usually just a bunch of shock-value and convoluted bullshit, and this story didn't even have the shock. Also, why the hell was Rebel Wilson in it?

I wasn't expecting to like this but honestly, I didn't think it was that bad.

basically, this is a look at how wonder woman came to be starting with finding Steve Trevor washed up on the shore of themyscira and wonder woman is surprised. they adventure into the world and wonder woman learns a lot about "mans world".

overall good book

This is a trimmed down version of my review, to view the full review visit The Book Ramble.

I received a copy of this book from DC Comics on Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

Wonder Woman: Earth One is a take on Wonder Woman's origin story. Told through the trial held for her after she leaves for mans world with Steve Trevor, Wonder Woman's past and future are woven by the fates.

I found the story interesting, and while I'm no expert on anything Wonder Woman I don't think it's my favourite version of the character. I didn't like the art at all, which really held me back from being crazy about the book in general. I'm not sure what Morrison was trying to do with this story, it didn't really add anything to the mythos of Wonder Woman or give me any new insight into her as a character.

The story is a little messy, using the frame of Wonder Woman's trial to tell the story of her growing up in Themyscira, her departure from the island with Steve Trevor, and what she finds in man's world. I thought that her story was interesting but I don't know that it was particularly well developed. It felt a little like going through the motions of a well known story without really adding much of interest beyond her being Hercules' daughter in this version.

I didn't connect with anyone in this book. They all felt like idols to be watched but not known. I didn't care about Diana, which is a shame because Diana is usually a really compelling and empathetic character. Steve Trevor was just...there? On Themyscira we see all sorts of women but don't get to know any of them, which is disappointing. The standout character in this for me was Etta Candy, and I don't know if that's for any good reason. Etta is loud and boisterous and funny like you expect, she's confident in her body - despite all kind of uncomfortable body shaming from the Amazons, which was excellent.

The gender politics of this comic were kind of all over the place. I didn't know how to feel about anyone or anything, and I think that's kind of the curse of Wonder Woman. We have expectations for her to be a feminist icon and I don't know if most of the writers really do that justice. I didn't really feel like this one did.

The art, as I've said, was just no good for me. Wonder Woman was supposed to be sexy but was sort of hypersexual in a way that kind of grossed me out. The too high cut on her bikini bottoms felt more gross than sexy, her breasts were large to the point of making the rest of her look comically small. There were other issues of depth and texture for me that made everything feel weirdly flat and undefined, and that just felt extremely disappointing.

The more I go over this book in my head the more trouble I have actually liking it. The story to me was dull, the politics poorly conceived, the art lackluster, and the characters blank and emotionless. There was nothing to really invest me in any of it long term. I'd seek out other Wonder Woman stories before this one.

I wanted to enjoy this and I really didn't want to believe the reviews but * gestures hopelessly* The stars are for the artwork.

If you want someone who truly understands the character, try George Perez.

Why is there a military force outside a random US hospital? Is this a thing? Are Americans that crazy? Or is it there just because Diana needs to go "Wonder Woman smash!" on all aspects of "the world of men" and it was hard to get her into a war zone fast?

This comic is femsploitation, if ever I've seen it - it's a volume for the strawwoman social justice warrior in you, who wants to bring the patriarchy down, to hear about black people being slaves to black patriarchy, to insult today's society and all its faults.

Don't get me wrong, it makes sense for Amazons to be misandrists and generally hate all things male - they went ahead and commissioned a whole woman-only island for themselves. But this story drops their hatred around like anvils, and Diana has long monologues about the evil of men which sound like The Onion's take on superhero feminists rather than an actual story.

read harder challenge 2017: read a superhero comic with a female lead.

hecka problematic.

I keep thinking I'll find something of Morrison's that I like almost as much as All Star Superman, but it gets less and less likely. I did like the direction he went with Trevor in this one. But it just felt like an unfocused mess.