Goodness me, I can’t remember the last time I read an issue of Wonder Woman, but Friend of the Blog Murray recommended this one. We’re knee deep in Tom King’s Matriarch storyline, which seems to be a continuation of the Sovereign business, but this is an interlude issue looking back at Diana’s origin.
The set-up is that back-from-the-dead Steve Trevor is travelling back from the Underworld with daughter Lizzie, his magical daughter with Diana whose sterling personality helped drive me off this book. She’s pretty quiet this issue though. Why’s that again? Oh yeah.
Wonder Woman is dead! Then again, so was Steve, and as that first panel says, this is set 20 years in the future of the DC Universe, so it’s basically an imaginary story.
Speaking of stories, Steve feels the too-quiet teenager needs an inspirational tale. His begins when Princess Diana was about Trinity’s age, living a quiet life on Paradise Island.
Queen Hippolyte says Diana must stay on Themiscyra and embrace her destiny as her successor, but she understands her daughter’s desire to help the world beyond the horizon. She takes Diana to her quarters, where a chest contains garb she’s never seen.
Trinity has questions.
And back in the past, Steve enters the picture, his plane’s screaming engines landing him on Paradise Island with a crash. The injured pilot is taken to be healed by the Purple Ray, and wakes to find a woman looking after him.
What’s missing from this picture?
Yep, Diana. In this telling it’s not the Amazon Princess who tends to Steve as he recovers. Neither is it Diana who rescues him from the crash site – she barely knows he’s alive.
A burden, she says?
This is the first of two parts giving us the latest version of Diana’s origin, and it’s deleting Love from the recipe. And so far as Hippolyte is concerned, compassion for Man’s World. Diana, we see in the laundrette – sorry, Magic Sphere – scene, does want to help people in the wider world, but she’s not allowed to immediately find Steve attractive and develop feelings for him.
Regular writer King is absent, Stephanie Williams gets full credit, but she is working with editor Brittany Holzherr, and surely King okayed the whole thing; do they feel Diana falling for a man at first sight is weak, unworthy somehow? That worked both ways, Steve saw his angel and one of comics’ great romances was born.
And what the heck is going on with the rewrite of Hippolyte’s time with the JSA? A shadowy figure working with the Justice Society only when ‘our purposes aligned’? On what did they disagree? And for a ‘shadow’ she certainly seemed front and centre at the Fifties witch hunt hearing? I dislike hugely the bitter, suspicious, broken Hippolyte we have here.
I don’t mind Steve being healed by the Purple Ray, but do we need this?
‘Slightly better than before…’? In the Bronze Age mortal orphan Donna Troy was raised up to Amazon level by the Purple Ray, but that’s not standard. Does All-American beefcake Steve Trevor really need a touch of the Steve Rogers?
And while it makes some kind of sense that armourer Io invented the machine, why is she working it? Surely there’s at least one medic around to take charge? And an Amazon doctor – as in the Golden Age – would likely be less gruff. I mean, ‘you breathe because Queen Hippolyte permits it’?
Steve’s comment to Trinity about the Fates implies there have been, or in their minds, should be, Wonder Woman after Wonder Woman after Wonder Woman… please no, if DC is declaring Hippolyte’s tenure secret, why instantly bring back the notion Wonder Woman is a legacy role?
The actual script by Williams isn’t bad for the story she’s telling – but the story! Love is at the core of Diana’s mission, and here it’s erased.
As for the art, Clayton Henry’s storytelling compositions are as good as ever, with, for example, Hippolyte positioned for haughtiness, and the eerieness of Steve and Trinity’s journey evident. Everyone is on model and he’s great at emotions – anger, pensiveness, confusion… just don’t look for anything resembling happiness, this Paradise feels like Purgatory.
Pedro Estouco’s colours fit the mood of the story; the beach scene after the crash is the most upbeat moment visually, the skies and sea are lovely. It’s a shame he doesn’t differentiate much between the in-panel flashbacks and the main action, though.
Letterer Clayton Cowles gives us a nice yellow-out-of-green for Steve’s narration, perhaps to match his hair and uniform. Whatever the case, I like it.
The cover art by Jeff Spokes is well done, but again, that’s a very sad-looking Diana. I adore the ‘Wonder War’ (sounds like an Oasis song) title lettering, it’s like something from the Golden Age of sci-fi mags.
Will I be back for the conclusion of the re-origin? I may look at it on DC Infinite Online, but I won’t be queuing at the digital comics shop.
Nevertheless, thank you for the recommendation, Murray – I just might have loved this!
Too Dangerous For a Girl 2 
Thank you for reading this so I don’t have to. King could write Carol Danver-Magik-Real Power Girl (my three favorite characters) team up maxi and I wouldn’t touch it. What you describe has the King Stink even if written by someone else.
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well of course not! No one wants to see their favorite characters bastardized!
-Matthew Lloyd
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I would dread reading such a comic, I love all three too. The only writer who might do a worse job would be Leah Williams.
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I can see why you didn’t like it. And there are certainly parts I didn’t enjoy (Hippolyte’s general dour attitude definitely was a bummer). I hadn’t considered how the concept of love was totally removed from Diana’s origin with the retelling. For sure that seems like a misstep.
what I enjoyed was the explanation for the golden age Wonder Woman (although it appears we’re interpreting that part of the take differently). I saw it more as a clever way to include a Wonder Woman in the JSA, while also explaining away why she’s not really remembered in the history books.
i also like the Steve/Trinity relationship. I’m not sure if you’ve read Trinity’s mini series (or the back up stories that led to it), but King presents the character there in a tone that is a departure for him (in that it’s light hearted and humorous). But he adds in a warmth and yearning which softens the characters rough edges. That aspect of the relationship is largely missing in this story, but since I’ve read those earlier stories, they colour my reading of this particular issue.
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I haven’t read the Trinity mini, her first few appearances just screamed ‘obnoxious’, but I’ll give it a look, thanks.
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if you didn’t like her back up stories then the mini-series may not be for you, as the tone is very similar. There’s a bit more heart to the mini-series, but I found it to be light-hearted and a fun little romp
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I’ll hopefully have a look when this cruise is over, my DC Infinite subscription doesn’t work in Europe.
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I am not an ardent King supporter. Some of his things I like, some I don’t. I am glad that a lot of his stories are Black Label, thus happening somewhere else in the Multiverse and aren’t part of the Prime continuity (Human Target and Strange Adventures – I’m looking at you).
I was tepid about him taking over Wonder Woman. I was sure I wasn’t going to like it. In fact, I remember ravaging his first issue in talking to others. But I rarely drop a book because of one issue, so I read a few more. And a few more. Until I realized that I was really enjoying it. I like that he met the supporting cast and villains where they were, not trying to remake them to fit his story. I feel like he has a deep respect for the character of Diana, and doesn’t do anything with her lightly. And he has been additive to the mythos rather than reductive: Especially with the introduction of Trinity. (And his Detective Chimp channeling Columbo is fantastic.)
Plus the art. Damn can Sampere draw. Tight storytelling, too. He knows how to make pages flow and how to make sure splash pages are special and not just because. It also keeps getting better and better each issue.
As for this particular issue, I really like Stephanie Williams & Clayton Henry. I’ve talked to Williams a couple of times at cons and she is a true fan (check out her Strange and Unusual All-Stars of the DC Multiverse if you don’t believe me). I’ve really enjoyed her fill-in issues on Wonder Woman. She understands the characters as well – and has made sure there isn’t a jarring tonal shift from the issues King writes to hers.
Meanwhile, Clayton is in that magical camp of Legion artists who go on to do incredible things. This issue is just another example of his excellent skills.
So yeah, this series is a regular read for me. I’m sorry it didn’t draw you in, but I understand.
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You make the King Wonder Woman sound worth a read, but I must resist. When he’s on a long run, à la Batman, I’ll love an occasional issue, eg the date story, but get thoroughly disenchanted with the rest.
And while I reckons Williams has talent, unless my memory is off she’s always writing mini-series and stories about Nubia and the Amazons which lose my interest. Modern Nubia just doesn’t capture my attention the way the original did.
I did my her DC All-Stars book the day it came out, I’d love to see her do a ‘light’ project set in the DCU.
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I did make it up to issue 19 and the end of the Sovereign storyline. It is that usually annoying mix of King being a decent writer technically but clearly having a worldview that I actively don’t agree with (a bit like Geoff Johns a lot of the time), and so I enjoyed bits but also found other bits exasperating. I keep thinking about checking in again because it’s rare these days for comics to be written with the right sort of Alan Moore inspirations (although King also mixes in the grim and gritty with the way Moore handled ongoing storylines) and Wonder Woman of all characters deserves a deeper consideration by a writer, though one of my issues has been that in the issues I read, apart from an odd Batman like attempt to do things by herself, he didn’t really get that far into Diana’s character. The whole tone has been slightly militant throughout so not surprised the origin does some of the same. I suppose the idea is that Wonder Woman changes Paradise Island, rather than her being the product of it, but that’s off!
Stu
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That’s a clever idea as to where this is going, Stu, and ‘off’ doesn’t begin to describe it. I mean, she comes from ‘Paradise Island’ not “Has Potential But Needs Work Island’.
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Anj here.
I have avoided King (and King-inspired stories) since Woman of Tomorrow.
Nothing you have written makes me think I am missing out.
What a mess. What a destruction (not deconstruction) of the audience. And I think had Diana kill herself last issue?
Yeesh …
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I had a look, and yes she did. Like, ugh.
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“Wonder Woman is dead!”
What, again?!?
Seriously, though… I would have thought this issue would have been right up my alley. I really liked Stephanie Williams’ writing on the two Nubia miniseries, I’m a huge fan of Clayton Henry’s artwork, and Wonder Woman is one of my favorite characters. But this just sounds like such a joyless slog. I’m going to have to pass on this one.
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It really is, move right along, nothing to see here.
Well, the artwork, that’s nice.
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They had just fixed Diana’s original and returned Pérez’s version in TheNew History of the DC Universe. Barely anytime later and they changed it again. I’m so tired of DC.
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origin*
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I’m honestly not surprised, who can keep up?
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DC can’t even do a simple check to know that Diana wore culottes and not a skirt, so I shouldn’t be surprised. Actually, this reminds me of when they let Diana’s origin be changed during the 1990’s, when Artemis debuted. Instead of having Diana be properly covered by armour to disguise her, they had her put on an enchanted mask to make her into some beautiful blonde that no other Amazon would have seen before. While I did not like Pérez’s treatment of Donna Troy by having Diana first appear during Legends, his reboot of Diana propelled the character in a gorgeous and unforgettable way. Having his origin be reinstated was a great tribute to the comic’s master, and this is just unnecessary. Although I must admit it would have been nice to have Diana be herself Wonder Woman in the 1940’s, I do hope her place as founding member of the Justice League is still intact, and that the only major change here is that Polly was not actually named Wonder Woman and therefore giving some fans what they wished for that Diana was no longer a legacy character – she is the first.
I also wish they had gone with the 3G/ Future State and thus return to the original Nubia of being Diana’s twin sister. I have never liked Nu’Bia (her New Earth name) as much as the original, but at least she has a greater visibility than ever before. (Also, that doll commercial in the ‘70’s is so problematic with the black girl playing the villainous Nubia is so cringe.). Still, even with this, I’m just so happy Diana is back to being fatherless and made from clay again. Now, if Trinity would just turn into Lyta Trevor/ Fury I’d be even more happy, but beggars can’t be choosers.
as for Tom King, I can’t stand him for what he did to Catwoman and Supergirl and Guy Gardner, but I sadly admit I didn’t mind the few issues I did read of this Wonder Woman. That he didn’t have her carrying a sword constantly was nice, but I had been excited thinking he was finally gone when I saw who wrote this issue and thought maybe for the first time since 2011 I’d buy the title again, but alas that won’t be happening. Oh well, saves me money.
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I’d like Perez’s version of Paradise Island had he not jettisoned the amazons advancement in science during their centuries secluded. They’ve just been slightly ethical barbarians since.
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I agree! I forgot about that. Ever since it’s all about “bringing her back to her Greek roots,” yet her science fiction roots are often left behind. I was happy when Jimenez brought them back, but I wish they had not been erased. Isn’t Diana back to being a healer/ scientist that she had created the Purple Ray? In any case, I think that Pérez had captured their ability to be warriors and also ambassadors of peace without any head scratching, as well as later but too often nowadays she’s more about being a warrior. New 52 had her always with a sword, as Carol Strickland pointed out, offensive and phallic, as opposed to defensive. The New 52 origin and ongoing portrayal bothered me so much as a fan that I threw out my collection of comics and merch, and I’m barely a fan anymore, yet I still find myself getting inspired by the character. I re-read Wonder Woman #600 recently and her relationship with Supergirl and her ability to be this massive influence on all the heroines with Pérez’s artwork was thrilling. I must say that I will take King’s current treatment of her over what Straczynski did, although I think had it been an Elseworlds I might have liked it. I guess I had stopped buying Wonder Woman then, after decades of buying her comic.
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I’m with you and Strick as regards the current Xena version of Diana, Diana should go into battle with the open hand of peace and when it’s refused, use her natural gifts and the lasso, not a stonking great sword. And get rid of the ugly flappy shirt thing.
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JI agree. While I think the reincarnated murdered and abused women can work in the sense of new life for women unjustly taken away, I also think pre-COIE’s version of every woman can be an Amazon through their training offered a an inclusive approach. The Amazons deciding to leave patriarchy on their own accord yet showed they were smart enough to create the scientific achievements and stay in contact with the outside world through this means allowed the Amazons able to meet any criticism from the outside world. Granted, while New Earth Diana’s naivety and stranger in a strange land worked in creating an atmosphere of wonder fitting for the character and the story, ever since Diana is portrayed as being so culturally out of touch with everything to the point that they have her in awe of ice cream – something seen ion the New 52, and G2 DC Duper Hero Girls Granted, the sexism showed in Earth-One’s Amazons about no man setting foot on the Island was problematic, although perhaps showing them as not perfect was necessary. Diana’s weakness by removing her submission bracelets – the whole fury thing – was bad, not to mention being deposited if tied up by a man is problematic but the latter at least could maybe be viewed no that a man has power over Diana but never allow a man to be in such a position over a woman.
There are some people are often crying sexism for Ariana not being able to fly pre-COIE and not in context. I think it is missed that amazons had the ability to glide on air currents and that any one with that training could do it. Thus, with what I mentioned before was that it offered any woman could be an Amazon and could be a Wonder Woman. While Diana was gifted, she still had to work for all her abilities, so was much more an equal among her sisters and was therefore more relatable to readers. While Diana was not often depicted as very athletic, so much as just model looks, I felt so often she now has been drawn with a body builder body with implants. There is a demand for realism of a woman constantly training in combat with the expectation she still have big breasts. Anyway, I digress. With regard to her costume, I find the “realism” of the battle skirt or whatever it’s called makes her look less covered up. At least over her shorts like the Silver Age underneath it. But, yes, gone are the days of people knowing what culottes are and what a Van Dyke is – Ollie is always said to have had a goatee. Jessica Drew’s costume became an “arrow to her crotch” instead of a weblike outline and her “triangle” is depicted as open with the black line “only” there to accentuate her breasts, when that wasn’t the case – not to mention she was designed by a woman who was not trying to make her simply sexy. Now we have the “classic” costume changed to have just a small “arrow” beneath her breasts, unless you have Adam’s or Nauck draw her with her original and do it right, or have artists still sexualize her design. Not to mention, her translucent glider webs are too often drawn as opaque “bat” wings. I guess style guides, research and consistent numbering are something for us dinosaurs.
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Oh, the inspiration of ‘every woman can be an Amazon’ was just great. I never liked the idea that a regular girl could get super-strength from the Purple Ray – Donna should’ve been granted some strength by the gods and goddesses.
I’ve just been back and checked Jessica’s earliest appearances as my memory has her costume from Spider-Woman #1 on as pretty much exactly as we see it today. And looking again, I honestly can’t see the differences you, I’d just put it all down to different artists no drawing things quite the same as Carmine.
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Amen to that.
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The culottes business is rarely remembered; it wouldn’t be so bad if they had Hippolyte wearing shorts, as the switch was made early on, but it’s always the skirt. I fear we’ve lost this battle.
I’m a Silver and Bronze Age baby, first and foremost, I’ve never been a fan of the post-Crisis origin, with every Amazon a reborn abused/murdered woman. It adds too much tragedy to the story.
I can’t for the life of me recall how Nubia was in 5G, but if she was something other the Queen, I’m all for it, I want her out and about.
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What did King do to Guy Gardner? In the Human Target series? That was Black Label, which means it happened in some other part of the Multiverse. (Thank goodness. I absolutely HATED the concept of J’onn & Bea.) Did he ever write Guy anywhere else?
Catwoman survived his treatment, fortunately. I quite like where she is now. Woman of Tomorrow was explained/folded into the regular continuity fairly well by Waid in the Summer of Supergirl Special.
At this point, I think Lyta and Hector are in the Dreaming after dying in the snow-covered mountains. I’m sure there are a dozen ways back for them when a story requires it.
I agree that rolling back Zeus as Diana’s father was a must. I really felt that diminished the whole point of Wonder Woman – she needs no input from any man on any level to be amazing.
When Phil Jimenez started writing Wonder Woman in the 00s, the Amazons were reestablished with the advanced technology along with the classical Greek mythos. Purple Healing Rays, Science Island, and more were all back. To what extent each creative team since has used that, though, varies.
Diana is indeed back to being a founding member of the JL. The way it goes now is that Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman, and Cyborg banded together to stop Darkseid’s invasion (the New 52 version). Right after, Cyborg was placed in suspended animation while he continued to heal, only being brought out when the New Teen Titans formed. Soon after that, the Appellaxians invaded and the remaining six – along with Martian Manhunter and Black Canary – teamed up to stop them. It was only then that they officially became the Justice League.
Finally, as to this version of the origin, I don’t see it as being hard to retcon/hand wave away. This is a version of her origin told by Steve to his daughter to comfort/inspire her. In that context, it may not be accurate – more what he knew she needed to hear. Just a thought.
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I have t read Summer of Supergirl yet – there’s no longer a comic store near me so I have to ship it from out of province and I don’t buy digital due to various reasons, including photosensitivity issues and haven’t read any reviews other than something shown on Bleeding Cool about Natasha learning Kara had died. Woman of Tomorrow is the first time I ever threw out a Supergirl series but just like the disgusting movie, I’m learning to just ignore what I loathe. Okay, I didn’t realize it was like that for all Black Label comics. I just think that this take on Diana’s origin wasn’t necessary and could have just reestablished what was seen in The Nee History … and firmly re-establishing this and dedicating the issue to Pérez, but I I can understand your point.
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In-story, that’s a fair point about this being a Steve version of the origin, but DC is putting it out there for us and it becomes the current origin. No love, no goddesses. It’s so weird.
I finally gave up on Human Target, I either never got to J’onn and Bea or instantly dumped it from my brain. This sort of thing happens a lot with Tom King books.
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Yeah, it’s been reiterated a few different places that all Black Label series are alternate takes. I think the only exception to this is the Sandman Universe stuff since that was originally Vertigo. And really, there are very few I would want to take place in regular continuity anyway. Thank goodness
The Zoom and Ink lines are (or whatever they are calling the YA Book lines now) are the same – with the exception of Whistle, Primer, Dreamer, and Galaxy graphic novels. Those have been established as main canon.
I’m not sure about the DC Horror books, but I assume they are Multiverse books, too, given that they don’t fit into the established history (like Sgt. Rock fighting a zombie Hitler).
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Hang on, Zombie Hitler didn’t meet Sgt Rock? Is Frank not real?
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