Wonder Woman Vol. 1 The Lies
By: Greg Rucka,
Paulo Sigueira, Liam Sharp, Nicola Scott, Matt Clark, Laura Martin
Variant Cover Art: Stanley “Artgerm” Lau
#1, #3, #5, #7, #9, #11 and Rebirth
The Story:
This story arc runs parallel with “Year One” It follows Diana on her search for
the truth. Diana has lost her way she’s doubting herself and her role as Wonder
Woman. She is also starting to remember two distinctively different pasts.
Looking for help in her search for the truth Diana seeks out and old friend and
enemy Barbara Ann Minerva/ Cheetah. But Cheetah won’t help for nothing and
demands that Diana help her in her journey to destroy the God who cursed her. Along the way she once again crosses path
with Steve Trevor.
The Art:
Outstanding. I love the detail and the contrast between light and dark. It adds
a visual to the conflict that Diana is currently feeling the two halves of herself
not knowing which one is the true Diana. She wears almost a perpetual sad and confused
look on her face, even when smiling it still seems sad. I loved Cheetah’s look,
she looks more feral and terrifying. Steve Trevor looked like a young Chuck
Norris mixed with Arnold Schwarzenegger, but I liked it.
The Characters:
Diana Prince/
Wonder Woman: I love the creation origins behind Wonder Woman. She is
everything Superman and Batman are except a woman. She is a diplomat first only
resorting to violence unless it’s the last resort. I have a feeling that she
going to be facing some serious internal conflict in the upcoming events.
Barbara Ann Minerva/ Cheetah: I have never liked Cheetah
more than I do now. Rucka rewrote Cheetah’s origin a little. Instead of just
being a jealous heiress turned archeologist who was then cursed and possessed by
a cheetah, she has a deeper past. In which Rucka went into with Minerva’s own
origin comic.
Steve Trevor: Steve was Diana’s first love, and I have a
theory about first loves. You never really stop loving them. You may grow apart
and become different people but deep down you still love who that person was
and how they made you feel. I think that’s what Steve is to Diana, even if they
can’t be together Diana still has that feeling of what they meant to each other.
But I sense that in future comics those feelings will be tested.
Etta Candy and the rest of Steve Trevor’s team show up and
do their thing. Etta later aids Diana in her search and Godwatch makes an appearance.
Review: I read this just as is, I haven't read the Year One story arc yet, so it did seem like I miss something but the artwork and this story arc way then made up for it, that and I looked up stuff on wiki to catch up. (psst don't read wiki of you don't want spoilers on where the story is going) I've never been a diehard fan of Wonder Woman; I love what she stood for and her strength but my only real exposure to her were the Linda Carter Wonder Woman reruns on the Sci-fi Channel growing up but between DCEU animated movies, can not forget InJustice video game, and now Dawn of Justice and the new upcoming movie (that looks awesome) I am really diggin' it. With "Rebirth" I thought that it would be like a giant reboot and that I could jump in and be fine, nope. I have no idea where they are going with it but so far I do like it. I hope I get to review more. I really enjoy a good internal conflict and a bit of romance with my action. I like where Rucka is going with this so far.
**I am a newb. I will be the first to admit that. I am fairly new to
reading comic books. I mainly read DC, my first comic book love was Sandman
by Gaiman which I read before really getting into comics. I have been a fan since Batman the Michael Keaton movie. I've mainly watched the cartoon series and the animated movies, after watching Flashpoint Paradox I knew I needed to read the actual thing. I got into the comics, never looked back and now here I am trying to review some of my favorite and
iconic characters.**
Story: Godwatch is the past look at how it got started. They are nice issues that give you the insight to Veronica Cale's motivation. It explains what exactly happened to Izzy how Adrianna became Doctor Cyber and just how Cale was able to trap Deimos and Phobos in to dogs. Even how she was instrumental in Barbara Ann Minerva's change into Cheetah. Vol 4 starts six months after Wonder Woman's appearance and moves to the present. ...And Then There Were Three from the Annual is the introduction of Superman and Batman to Wonder Woman.
Art: Bilquis Evely is just wow. The cover, to me, looks very reminiscent of a Mucha painting. You see the visible strength of Wonder Woman but also soft womanly features. I love that cover. The rest of the book is just as good it has great lines and beautiful colors, except Godwatch part four. While it was well drawn and beautifully colored I just couldn't stand that they all looked like teenagers. They look like they should have been in some angsty teen drama instead of Wonder Woman. I love Jenny Frison's variant covers.
Review: Overall, I really enjoyed the story. Sometimes I like to know what's going on in the bad guys mind set and Veronica was a good villain. Greg Rucka did a great job with the timeline for this whole story arc and keeping you interested bouncing back and forth from past to present. Normally that would bug me and I think it would if I was reading this single issue by single issue but grouped as they are in the graphic novels it makes reading them very easy. 
