So...I took a little bit of a break because I had been feeling tired and busy, then of course I went and got COVID. I guess it was a sign to slow down and rest. Before I knew it, two months had passed. In that time I have decided that I need to change up how I am doing this blog. I have decided I am going to cut back on the recapping and add more thoughts. I hope to keep some of my favorite parts, like talking about the writers and the artist, as well as my favorite lines and cover arts. I am going to pick up where I left off with Wonder Woman. I hope my new format is still enjoyable.
Previously, I was recapping a Wonder Woman story that was taking place in the present. Now it is time to find out what Wonder Woman's true origin story is. Wonder Woman Vol. 2: Year One includes issues #2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14. For this part one post, I am going to start with issues #2, 4, 6, and 8.
Year One, Part One: In this issue we see a back and forth story of a young Steve Trevor and young Diana. Diana is portrayed as restless and constantly wondering what is happening outside of Themyscira. Steve is portrayed as a happy soldier who cares deeply about his men. We see both of them love their friends and family, but something is missing. There is a fun page that shows the passage of time. We see Diana working hard to become an Amazon and Steve watching a close friend fall in love, get married and start a family. I will point out something that will be important, a dark tree shows up in Themyscira and a snake comes out of it and bites Diana. She recovers and she gets her first glimpse of the lasso of truth and other items that are the staples of her outfit. The issue ends with Steve ending up crashing on Themyscira. All of his friends are dead, but Diana finds him alive.
Year One, Part Two: They heal Steve up and of course there is a lot of debate about whether or not he is on the up and up or if he is going to be a problem. Diana quickly trusts him but Hippolyta is less inclined after seeing how destructive his weapons (a gun) are. Fun to point out that Diana and the Amazons do not speak English, so she and Steve can't just chat right away. Hippolyta decides a champion must be chosen, of course she doesn't want Diana to compete because she is still recovering from that random snake bite. Of course Diana is going to compete though. In a little bit of a crazy turn from the usual story, Hippolyta decides to test the final three by shooting at them with Steve's gun. Diana is the only one who can deflect the bullets. (I have to add a quick note. I am in love with the relationship between Hippolyta and Philippus.) Diana is crowned the champion and we see her now wearing the outfit we have often seen her wearing. The colors chosen to match the red, white and blue of Steve's home country. We end with a mother and daughter goodbye that I really like because Hippolyta is supportive and encouraging but does understand that she may never see her daughter again.
Year One, Part Three: Steve and Diana are traveling in her invisible and maybe self flying jet. Neither one can understand anything the other is saying, it is pretty funny. They land on a crowded beach and are quickly shuttled off to a Naval base where the language barrier is even more of a problem, but Diana does her best to not freak out as they basically arrest her. Important note: a bunch of animals are following her around and we learn these are the Greek Gods themselves keeping an eye on things. The military people look at Diana's stuff and we learn the invisible jet disintegrated. We meet a younger version of Etta Candy and she and Steve try to figure out what to do with Diana, who they have legit put in a jail cell. All the animals/Gods reveal themselves to Diana, but we don't know what they talked about. We also meet a younger and totally human Dr. Minerva who can kind of chat with Diana, but she thinks Diana is crazy, going on about the Greek Gods and gifts, that is until in her frustration, Diana just rips the door off the jail cell ending this issue with some flair.
Interlude: This issue starts with an even younger Barbara Ann Minerva just having fun pretending to be what looks like an Amazon warrior, but her terrible parents are against it and burn her toys. (WTF parents?) It doesn't deter Barbara Ann much though because as an adult she still spends her time looking for proof of Amazons. At a dig site, during a crazy storm she seems to find her proof, but the weather has other plans and she barely gets out alive as rocks fill and cover the old temple she had found. Since no one else saw what she did they figured it was not worth digging it up again. Even a picture on her phone is not enough to convince the Man in charge to keep looking. Barbara spends many of the next few years looking for the home of the Amazons. She actually gets really close after unknowingly getting a tip from Athena herself. Although this issue ends with her being disappointed we see in the background a tree that sure looks like the one that a snake came out of.
Thoughts: I have a few takeaways right off the bat. I like that Diana doesn't know English. It makes way more sense than them all just knowing every language which seems to sometimes happen in these types of comics. I also very much enjoy the sapphic undertones for every woman in this comic, not just the Amazons, you totally get it from Etta and Barbara too. It is never explicit, but it feels more than implied. As far as the beginnings of an origin story it is okay. I am not sure if it is moving slowly or if I have just read so many origin stories, both in general and for Wonder Woman specifically, that I just want it to move along. That being said, I loved the issue that was just for Barbara Ann. She is a complicated character and deserves to be treated as such.
Overall, a good start and we can already begin to see the connections to the story that was told in the odd numbered issues. In my next post I'll cover the remaining three issues in this volume, as well as talk about the artists who worked on this story line. If you want to read my thoughts on the author, Greg Rucka, you can check those out in Wonder Woman Vol. 1: The Lies, Part 1. See you all on Friday for more Wonder Woman love.
Previous Posts: Wonder Woman Vol. 1: The Lies, Part 2
Wonder Woman Vol. 1: The Lies, Part 3
Next Post: Wonder Woman Vol. 2: Year One, Part 2
Note: All images belong to DC™
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