From the Bookshelf of Around the Year in 52 Books …

Wonder Woman, Vol. 1: The Lies

Greg Rucka (Writer),

Liam Sharp (Artist)

Why we're reading this: 7/8 - The Secret History of Wonder Woman
[close] 7/8 - The Secret History of Wonder Woman

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Apr 14, 2017 Wendy rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2017, graphic-novel, fantasy, library-book, books-i-own

4.5 stars. Great storyline, fantastic artwork.

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Dec 18, 2017 Nadine in NY Jones rated it liked it

Shelves: graphic-novels-and-comics, superheroes

I like to read comic books, but I don't read a lot of superhero comic books. Superheroes are everywhere these days, so I thought I'd dip my toes into the vast ocean, and I thought these "Rebirth" comics might be a good place to start, so I can learn a little bit about the various characters.

At first this was intriguing, but I quickly jut got fed up, because it is a batshit crazy storyline and I didn't know what the hell was going on. First, Wonder Woman mopes around wondering (hah! get it?!? an I like to read comic books, but I don't read a lot of superhero comic books. Superheroes are everywhere these days, so I thought I'd dip my toes into the vast ocean, and I thought these "Rebirth" comics might be a good place to start, so I can learn a little bit about the various characters.

At first this was intriguing, but I quickly jut got fed up, because it is a batshit crazy storyline and I didn't know what the hell was going on. First, Wonder Woman mopes around wondering (hah! get it?!? and that's her pun not mine) who she really is. Wonder Woman's lips are always plump, and they get even plumper for her "thinking face." There's a scene with broken glass on the floor but she doesn't break any glass until a few pages later. She changes from one skimpy outfit to another. (Later, she makes a crack about people always paying too much attention to her wardrobe, and okay that was funny.) Then she goes to Olympus, to do a little moping there, I guess? Then she's wandering around in an African jungle muttering cryptic things, there are black savages stalking her and could this be any less pc??? The savages get wolf heads and I guess they are werewolves and wtf? Then they look like jackals? Or are they bats? I think they are bats. Is this like Batman? I don't know, the art is all over the place. Then she strikes some sexually suggestive poses in a pond or river with a woman named "Cheetah," whom I'd never heard of, so I googled and found that Cheetah is one of WW's arch-nemeses, and her minions are were-jackals. So, okay, that's going on. Meanwhile, Etta Candy is commanding some secret ops mission in Bwunda (yeah I don't know) led by Steve Trevor and why is this going on and aren't these two human so how are they still alive all these years later???? I liked the Chris Pine version of Steve Trevor better than this muscle-bound, rugged, blond guy.

The art is uneven and generally unappealing. Sometimes people's eyes are all white, no irises. I don't know if this is intentional; I think sometimes it is, but sometimes it isn't. Also, everyone's faces keep morphing. Sometimes they look like they've been hit in the face with a shovel. It's ... disconcerting.

verdict: I hated the art by Liam Sharp. I wasn't crazy about Rucka's writing, and the last time I saw native bigotry like this was in ERB's Tarzan, but the storyline, with multiple double crosses and deceptions, is intriguing. I'll give it another chance.

characters I learned about:
Cheetah - Barbara Ann Minerva, archeologist, formerly Diana's friend, bonded with a jungle God Urzkartaga to become WW's nemesis, the quasi-goddess Cheetah, w were-jackal minions.
Sasha Bordeaux - started out as Batman's bodyguard and sorta-moll, became head ("Black Queen") of the secret ops group Checkmate.
Veronica Cale - head of Cale-Anderson pharmaceuticals co, WW's nemesis.
Adriana - Veronica's friend. ...more

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Jul 17, 2022 Traci rated it liked it · review of another edition

intriguing read

I picked this for a challenge prompt of a non patriarchal society. I figured the origin of Wonder woman was definitely in a matriarchal society. This is a story of deception that I think having some awareness of the Wonder Woman tale enhances. Not knowing wouldn’t ruin it but the reader might be a bit lost

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