Originally Posted by
SiegePerilous02
I just re-read "Gods and Mortals" last night, and while it's still great, I do think "Year One" has some clear advantages over it.
G&M's main asset is the grandiose epic story and having the Gods as active participants, with her confrontation with Ares being the highlight that makes the battle with "Ares" in Year One underwhelming in comparison. However, the pacing on the early parts on the island are pretty wonky. Diana wins the Contest, gets her costume and her talisman from Harmonia to prep into going into Man's World before Steve even crashes on the island. He's pretty much an afterthought that can be removed and Diana's mission would remain the same. I think if Steve has to be involved, the way Year One paced it is much better, and provided a more convincing emotional connection between them. Despite Diana saying Steve was like a brother to her in the Perez run, it was rarely actually shown.
Diana not gaining her powers until after the Contest is preferable to her having a clear advantage over the other hard working Amazons because she's the special one.
Since the Cheetah is a much more important player to the franchise than the Kapatelis women, I prefer Barabra taking Julia's early role. I think Julia and Vanessa could have easily been written to be brought in after Barbara becomes Cheetah, but....Robinson.
Etta is a bore in each version, but at least Rucka's isn't insecure about her weight. That's a realistic body image mentality that could be explored in a comic, but it's just not who Etta specifically is.