So after being spurred by Jill Tompson's Eisner award for Wonder Woman: The True Amazon too read it, I quickly read The Legend of Wonder Woman as well, completing all four of the recent origin stories. I'm not sure if their has been a thread discussing these stories as a group, but why not right? So I just wanted to write my thoughts down on these pieces and was curious as too what others thought about them as well.
Wonder Woman: The True Amazon - I think a lot of people are going to write this one off because WW is essentially a villain. However it actually bares a close resemblance to a story John Byrne told in an annual, where as a child, Wonder Woman accidentally causes the death of a fellow amazon, which that and more happens in this. So her origin is ultimately a tragedy and this, unlike returning Steve Trevor to her home, is what incites Wonder Woman on her heroic career. A lot of traits of the character that are traditionally displayed positively, her competitiveness, lust for adventure and being the sole child of an entire civilization, here are seen in a negative light. Verdict: Great
The Legend of Wonder Woman - For the first block of this work, set on the island, I was enjoying it quite a bit. It reminded me of Moana actually, as a poison from across the sea was infiltrating the island. However when the story leaves for Man's World, set in 1944, I began to lose interest. The pacing wasn't too great, I don't really care for WWII centric stories (they were always the worst parts of Marston's work) and also because I read DC's Bombshells and they both have nazi zombies. Verdict: Okay
Wonder Woman: Earth 1 - Of the four, Marston's long awaited Wonder Woman: Earth 1 is undoubtedly the most complicated narrative wise. This is another story that sets Wonder Woman in a somewhat negative light, but also gives Hippolyta a bad report as well. Wonder Woman is bored with Amazon society and desires to explore the wider world, receiving that opportunity when Steve Trevor arrives by plane on the island. This is at odds with Hippolyta's own machinations for her daughter and she would spare no favour in retrieving her daughter back, even as a criminal. Verdict: Great
Wonder Woman: Rebirth - Greg Rucka's long awaited origin story is of the four, the most 'by the book.' It doesn't veer off too far from the model George Perez set down almost 40 years ago, though this does make it probably the best book for new readers (though the rest of the run is, in my opinion, not new reader friendly). However when compared to other titles on the list I think it does lack its own identity, but I don't think that was ever the point. Interestingly though, because this is the only book sold in a monthly format, it is probably the best paced. For some reason graphic novels eschew chapters and I do think this 'damages' the product (there are no stops to collect ones thoughts, it encourages reading the whole novel in one sitting). Verdict: Okay