A Beautiful Beginning
Written by: Renae De Liz
Art by: Renae De Liz and Ray Dillon
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: November 12, 2015
I am a huge fan of the DC Digital First line of books and feel that I am in the know when it comes to the lineup. That's why it always amazes me when a book a big as this seems to materialize out of nowhere without much fanfare at all. I really can't figure out why DC continues to treat their digital books with such a laissez-faire attitude, but I'm not here to climb on my soapbox, I'm here to talk about The Legend of Wonder Woman. While I'll admit that Wonder Woman's multiple origins do present a problem to some, I never had an issue with it. As long as the story I'm reading is good, I'm fine. However, I am in the minority here and if this "definitive" origin story helps people enjoy the character more going forward, I'm all for it. However, it isn't enough just to throw big words around, the story has to be good and make sense to be considered "definitive". So, is it both of those things? Let's find out...
What better place to start an origin story than the beginning, right? Well, that's what Renae De Liz gives us...the beginning of the Universe. It is an epic start and really gives the reader the sense that, indeed, this is an all-new and important origin. However, those jumping into this book expecting to see nothing but Wonder Woman may be disappointed because to have Wonder Woman, you first need her mother, Hippolyta. This first chapter is mainly her story and it's pretty awesome.
Before I go on with the what's what of the story, I have to pause to tell you that this is one of the best-looking books I've read in a long time. Maybe it's because De Liz and Ray Dillon's style is right in my wheelhouse...cartoony and colorful, but I can't see how anyone could not feel the same way. It makes the book look like a fairytale which it kind of is. Seriously, it looks so good. Enough of my gushing, how was the story? It's almost as impressive as the art.
Like I said, this is mainly the story of Hippolyta and her quest to be something more than an immortal Queen. She wanted to become a mother. Poor Hippolyta had been granted immortality by Zeus and while that sounds great to me, immortals cannot bear children. While she desperately sought a way to get back her mortality, everything has consequences and Amazons and Gods all were affected. Because of all this, Zeus created Themyscira for them all and thousands of years past in peace. Unfortunately, these years were lonely ones for the Amazonian Queen.
That's when the moment everyone was waiting for happened. Diana was born out of the clay of Themyscira and the hope of Hippolyta...the second part is so good. The book then shifts to the young girls of Themyscira being taught that every Amazon has a calling and then we see Diana and no matter what else is said, this first glimpse of the future Wonder Woman was great. De Liz's character work here is just incredible. Little Diana is not a happy camper, though, and senses something is wrong with the island. We'll have to wait for that little seed to grow, however, because the issue ends with Diana heading into the palace to visit her mother.
I loved this first issue. I can't say that this is my idea of the "definitive" origin of Wonder Woman yet, but if the next eight issues are as good, I'll be all in. If you are any kind of Wonder Woman fan, then I think you will love this book. I can't say much more about the art than I already have...it is incredible and I loved every bit of it.
Bits and Pieces:
This is a great first chapter of what is promised to be the definitive origin of Wonder Woman. While that's a big statement, if the full series is as good, I'll have to agree with it. Renae De Liz and Ray Dillon give the reader a great combination of story and art and I've already fallen in love with this book. If you are a Wonder Woman fan or a comic fan in general, give this first chapter a look see and I think you'll be hooked.
9.5/10
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