Tell Me Lies, Tell Me Sweet Little Lies
Writer: Greg Rucka
Art by: Matthew Clark, Sean Parsons, Liam Sharp, Jeremy Colwell, Laura Martin and Jodi WynneCover Price: $2.99
Release Date: June 8, 2016
Wonder Woman has really been stepping up her game lately. Grant Morrison's Earth One, Renae De Liz's The Legend of Wonder Woman and or course her appearance in Batman v Superman leading to her solo film debut. I'll take any and as much Wonder Woman as I can get, but it does all lead to the obvious fact that nobody can pin down a definitive origin story for her. Every time she shows up, writers pick and chose what they like and go with it. Truthfully, I don't mind myself and part of the fun is seeing little changes and callbacks, but Wonder Woman is part of the Trinity and really does deserve more. Greg Rucka obviously knows all of this, but instead of putting his foot down, he gets Wonder Woman involved in the mystery herself. That's right, Wonder Woman wants to know her definitive origin even more than you do!
The issue opens with a couple beginnings...made of clay, Zeus is her father and even a hint at her newly revealed twin brother. Wonder Woman herself tells us that her memories and stories keep changing and it's meta and also ties in perfectly with this whole Rebirth going on. I thought that Greg Rucka using the twice monthly shipping schedule to tell two simultaneous stories was a great idea, but after reading this beginning I see that it goes beyond just a great idea. Rucka understands his character, he understands what a Rebirth should be and he is pushing it to it's utmost potential. This is the first solo Rebirth title that made me shake my head and say, "Yes, this is what Rebirth should be all about!"
Rucka then takes us through the iconic moments of the Wonder Woman story and seeing the variations back-to-back really hits home how different her story has been. If you're like me, you will smile when you see your favorite version, but also may realize that you even have them jumbled up in your head. I was having a whole lot of fun with it until I realized that Wonder Woman was stuck in the middle of it all, trying to figure out what has become a schizophrenic life.
That's really the key here. Greg Rucka is not just telling a story about a character, he is letting the character tell us the story and she has no idea what is the truth and what is a lie and it's hurting her. Now I want to know the truth! I need a definitive origin, not for me, but for Diana herself!
It all continues with Diana seeking the truth and it starts with herself. In such a great moment, she uses her lasso on herself and asks, "Who am I?" It begins with the basics, but then tells her she has been deceived. She doesn't know who is involved or when it started and that's the seed for the story going forward. The issue ends in Olympus (maybe) with Wonder Woman confronting the lie and telling whoever is involved, that she will have the truth.
I loved this issue. Greg Rucka has grabbed everything that makes Wonder Woman great and set it up against her story's biggest flaw. Other writers have used entire runs to tell their Wonder Woman origin story and all Greg Rucka does in twenty some pages is show that they all make sense and they all may be a lie. He also made all the Rebirth #1s I've read so far look silly and near sighted in comparison. Somewhere, Greg Ruck is dropping a mic. Suddenly, two weeks between issues seems like a long time.
The art is split between Matthew Clark and Liam Sharp and while I wish we would have seen a little Nicola Scott (who will be alternating with Sharp during the regular run), this book looked great. The story lends itself to varying looks and styles and Clark and Sharp are up for the task. In a story where you don't know if what your seeing is the truth, at least you know it looks great.
Bits and Pieces:
Greg Rucka uses Rebirth to change the rules of the game. Instead of giving us a new origin, he is exploring why their isn't a definitive version in the first place. It all goes to another level when we realize that Wonder Woman is stuck in it all and wants out. The art is great, but it's Greg Rucka's story and focus that have me so excited to read whatever he has in store for us.
9.7/10
Glad that Wonder Woman has a great comic again hopefully I can get a copy of these new titles forever because man it's annoying when they sell out
ReplyDeletethis was my favorite so far, though Reggie and Eric didn't like it much
DeleteIt's interesting to see that so far, the best Rebirth books (Wonder Woman, Batman) have been getting poor reviews because they go over people's heads, while mediocre books like Green Arrow and Detective Comics have people salivating over them purely because of fanservice.
ReplyDeleteI liked Detective Comics for the fun of it...but this book is exactly what I was hoping Rebirth would be and I don't understand how any Wonder Woman fan could read this and think it's anything but great.
DeleteAnd yes, Batman even went over my head in a rush to review it, but after reading it again and talking about it on the podcast, I "got" it more and enjoyed it more...though I was probably way off still!!!
Um, neither Batman nor Wonder Woman went over my head, but I felt they were the mediocre books out of the last two weeks, while both Green Arrow and Detective were infinitely better. I also disagree with the rating Flash got as it set up so much. In my opinion the best books of the week were Flash and Detective tied at 1st, 2nd Action, 3rd Aquaman, and last Wonder Woman. That being said, Wondy was still a good, solid book. Rating them Flash/Det 9.5, Action 9, Aqua 8.5, Wondy 8 all out of 10 of course.
DeleteFlash set up a lot of stuff that won't be in Flash...We all knew Wally was going off to the Titans and the stuff with Batman is fan service that won't be resolved for a long time.
DeleteSorry Jim, I still disagree. Yes Flash did set up Wally and the titans. But it established that Wally would be A Flash. It is also establishing the fact that there will be close ties to Titans and that Barry and Wally will be the Lynch pins to whatever is coming down the line. The parts with Batman establishes the friendship of the 2. Also that murder in the beginning somehow ties, likely, to Godspeed who pops up at the end. As for Detective, you meant that instead of Batman right, we'll have to just agree to disagree.
DeleteI meant Barry and Bruce checking out things at the end. I'm glad that you liked it, but I have enjoyed the books that gave a tone for the series going forward and this was just too much Rebirth recap for me. As far as Barry and Wally, I thought that Rebirth already established them as lynch pins to what's going on. It just didn't seem new or fresh to me. I also thought it was a perfect opportunity to get Barry, Wally and N52 Wally together.
DeleteI would have loved more Godspeed, Blackhole, August Heart... here. I can't wait to read the regular run in two weeks, though! I think that Williamson definitely knows the character.
All in all, it gets everyone on the same page going forward which is good too.
I definitely agree that it would have been better if both Wallys had met up. I didn't even think of that. Good call man
Deletesee, we agree on something!!!
DeleteI'm with you Jim, they nailed the point of Rebirth in this issue. Dealing with her "birth" head on was a great idea and I'm in.
ReplyDeleteHeadline tag line .... nailed it!
ReplyDeletechanged it for you
DeleteThis was my first ever WW comic I really enjoyed it ... doesn't beat Detective for me but has me very intrigued . This was one of those border line books for me I'll scoop up now.
DeleteWhat an awful Wonder Woman book. >_>
ReplyDeleteI suppose i'll just drop it until it gets a writer shift, and stick to Legends of Wonder Woman when it comes back.