Wonder Woman: Earth One, Volume 1

   Grant Morrison (Batman and Robin) ushers Diana into the Earth One universe in this graphic novel from 2016. 

    When the Amazon Princess of Themyscira discovers a man who has crashed on the shores of her home, it awakens a desire to visit the world of men. Her hope is to be a harbinger of peace between her homeland and the outside world. But what Diana witnesses chills her to the very core. Angered by her daughter's rebellious nature, Queen Hippolyta orders some of her best warriors to bring Diana back to Themyscira to be judged. Can what the American media has dubbed the 'Wonder Woman' win her freedom with the testimony of her new friends Steve Trevor and Etta Candy or will her sins be found punishable by death?

     This is the third Earth One introductory volume I have read. Superman's story along with Batman were interesting retools of the characters to appeal to a new generation of readers. The whole Earth One project has been like Marvel's Ultimate line, only on a much smaller scale. However, Wonder Woman's story doesn't seem that different from what's already been established for the last 75 years. 

    Yes- Diana's World War II ties have been erased. Yes, Etta Candy is a hip sorority sister whose libido would give Captain Jack Harkness a run for his money. And yes, the technology of Themyscira is more streamlined than based on ancient Greek and Roman myths. But the elements that Grant Morrison tries to use to make this version of Wonder Woman more shocking and daring, such as lesbianism, women's lib, and sexual dominance, aren't new to the Wonder Woman mythos. 

   What I am trying to say is that I feel like I've read this story before: every time Wonder Woman is rebooted like in 1968-69, 1986-87, and 2014.

     Now there was one element to this Earth One volume that was completely new and edgy AND it worked really well too: the art. Swamp Thing's Yanick Paquette does an amazing job with provocative new designs of Diana, Themyscira, and even Etta. Another element I loved were the unique panels he would render of chains, flowers, and gilded statues to evoke the atmosphere of each scene. It ranks up there with Mark Buckingham's mise en place for every page of Fables. I loved it. 

    A good story that I don't think goes far enough to create a new mythos of a pop culture legend. If I am going to read a story that is suppose to re-invent a timeless character for a 21st century audience, it needs to actually change the character. It doesn't happen with Wonder Woman: Earth One. I'm not sure if the master of DC reboots, Grant Morrison either tried too hard or didn't try enough. I know one thing Morrison's attempt to modernize Diana of Themyscira did do: it validated the old adage: "the more things change, the more they stay the same."

    Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.