Wonder Woman Vol. 2: Year One (Rebirth) (Wonder Woman: DC Universe Rebirth, 2) Paperback – May 9, 2017

The second volume of Greg Rucka's Rebirth run on Wonder Woman actually alternates every other issue with the first volume's worth of stories. While Volume One sets the stage for the ongoing mystery of Diana's confused origins in the present day, this volume retells her origins in an attempt to set a definitive take on Wonder Woman's past for the New 52/Rebirth era. Rucka draws mostly from the classic "Gods and Monsters" origin tale popularized by George Perez and steers the character clear of her "daughter of the Gods" story from the New 52 era (an origin story that is being cast into doubt by Diana herself in the first volume's contents). The one aspect this "Year One" arc doesn't set in stone is whether or not Diana is a child of clay given life by the gods or if she is actually a daughter of Zeus herself. That mystery is still being kept intentionally unanswered by Rucka for now. Instead, this story retells the tale of Diana meeting Steve Trevor and first coming to "Man's World."Another clear inspiration for Rucka's would-be definitive take is Grant Morrison's recent Earth One tale. Overall I liked Rucka's writing a lot better than Morrison's, but there are some clear similarities (such as admitting that the Amazons were often lesbians and that Diana had female lovers growing up on Paradise Island). We also get a bit of the original friendship between Wonder Woman and Barbara Minerva (the woman who would be cursed into becoming the Cheetah). Certainly when read in tandem with the first volume's take on the character you get a lot of the tragic nature of their ruined friendship.All in all "Year One" isn't a groundbreaking new origin story for Diana. Rucka borrows heavily from many of the other interpretations for Wonder Woman's story and combines them into a terrific take. While some might question the need to retell Diana's origins again (especially so soon after both Grant Morrison's Earth One book and Jill Thompson's "The True Amazon" retelling), I enjoy this book the most out of those three. With Rebirth attempting to confront the nature of the character's confused origins head on it makes sense that they would go back to the drawing board a bit to try and even out the wrinkles. Furthermore, the book offers a hopeful and fun spin on the character that is worlds away from the darkness of the New 52 take (where the Amazons were all cursed and Diana's mother was turned to clay) or even the Morrison book (where the Amazons were outright hostile to Man's World and put Diana on trial for leaving Themyscira). This is a book that celebrates these characters as the best of a lost culture and though they are sad to see Diana leave (potentially never to return) they take pride in her new role as an ambassador to the world of men who is out to confront the rule of Ares.

A fantastic year one story! I loved this so much that I couldn't drop the book and had to continue reading and following the adventures of Diana and her group.

What I think is that I would like to have read Dr. Minerva's account before Wonder Woman's origin. I like this version especially how her powers came to be. I like that the invisible plane disintegrates after it falls from the sky. I think its odd that the Amazons intelligence was so advance that they could rebuild a 21 century aircraft without prior knowledge or books.

I cannot leave a good enough review for this book. Seriously, there was so much perfection packed in these pages that it's hard to know where to begin. The combination of Greg Rucka's writing and Nicola Scott's artwork comes together for a Diana that is brave and vulnerable and strong and true in a way that Wonder Woman has always been and yet has never been before. She is everything she has been, but MORE. Seeing her in pain or feeling betrayed break a your heart. Seeing her wonder at the world brings you joy. It's all down to the way that the Rucko writes and Scott illustrates. They bring together aspects of the character that are so true and so relatable that you forget you are reading about a goddess and experience her world in new and wonderful ways.In addition, this book is feminism in delightful doses. It is Steve's clothes suggestively ripped after a battle and Diana carrying him away from danger. It is her strength and pure BAMF attitude, while still showing her fear and her sadness. It is the perfect balance of true feminism, where you celebrate both the strengths and weaknesses of the same individual because a person has BOTH. It is unbelievable and inspiring and gorgeous and please just go read this book!

I found this a perfect retelling of Diana's origin. My only qualms with it were the lack of her birth, the set-up villain being taken care of in a page or two, and how she gets her powers in this version, she is blessed with them only a short time after arriving in Man's World. But other than those minor issues I had, this was just an enjoyable read and sight to behold. She and everyone and everything else is drawn so beautifully and written that way as well. Wonder Woman's origin isn't anything new, but a modern refreshing is very nice and something I have a feeling a lot of people need, especially with the new movie coming out. Because as someone who once didn't read comics, I can tell you right away that her origin is just not well known.Now that I've been exposed to multiple Wonder Woman origins, I'm glad to say that is one of my top favorite tellings.

This is a great story arc to follow. It deals with Wonder Women’s psychological and emotional journey. Plus her ability to bounce back, and be Wonder Woman! Tricky gods, interesting timeline, emotional tugs with her relationship with Steve Trevor. I like the art work in volume 1 & 4 best, they are all unique and compliment the part of the story in each volume. Depth and breadth of Wonder Woman!

Book came in excellent condition and this is a good entry into the rebirth storyline of Wonder Woman. Good summation of her character along with great artwork

An excellent retelling of Wonder Woman's origin story set in the modern day.