Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Yanick Paquette; Nathan Fairbairn; & Todd Klein
Cover Art by Yanick Paquette
SUMMARY:
Completing Grant Morrison’s Elseworlds-like trilogy, DC Comics published this 136-page hardcover in 2021. For the first time in a thousand years, Queen Diana intends to peacefully reunite all rival Amazonian tribes in her name. It’ll take their combined might to thwart Maxwell Lord’s militaristic strike on Paradise Island’s futuristic society. Utilizing his mortal identity, the enigmatic Lord desires to restore masculine domination to the world.
Resembling a corrupted Tony Stark/Iron Man, Lord’s formidable army of armored A.R.E.S. drones may be an impetus towards igniting a final world war between the genders. With a fugitive Captain Steve Trevor & Etta Candy (resembling actress Rebel Wilson) among her steadfast allies, it’s up to Wonder Woman to make a defensive stand and forever transform her world’s future.
REVIEW:
In its sole instance of good storytelling, the last page signifying a sub-plot coming full circle makes sense. Far too little else actually does; instead, Grant Morrison’s epic storyline comes off as mockingly hollow. From the get-go, the art squad’s consistently high-caliber visuals are sabotaged by Morrison’s homage to absurdist works reminiscent of authors like Robert A. Heinlein & Kurt Vonnegut.
As for the sci-fi/fantasy context he smugly parodies, Morrison’s teased ‘Battle of the Sexes’ between Wonder Woman & arch-nemesis Maxwell Lord is a veritable mess leading to nowhere. Essentially, Earth One’s condescending Wonder Woman exudes Amazonian masterhood on steroids.
Think of it this way: Earth One, Volume Three is a dubious 21st Century re-imagining of William Moulton Marston’s rudimentary characters (Wonder Woman, Steve Trevor, Etta Candy, etc.), as they were in their initial Golden Age incarnations. Given Morrison’s penchant for bizarre/psychedelic story arcs misinterpreting DC icons (i.e. Batman R.I.P.; Seven Soldiers), it’s unsurprising that Wonder Woman’s strategy of enforcing peace on her Earth amounts to benign dictatorship. Come the end, this tone-deaf, nonsensical approach to Wonder Woman indicates DC’s disappointing lack of editorial control.
Had Gail Simone (undoubtedly, she is DC’s most insightful scribe for female characters) replaced Morrison, then artist Yanick Paquette’s impressive work likely wouldn’t have been squandered.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
There is Paquette’s intriguing nine-page sketchbook. Also included are Morrison & Paquette’s mini-biographies.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 3 Stars
