How Accessible is "The Circle"

[JimRaynor55]

I've seen multiple recommendations for Gail Simone's run, especially "The Circle" arc which some people have called one of the best stories ever written about this character. However, I've also seen tons of criticism for the early issues of Wonder Woman Vol. 3, especially that "Amazons Attack" garbage. So my question is, how accessible and self-contained is "The Circle" and the rest of Gail's run? I'd like to buy it on Comixology based on what I've heard. But I don't want to be lost, or have to buy and read lots of crappy issues before that to avoid being lost.

[americanwonder]

Hi Jim - these are just my opinons:

"The Circle" is very good; best story in Gail's WW run. Hard for me to judge accessiblity, since (sadly) I did read Amazons Attack (skip it, I say). Still, I'd say it's pretty straight forward, doing a solid job of giving all the info. you need.

All the background you really need (SPOILERS): Amazons attacked DC; got a mind-wipe of sorts and sent off into the world; Hippolyta is left alone (?) on the island.

Hope that helps.

[onoturtle]

Jim, assuming you know your WW basics (otherwise, probably check out the WW animated movie or the first trade of Perez's), I think The Circle is accessible. I just read it tonight, as I'm beginning Simone's run too! Like you, I'm avoiding the previous Vol. 3 issues and Amazons Attack. One thing that helps a bit, but not really necessary, is to read about the plot of Amazons Attack on Wikipedia just to give you a sense of the status quo.

To make you feel safer about buying it, I'm a WW newbie. I've only read Hiketeia, League of One, JMS's run (this is where I started WW since it was the current arc at the time), and the new 52 stuff. Not much and all have no bearing on the Circle.

[Fused]

I think you're safe. I recommend it!

[DisneyBoy]

I'm going to caution you to read the George Perez origin for Diana first. Gail's Circle storyline was great because it flashed back to Diana's origins and put a "things you didn't see!" twist on them. If you know nothing about Diana's origins, then the impact won't really be there.

Also, the storyline features some sub-plots about Diana's...err, other job, shall we say. That stuff was hard for me to wrap my head around because I'd skipped the issues leading up to it (I also heard they were terrible). I'd recommend asking someone to bring you up to speed on what happened in the book in the 15 or so issues before Gail came on-board. Or, visit the Amazon Archives website, and read the issue summaries, so you have an idea what's what.

The bottom line is, if this will be your very first time reading a Wonder Woman story, you should absolutely definitely read the first trade paperback of George Perez's work, as that is very accessible and sets up who the character and her world is.

[Auguste Dupin]

I'm going to caution you to read the George Perez origin for Diana first. Gail's Circle storyline was great because it flashed back to Diana's origins and put a "things you didn't see!" twist on them. If you know nothing about Diana's origins, then the impact won't really be there.

Also, the storyline features some sub-plots about Diana's...err, other job, shall we say. That stuff was hard for me to wrap my head around because I'd skipped the issues leading up to it (I also heard they were terrible). I'd recommend asking someone to bring you up to speed on what happened in the book in the 15 or so issues before Gail came on-board. Or, visit the Amazon Archives website, and read the issue summaries, so you have an idea what's what.

The bottom line is, if this will be your very first time reading a Wonder Woman story, you should absolutely definitely read the first trade paperback of George Perez's work, as that is very accessible and sets up who the character and her world is.

I never read Perez's run, and it was my second reading on Wonder Woman. I didn't have a problem reading it. I did hear of Amazons Attack though.

[DisneyBoy]

Well, I'm not trying to suggest it's incomprehensible by any means. But you definitely get more out of it if you know what the original story for her origin is.

[JimRaynor55]

Thanks for the replies, everyone. I have the basics down; my background is the 70s show, the 2009 animated movie, and the first two dozen Perez issues.

[tasslehoff]

the Circle isnt too bad. its the stuff that came after that which is more than questionable. good luck

[DarkKnghtJared]

the Circle isnt too bad. its the stuff that came after that which is more than questionable. good luck

Definitely--The Circle is a pretty solid story (though the two-parter with the aliens afterward fits REALLY weird. "I'm going to my mother and find out the truth about my birth! (beat) ...Hey there, Trevor, let's go steady! Tee hee hee!"), but honestly, after that point, whenever Gail went back to Paradise Island it would DRAG. It kinda says a lot that the best stories from that run are different two-parters that co-starred other heroines that had little to nothing to do with her ongoing story.

[DisneyBoy]

In all fairness, though, Themyscira was a pretty depressing place in the issues leading up to Gail's run. It had been this incredible university of sorts, all intergalactic and shiny...then Hera kicked it, then it sunk into the sea, then it came back but it was Amazons Attack which was awful, then Hippolyta was left to guard it alone. So yeah...not exactly a party atmosphere!

Can anyone say when the Amazons returned to the island to keep Hippolyta company? I know the Gods came back in weird outfits in this space arc...but when did all the ladies return? And from where?

[americanwonder]

Can anyone say when the Amazons returned to the island to keep Hippolyta company? I know the Gods came back in weird outfits in this space arc...but when did all the ladies return? And from where?

Star Trek Zeus brought them all home in "The Rise of the Olympian" storyline. Granny G., playing dress-up as Athena, had given them all forget-yourself-pills and sent them off into our world. They had been living among us when Zeus declared, "It's Ladies Night at the P.I," and they all got exclusive one-way fast-track access.