Customer Reviews

Batman/Superman/Wonder Woman: Trinity

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Back before superpowered heroes and villains started appearing all over the world, there was just Superman and Batman, polar heroes with an undeniable respect for each other. When Ra's Al Ghul, Bizzaro, and the teenage Artemis threaten the Amazon's home on Paradise Island, Wonder Woman sets out into the world to seek answers, meeting Superman and Batman for the first time.

Trinity is an excellent tale that perfectly captures the individual natures of its three dynamic characters during their first meeting. From Batman's awe of paradise, to Wonder Woman's view of Superman as a kind of Greek god, the writing is thoughtful and the art is superb. It does perfect justice to each of the characters, giving us a fresh view on old heroes in familiar conditions. I can't recommend this book enough.

This book is a work of love and you can feel it in every word and every panel. Matt Wagner, like the rest of us, loves Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman. Read this book and fall in love with them all over again.

I really don't know how to review this work without sounding like an idiot gushing with praise and sucking up to Matt Wagner. I know that my review will sound biased - but then, isn't that why reviews are written? You don't have to agree with me but I'll say what I say. Read the book for yourself and make up your own mind. There's really so much to like about this work. I think I'll try to make up a list:

1. The Golden-Age style of artwork is magical. The whole thing comes off like a dream rather than the "realistic-take" that is so popular today.

2. The first meeting of the World's Finest team (Superman & Batman for the uninitiated) with the "wonder"-ful woman who will rock both their lives.

3. The invisible plane.

4. Bizarro calling Ra's Al-Ghul "Racer Cool"

5. Wonder Woman's terribly unfashionable star-spangled pants!

6. Batman going nuts in Paradise (and kissing Wondy!!!).

7. Clark Kent missing the train for work (to keep up "appearances").

8. Cameos from Robin and Aquaman.

I can go on forever but I know that I'll be speaking as a fan totally in love with this work. This is the kind of book that makes me proud to call myself a geeky fanboy!

This book is another in a series of many comic "retellings." In this book, veteran graphic novelist Matt Wagner retells the story of the meeting of Wonder Woman and Superman & Batman. The evil Ra's al Ghul has reawakened Bizarro, and has used him to capture a group of nuclear weapons, but for what purpose? Superman and Batman are on the job, but a beautiful new superhero, Wonder Woman, might just give them the edge they need, if they can all learn to work together.

Overall, I found this to be a fascinating and highly entertaining graphic novel. The style of the illustration reminded me of the original Golden Age comics, where these three characters got their start. I found that that really enhanced the feeling of continuity in this retelling. My eleven-year-old son really enjoyed this book, as did I. So, if you love a good Superman/Batman/Wonder Woman story, then get this book - it's great!

The most appealing thing about it was the Superman's characterization. Wagner captures Superman's essential nobility beautifully. Superman isn't just physically super in this story, he is kind, good, and tolerant as well...all without coming across as a goody two-shoes. Wonderwoman feeling as if she is in the presence of Apollo was a very apt comparison. Batman, on the other hand, comes across as a nearly out of control psycho. I'm used to Batman being portrayed as a grim, revenge-obsessed vigilante but here he's rude, brutal,and unlikeable. Batman fans may find this story rather offensive, in fact.
This is something to buy if you are specifically a fan of Wagner's more than something you might want as a fan of one of the three main characters.

"Trinity" succeeds as an unironic take on DC's Big Three. The story, involving nuclear warheads and Bat-villain Ra's, is standard mad-villain-tries-to-destory-the-world stuff--a little disappointing, since Ra's is a complex character more suited to the seriousness of, say, Greg Rucka's "Death and the Maidens" than the Golden Age of Super-Heroes. The cameos from Robin and Aquaman are priceless, as is the character interaction between Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman. "Trinity" isn't a classic, but it is a fun comic book diversion for an hour.

3.5 stars is more like it. If you're looking for a good superhero read, with three of the greatest superheroes of all time, then snatch this one up. Wagner's writing is good, at times intelligent, at times a little campy, but this is a required combination for a story dealing with three "gods" that wear spandex.
At times the art will blow you away, like Fleischer cartoons with highlights and more intense coloring. But toward the end you can almost see through the images, to where Wagner was pushing himself or rushing the book along. The story concludes a little abruptly, not leaving you necessarily thirsty but maybe a little disappointed.

Overall though, this IS a good read, and few writers can balance these three characters together, while keeping each of them equally interesting.

Bravo, Wagner.

The story is great, and the drawing beatiful. Is a must have if you are fan of Superman, WW and Batman

I absolutely loved this book. I thought that the way Matt Wagner wrote it, taking into account the defining traits of the three characters was just brilliant. One of my favorite parts was the opening internal dialogue of Clark Kent/Superman's. The way that it shows just how Clark tries to cover up the fact that he really isn't the claude that he makes himself out to be, missing the train at least three times a week because it's "good for the image" and the observations that Wagner makes of the implications of Superman's abilities: how his hearing "is really the hardest power to resist" in that listening to your surroundings is far harder to stop doing than looking, it is much easier to turn your gaze than to stop listening. Yet, the fact that Superman cannot stop listening is core to who he is. He LISTENS for signs of disaster, so that he can be there to step in if need be and as Wagner points out, that is the core belief that drives him forward, the principle that he stands for: "that disaster can be averted"

The way that Wagner portrays Wonder Woman is also something that is surprising, but is such in the way that she stays true to her character. Wagner paints her as a two-fisted Amazon warrior, as is the tradition, yet he adds a bit of complexity to it. She becomes an ambassador, an emissary. He allows her to become mad and ready to fight not simply for the sake of the fight, but when she sees another being hurt and her own being misrepresented. Therefore, it is understandable that she becomes angered at Batman's somewhat questionable interrogation techniques and ready to trade blows with him, even over the fact that it was indeed a henchman for Pas al Ghul that he punched out. By doing this, Wagner allows her not only to be seen as the fighter, but also as the diplomat someone who can be understanding and generous; introducing a duality to the Amazon that I haven't seen much of in other works.

And last, but definitely not least is his portrayal of Batman. The distrustful detective that wants to be able to say that he got the surprise on you, especially to Superman, even though it appears as if they have known each other for a while. He is committed to his war on crime, even overshadowing Superman's zealousness. He is at first skeptical of Wonder Woman's sudden appearance and is at first somewhat hostile towards her. However, he grows to accept her and at one point (SPOILER) allows himself to be tempted by her *wink, wink*. By doing this Wagner allows us to see that he is not just Batman, a superhero, but also Bruce, a man.

In summary, Wagner delves into the psyches of these characters in a way that is both traditional and unexpected, but also is just simply amazing. In my opinion, Trinity is a must read for any comic book reader, whether you are someone who loves and is familiar with these three quintessentially American icons or someone who wants to discover them for the first time.

I had forgotten how much I enjoy when an author writes and draws his own book. I can't help but feel that Wagner really poured his heart into Trinity. It's beautiful to look at and the story was an awful lot of fun.
I don't know the strict definition of comic book vs. graphic novel, but this goes on my shelf with Batman: The Cult, Superman: Birthright, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, We3 and others that I call "graphic novels".

Matt Wagner's 'Trinity' was a fun story to read. However, being the avid Wonder Woman fan that I am, I was slightly disappointed in the female art. It seemed as though Wagner is making his first attempt at female superheroes. Wonder Woman turned out more as an akward man with breasts. His rendition of Artemis was also disappointing. So if you're buying this purely for Batman/Superman interest, go for it. However, Wagner's allusion to the Greek goddess Diana meeting the hunter Actaeon (replaced by Batman) in the forest was a stunning detail. I was pleased.