Trinity, Vol. 2

Trinity

by Kurt Busiek, Mark Bagley (Illustrator)

Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman team up as the Trinity to protect the world from powerful enemies.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Dc Comics, Superheroes, Batman, Superman, Fantasy

424 pages, Paperback

First published August 11, 2009

About the author

Kurt Busiek is an American comic book writer notable for his work on the Marvels limited series, his own title Astro City, and his four-year run on Avengers.

Busiek did not read comics as a youngster, as his parents disapproved of them. He began to read them regularly around the age of 14, when he picked up a copy of Daredevil #120. This was the first part of a continuity-heavy four-part story arc; Busiek was drawn to the copious history and cross-connections with other series. Throughout high school and college, he and future writer Scott McCloud practiced making comics. During this time, Busiek also had many letters published in comic book letter columns, and originated the theory that the Phoenix was a separate being who had impersonated Jean Grey, and that therefore Grey had not died—a premise which made its way from freelancer to freelancer, and which was eventually used in the comics.

During the last semester of his senior year, Busiek submitted some sample scripts to editor Dick Giordano at DC Comics. None of them sold, but they did get him invitations to pitch other material to DC editors, which led to his first professional work, a back-up story in Green Lantern #162 (Mar. 1983).

Busiek has worked on a number of different titles in his career, including Arrowsmith, The Avengers, Icon, Iron Man, The Liberty Project, Ninjak, The Power Company, Red Tornado, Shockrockets, Superman: Secret Identity, Thunderbolts, Untold Tales of Spider-Man, JLA, and the award-winning Marvels and the Homage Comics title Kurt Busiek's Astro City.

In 1997, Busiek began a stint as writer of Avengers alongside artist George Pérez. Pérez departed from the series in 2000, but Busiek continued as writer for two more years, collaborating with artists Alan Davis, Kieron Dwyer and others. Busiek's tenure culminated with the "Kang Dynasty" storyline. In 2003, Busiek re-teamed with Perez to create the JLA/Avengers limited series.

In 2003, Busiek began a new Conan series for Dark Horse Comics, which he wrote for four years.

In December 2005 Busiek signed a two-year exclusive contract with DC Comics. During DC's Infinite Crisis event, he teamed with Geoff Johns on a "One Year Later" eight-part story arc (called Up, Up and Away) that encompassed both Superman titles. In addition, he began writing the DC title Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis from issues 40-49. Busiek was the writer of Superman for two years, before followed by James Robinson starting from Superman #677. Busiek wrote a 52-issue weekly DC miniseries called Trinity, starring Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman. Each issue (except for issue #1) featured a 12-page main story by Busiek, with art by Mark Bagley, and a ten-page backup story co-written by Busiek and Fabian Nicieza, with art from various artists, including Tom Derenick, Mike Norton and Scott McDaniel.

Busiek's work has won him numerous awards in the comics industry, including the Harvey Award for Best Writer in 1998 and the Eisner Award for Best Writer in 1999. In 1994, with Marvels, he won Best Finite Series/Limited Series Eisner Award and the Best Continuing or Limited Series Harvey Award; as well as the Harvey Award for Best Single Issue or Story (for Marvels #4) in 1995. In 1996, with Astro City, Busiek won both the Eisner and Harvey awards for Best New Series. He won the Best Single Issue/Single Story Eisner three years in a row from 1996–1998, as well as in 2004. Busiek won the Best Continuing Series Eisner Award in 1997–1998, as well as the Best Serialized Story award in 1998. In addition, Astro City was awarded the 1996 Best Single Issue or Story Harvey Award, and the 1998 Harvey Award for Best Continuing or Limited Series.

Busiek was given the 1998 and 1999 Comics Buyer's Guide Awards for Favorite Writer, with additional nominations in 1997 and every year from 2000 to 2004. He has also received numerous Squiddy Awards, having been selected as favorite writer four years in a row from 1995 to 1998,

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ooooooooh, still so confused! There are so many different story lines. All. Going. On. At. Once. What? Who's that? Are they important? Uh, never mind. We're flashing back three days in time? Nope. It's a different reality. Wait! It's this reality. No. It's the past in this altered reality. Right? Right? Hang on. We're in ancient Egypt...I think. Gaaaah! My head is starting to throb, and my left eye is twitching.
I'm going to take two Tylenol, and then start on volume 3.

[Rihards Husko · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a lot going on in volume 2 of the Trinity series, and much of it is quite interesting. However, it also really feels like the decision to follow the 52 structure wasn't made because it best suits the story (certainly not when reading the collected issues as opposed to on a weekly basis), but because it’s become “a thing” for DC since the wildly successful (and rightfully so) original 52 run.

There’s just a tad too much wheel-spinning that is, I guess, intended to build tension and show the continuous dire situation, but felt to me like padding. Which is a real shame, because, at its core, I think there are some really great ideas being explored.

I'm curious to see if this series sticks the landing.

[Vail Chester · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not only because it's the 2nd volume in an ongoing series,
not only because to understand, you need at least a cursory understanding of the long & detailed history of the DC universe to know what changed & how subtly,
and not only because there are several segments that are tied to people who ultimately add nothing to the overall story except the oft-uttered phrase "the world is wrong"
BUT THERE'S NO TRINITY!
The most we get is the myths the purple people spread about their benevolent(?) gods & goddesses, and even then, it's like a bad game of telephone where the facts get distorted. It's like you can tell there was an attempt to filter the story through unfamiliar lenses, but the fact that fans know the story proper and the casuals will be wondering what they missed.
I rank it as high as I do, because it's always fascinating to see the state of the world if there's no [X], but to see how drastic things have gotten without THREE big players in the DC universe, makes you wonder just how far this rabbit hole goes.

[Neil · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was another mixed bag for me. I do not know how well it worked out trying to write this story in weekly installments for an entire year, but I do not think it works in the collected volumes. The story feels like it is needlessly dragged out; it is broken up into various parts. It jumps 'back-and-forth in time' (as far back as Ancient Egypt before returning to the present!). There are SO MANY CHARACTERS it is hard to keep track of most of them or even care about most of them. The story did not flow well at all; it was jagged and broken up, it seemed, nearly every other issue as some 'new facet' was introduced to the epic miasma taking place. The artwork was still hit-and-miss for me. I enjoyed Bagley's art the most; the rest, not so much.

The character development was "so-so" for most of the characters; I would say, on the one hand, it was indirectly excellent for "the Big Three" because this volume shows how important Wonder Woman, Batman, and Superman are to the DC Universe, to the "Prime Reality" that the heroes inhabit. Take them out of the "celestial equation" and the World, the Universe, all of reality begins to fall apart. Not only that, in order 'to heal itself,' "Reality" seeks out a new "trinity of archetypes" to replace the Three that have gone missing, with mixed results. I thought that was an interesting presentation of how important these characters are. I would say 'this focus' on the missing Three is what made this volume interesting; at the same time, the 'fact' that it was collected together really showed that the whole series could probably have been cut in half to make it more cohesive and "better-flowing." I did like how Alfred gathered together five other individuals who were (are) the 'most important people' in the lives of Batman (Alfred and Dick Grayson), Superman (Lois Lane and Kara Zor-El) and Wonder Woman (Donna Troy and Tom Tresser) in order to search for the missing heroes. That was pretty cool, and their adventures were probably the most interesting part(s) of this compilation, in my opinion.

The whole thing with the Tarot cards was both tiresome and a giant 'meh' to me; I found myself wishing they would have dispensed with it early on. I realize it is somehow tied in with the story, overall, but it got annoying early on in this second volume.

There are so many stories going on that it is hard to follow them all at times. I think that ruins the 'overall coherence' of the story, because each time the story switches gears and changes tracks, it is jarring and takes a moment to readjust to the change in direction. I do not know if the intent is to create some kind of 'dramatic tension' or 'cliffhangers' or what, but I felt it really did not work. I found myself getting frustrated with the story and wishing it would speed up and get moving.

I would probably rank this 2.5 - 2.7, and I will round it up to three stars. I liked enough of it that two stars would be too low. It gets frustrating at times, but there were moments that I liked (in terms of both story and art). As I read this, I found myself wondering what happened to the characters in their regular books; I sincerely doubt those series were put on hold while Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman disappeared for the middle "third" of this series. I hope the third volume is better than the first two and has a solid conclusion. I will read the third volume 'cuz I tend to be a completest, but if the first two volumes are any indication, my hopes are not high on how strong the third one will finish.

[RubiGiráldez RubiGiráldez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sigue siendo una narrativa bastante atropellada en el interés de querer azuzar más la acción y conflicto. Pero Kurt Busiek da un paso más allá en la examinación del concepto de la TRINIDAD DCita compuesta por Superman, Batman y Wonder Woman recurriendo a un clásico de los mitos de esta editorial como son las realidades alternativas. Terminábamos el primer tomo con el plan de la "Trinidad Oscura" cumpliéndose y una descomunal fuerza cósmica liberada que han provocado un quiebre total de la Realidad suprimiendo la existencia de esos tres personajes claves que esta cabecera tanto ha dejado claro que dan cohesión a cimientos existenciales que derivan aquí en una ausencia que trastoca totalmente el mundo. Uno en el que a pesar de que sigue existiendo un super equipo de metahumanos que abogan por la Justicia. Algo cambia en su modo de proceder que los vuelven más impersonales en cómo gestionar los conflictos y amenazas. En una escala más independiente, nos topamos con amigos, familiares o parejas de nuestra Trinidad que ven sus vidas cambiadas de forma radical. Pero de una forma u otra, estos individuos sienten un vacío enorme y la convicción de que el mundo "no está bien". Iniciándose así una odisea particular para buscar a esos tres iconos.

TRINIDAD sigue haciendo malabares con los tantos personajes presentados en un cúmulo de circunstancias que ya dejan claro que funcionan más en la escala más reducida como en la presencia de Gangbuster en este embrollo o en ese viaje de los más cercanos de Clark, Bruce y Diana. Que en la contienda interminable contra, sobre todo, una Morgana Le Fay en un afán de devastación global en su actual escala de poder. Y buscando nuevos aliados y formas de completar su Trinidad Oscura con la que estabilizar su reinado, para el cual ENIGMA parece estar cada vez más discordante con su pérfida aliada.

La historia nos acaba trasladando a un espacio mítico donde seguirá re-relatándonos a los tres grandes héroes en cómo siempre aparecen defendiendo unos valores concretos. Repitiendo unos actos específicos. Victorias, derrotas, traumas y alegrías. Pero en este espacio algo se añade a esos actos. Y es una existencia más allá de los límites físicos y mortales. En su aparente ausencia, la TRINIDAD parece haber escalado a una consciencia y cargo que siembra la duda de si volverán a ser los mismos. Para bien o para mal.

[Jason Tanner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sprawling, complex story that is really starting to move after a somewhat slow start in Volume 1. Because of the machinations of Kanjar Ro, Morgaine Le Fey and Enigma's plot to remake the universe in their own image, with themselves (and Despero) as the Trinity, replacing Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman as a sort of cosmic lodestone for the world failed, leaving them extremely powerful, but not where they need to be. Krona has freed himself from the cosmic egg and is back to asking questions that can't be answered and breaking things. The world has been remade, but is in flux because the Trinity did not manifest in any form, and it is trying to recreate one from scratch. From here, there are many plotlines that weave in and out of each other in a way that would impress Grant Morrison himself; far too many for me to sum up here. To simplify it way too much, there are two coexisting stories: 1) The story of the Justice Society International, a much more authoritarian version than the JSA we know, are approached by Gangbuster at the behest of Tarot and combat Le Fay's forces for control of the spirit of Earth, and 2) Those closest to the Trinity but no longer remember them, including Lois Lane, Dick Grayson, Donna Troy, Nemesis, and Supergirl, are gathered by Alfred Pennyworth to set the world right and journey into the world Krona escaped from to find the Trinity, who have passed into legend as gods of that realm.
Wow, that was a lot of mumbo jumbo, and I didn't even get into all the tarot stuff.
Still, the pacing is improving, the art is improving, and the story is really becoming a page-turner. Society members Triumph and Tomorrow Woman are real breakout characters here, and the scene where it was revealed that they knew their fates in the "real" world and fought on anyway was powerfully done.
This is only part 2 of a 3-part story, and a very complex one, so I can't give it 5 stars, but this is the Kurt Busiek I've been missing from "Syndicate Rules" and even Volume 1 of this series. He's even nudging me into caring about Konvikt a little. If Volume 3 is as good as this one, it's going to be a bang-up finish! At any rate, I'm looking forward to what comes next.

[Allan Quinn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was not sure about this graphic novel.
It started off well but I felt went on too long.
At first had open mind as first book was ok and I usually love Kurt busiek novel.

But this story just had too many plots. The premise was good but there was just to much to remember.

I liked the idea of the justice society and their corruption in the world without the big three. But I felt that unless you had read alot of DC, you might not recognise alot of the characters and their changes.

There was alot I did like but not enough to rush out and get third installment, but might read later on.

[Sean · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Trinity! The Big Three! Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman!! All not present here!! Yeah, this was terrible. You could skip ten issues, any ten issues, and not miss out on anything. The only redeeming quality here is the art by Mark Bagley and others. I can't explain how boring and pointless this was. Overall, only masochists could like this.

[Lucas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Continua uma história bem fraca a base de lutas sem sentido e uma forçada forte de barra nos poderes dos três principais.

[Sotofunkdamental · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tres volúmenes excesivamente largos para contar una historia entretenida pero olvidable.

[Amber DiTullio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trinity, Vol 2 picks up where Vol 1 left off - with Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman erased from history on their earth. Most of the people of the world - heroes included - forget that they ever existed. It, along with the fact that the aspects the three embodied have also been weakened, makes the world a very strange one. Only a few people remember the truth. Firestorm was outside of time (if I'm remembering correctly) so his memories survived intact. Tarot, being at the center of it all, also remembers some of what things need to be and quests to bring everything back to how it should be. A lot of time is also spent on the Dark three - Morgan le Fey, Despero and Enigma (who I actually felt sorry for as I read his back story) - and what is happening with them.

Be warned - Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman do not show up in this book. It's much more a story of how the world changes without them in it and what needs to be done to get them back. I've read a few reviews online that hated this fact and felt mislead because of the cover. It doesn't bother me so much because it's the middle of the story.

And it definitely is the middle of the story. Quite a bit has been pushed forward and there's still a lot left to go. But that's why there's a book three. Unlike written word series novels, there isn't a majority of a story that's been tidied up so you get a sense of some closure at the end with just enough mystery left to have you buy the next book. Because of what graphic novels (usually) are - a compilation of the monthly comic - it is just one overarcing story and can't come in neat little packages. Some of them can be put into those neat packages - when you have smaller storylines to deal with - but a large number of the big ones are going to be broken up like this.

One of the things that I truly loved about this particular volume was seeing the changed characters without the Big Three in their lives. Alfred, in particular, interested me. Not having Bruce Wayne as an employer, he became an archeologist. Yet still, he was Alfred to the core.

I would not recommend picking this one up first. With a lot of things, I'll jump around from book to book (the Riley Jensen series, for example) and, while some bits are a little confusing, most of the time I don't mind it. Because of the story for Trinity, I definitely suggest reading them in order.

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a mistake to pick up the MIDDLE volume of a trilogy and expect to understand what was going on, but other than that, I really enjoyed this tale. What would have happened to the world if Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman had ever existed? An evil plot by Morgaine Le Fay has made this a reality, but some individuals know that something has changed, and memories of this trinity of superheroes keep punching through the collective subconscious.

This is an engaging story with solid art. By and large I found the art mostly unremarkable -- it looks pretty much like a lot of other stuff that's popular right now -- although I did appreciate that most of the characters don't sport grotesquely distorted bodies. The women don't look like they've had ribs removed or anti-gravity breast implants, and the men, while muscular (of course! They're superheroes!) don't have muscles piled on their muscles. Always a nice thing to see.

This title is, IMO, appropriate for teen graphic novel collections, and will also be enjoyed by adults.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this three part series (originally published as in 52 weekly installments), Kurt Busiek, [author Mark Bagley], and a group of other writers and illustrators created a story arc in which Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman are torn from the reality of the DC Universe. What I really love about the series is how it explores the symbolic role of superheroes. This is really the best element of superhero comics. They project ideals and fears as they explore in bombastic ways what it means to be human. However, because it is written over the course of a year, by a bunch of different writers and illustrators it is pretty fractured in its story telling which can be frustrating and a bit confusing. There are lots of interweaving plot lines, and not all of them follow through coherently. Regardless, I'm interest to see how it will end.

[Shannon Appelcline · Rating 3 out of 5]

The alternate world highlighted in this volume of Trinity is nicely presented, with great focus on a lot of heroes who don't receive focus in the original DC universe. However, as things move forward, the plot slows down again and the fighting to "align" the Tarot that underlies the latter part of the book is a bit silly.

[John Yelverton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really thought this book series was going to be so good, because the concept is so great, but it actually seems like it's getting worse.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far it is pretty interesting. I'm not sure about the over all flow, the jumps from scene to scene feel abrupt and jarring, but I still am enjoying the story for a stories sake.

[Matthew Bartlett · Rating 2 out of 5]

Busiek's attempt to write some kind of an epic story continues to fail and be unimpressive.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, but slows down a lot once the curtain comes down.