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Wonder Woman: One-Shots
Wonder Woman: The True Amazon
WONDER WOMAN: THE TRUE AMAZON is Jill Thompson's storybook style reimagining of the early years of the Amazon Princess Diana, who would grow up to become Wonder Woman. This fully painted graphic novel is unlike any Wonder Woman tale you have ever read, told as only Eisner Award-winning writer/artist Thomspon could. When young Diana has the fawning attention of a nation, she soon grows spoiled. But a series of tragic events take their toll, and Diana must learn to grow up, take responsibility, and seize her destiny.
Steeped in the mythology of this iconic character's original conception, WONDER WOMAN: THE TRUE AMAZON is designed to appeal to a wide range of readers. It's a fresh, stand alone interpretation of the most famous and iconic female super-hero of all time and the fulfillment of a dream project by one of contemporary comics' most acclaimed creators.
Collects WONDER WOMAN: THE TRUE AMAZON digital chapters #1-12.
Steeped in the mythology of this iconic character's original conception, WONDER WOMAN: THE TRUE AMAZON is designed to appeal to a wide range of readers. It's a fresh, stand alone interpretation of the most famous and iconic female super-hero of all time and the fulfillment of a dream project by one of contemporary comics' most acclaimed creators.
Collects WONDER WOMAN: THE TRUE AMAZON digital chapters #1-12.
128 pages, Hardcover
First published September 8, 2015
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1,671 people want to read
About the author
Jill Thompson
58 books253 followersJill Thompson is an American comic book writer and illustrator. Probably best known for her work on Neil Gaiman's Sandman characters and her own Scary Godmother series, she has also worked on The Invisibles, Swamp Thing, Wonder Woman and more recently, Beasts of Burden.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 420 reviews
February 6, 2017
The Traumatization of Wonder Woman
With its focus on narration rather than dialogue and its fully painted, lush yet neatly structured artwork, Jill Thompson’s Wonder Woman: The True Amazon does not exactly feel like your typical contemporary comic book. In fact, it hardly feels like a comic book at all, more like an illustrated old-school storybook. It’s an effect that works well in the context, as it somewhat removes Wonder Woman from the other heroes of the DC Universe, highlighting the Amazon’s ancient roots in Greek mythology.
So what is Wonder Woman: The True Amazon all about? Well, it basically re-imagines the origin of Wonder Woman, specifically her childhood and youth on the mysterious, paradisiacal island of Themyscira. As the island’s only child, Thompson’s Diana grows up spoiled and develops a self-important, vain, irresponsible personality. It is not until her personality flaws cause a major tragedy that she finally becomes aware of them, takes the opposite path, and ultimately evolves into the hero we know today.
At its core, then, Wonder Woman: The True Amazon aims to provide the protagonist’s legendary devotion to peace and harmony with a concrete psychological foundation, something along the lines of Spider-Man’s Uncle Ben trauma: hubris breeds tragedy breeds heroism. And in psychological terms it kinda makes sense, doesn’t it?
At the same time, I am not convinced trauma as motivation works as well for the demigoddess Wonder Woman as it does for more vulnerable street-level characters like Spider-Man or Batman. I guess I've always enjoyed the idea that Wonder Woman's devotion to peace and harmony does not call for an explanation. That it just comes with growing up in a more functional, caring world.
With its focus on narration rather than dialogue and its fully painted, lush yet neatly structured artwork, Jill Thompson’s Wonder Woman: The True Amazon does not exactly feel like your typical contemporary comic book. In fact, it hardly feels like a comic book at all, more like an illustrated old-school storybook. It’s an effect that works well in the context, as it somewhat removes Wonder Woman from the other heroes of the DC Universe, highlighting the Amazon’s ancient roots in Greek mythology.
So what is Wonder Woman: The True Amazon all about? Well, it basically re-imagines the origin of Wonder Woman, specifically her childhood and youth on the mysterious, paradisiacal island of Themyscira. As the island’s only child, Thompson’s Diana grows up spoiled and develops a self-important, vain, irresponsible personality. It is not until her personality flaws cause a major tragedy that she finally becomes aware of them, takes the opposite path, and ultimately evolves into the hero we know today.
At its core, then, Wonder Woman: The True Amazon aims to provide the protagonist’s legendary devotion to peace and harmony with a concrete psychological foundation, something along the lines of Spider-Man’s Uncle Ben trauma: hubris breeds tragedy breeds heroism. And in psychological terms it kinda makes sense, doesn’t it?
At the same time, I am not convinced trauma as motivation works as well for the demigoddess Wonder Woman as it does for more vulnerable street-level characters like Spider-Man or Batman. I guess I've always enjoyed the idea that Wonder Woman's devotion to peace and harmony does not call for an explanation. That it just comes with growing up in a more functional, caring world.
February 10, 2017
Jill Thompson’s Wonder Woman: The True Amazon is a retelling of Diana’s classic origin with the slight difference that teenage Diana is a brat. She’s the princess so she does what she wants, bitch! And then she learns the dire consequences of her irresponsibility, grows up and is set on the path towards the hero she will become.
It’s not a bad story but I didn’t love it. It’s written competently by Thompson and she gives Diana a grounded reason to be more caring and mindful of her actions rather than some vague notion that Amazon society is just better than everyone else’s so it’s up to her to spread that message of peace and love across the world. That said, I found the story a bit simplistic and flat because it was so predictable and one-dimensional.
I loved Thompson’s painted artwork though – while she calls Diana’s home Themyscira, it really looks like its other name, Paradise Island, thanks to the lush, vivid colours and beautiful depictions of unspoiled nature. This is easily the best work of Thompson’s career – so gorgeous!
The True Amazon is an ok retelling of the Wonder Woman origin but readers already familiar with it won’t be blown away by Thompson’s treatment of it, besides the art. I thought it was a decent read but I reckon girls around 12-14 will probably enjoy this one the most.
It’s not a bad story but I didn’t love it. It’s written competently by Thompson and she gives Diana a grounded reason to be more caring and mindful of her actions rather than some vague notion that Amazon society is just better than everyone else’s so it’s up to her to spread that message of peace and love across the world. That said, I found the story a bit simplistic and flat because it was so predictable and one-dimensional.
I loved Thompson’s painted artwork though – while she calls Diana’s home Themyscira, it really looks like its other name, Paradise Island, thanks to the lush, vivid colours and beautiful depictions of unspoiled nature. This is easily the best work of Thompson’s career – so gorgeous!
The True Amazon is an ok retelling of the Wonder Woman origin but readers already familiar with it won’t be blown away by Thompson’s treatment of it, besides the art. I thought it was a decent read but I reckon girls around 12-14 will probably enjoy this one the most.
June 22, 2017
Wonder Woman: The True Amazon is a beautifully painted one volume storybook-style origin story for the Amazon Princess Diana, an Eisner-Award nominee I suspect mainly for the art, which is impressive. The story is basically Wonder Woman as Mean Girl, one who Does a Bad Bad Thing which she (for some reason) needed to go through to make a commitment to Peace and Justice.
Thompson works from the vibe of Greek myth to elevate Wonder Woman to a God-like status. But first she has to grow up. She gains in skills and also arrogance and then in a contest she is determined to win at all costs, causes needless damage and death. It is an impressive volume to see, and a decent one to read, not entirely engaging or convincing, but compared to some of the other recent WW origin comics, it is quite well done. 3.5 rating, mainly because of the art.
Thompson works from the vibe of Greek myth to elevate Wonder Woman to a God-like status. But first she has to grow up. She gains in skills and also arrogance and then in a contest she is determined to win at all costs, causes needless damage and death. It is an impressive volume to see, and a decent one to read, not entirely engaging or convincing, but compared to some of the other recent WW origin comics, it is quite well done. 3.5 rating, mainly because of the art.
June 2, 2017
Wonder Woman has always had the reputation of being one of the most stable and well-adjusted of the comic book heroes, as well as having on of the kindest hearts. What I liked about this most recent telling of her origin tale is the new take that Jill Thompson considers on how she became that way. She portrays Diana as growing up as a spoiled brat and ultimately learning through her mistakes how to be the person we know her to be today. I've seen more than a few reviews that seem to be angry at this new approach, saying that it goes against everything that we know of Wonder Woman. That she's supposed to represent the best of us, that her role is to be an example for all of us. But I think that introducing this story's ideas makes her even more of an inspiration, showing that all of us can make mistakes and learn from them to be a better person. Plus, who wants to read a story where someone is always perfect.
The graphic novel is told in a storybook style that is a perfect fit for a mythical fable with magical lands and Greek gods, complete with a pretty watercolor-painted style and lots of "once upon a time" narration. Normally this might annoy me, but it really fits this story.
My only gripe here would be the circumstances around Diana leaving Themyscira. Although she does make a genuine vow to change, this takes away some her choice to be selfless. But this new take seems pretty valid. Many seem to think that Wonder Woman wouldn't be a spoiled brat but I would expect any little girl with the knowledge that she was born from the tears of gods as a princess and pampered by everyone would grow to feel a bit entitled! And the fact that she makes tragic mistakes due to her arrogance and from those mistakes learned to selflessly fight for the weak is what makes her a true heroine. A true Wonder Woman.
The graphic novel is told in a storybook style that is a perfect fit for a mythical fable with magical lands and Greek gods, complete with a pretty watercolor-painted style and lots of "once upon a time" narration. Normally this might annoy me, but it really fits this story.
My only gripe here would be the circumstances around Diana leaving Themyscira. Although she does make a genuine vow to change, this takes away some her choice to be selfless. But this new take seems pretty valid. Many seem to think that Wonder Woman wouldn't be a spoiled brat but I would expect any little girl with the knowledge that she was born from the tears of gods as a princess and pampered by everyone would grow to feel a bit entitled! And the fact that she makes tragic mistakes due to her arrogance and from those mistakes learned to selflessly fight for the weak is what makes her a true heroine. A true Wonder Woman.
May 1, 2020
At last, a 'Wonder Woman' graphic novel rated five stars by me, happy and utterly satisfied.
Even with my still-partial reading experience of the seventy-five years of 'Wonder Woman' comics, I can say, in my humble opinion, that 'Wonder Woman: The True Amazon' is the best re-imagining of the character and her origin.
I can finally get the taste of Brian Azzarello's trite, regressive, misogynistic New 52 retcon of the famous superheroine's unique origin (where she's just another of Zeus's bastard children, and the Amazons are man-hating rapists) out of my mouth for good. J. Michael Straczynski's alternate universe take on her - 'Odyssey' - isn't bad, just confusing and unable to stand as its own thing. I don't need to read Grant Morrison's 'Earth One' origin of Wonder Woman; the negative reviews and the pages I've seen are enough to make me avoid it like the plague. And I've yet to read Greg Rucka's run in her 'Rebirth' title, and Renae De Liz's 'The Legend of Wonder Woman', so no comment there.
Jill Thompson's 'The True Amazon' is exactly what I've been looking for in terms of a truly unique, modern twist on Wonder Woman's origin, whilst staying respectful to her history and what she stands for: As an icon, a princess, an Amazon warrior, a sister to her fellow Amazons. Mostly, it's about Diana as a hero, and how she got there.
In 'The True Amazon', we see young Diana, princess of the Amazons, as we're not used to seeing her. As Queen Hippolyta's gift from the gods (their tears, specifically, brought on by the queen singing a lullaby to her sand baby by the sea), Diana has been spoilt by everyone on Themyscira her whole life. With no one to challenge her and tell her no, she grows up to be vain, selfish, cruel, and more than a little aggressive, impulsive and violent.
This origin is about how Diana made a terrible mistake - dooming her illustrious homeland and possibly the entire world, due to her own selfishness and competitiveness. Her path to becoming Wonder Woman is one of redemption. She will prove that she cares for her Amazonian sisters more than anything, by setting out to be truly worthy of them, and she will spread their message of kindness and compassion, and also her love - born from a dark place - throughout man's world.
That is her motive. There is no Steve Trevor here. For that matter there are zero men present (except in the prologue explaining how the Amazons came to live on Themyscira, and built their culture of peace). Only how Princess Diana came to honour and respect the values she is famously known for in the first place. She once took everything for granted; thought she could get away with whatever she wanted. Wonder Woman was FLAWED, deeply so, in understandable circumstances; and she rises from the bottom - from her self-made suffering - towards the top. In the meantime she can never return to her beloved Paradise Island until she has made up for all the tragedy she has caused in her recklessness.
She will learn and grow, like a true hero. A true Amazon.
In this graphic novel, this tale, this labour of love and work of art, there is a great focus on Diana and her relationships with the other Amazons; not just with her mother Hippolyta, which is incredibly touching and wrought with symbolism, but also Alethea, the only Amazonian who isn't besotted with Diana. She ignores her, which confuses and frustrates the ever-so "charming" and adventurous Diana (she found her bracelets and lasso of truth in the island's depths, guarded by monsters, adding to her arrogance), but also intrigues her. Alethea the seemingly-simple stable hand values compassion and honesty, and believes that respect and trust - vital for a mutual friendship - must be earned, not bought, or come from a place of privilege.
Diana becomes obsessed with wanting Alethea's favour, and makes it her goal to be the stable woman's champion, no matter the cost...
Alethea ends up being the true Amazon whom the future Wonder Woman will model herself after. Their relationship is important and complex, heavily implying that Diana's feelings for her indifferent Amazonian sister go beyond merely platonic. Thus supporting Wonder Woman's long-debated queerness, with, again, no man in sight!
Female bonds are spotlighted in this comic, with nearly every single page passing the Bechdel test. And I cheered at the end when, out of all the other bereaved Amazons, who want revenge on Diana for all the damage she's caused, the "simple-minded" Lucia, also an oracle, shouts for mercy on the princess's part, arguing that even more violence will solve nothing. Wonder Woman's messages, coming from her status as a feminist icon and hero, are sprinkled throughout 'The True Amazon', and I love it.
Penned, drawn and painted by Jill Thompson herself, the hard work gone into creating every aspect of this comic - this story - shows on all its panels. The humans and their facial expressions - all their muscles - come to life. I don't think it looks ugly, for these are meant to be real women.
While the book isn't perfect - the slightly-garish stylistic choice of artwork probably isn't what a lot of comic readers are used to from DC, and Diana knew she could fly since childhood but this god-given gift is not brought up again in adulthood when it could have been useful, plus what's a crystal dagger doing here? - 'The True Amazon' is a treat I would recommend to any Wonder Woman fan.
A "re-imagining" done right, and I didn't think that was possible before.
Final Score: 5/5
EDIT: I finally read Renae De Liz's 'The Legend of Wonder Woman Vol. 1: Origins', and it is great. Review can be found on Goodreads and my blog.
EDIT 2: Also read Greg Rucka's 'Wonder Woman: Rebirth' title, the first volume. It's also good. Review on Goodreads and my blog.
Even with my still-partial reading experience of the seventy-five years of 'Wonder Woman' comics, I can say, in my humble opinion, that 'Wonder Woman: The True Amazon' is the best re-imagining of the character and her origin.
I can finally get the taste of Brian Azzarello's trite, regressive, misogynistic New 52 retcon of the famous superheroine's unique origin (where she's just another of Zeus's bastard children, and the Amazons are man-hating rapists) out of my mouth for good. J. Michael Straczynski's alternate universe take on her - 'Odyssey' - isn't bad, just confusing and unable to stand as its own thing. I don't need to read Grant Morrison's 'Earth One' origin of Wonder Woman; the negative reviews and the pages I've seen are enough to make me avoid it like the plague. And I've yet to read Greg Rucka's run in her 'Rebirth' title, and Renae De Liz's 'The Legend of Wonder Woman', so no comment there.
Jill Thompson's 'The True Amazon' is exactly what I've been looking for in terms of a truly unique, modern twist on Wonder Woman's origin, whilst staying respectful to her history and what she stands for: As an icon, a princess, an Amazon warrior, a sister to her fellow Amazons. Mostly, it's about Diana as a hero, and how she got there.
In 'The True Amazon', we see young Diana, princess of the Amazons, as we're not used to seeing her. As Queen Hippolyta's gift from the gods (their tears, specifically, brought on by the queen singing a lullaby to her sand baby by the sea), Diana has been spoilt by everyone on Themyscira her whole life. With no one to challenge her and tell her no, she grows up to be vain, selfish, cruel, and more than a little aggressive, impulsive and violent.
This origin is about how Diana made a terrible mistake - dooming her illustrious homeland and possibly the entire world, due to her own selfishness and competitiveness. Her path to becoming Wonder Woman is one of redemption. She will prove that she cares for her Amazonian sisters more than anything, by setting out to be truly worthy of them, and she will spread their message of kindness and compassion, and also her love - born from a dark place - throughout man's world.
That is her motive. There is no Steve Trevor here. For that matter there are zero men present (except in the prologue explaining how the Amazons came to live on Themyscira, and built their culture of peace). Only how Princess Diana came to honour and respect the values she is famously known for in the first place. She once took everything for granted; thought she could get away with whatever she wanted. Wonder Woman was FLAWED, deeply so, in understandable circumstances; and she rises from the bottom - from her self-made suffering - towards the top. In the meantime she can never return to her beloved Paradise Island until she has made up for all the tragedy she has caused in her recklessness.
She will learn and grow, like a true hero. A true Amazon.
In this graphic novel, this tale, this labour of love and work of art, there is a great focus on Diana and her relationships with the other Amazons; not just with her mother Hippolyta, which is incredibly touching and wrought with symbolism, but also Alethea, the only Amazonian who isn't besotted with Diana. She ignores her, which confuses and frustrates the ever-so "charming" and adventurous Diana (she found her bracelets and lasso of truth in the island's depths, guarded by monsters, adding to her arrogance), but also intrigues her. Alethea the seemingly-simple stable hand values compassion and honesty, and believes that respect and trust - vital for a mutual friendship - must be earned, not bought, or come from a place of privilege.
Diana becomes obsessed with wanting Alethea's favour, and makes it her goal to be the stable woman's champion, no matter the cost...
Alethea ends up being the true Amazon whom the future Wonder Woman will model herself after. Their relationship is important and complex, heavily implying that Diana's feelings for her indifferent Amazonian sister go beyond merely platonic. Thus supporting Wonder Woman's long-debated queerness, with, again, no man in sight!
Female bonds are spotlighted in this comic, with nearly every single page passing the Bechdel test. And I cheered at the end when, out of all the other bereaved Amazons, who want revenge on Diana for all the damage she's caused, the "simple-minded" Lucia, also an oracle, shouts for mercy on the princess's part, arguing that even more violence will solve nothing. Wonder Woman's messages, coming from her status as a feminist icon and hero, are sprinkled throughout 'The True Amazon', and I love it.
Penned, drawn and painted by Jill Thompson herself, the hard work gone into creating every aspect of this comic - this story - shows on all its panels. The humans and their facial expressions - all their muscles - come to life. I don't think it looks ugly, for these are meant to be real women.
While the book isn't perfect - the slightly-garish stylistic choice of artwork probably isn't what a lot of comic readers are used to from DC, and Diana knew she could fly since childhood but this god-given gift is not brought up again in adulthood when it could have been useful, plus what's a crystal dagger doing here? - 'The True Amazon' is a treat I would recommend to any Wonder Woman fan.
A "re-imagining" done right, and I didn't think that was possible before.
Final Score: 5/5
EDIT: I finally read Renae De Liz's 'The Legend of Wonder Woman Vol. 1: Origins', and it is great. Review can be found on Goodreads and my blog.
EDIT 2: Also read Greg Rucka's 'Wonder Woman: Rebirth' title, the first volume. It's also good. Review on Goodreads and my blog.
October 12, 2016
A re-imagining of Diana's origin that only changes one thing, by making her spoiled, selfish, and needing to grow and seek redemption. Beautifully illustrated, with a story that makes sense (Diana is, after all, the cherished only child of hundreds) and grows into something quite good by the end.
December 29, 2016
I've been a fan of Wonder Woman ever since the 1970s TV series...but sadly the character has been mistreated. In the mid-1990s I can remember reading in the Hollywood Reporter that a Wonder Woman movie was in pre-production. It must have been 2002 or 2003 that I heard the project had been canned because "nobody wanted to watch a female super hero". Then a couple of years later the movie was back on before being once again canned. Then there was a very good animated movie, and finally the feature length film was once again resurrected with Gal Gadot to play Wonder Woman. That must have been 2009 or 2010. Now almost a decade and 4 or 5 Superman / Batman movies later we are almost there.
At this stage I feel like saying thanks for nothing because after 20 odd years that's still pretty much all I have on the film front.
But I do have this very fine retelling of Wonder Woman's origin tale. The story is great and the artwork is honestly kind of brilliant. It veers away slightly from the original story and is the better for it. Fingers crossed I can find the next in the series.
Young girls and boys need a variety of role models. They need heroes of different genders. Boys need Wonder Woman every bit as much as girls. We kind of need to smash this idea that girls are only there to be saved.
At this stage I feel like saying thanks for nothing because after 20 odd years that's still pretty much all I have on the film front.
But I do have this very fine retelling of Wonder Woman's origin tale. The story is great and the artwork is honestly kind of brilliant. It veers away slightly from the original story and is the better for it. Fingers crossed I can find the next in the series.
Young girls and boys need a variety of role models. They need heroes of different genders. Boys need Wonder Woman every bit as much as girls. We kind of need to smash this idea that girls are only there to be saved.
June 9, 2017
At this point, I'm amazed the Wonder Woman movie came out as well as it did, because there seems to be a history of poor retellings of her origin story, between this and
Legends of Wonder Woman: Origin
. If that version was "Wonder Woman as subpar Disney fan-comic", this is "Wonder Woman written by Morgan Rice".
Like Legends, this tries to use Ye Olde Standarde Fantasy Speake in its dialogue and narration, apparently going for a children's fairytale style to go with the colourful watercolour artwork despite the violence and nasty hints of sexual violence early on. It fails in the execution and often comes out with a mixture of:
-Stilted cliche ("the most delicate of robes", "every manner of bird and beast")
-Inconsistency (there's several uses of Americanisms or other anachronistic words, like "math" and "rocketed")
-Gratuitous exclamation marks
-Strange turns of phrase ("as his prisoner and in chains", "crafting art and music and creating a culture")
I also thought the artwork, though colourful and attractive in depicting the scenery and creatures, had some problems in the character designs - there were many scenes where I felt that facial expressions were exaggerated, resulting in rather disturbing, Uncanny Valley-esque images.
The key problem I had with the book, though, was the plot.
In re-imagining Wonder Woman not as someone who volunteers to travel to the outside world out of curiosity and altruism, but as a criminal exile with no redeeming qualities seeking some never-shown atonement, I'm not sure if the author was trying to be "dark and edgy" (clashing horribly with the art style and childish writing) or deliver some ham-handed Space Whale Aesop about how selfishness will cause you to commit mass (wo)manslaughter. Either way, the result annoyed me quite a bit.
Like Legends, this tries to use Ye Olde Standarde Fantasy Speake in its dialogue and narration, apparently going for a children's fairytale style to go with the colourful watercolour artwork despite the violence and nasty hints of sexual violence early on. It fails in the execution and often comes out with a mixture of:
-Stilted cliche ("the most delicate of robes", "every manner of bird and beast")
-Inconsistency (there's several uses of Americanisms or other anachronistic words, like "math" and "rocketed")
-Gratuitous exclamation marks
-Strange turns of phrase ("as his prisoner and in chains", "crafting art and music and creating a culture")
I also thought the artwork, though colourful and attractive in depicting the scenery and creatures, had some problems in the character designs - there were many scenes where I felt that facial expressions were exaggerated, resulting in rather disturbing, Uncanny Valley-esque images.
The key problem I had with the book, though, was the plot.
In re-imagining Wonder Woman not as someone who volunteers to travel to the outside world out of curiosity and altruism, but as a criminal exile with no redeeming qualities seeking some never-shown atonement, I'm not sure if the author was trying to be "dark and edgy" (clashing horribly with the art style and childish writing) or deliver some ham-handed Space Whale Aesop about how selfishness will cause you to commit mass (wo)manslaughter. Either way, the result annoyed me quite a bit.
September 27, 2016
Starting this review off with a disclaimer, I am not a comic buff by any stretch of the imagination. I don't have characters that I know the entire back story of, or know every single story arc they are in. I enjoy comics, I like the perdy pictures and while I don't follow the entire storyline of particular characters, I do have some personal favorites and if I see them in something, I will pick it up.
That being said, if I pick up something with a fav in it and they aren't portrayed in a way I agree with, I'm not going to enjoy the work as much, because I'm butt-hurt over how they act doesn't jive with how I see them.
That's kind of how this one went. It is a very interesting take on Wonder Woman's back story and I respect that.
But.
That's not how MY Wonder Woman would have EVER acted. She farts perfume and poos unicorns with rainbow manes. She's not a spoiled little brat who acts like a self-centered jerk, even as a child and youth.
Some spoilers follow.
Her mother is the Queen of the Amazons. She wants a baby SO BAD. Then when she GETS one, namely Diana, the Queen is an absentee parent! You barely see her at ALL as Diana is growing up and the other Amazons all dote on her, or are so afraid of upsetting the Queen, that Diana is never told "no". So she grows up into a selfish brat.
Ummm...correct me if I'm wrong, but if the Queen is an awesome leader, shouldn't she also be instilling the virtues of awesome leaderness into her only daughter?
Though the story lost me at where the gods were all so touched and moved that they cried. On what planet did the gods and goddesses of Olympus have ANY real care for the mortals on land? Hera only helped the Queen because she didn't want her husband to bang her, not because she felt sorry for the Amazons about to be plundered by men who were really quite piggish in this story.
So one star off because the story wasn't a positive one for me.
The artwork wasn't as pretty as I would have liked it. I sound like such a girl, but I just wasn't a fan of the art. The colors were pretty pastels, but the artwork itself didn't do anything positive for me. One star off because I didn't enjoy the artwork.
A total of three, I'm being a brat now, stars.
This wasn't a bad installment in the story of Wonder Woman, but it wasn't quite for me. This is a completely it's me and not the book moment. If you love Wonder Woman and want more back story on her, if you don't mind her seeming more human than hero, if you need to read everything about her, then this is for you. Not my cup, but I'm probably reading it completely wrong.
My thanks to NetGalley and DC Entertainment/Comics for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.
That being said, if I pick up something with a fav in it and they aren't portrayed in a way I agree with, I'm not going to enjoy the work as much, because I'm butt-hurt over how they act doesn't jive with how I see them.
That's kind of how this one went. It is a very interesting take on Wonder Woman's back story and I respect that.
But.
That's not how MY Wonder Woman would have EVER acted. She farts perfume and poos unicorns with rainbow manes. She's not a spoiled little brat who acts like a self-centered jerk, even as a child and youth.
Some spoilers follow.
Her mother is the Queen of the Amazons. She wants a baby SO BAD. Then when she GETS one, namely Diana, the Queen is an absentee parent! You barely see her at ALL as Diana is growing up and the other Amazons all dote on her, or are so afraid of upsetting the Queen, that Diana is never told "no". So she grows up into a selfish brat.
Ummm...correct me if I'm wrong, but if the Queen is an awesome leader, shouldn't she also be instilling the virtues of awesome leaderness into her only daughter?
Though the story lost me at where the gods were all so touched and moved that they cried. On what planet did the gods and goddesses of Olympus have ANY real care for the mortals on land? Hera only helped the Queen because she didn't want her husband to bang her, not because she felt sorry for the Amazons about to be plundered by men who were really quite piggish in this story.
So one star off because the story wasn't a positive one for me.
The artwork wasn't as pretty as I would have liked it. I sound like such a girl, but I just wasn't a fan of the art. The colors were pretty pastels, but the artwork itself didn't do anything positive for me. One star off because I didn't enjoy the artwork.
A total of three, I'm being a brat now, stars.
This wasn't a bad installment in the story of Wonder Woman, but it wasn't quite for me. This is a completely it's me and not the book moment. If you love Wonder Woman and want more back story on her, if you don't mind her seeming more human than hero, if you need to read everything about her, then this is for you. Not my cup, but I'm probably reading it completely wrong.
My thanks to NetGalley and DC Entertainment/Comics for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.
November 3, 2016
oh my god, Jill Thompson, why?
This is... 120-odd pages of utterly gorgeous, magical, expressive watercolour art, wasted on a deeply unpleasant perversion of Wonder Woman's origins. Thompson takes the classic elements of Diana's heroic origin - the contest, the masked girl who emerges as victor, the tiara, the costume, the bracelets and lasso, the journey forth into Man's World - and transform them into sources of shame and disgust, symbols of Diana's revolting self-absorption and failure. It's not a heroic origin; it's the story of a complete monster-child getting her comeuppance.
There's merit in the idea of exploring Wonder Woman's childhood failings and hard-learned lessons, but Thompson takes the concept to such an extreme, her Diana zooms straight past "relatable" territory and headlong into "despicable". She's a greedy, petty, selfish, vain, cruel, pampered bully who "[delights] in tormenting those who [serve] her" and gleefully murders monsters for loot and glory.
And while, again, there's nothing wrong in theory with a story about a thoroughly unlikeable and selfish character who, through disgrace and exile, learns what it is to be a true hero... That's not Wonder Woman. That's never been Wonder Woman.
1.5 stars.
This is... 120-odd pages of utterly gorgeous, magical, expressive watercolour art, wasted on a deeply unpleasant perversion of Wonder Woman's origins. Thompson takes the classic elements of Diana's heroic origin - the contest, the masked girl who emerges as victor, the tiara, the costume, the bracelets and lasso, the journey forth into Man's World - and transform them into sources of shame and disgust, symbols of Diana's revolting self-absorption and failure. It's not a heroic origin; it's the story of a complete monster-child getting her comeuppance.
There's merit in the idea of exploring Wonder Woman's childhood failings and hard-learned lessons, but Thompson takes the concept to such an extreme, her Diana zooms straight past "relatable" territory and headlong into "despicable". She's a greedy, petty, selfish, vain, cruel, pampered bully who "[delights] in tormenting those who [serve] her" and gleefully murders monsters for loot and glory.
And while, again, there's nothing wrong in theory with a story about a thoroughly unlikeable and selfish character who, through disgrace and exile, learns what it is to be a true hero... That's not Wonder Woman. That's never been Wonder Woman.
1.5 stars.
December 4, 2019
Weaved with mythology and symbolism. I even teared up a few times! I loved it!
•Fem power graphic novel.
•Fem power graphic novel.
October 15, 2016
It's entirely possible this story just isn't for me. That this Wonder Woman just isn't my Wonder Woman and that's the problem. I don't think it is though.
It's supposed to be a new Wonder Woman origin story. The art isn't my favorite although everyone else is raving, but it's not horrible. The idea with this one is the traditional story, Wonder Woman's mother wishing for a child, how the Amazon's cam to live on their own island without men, etc. Only this time Wonder Woman is a spoiled child who grows into a spoiled woman with disastrous and deadly consequences. She gets Amazons killed to prove she's the best and until this happens everyone just lets her be spoiled and proud. After women die then she's exiled to become Wonder Woman and prove herself.
I hated all of it.
Woman Woman is the best of women. The best of the Amazons. I could have been okay with her having a spoiled spell. Maybe a moment of pride and jealousy that ended in horrific things. That's fine. That's character building. even could be good story telling. This just wasn't right. The whole time I read it I was twisting in discomfort. And usually if a story can make you feel, really feel, I'm usually okay with whatever is happening. But this wasn't Wonder Woman. These weren't Amazons.
And the fact they sent Wonder Woman away into the world in disgrace to prove herself was just so unappealing and wrong that by the time I finished it I was disgusted and even a little angry. I really wish I hadn't read this one. Not just because it was disappointing but because I can't shake the horrible feeling it left in me.
It's supposed to be a new Wonder Woman origin story. The art isn't my favorite although everyone else is raving, but it's not horrible. The idea with this one is the traditional story, Wonder Woman's mother wishing for a child, how the Amazon's cam to live on their own island without men, etc. Only this time Wonder Woman is a spoiled child who grows into a spoiled woman with disastrous and deadly consequences. She gets Amazons killed to prove she's the best and until this happens everyone just lets her be spoiled and proud. After women die then she's exiled to become Wonder Woman and prove herself.
I hated all of it.
Woman Woman is the best of women. The best of the Amazons. I could have been okay with her having a spoiled spell. Maybe a moment of pride and jealousy that ended in horrific things. That's fine. That's character building. even could be good story telling. This just wasn't right. The whole time I read it I was twisting in discomfort. And usually if a story can make you feel, really feel, I'm usually okay with whatever is happening. But this wasn't Wonder Woman. These weren't Amazons.
And the fact they sent Wonder Woman away into the world in disgrace to prove herself was just so unappealing and wrong that by the time I finished it I was disgusted and even a little angry. I really wish I hadn't read this one. Not just because it was disappointing but because I can't shake the horrible feeling it left in me.
June 27, 2018
Jill Thompson takes the Wonder Woman mythos and adds in some Grimm's fairy tales. Obviously geared towards younger readers, the book's lush watercolors give the book the look of a storybook.
Wonder Woman grows up doted on by the Amazons and becomes a spoiled brat. She doesn't learn her lesson until she's done irreparable harm to her sisters. I didn't care for the ending much. There's no real redemption. Diana is just banished without rectifying her mistakes.
Wonder Woman grows up doted on by the Amazons and becomes a spoiled brat. She doesn't learn her lesson until she's done irreparable harm to her sisters. I didn't care for the ending much. There's no real redemption. Diana is just banished without rectifying her mistakes.
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February 6, 2017I love Jill Thompson; have for quite some time.
But this failed to capture the essence of Diana/ Wonder Woman peoperly for me.
3.5 stars.
But this failed to capture the essence of Diana/ Wonder Woman peoperly for me.
3.5 stars.
November 29, 2021
Wonderful art, but the story leaves too much to be desired.
Just an alternative brat princess Diana.
Just an alternative brat princess Diana.
February 22, 2017
I dunno, y'all. This story rubbed me entirely the wrong way in a lot of places. It feels a little like a slap in the face of the original purpose behind her character and world. Instead of an island of women raising one girl to be a compassionate, wise warrior who only draws her sword when talking doesn't work, they spoil her and make her conceited and mean. Instead of the Goddesses willingly creating Diana from sand, it's more like a happy accident that happens after Poseidon quiets the seas so he can listen to Hippolyta's song, thus letting it carry to Olympus where the gods hear it, all of them cry, and boom: instant baby, just add tears.
I dunno. I feel like there are ways to add depth and complexity to Diana without sending her into the exact opposite direction and then punishing her for shit a male character would get away with.
I dunno. I feel like there are ways to add depth and complexity to Diana without sending her into the exact opposite direction and then punishing her for shit a male character would get away with.
October 15, 2016
[Quick note: My low rating of this book is much more indicative of Thompson's vision of Wonder Woman than the quality inherent in the work.]
We are apparently in a Golden Age of Wonder Woman origin reboot stories. Besides Grant Morrison's Wonder Woman: Earth One, Vol. 2 and Greg Rucka's "Wonder Woman: Year One" story in the current Rebirth issues, we have a movie coming out soon. So I was interested to see Jill Thompson's take. I have loved her work in the past, gobbling up all the Scary Godmother I could find and adoring her painted work in the Beasts of Burden series with Evan Dorkin. In fact, it's wonderful to see the bright colors here in contrast with the muted greens and browns of that series. In format, this is closest to her children's books and feels at times like a YA version of the WW origin story.
At first, I liked Thompson's take --- it makes sense that Diana, the only girl on the island of Themyscira, would be spoiled like crazy. Thompson shows her as a very troubled adolescent, almost torturing those who try to help her and displeased with everything and everyone. You sense that a comeuppance is looming that will teach Diana to become the hero she is meant to be. The problem is the nature of the comeuppance --- it involves Diana's unthinking actions that lead to terrible tragedy. The result is a story with conflict and resolution (something that is often missing in the Diana origin story), but I could not mesh my view of Wonder Woman with the tragedy she created. Instead of sending Diana out into the world to be an ambassador of Themysciran values, the story forces her out to deal with her guilt (and we have enough guilt-ridden superheroes).
We are apparently in a Golden Age of Wonder Woman origin reboot stories. Besides Grant Morrison's Wonder Woman: Earth One, Vol. 2 and Greg Rucka's "Wonder Woman: Year One" story in the current Rebirth issues, we have a movie coming out soon. So I was interested to see Jill Thompson's take. I have loved her work in the past, gobbling up all the Scary Godmother I could find and adoring her painted work in the Beasts of Burden series with Evan Dorkin. In fact, it's wonderful to see the bright colors here in contrast with the muted greens and browns of that series. In format, this is closest to her children's books and feels at times like a YA version of the WW origin story.
At first, I liked Thompson's take --- it makes sense that Diana, the only girl on the island of Themyscira, would be spoiled like crazy. Thompson shows her as a very troubled adolescent, almost torturing those who try to help her and displeased with everything and everyone. You sense that a comeuppance is looming that will teach Diana to become the hero she is meant to be. The problem is the nature of the comeuppance --- it involves Diana's unthinking actions that lead to terrible tragedy. The result is a story with conflict and resolution (something that is often missing in the Diana origin story), but I could not mesh my view of Wonder Woman with the tragedy she created. Instead of sending Diana out into the world to be an ambassador of Themysciran values, the story forces her out to deal with her guilt (and we have enough guilt-ridden superheroes).
December 20, 2016
This umpteenth retelling of the Wonder Woman origin story treats it more like a fairy tale. It's nicely told and drawn, but I would have preferred to have Thompson's talent applied to anything except the umpteenth retelling of the Wonder Woman origin story. I am tired of having the umpteenth retelling of the Wonder Woman origin story put in front of me. Aren't you tired of having the umpteenth retelling of the Wonder Woman origin story put in front of you?
December 28, 2016
While I really love the art I just couldn't feel the same way about the story. I feel that it diminishes Diana and completely changes who she is by making her mission out in the wider world not because the drive is in her nature that she truly wants to help, but because she MUST do it, because she is left no other choice after she actions and poor decisions. That's just not Diana, or Wonder Woman, to me and it left me disappointed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 26, 2017
I didn't like this retelling, from the artwork to the story itself. It is just ugly. I have a hard time believing that any Amazon tribe would tolerate that type of behavior for very long. The ultimate design of her costume (and hair) I liked with the exception of the star spangled underwear...sigh. I wonder if comic book artists will EVER move from that.
November 22, 2017
Probably more of a 4-star read but after having to sit through Joss Whedon’s Wonder Woman in the ‘Justice League’ film, I just really needed this. I needed to reconnect and remember why I love WW so much. It was perfection for me.
The art probably ranks as some of the best ever in any DC comic books.
The art probably ranks as some of the best ever in any DC comic books.
May 3, 2017
Arguably the best origin WW story ever.
Jill's da man!
Jill's da man!
June 4, 2017
I am embarrassed to admit that I never knew much about Princess Diana's birth or training. The finesse and brilliance presented in Jill Thompson's version enthralled me. Thanks to the art and dialogue, my interest in Wonder Woman was reinforced.
August 30, 2019
I really enjoyed this comic by Jill Thompson. It provides an alternative origin story for wonder woman, one in which she is shown as flawed and temperamental.
The illustration of this comic book is breathtaking. It is fully watercoloured with every single panel given a great deal of care. There are no sloppy lines and the presentation as a whole is simply gorgeous.
As a watercolour amateur but aspiring artist, Jill Thompson's designs absolutely captivated me. At the end she gives an insight into her design progress, how she goes from pencil sketches to the beauty of the finished page. If I find a watercolour illustration course by Jill, I'm ready to enroll myself in a flash. Please let there be a watercolour course! Teach me your ways, I'll be your humble watercolour servant.
I can't fault this book in any way.
The illustration of this comic book is breathtaking. It is fully watercoloured with every single panel given a great deal of care. There are no sloppy lines and the presentation as a whole is simply gorgeous.
As a watercolour amateur but aspiring artist, Jill Thompson's designs absolutely captivated me. At the end she gives an insight into her design progress, how she goes from pencil sketches to the beauty of the finished page. If I find a watercolour illustration course by Jill, I'm ready to enroll myself in a flash. Please let there be a watercolour course! Teach me your ways, I'll be your humble watercolour servant.
I can't fault this book in any way.
December 14, 2016
Traditionally Wonder Woman is an epic hero full of values: honor, justice. Turning her into a selfish brat who is in the world of men because she's been banished from paradise? It just diminishes a beloved character.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 4, 2020
This is short and sweet with beautiful artwork. The writing is not complex but the artwork definitely makes up for it. Definitely felt like a picture book with a graphic novel vibe as opposed to just a graphic novel.
April 26, 2017
Like…wow, who thought this reinterpretation of diana's origin story was necessary or an improvement?
August 19, 2017
The art is pretty in moments but this is not my Wonder Woman.
April 14, 2018
There is no doubt that this is a great comic, especially the gorgeous, painted art. And when you're a Greek, there are a few more levels of wordplay to enjoy. For instance, the woman responsible (in the end) for turning Diana into an honorable warrior from a spoiled brat, is named Alethea, which means "Truth". Among other, deeper and more tragic things, Alethea always tells Diana the truth to her face, without flattery or submission.
The storybook feel is great and Jill Thompson is one of the best at what she does (remember the Sandman Storybooks).
That said, I am slightly peeved by one thing: the need to wax feminist in a book that does not, in fact, need it, since its whole point is these strong women of mythology. The comic starts with a badly twisted version of Hercules's 9th labor, the Belt of Hippolyta.
Let us get one thing very clear: Hercules was ORDERED by the cowardly Eurystheus (and bound to obey his sleazy uncle by the gods, never enjoying it) to bring back the belt, and as all other labors, the point was to have Hercules killed. Also, Eurystheus did not do it so he could teach a patriarchical lesson to his daughter (as stated in the comic), but to make a gift of the girdle to her. Furthermore, the people (white males) of Mycenae are portrayed as fearing and hating the Amazons "who dare to walk like men" (except for the mandatory, political correct Persian guy). Well, if any of the ancient writers and myths are to be believed, the Amazons lived halfway across the known world from Mycenae at the time, somewhere on the coast of the Black Sea. The people of Mycenae did not care a whit about the Amazons. Finally, in Greek mythology, Hercules takes a ship to Themyscira, along with other warriors, but originally, Hippolyta receives them as guests, along the theme of xenia. When Hercules explains his purpose (and the reasons for it), Hippolyta has no problem giving him the belt amicably and it is Hera (as in all of Herculess's troubles) who actually incites the war between the Greeks and the Amazons.
Furthermore, in the comic there is a part never mentioned in any myth, where Zeus wants to fight alongside his son, so he can be on hand to rape Hippolyta when the Greeks win and Hera intervenes to save the Amazons with the help of Poseidon (incidentally, the "Ship from the Deep" page is quite amazing). While it is true that generally, all across mythology, Zeus could not keep it in his pants, this is the one case where he did NOT flex his lecherous muscles. In fact, the whole point of the Hercules myth is that Zeus could never intervene on behalf of his son, as Hera made his life hell, not even when he was mortally poisoned. All he could do was to have him ascend to Olympus post-mortem.
Do not get me wrong; all of that does not fill more than 10-15 pages of the comic and it's still gorgeously painted, but as a person who knows, loves and studies mythology very meticulously, I am annoyed when it is twisted to serve a purpose unrelated to it.
Wonder Woman is a great character and her movie, perhaps the only one worth watching (up to date) in the DCEU. There is no need to muck up mythology to portray her as a strong woman, raised by other strong women. She already is all that and more.
The storybook feel is great and Jill Thompson is one of the best at what she does (remember the Sandman Storybooks).
That said, I am slightly peeved by one thing: the need to wax feminist in a book that does not, in fact, need it, since its whole point is these strong women of mythology. The comic starts with a badly twisted version of Hercules's 9th labor, the Belt of Hippolyta.
Let us get one thing very clear: Hercules was ORDERED by the cowardly Eurystheus (and bound to obey his sleazy uncle by the gods, never enjoying it) to bring back the belt, and as all other labors, the point was to have Hercules killed. Also, Eurystheus did not do it so he could teach a patriarchical lesson to his daughter (as stated in the comic), but to make a gift of the girdle to her. Furthermore, the people (white males) of Mycenae are portrayed as fearing and hating the Amazons "who dare to walk like men" (except for the mandatory, political correct Persian guy). Well, if any of the ancient writers and myths are to be believed, the Amazons lived halfway across the known world from Mycenae at the time, somewhere on the coast of the Black Sea. The people of Mycenae did not care a whit about the Amazons. Finally, in Greek mythology, Hercules takes a ship to Themyscira, along with other warriors, but originally, Hippolyta receives them as guests, along the theme of xenia. When Hercules explains his purpose (and the reasons for it), Hippolyta has no problem giving him the belt amicably and it is Hera (as in all of Herculess's troubles) who actually incites the war between the Greeks and the Amazons.
Furthermore, in the comic there is a part never mentioned in any myth, where Zeus wants to fight alongside his son, so he can be on hand to rape Hippolyta when the Greeks win and Hera intervenes to save the Amazons with the help of Poseidon (incidentally, the "Ship from the Deep" page is quite amazing). While it is true that generally, all across mythology, Zeus could not keep it in his pants, this is the one case where he did NOT flex his lecherous muscles. In fact, the whole point of the Hercules myth is that Zeus could never intervene on behalf of his son, as Hera made his life hell, not even when he was mortally poisoned. All he could do was to have him ascend to Olympus post-mortem.
Do not get me wrong; all of that does not fill more than 10-15 pages of the comic and it's still gorgeously painted, but as a person who knows, loves and studies mythology very meticulously, I am annoyed when it is twisted to serve a purpose unrelated to it.
Wonder Woman is a great character and her movie, perhaps the only one worth watching (up to date) in the DCEU. There is no need to muck up mythology to portray her as a strong woman, raised by other strong women. She already is all that and more.
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