mschlat's review against another edition
2.0
[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 [b:Wonder Woman: Earth One, Vol. 2|30053841|Wonder Woman Earth One, Vol. 2|Grant Morrison|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1461902513s/30053841.jpg|50464223] 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 [b:Wonder Woman: Earth One, Vol. 2|30053841|Wonder Woman Earth One, Vol. 2|Grant Morrison|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1461902513s/30053841.jpg|50464223] 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).
sthewoods's review against another edition
2.0
The artwork is gorgeous, which is honestly what prompted me to give the character of Wonder Woman a chance and why I get this comic. However, the story is so bad. It's hard for me to like this character.
I did like the many references to Greek mythology and the character of Alethea but that’s it.
I did like the many references to Greek mythology and the character of Alethea but that’s it.
quiet_chaos's review against another edition
4.0
This is honestly the only Wonder Woman origin I've ever actually read so I don't have much frame of reference. I really liked the story, it was realistic and solid. I was not a big fan of the art.
mirandamalonka's review against another edition
1.0
Omong kosong macam apa ini. 😓 Jadi gini, pada dasarnya WW punya virtue tersendiri pemberian pada dewi, dia dianugerahi kebijaksanaan dari Athena sendiri, dan dia pakai Venus girdle untuk tetap jadi baik. Jadi ndak mungkin dong dia punya background story super menyedihkan begini? WW memang tidak manusiawi. Dan untuk apa menjadikannya manusiawi? Dia toh bukan manusia. Untuk apa memberi masa lalu suram seperti Batman? I know this is just another interpretation of her story but still I'm outraged.
leannemb92's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
izzy1026's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
sunbearbeam's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
suspiciouspinecone's review against another edition
1.0
...I cannot even describe how confused I was by all of this. And that's as a massive DC fan, Wonder Woman fan, and mythology nerd. I had almost no clue what was going on, at all. The art was interesting but that's all I can say for this.
CW: War, magic, oversexualised women (can we please stop having half-naked Amazons everywhere)
CW: War, magic, oversexualised women (can we please stop having half-naked Amazons everywhere)
sonaderon's review against another edition
5.0
This is it.
This is the only WW origin story that ever needs to be.
This is the only WW origin story that ever needs to be.
katrinky's review against another edition
3.0
THIS IS A VERY SAD ORIGIN STORY. I bet it had at least some influence on the WW84 version, where Diana is shown to have flaws as a girl. Anyway, #justiceforalethea