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li13eo's review against another edition
3.0
I absolutely loved the art, but wasn't altogether a fan of the writing style. Was enjoyable and easy to read
tessaf's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
2.0
I can't argue that the artwork isn't beautiful, and the plot works, I'm just not comfortable with a selfish Diana as a reimagined origin. That level of carnage is just not right for me.
tinkeringcheck's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
The art in this book is gorgeous. It's colourful, it's flowing, it's expressive, and all in a watercolour painted style that is honestly the most beautiful I've ever seen in a graphic novel. As an artist, I was taking notes! And I loved the artist's explanations of how they went about each page.
Unfortunately, it's totally mismatched with a story that just wasn't for me. It's a Wonder Woman origin story that really leans in to what could possibly get Diana capital "B" banished from the island and doesn't pull its punches. Calling this version of her spoiled would be an understatement. She literally has a gory body count of innocents by the end. I couldn't help thinking that - while the writer had some courage to go this way - it just wasn't enjoyable to read. This Diana is a terribly irredeemable spoiled brat who causes innocent people to be killed and then gets herself banished. The End. She was someone I loathed by the last page, not someone I wanted to root for or see redeemed.
Plus the tone seemed really strange to me. It has a fable-esque narrator and simple dialogue which almost seemed aimed at the young end of young adult. But it's FULL of death and blood and gore and insinuations of rape and blegh. I'm just not sure who the audience was supposed to be. Obviously this is subject matter that can be found in YA fiction - which is where I found this at the library - but it's not usually paired with a "don't be selfish kids" flavour of narrator talking down at you.
And if you came here expecting wlw representation, forget it. Dianaobsessively stalks a woman who doesn't even want to be her friend and then kisses her dead corpse after getting her killed. Which doesn't exactly scream romance or, y'know, consent. If it'd been a man doing this it would've been overtly creepy!
So yeah, 5 stars for the art... 1.5 for the story.
Unfortunately, it's totally mismatched with a story that just wasn't for me. It's a Wonder Woman origin story that really leans in to what could possibly get Diana capital "B" banished from the island and doesn't pull its punches. Calling this version of her spoiled would be an understatement. She literally has a gory body count of innocents by the end. I couldn't help thinking that - while the writer had some courage to go this way - it just wasn't enjoyable to read. This Diana is a terribly irredeemable spoiled brat who causes innocent people to be killed and then gets herself banished. The End. She was someone I loathed by the last page, not someone I wanted to root for or see redeemed.
Plus the tone seemed really strange to me. It has a fable-esque narrator and simple dialogue which almost seemed aimed at the young end of young adult. But it's FULL of death and blood and gore and insinuations of rape and blegh. I'm just not sure who the audience was supposed to be. Obviously this is subject matter that can be found in YA fiction - which is where I found this at the library - but it's not usually paired with a "don't be selfish kids" flavour of narrator talking down at you.
And if you came here expecting wlw representation, forget it. Diana
So yeah, 5 stars for the art... 1.5 for the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Gore, War, Classism, Violence, Animal death, Death, Bullying, Sexual harassment, Body horror, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Stalking
geekwayne's review against another edition
4.0
'Wonder Woman: The True Amazon' by Jill Thompson is a graphic novel that feels like a storybook. The story and art make this a winning read.
This is the story of the arrival of Diana on the island of Themiscyra. Her mother Hippolyta wanted a child, so she created one out of sand. She sang to it every night, and the song was so beautiful that the gods took pity and brought the baby to life. She was loved by all and this made her spoiled and selfish. She used her talents to rid the island of monsters and rule everyone's hearts, but there was one person she couldn't win over. In order to win that person over, Diana competes and plays a selfish prank that has devastating effects. The outcome will change her life forever.
It's a different origin than I've heard, but it's one that I found more captivating and magical. The art and lettering lend themselves to the fairytale feel of the book. That we know Diana as Wonder Woman makes this selfish brat more tolerable because we know something must happen to change her. I enjoyed this one shot and I feel like we have been getting some wonderful Wonder Woman stories of late.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from DC Entertainment and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
This is the story of the arrival of Diana on the island of Themiscyra. Her mother Hippolyta wanted a child, so she created one out of sand. She sang to it every night, and the song was so beautiful that the gods took pity and brought the baby to life. She was loved by all and this made her spoiled and selfish. She used her talents to rid the island of monsters and rule everyone's hearts, but there was one person she couldn't win over. In order to win that person over, Diana competes and plays a selfish prank that has devastating effects. The outcome will change her life forever.
It's a different origin than I've heard, but it's one that I found more captivating and magical. The art and lettering lend themselves to the fairytale feel of the book. That we know Diana as Wonder Woman makes this selfish brat more tolerable because we know something must happen to change her. I enjoyed this one shot and I feel like we have been getting some wonderful Wonder Woman stories of late.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from DC Entertainment and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
tigercrossin's review against another edition
2.0
Conflicted, but I didn’t like it. I will say that I loved the beginning explanation of the origin story, I didn’t know the details of the amazon’s arrival on themyscira so I’m happy I was able to take that away! I’m veeeery picky when it comes to a few DC characters and how I like them to be written in stories, Superman and Wonder Woman being the main two (I’m not entirely sure why), and I just didn’t vibe with this version of Diana at all. I knew going in that this story was going to different, but it just wasn’t my vibe. The art is incredible in some panels but if I’m being completely honest I didn’t love it overall. I appreciate the amount of time this type of artwork must take though omg!
The last thing I really wanted to mention was the weird wlw plot line. I appreciate seeing Diana actually represented as queer (because of course she RARELY is and writers love to conveniently “forget” about it), but I really don’t think it was implemented properly here. It honestly felt a bit disingenuous to me. I would LOVE to see this plot in another book though! It’s a really cute idea and I feel like it was a bit wasted here just because of how rushed the plot was
The last thing I really wanted to mention was the weird wlw plot line. I appreciate seeing Diana actually represented as queer (because of course she RARELY is and writers love to conveniently “forget” about it), but I really don’t think it was implemented properly here. It honestly felt a bit disingenuous to me. I would LOVE to see this plot in another book though! It’s a really cute idea and I feel like it was a bit wasted here just because of how rushed the plot was
indecisivesailorscout's review against another edition
4.0
This is one of my favorite illustrated origin stories of Diana, ever. Instead of being the heroic beauty we all know and love, this shows us a younger, more honest version of Diana, as the only child on the island of Themyscira. I think this is a great book for introducing children to Wonder Woman's origin story (separate from the movie!) and showing that all actions have consequences, especially actions of selfishness and greed. We should all be encouraged to be more compassionate, and I can't think of a better way than through showing that the most compassionate and altruistic woman many of us know had to learn how to be a better version of herself, just like any of us.
stormblessed4's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mitchosaur's review against another edition
4.0
I find it fascinating to read different Wonder Woman origin stories. This one I think may be one of my favorites. The art style was beautiful and the plot was unlike any other Wonder Woman story you've read or heard of. I think you can learn some valuable lessons from this book.
shiloniz's review against another edition
2.0
I was lost over half of the time, and I am also reading the original Wonder Woman newspaper strips right now, and in comparison, it simply doesn't stand up.