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unladylike's review against another edition
3.0
There's some great stuff in this volume - mostly the political messaging - but the overall script isn't nearly as solid as the first Bombshells series.
novelsinpieces's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Great art, okay writing. It's inspiring in some parts, but mostly clunky, and, as someone who's woc, the message that it tried to convey fell flat. I can tell that it came from a place of sincerity, but it just isn't for me. It's kept me engaged enough to want to read the whole series and I loved how they wrote the characters individually.
canadajanes's review against another edition
3.0
Think I accidentally got "United" before the original series. But enjoyed it!
kemendraugh's review against another edition
3.0
Okay, okay, this isn't the first run, I'm readjusting...
Still really liked it! I think I just missed some of the other characters. I'm super happy there is more Bombshells in the world <3
Still really liked it! I think I just missed some of the other characters. I'm super happy there is more Bombshells in the world <3
katiedewing's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
wendytheowl's review against another edition
3.0
FR
Il faut savoir que j'avais lu la première "collection" des Bombshells, et que j'avais beaucoup aimé. J'ai mis du temps à me plonger dans United, car je savais que ça avait été annulé.
Et je dois avouer que je n'ai pas autant aimé que les six premiers tomes. J'ai trouvé ces histoires trop "fouillis", je n'ai pas toujours aimé les dessins. Une petite déception, mais ça va encore !!
ENG
You should know that I had read the first "collection" of the Bombshells, and that I really liked. It took me a while to get into United because I knew it had been called off.
And I have to admit that I prefer the first six books. I found these stories too "messy", I did not always like the drawings. A small disappointment, but it's okay !!
Il faut savoir que j'avais lu la première "collection" des Bombshells, et que j'avais beaucoup aimé. J'ai mis du temps à me plonger dans United, car je savais que ça avait été annulé.
Et je dois avouer que je n'ai pas autant aimé que les six premiers tomes. J'ai trouvé ces histoires trop "fouillis", je n'ai pas toujours aimé les dessins. Une petite déception, mais ça va encore !!
ENG
You should know that I had read the first "collection" of the Bombshells, and that I really liked. It took me a while to get into United because I knew it had been called off.
And I have to admit that I prefer the first six books. I found these stories too "messy", I did not always like the drawings. A small disappointment, but it's okay !!
fifteenthjessica's review against another edition
3.0
Another thoroughly okay volume in the DC Comics Bombshell comics. While the war rages in Europe, Wonder Woman is called to America to help some young women stop the Japanese internment.
Wonder Women ends up with a Gotham Batgirl-esque squad consisting of the two main Wonder Girls (Donna Troy/Toroya and Cassie Sandmark), and some relatively new supporting characters Emily Sung (Elementwoman in the main DC Comics) and Yuki and Yuri Katsura (who are apparently BatGirl villains in the main DC Comics). If you've read my previous reviews, you know I've ranted about how big the cast of Bombshells is, and Cassie, Yuki, Yuri, and Emily feel like padding characters most of whom were thrown into the mix because they're East Asian. I do not think I would be saying this if Bennett had taken the time to establish distinct personalities for the girls, but like the Batgirls, they kind of blur together. Wonder Woman has two more allies, Dawnstar a winged heroine who descended from the Tewa people of America, and another who I will get to later.
The main villain for many of the issues is Clayface, a Batman villain, who is actually used well to force the characters to experience (and rise above) the paranoia that was used to justify the Japanese Internment. His driving force is basically a nationalism so blind that he considers Diana of Themyscrira the embodiment of America.
There are a couple problems I have, but they are linked to some big spoilers.
Also the equipment. Early on, there was a big fuss about Diana's equipment being the treasures of the Amazon, but the Wonder Girls, with help from the now silver Clayface, are able to duplicate the ones Diana left behind (I'd like to add that the reasoning for this is not well established, so I assume Diana read the script to know this was necessary).
The last issue in this trade paperback is a bit of a rollcall. It opens with several cameos going over major characters from the original run (Batwoman, Supergirl, Lois Lane, Mera, Arthur Curry, Vixen, Hawkgirl, and the Suicide Squad) as well as new characters Black Canary, Katana, Bumblebee, Starfire, The Flash, Black Cat, and Platinum (no idea who the last two, as well as the version of the Flash chosen, are by the way). Sandwiched in between all these cameos are the origins of Star Sapphire Carol Ferris and Green Lantern Jessica Cruz. It ends on Wonder Woman watching a mysterious space ship land.
Wonder Women ends up with a Gotham Batgirl-esque squad consisting of the two main Wonder Girls (Donna Troy/Toroya and Cassie Sandmark), and some relatively new supporting characters Emily Sung (Elementwoman in the main DC Comics) and Yuki and Yuri Katsura (who are apparently BatGirl villains in the main DC Comics). If you've read my previous reviews, you know I've ranted about how big the cast of Bombshells is, and Cassie, Yuki, Yuri, and Emily feel like padding characters most of whom were thrown into the mix because they're East Asian. I do not think I would be saying this if Bennett had taken the time to establish distinct personalities for the girls, but like the Batgirls, they kind of blur together. Wonder Woman has two more allies, Dawnstar a winged heroine who descended from the Tewa people of America, and another who I will get to later.
The main villain for many of the issues is Clayface, a Batman villain, who is actually used well to force the characters to experience (and rise above) the paranoia that was used to justify the Japanese Internment. His driving force is basically a nationalism so blind that he considers Diana of Themyscrira the embodiment of America.
There are a couple problems I have, but they are linked to some big spoilers.
Spoiler
So Wonder Woman ends up sacrificing herself, but not before abandoning her equipment. The heroines mentioned earlier end up taking it and becoming the Wonder Girls. They then succeed in redeeming Clayface. It's a cool scene, but it loses its punch because the Wonder Girls end up redeeming everyone but the General who Clayface used to take orders from. The redemption through love by a group of teen heroines was already done (mostly off page) by the Batgirls and Harvey Dent in the original Bombshells run. The Baroness Paula von Gunther was also redeemed off page by Wonder Woman dragging her around the battlefield.Also the equipment. Early on, there was a big fuss about Diana's equipment being the treasures of the Amazon, but the Wonder Girls, with help from the now silver Clayface, are able to duplicate the ones Diana left behind (I'd like to add that the reasoning for this is not well established, so I assume Diana read the script to know this was necessary).
The last issue in this trade paperback is a bit of a rollcall. It opens with several cameos going over major characters from the original run (Batwoman, Supergirl, Lois Lane, Mera, Arthur Curry, Vixen, Hawkgirl, and the Suicide Squad) as well as new characters Black Canary, Katana, Bumblebee, Starfire, The Flash, Black Cat, and Platinum (no idea who the last two, as well as the version of the Flash chosen, are by the way). Sandwiched in between all these cameos are the origins of Star Sapphire Carol Ferris and Green Lantern Jessica Cruz. It ends on Wonder Woman watching a mysterious space ship land.
emeelee's review against another edition
3.0
I'd put my actual enjoyment of this around 2.5, but I'm rounding up for the nice artwork, representation, and subject matter.
American Soil is set in the US during WWII, specifically set around Executive Order 9066: Japanese Internment. This is a re-imagining of American history, in which superheroes like Wonder Woman, joined by a rebellious group of Japanese American women, stand up and fight against the American government's attempts to round people up and put them in camps. It is also a not-so-subtle reference to the U.S.'s current detainment of asylum-seeking immigrants on the southern border.
The intentions are lofty, but the result is patchy, saccharine, and a bit boring. This comic is clearly all about the message, rather than the characters or the plot. Which, maybe that's okay? But it's not what I was looking for from it. I wonder, actually, if this reads similarly to early comics, which I believe rested on idealistic sentiments rather than strong plot and character arcs.
As a result, this was a highly quotable comic, with some great moments of poignant symbolism (see: the title, "American Soil"). Otherwise, though, the story fell flat. The writers were so intent on getting the message across that the dialogue felt scripted and unnatural, with the characters reciting platitude after platitude. Basically, this was another case of fantastic premise, poor execution.
We are going to rewrite history.
American Soil is set in the US during WWII, specifically set around Executive Order 9066: Japanese Internment. This is a re-imagining of American history, in which superheroes like Wonder Woman, joined by a rebellious group of Japanese American women, stand up and fight against the American government's attempts to round people up and put them in camps. It is also a not-so-subtle reference to the U.S.'s current detainment of asylum-seeking immigrants on the southern border.
As a nation, or as a people, the things we want most to forget are the things that must be most remembered. The sorry truth of 'but it couldn't happen here!' is that it already has. And has for generations.
The intentions are lofty, but the result is patchy, saccharine, and a bit boring. This comic is clearly all about the message, rather than the characters or the plot. Which, maybe that's okay? But it's not what I was looking for from it. I wonder, actually, if this reads similarly to early comics, which I believe rested on idealistic sentiments rather than strong plot and character arcs.
What is the United States, but a history made and remade? ... This is part of your history, as Americans. One may benefit from an injustice, even if one did not commit it.
As a result, this was a highly quotable comic, with some great moments of poignant symbolism (see: the title, "American Soil"). Otherwise, though, the story fell flat. The writers were so intent on getting the message across that the dialogue felt scripted and unnatural, with the characters reciting platitude after platitude. Basically, this was another case of fantastic premise, poor execution.
'Never again,' we say, in the hours that follow. In the tolling of bells, in the lowering of flags. But the moment to act-- to make sure it is truly 'never again'-- that moment is always, and will always be right now.
amck's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25