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li13eo's review
4.0
This was pretty rad. A cool mix of mythos and DC's dark characters. It was a bit wordy at times when it didn't need to be, but overall it was really enjoyable. The art was beautiful throughout
unladylike's review
4.0
4.5 stars
James Tynion IV has been steadily impressing me more and more with his writing, in such a short period of time, and he's really hit his stride in this team book. While Wonder Woman is the main hero, we get a group of some of my favorite, underused DC characters facing off against Hecate, who pre-dates all other pantheons and mythologies apparently, in order to save all magic. Not so long ago, Marvel had Dr. Strange go through an epic fight against magic-killers. Jason Aaron did a fine job writing that story, but I found it nowhere near as exciting as this book. The Witching Hour puts into play a few characters I hadn't heard of but now want to see more of - particularly Manitou Dawn, who wreaks havoc like no one's business under the near-omnipotent control of Hecate. Her presence throughout the story should call attention to the glaring narrowness of deities represented in this story. We pretty much just see Greek and Egyptian pantheons depicted, but even they serve a very minor role overall. And to be fair, Tynion (thankfully) doesn't waste any time giving *any* of the protagonists a back-story. Instead, he does what I strongly prefer in comic book writing, by giving readers some damn credit to figure things out when we need to.
Tynion does such a fantastic job of making this a self-contained story, that you wouldn't miss any important beats even if you've never read Hellblazer, Swamp Thing, or Wonder Woman. At least I don't think you would, but it's hard to say since I *have* read a great deal of all those comics.
Some of the page layouts are among the best in any DC title I've seen in recent years, so kudos to the whole creative team for designing pages full of well-placed word boxes that call to mind J.H. Williams III's amazing work on Promethea - which is *another* book all about the history and future of magic, and the embodiment of Story in the form of a Woman.
I had an inkling that this was going to tie in to Scott Snyder's Dark Days event, and it does set up some pieces for that, but in a much better way than any other title, including the ones Snyder plotted deliberately towards that purpose! Fuck all that Nth Metal nonsense - this story makes brilliant use of things that have been in DC canon for a while, such as John Constantine's lung cancer (from Garth Ennis's run, which influenced the first film adaptation) and the relationship between the Green (since Alan Moore's Saga of the Swamp Thing in the mid-80s) and the Red and the Rot (which I believe were conceived by Tynion's tailcoat-ridable teacher, Scott Snyder, along with Jeff Lemire via Animal Man). Hecate even makes some pointed references to Wonder Woman's origin story.
Neil Gaiman was likely the first one to really introduce me to the original trinity of sorts - the three faces of the Fates - Maiden, Mother, Crone, who serve many important roles throughout history, and work together to weave the longest yarns. Since I saw them toying with various individuals, but also bound to certain old rules, I've been fascinated with the idea that Everything is Story. The Witching Hour is a real page-turner, and even its more "purple" prose serves appropriately to engage us on multiple levels with the very nature of story-telling at its best.
James Tynion IV has been steadily impressing me more and more with his writing, in such a short period of time, and he's really hit his stride in this team book. While Wonder Woman is the main hero, we get a group of some of my favorite, underused DC characters facing off against Hecate, who pre-dates all other pantheons and mythologies apparently, in order to save all magic. Not so long ago, Marvel had Dr. Strange go through an epic fight against magic-killers. Jason Aaron did a fine job writing that story, but I found it nowhere near as exciting as this book. The Witching Hour puts into play a few characters I hadn't heard of but now want to see more of - particularly Manitou Dawn, who wreaks havoc like no one's business under the near-omnipotent control of Hecate. Her presence throughout the story should call attention to the glaring narrowness of deities represented in this story. We pretty much just see Greek and Egyptian pantheons depicted, but even they serve a very minor role overall. And to be fair, Tynion (thankfully) doesn't waste any time giving *any* of the protagonists a back-story. Instead, he does what I strongly prefer in comic book writing, by giving readers some damn credit to figure things out when we need to.
Tynion does such a fantastic job of making this a self-contained story, that you wouldn't miss any important beats even if you've never read Hellblazer, Swamp Thing, or Wonder Woman. At least I don't think you would, but it's hard to say since I *have* read a great deal of all those comics.
Some of the page layouts are among the best in any DC title I've seen in recent years, so kudos to the whole creative team for designing pages full of well-placed word boxes that call to mind J.H. Williams III's amazing work on Promethea - which is *another* book all about the history and future of magic, and the embodiment of Story in the form of a Woman.
I had an inkling that this was going to tie in to Scott Snyder's Dark Days event, and it does set up some pieces for that, but in a much better way than any other title, including the ones Snyder plotted deliberately towards that purpose! Fuck all that Nth Metal nonsense - this story makes brilliant use of things that have been in DC canon for a while, such as John Constantine's lung cancer (from Garth Ennis's run, which influenced the first film adaptation) and the relationship between the Green (since Alan Moore's Saga of the Swamp Thing in the mid-80s) and the Red and the Rot (which I believe were conceived by Tynion's tailcoat-ridable teacher, Scott Snyder, along with Jeff Lemire via Animal Man). Hecate even makes some pointed references to Wonder Woman's origin story.
Neil Gaiman was likely the first one to really introduce me to the original trinity of sorts - the three faces of the Fates - Maiden, Mother, Crone, who serve many important roles throughout history, and work together to weave the longest yarns. Since I saw them toying with various individuals, but also bound to certain old rules, I've been fascinated with the idea that Everything is Story. The Witching Hour is a real page-turner, and even its more "purple" prose serves appropriately to engage us on multiple levels with the very nature of story-telling at its best.
brandonadaniels's review
4.0
Aside from the frustration around the way this story was shoehorned into the start of two new runs, this was a solid crossover. I didn’t need convincing about Wonder Woman’s inclusion in the Justice League Dark, but this storyline firmly places her in the magic side of the dcu. This book got pretty epic, and it seems like it’s going to have some major ramifications, especially for Swamp Thing. I know Tynion ended up leaving earlier than intended, so hopefully some of these big plot threads aren’t just dropped.
xsleepyshadows's review
3.0
Ok, imagine a 3 headed witch goddess and turns wonder woman into a hag! Sounds great? Yes, it's super great and this book does a very meh job of it. All the elements are there but it's not long enough or they spend too much time concentrating on b team magic justice league.
I understand I missed the 1st volume...I feel with come changes this could have been an amazing one shot!
Here's what I wanted to see.
1) more of a relationship with the witch goddess - what's her deal? A clearer message or maybe a different one...Maybe the empowering of women? 3 Heads so maybe each has a goal in mind? The maiden is good, the croon is evil, the other a mystery - or combo of both.
2) spend more time with the chosen witch characters - Wonder woman, black orchid, the fire witch, and the others (I forgot) I'd like to know their deal and also the covens.
3) no justice league b.
An ok read, good art, amazing hag wonder woman really is what worked for me.
I understand I missed the 1st volume...I feel with come changes this could have been an amazing one shot!
Here's what I wanted to see.
1) more of a relationship with the witch goddess - what's her deal? A clearer message or maybe a different one...Maybe the empowering of women? 3 Heads so maybe each has a goal in mind? The maiden is good, the croon is evil, the other a mystery - or combo of both.
2) spend more time with the chosen witch characters - Wonder woman, black orchid, the fire witch, and the others (I forgot) I'd like to know their deal and also the covens.
3) no justice league b.
An ok read, good art, amazing hag wonder woman really is what worked for me.
cupcakeleg's review
4.0
It's more like a 3.5, the art was phenomenal and it was an interesting storyline, that is of course finished in other volumes. However if you just want to read this big Wonder Woman parts (which I did) this is perfect for that. Until the end when you're like, but how do they fix it!?
sincrusade's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
georgezakka's review
3.0
This book is crazy and weird and magical in a way that I don’t understand. I went into the book thinking I was gonna understand it but oh my god it seems I know nothing about magic and it’s crazy.
I don’t dislike the book but it’s not great for me, mostly because I didn’t understand the book which held me back and made me not want to read it but it makes more sense later on. The story’s cool, the goddess of magic Hecate wants to rewrite magic in her own vision and the new Justice League dark have to stop her.
The art in the book is amazing, Alvaro Martínez Bueno draws Hecate incredibly and every page pops out with colour and style.
The twist at the end is awesome, Circe only helping them not because she wants to stop Hecate but because when Hecate dies, she can rewrite magic in her own vision.
I hope the rest of the series isn’t as hard to understand as this one and I enjoy it more.
Overall, good book.
I don’t dislike the book but it’s not great for me, mostly because I didn’t understand the book which held me back and made me not want to read it but it makes more sense later on. The story’s cool, the goddess of magic Hecate wants to rewrite magic in her own vision and the new Justice League dark have to stop her.
The art in the book is amazing, Alvaro Martínez Bueno draws Hecate incredibly and every page pops out with colour and style.
The twist at the end is awesome, Circe only helping them not because she wants to stop Hecate but because when Hecate dies, she can rewrite magic in her own vision.
I hope the rest of the series isn’t as hard to understand as this one and I enjoy it more.
Overall, good book.
drewmay97's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.25