Review: Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons

Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons by Kelly Sue DeConnick
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

From the cover it was evident that what we were to expect was a group of badass warrior women, sorry, warriors, bedecked in resplendent attire, just dripping with style, grace, elegance and strength, going about, chewing bubble gum, taking names and kicking ass, gum optional.



And got to say, was not disappointed, for the most part. The art of the story is drop dead magnificent, and something out of a Neil Gaiman fever dream. The story mostly comprises of an almanac of the genesis of our favorite band of badass good girls.



The history of Diana and the Amazonians, or Themyscirans, is considerable, varied, and often times convoluted, as the long run of the titular character indicates. Sometimes she is the daughter of Zeus, sent to save the world of man. Other times, she's the daughter of Hades/Ares or any other god the writers took fancy on. Even other times, she's just borne out of means most of us mortals are familiar with.

Similarly confusing is the history of the Amazonians themselves. In some iterations, they're loyal servants to the Olympians, serving as heralds doing them bidding on the mortal planes. In others, they maintain a love-hate relationship with the gods, mostly thanks to whatever f**ked up thing the King of Gods did to Hippolyta, Diana's mother. For which Hera and the other gods hate them. Yeah, them, and not the deity class douche, who can't keep it in his pants. This one seems to lean towards the latter.

The version this story seems to go with, is how the female pantheon of Olympus, having grown tired of all the misogyny and suffering their kind had to suffer at the hands of the brutes called man, come together and do some magical mumbo-jumbo, to create veritable demigods who hold their essence. Which, combined with the striking visuals, is an intriguing take.



The story does a good job, portraying the suffering that women had to go through, since the time of Joan Helen, of Sheeba, and perhaps the first cavewoman dragged out from her home, after some brute claimed her as spoils of victory. Why would the suffering cease, when 'god' has given men the right to claim the widows of the vanquished as 'spoils' and 'slaves'. So, the cycle continues.

Which puts into context how, the modern world and society, despite its shortcomings, is one where people in general, have more than one avenue to reassert their civil liberties and freedom. In some ways, it's a good thing, that the hot button issue for feminists today is 'equal pay', as opposed to 'how not to get sold off as spoils of war'.

Anyways, let's not bore everyone with my pedantic rant. Back to the book, came for the story, stayed for the art. A great read.




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