The Man who Never was

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...

Preacher, Volume 1: Gone to Texas by Garth Ennis   My rating: 4 of 5 stars View all my reviews Well, in case you had any doubt; it's official. Garth Ennis absolutely despises what others hold dear. He has already shat on heaps upon Superhero genre, through his disturbing interpretation of truth, justice and the American way in  The Boys . Now, let us turn our attention to his earlier classic, shitting upon everything religion, specifically Christianity. Nothing is holy, nothing is sacred, everything is depraved. So why would one go about reading Garth's interpretation of the Father, the Son and the Holy spirit, where everything caters to the lowest denomination, and the worst stuff of nightmares you could think is put on screen? Well, the characters are mighty likeable, as well as the rapport the primary trio have with each other. Plus, there is a whole lot of gratuitous violence and fetichism for those who're into all that. Only thing I know is that, de...

Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came by Robert Browning My rating: 5 of 5 stars View all my reviews Readers find different meanings in the books that they indulge in. You, me and the average joe, would chance upon Robert Browning ode to a hero's tale, and take away from it the determination of our protagonist Roland to undertake the perilous and insurmountable quest, his perseverance in face of ever dangerous obstacles, his resilience at the prospect of failure and ultimate death, as well as the burning sense of duty as well as loyalty to his fallen comrades which drives him forwards, whatever the end might hold.   Stephen King read the work, took away that, and much more, using it as the template to craft the rich and enthralling world of Roland Deschain and the Dark Tower.  Like most general readers, the reason I picked up this poem was upon learning how it served as inspiration to Mr. King's acclaimed series. Yet even the...

Wonder Woman, Volume 4: War by Brian Azzarello My rating: 5 of 5 stars Rating 5 out of 5 | Grade: A; In the grim world of the Olympian Gods, there is only Waaaar! Never did I think that Brian Azzarello’s run of Wonder Woman, which started off on such a lowkey note, would eventually snowball into something spectacular. I stand by my assessment that this run is a slow burn, something which you can appreciate, only across all the 4 volumes. Because in many ways, it reads like a Greek Epic, with new characters' allies and enemies being introduced and killed off, and the main roster of characters undergoing changes to their status quo, as well as their personality. Once again, my favorite character of the lot is Hera, who is a long way off from the scorned, vindictive wife of Zeus, who’d resort to any decree of violence to exact her vengeance. Events of prior volumes have turned her powerless, trapped in the realm of men. But being mortal is not all...

Wonder Woman, Volume 3: Iron by Brian Azzarello My rating: 4 of 5 stars Rating 4 out of 5 | Grade: A; A Dysfunctional family of Gods Brian Azzarello's run on the new 52 version of Wonder woman continues to be a slow burn. As I expected on reading Volume 2, it's the sort of story which starts off slow, and then starts building up more and more steam as the narrative progresses. His treatment of Diana, her Olympian heritage, as well as whole of the Gods, to be this sort of dysfunctional family, really makes for some great character moments. Once again, the stand outs have to be the God of War, as well as the Queen of the Gods. War is such a world-weary old man, who has grown tired of the countless millennia of conflict which he perpetuates, as a course of his role, and by his mere existence. You are made to question, how much is too much, as a conceptual entity defined by conflict, has grown tired of it. Then there is Hera, who, true to...

Wonder Woman, Volume 1: Blood by Brian Azzarello My rating: 4 of 5 stars Review 4 out of 5 | Grade: B+ Initially I was going to not write a review about the first Volume of Brian Azzarello's wonder women. Because it didn't excite me, and perhaps because I was coming off the high of reading DCeased & its tie in stories, this felt a bit lacking. I know it's not unfair to compare the regular run with an event comic, a limited series at that. But, the characterization, story & setting, all felt a bit meandering from my perspective. It doesn't help that the first volume mostly focused on Diana's relationship with her mother, her parentage, and some as of yet not fully revealed narrative involving Zeus, and the latest girl that he got pregnant. Seriously, after reading enough Greek stories, if anyone needs a serious neutering it's the Lord of Olympus. He's probably gotten around as much as Genghis Khan for hades' s...

Wonder Woman, Volume 2: Guts by Brian Azzarello My rating: 4 of 5 stars Rating 4 out of 5 | Grade: B+; It's the Hades Horror Show Remember back in Volume 1, when I mentioned that Brian Azzarello's Wonder Woman run is a slow run, which requires some patient reading? Well, Volume 2 of Wonder Woman; Guts, is where you begin the see the dividends of your patience. After Zeus, in one of his latest Trysts, managed to make pregnant a moral woman named Zora, she becomes the target of the Queen Goddess Hera. Wonder woman, along with the God Hermes, and one Lennox, one of her demigod brothers take her and the child under her protection. But this task is not an easy one, considering how not only Hera, but Zeus siblings Poseidon & Hades, not to mention his children Apollo & Artemis are gunning for the baby. The yet unborn child somehow ended up being part of a prophecy upon Zeus mysterious disappearance. Now, afraid of what this unborn child...

Wonder Woman: The Hiketeia by Greg Rucka My rating: 4 of 5 stars Rating 4 out of 5 | Grade : A; "By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes." Warning; Gratuitous content, graphic violence, nudity Diana, living in Man’s world as the ambassador of Themyscira, as well as a vital member of the Justice league is feeling the Blues. Perhaps due to being away from her home, mother and sisters for long, or perhaps because of the spectral present of the Erinyes, the three sisters of vengeance. The reason for their presence becomes apparent, when, one night, a young woman named Danielle Wellys, comes to Diana’s doorstep, and invokes the ancient Greek ritual of Hiketeia. She submits herself, her life and entire being to Diana; in exchange, she begs for protection and sanctuary. Being the kind & honorable Amazon that she is, Diana accepts, without asking the girl’s circumstances, taking her under the Amazon’s protection. Little did s...