Wonder Woman: Volume 1 Blood
Author: Brian Azzarello
Artists: Cliff Chiang, Tony Akins
Release Date: January 15, 2013
Publisher: DC Comics
Source: Bought and Owned
Genre(s): Action, Drama
Rating: ★★★★★
Review Spoilers: Medium
Welcome to a new, grittier side of Wonder Woman. In this reboot Brian Azzarello brings us back to her Greek roots and shares a new, well new to me, story about her birth. If you love Greek mythology, you’ll be able to get hooked on it quick. If you’re not a big mythology fan, well then the story line, and brilliant drawings by Cliff Chiang and Tony Akins will bring you in. The colors are great, and there’s a nice dark edge to Chiang’s drawing and colors. But let’s move on to the story. (There are a few spoilers, beware.)
In this reboot, Diana is charged with saving and protecting a woman named Zola and her unborn child. By watching over Zola, Diana learns more about her origins, and finds out that she wasn’t really made of clay. Naturally this causes a bit of issue on her part, and puts her life in trouble due to Hera’s jealous tendencies. But with the team she forms with Hermes, they come up with a plan to thwart Hera, save Zola and the child, and restore order. Towards the end, we find out their plan to defeat Hera with the help of several other gods, but not before they battle centaurs, hippocampi, gods, and themselves . The first volume ends with Zola getting into even more trouble, and a cliff hanger.
This story line isn’t for the faint of heart. It is fast paced, full of gods from ages past, and lost of drama. The way Azzarello, Chiang, and Akins imagine the gods is brilliant. I truly love their version of Hades and Poseidon. This book has several story lines within it, so if you’re not a big fan of hopping between lines, then this might not be your bag. Azzarello takes us from Wonder Woman’s view to Strife, Hera, or Apollo’s without missing a beat in the story.
Final Thoughts:
Really guys, I can’t tell you how nicely written this reboot is. The story is quick, entertaining, and wicked cool. It’s not your “typical comic book” and I would classify it more has horror, drama, or fantasy. Wonder Woman kicks ass in this reboot. I think we tend to forget that she’s an Amazon, just as strong, powerful, and awesome as the male superheros. This book reminds us of just how powerful she really is. Add on top of the the special character designs and cover sketches in the back, which are wonderful by the way, and you have a must read out of the new 52.
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