Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Wonder Woman: Spirit of Truth (Wonder Woman)

by Paul Dini, Alex Ross (Illustrator)

3.95 of 5 stars 3.95 · rating details · 300 ratings · 8 reviews

The fourth book in the best-selling series by Paul Dini and Alex Ross. This beautifully painted book finds the Amazon Princess having a crisis of faith as she struggles to discover the truth behind who she is, what she represents, and the true nature of her mission.

Paperback, 64 pages

Published November 1st 2001 by DC Comics

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

Best of Wonder Woman

22nd out of 33 books — 5 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 419)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Jul 16, 2012 C. rated it 5 of 5 stars

More often than not, when you think about the super heroes of the world, you don’t consider the possibility that maybe some people don’t want their help. But that’s exactly the challenge faced by Wonder Woman in the Paul Dini/Alex Ross book WONDER WOMAN: SPIRIT OF TRUTH.

In this over-sized book (13.3 X 9.8 inches) Dini tells a story of Wonder Woman’s diplomatic duties and how they are often unappreciated. Growing up, I was never a big Wonder Woman fan. I collected her book for a while, but I can...more More often than not, when you think about the super heroes of the world, you don’t consider the possibility that maybe some people don’t want their help. But that’s exactly the challenge faced by Wonder Woman in the Paul Dini/Alex Ross book WONDER WOMAN: SPIRIT OF TRUTH.

In this over-sized book (13.3 X 9.8 inches) Dini tells a story of Wonder Woman’s diplomatic duties and how they are often unappreciated. Growing up, I was never a big Wonder Woman fan. I collected her book for a while, but I can’t recall any of the stories. When I look back at how many times the WONDER WOMAN title has been launched and re-launched, it just feels like she’s always been a character no one could properly get a grasp on. But I think if this book were used as a template for her series, there would be so much potential for the character, not just as a kick-ss female character in a male-dominated landscape, but also in delving into the Diana Prince persona as well. Because what Paul Dini has made us remember is that she’s not just Wonder Woman, but she’s also something of a politician, as the ambassador for her island nation of Themyscira.

In this book we get to see her acting as a diplomat, and a super hero, as she breaks up a hostage situation, saves a group of workers trapped in a burning factory, and gains entry into a government council meeting where civil rights protests are taking place. Wonder Woman speaks her piece at the meeting, but is then told, by the “formerly autocratic” nation that her help is not wanted and she should leave.

She does leave, but doesn’t get far before the “peaceful protest” outside is stormed by military police and Wonder Woman rushes to save a fallen woman from an oncoming tank. The tank is tossed aside, the woman is safe, but she looks at Wonder Woman in fear.

“What are you?” she asks.
“A friend. A woman, just like you.”
“No. You’re not at all like me!” And the woman runs away.

This is the heart of SPIRIT OF TRUTH as Wonder Woman struggles to understand the people she’s sworn to protect, wondering how she can best do her job when oftentimes they don’t seem to want her help. So she asks the advice of another just as powerful as herself.

“Why do you choose to spend most of your life in disguise? Wouldn’t it follow that you could accomplish more if you were in costume all the time?”

“This is who I really am, Diana,” Clark explained. “I was raised to believe I was no different from anyone else on Earth. My abilities have not changed that opinion much. In fact, they make me realize how dearly I need this identity. I am accepted by most people. I can use my special gifts for their benefit, yet I never lose touch with the thousand things that make human life a treasured experience.”

With this advice, Wonder Woman sets about trying to do things to help without using the costumed persona. She surreptitiously stops an assassination attempt, she works at a hospital where landmine victims are being treated, and even joins the crew assigned to find and remove the landmines, and all in a human disguise, reasoning that, “by handling it in mortal fashion, I remind myself how terrible a device it is, and how quickly it could wipe away a precious human life.”

I really enjoyed SPIRIT OF TRUTH, but I’ve yet to run across a Paul Dini/Alex Ross book I didn’t like. Dini has a grasp on his characters, on the human aspect of these incredibly powerful and godlike beings, that cuts to the core of what makes them who they are. And Alex Ross’s artwork is, as always, impeccable. He is, simply put, the best super hero artist working, possibly the best ever. His paintings are done in as realistic a fashion as I’ve ever seen, offering details the common comic book penciller would miss and making his scenes seem all the more possible in a real world setting.

The dimensions of the book make it a bit unwieldy and I think the binding is probably a little delicate, but hopefully that won’t stop too many people from enjoying it as it’s a great read and a very welcome interpretation of a character I’ve never thought had gotten a fair shake against her contemporaries, namely Superman and Batman. She forms part of the DC Comics holy trinity, but at any given time there are 3 or 4 Superman books per month while Batman has a half dozen Batman and Batman-related titles every month, while for long stretches of time Wonder Woman is lucky to have one monthly book. This book is 11 years old, and I have no idea what, if anything, happened with the character after it, but in a perfect world it was used as a springboard to re-launch, yet again, the WONDER WOMAN title, hopefully with a much tighter focus on the character and, this time, with a plan for the direction the book would take. But, either way, SPIRIT OF TRUTH was a great story and I highly recommend it.
(less)

like · see review

Nov 23, 2010 Zach Danielson rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: dc-multiverse, graphic-novel, superhero

Not quite as good as the previous books in this series (Superman: Peace on Earth, Batman: War on Crime, and Shazam!: Power of Hope), but I still liked it. I can't decide if Wonder Woman is a great female superhero, or just a pretty face in a revealing costume. Maybe that's because most writers and artists can't seem to decide either.

If I like her, does that make me progressive or chauvinist?

like · see review

Mar 19, 2013 Rosalia rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, graphic-novels, superheroes

This was absolutely gorgeous. The large format for the paintings is a genius idea and I loved the idea of Wonder Woman trying to become more approachable and going to Clark for advice. I also like being able to see the outcome of the advice. I know this is the last book in the series I definitely want to go back and read the other titles in the series.

like · see review

Dec 04, 2010 Meghan rated it 3 of 5 stars

Illustrations were good, but as with a lot of Wonder Woman comics the development of her as a character leaves something to be desired.

like · see review

Mar 23, 2009 Michelle rated it 2 of 5 stars

Very pretty artwork, but the oversize format was sort of ridiculous and there wasn't really any plot to speak of.

like · see review

Apr 13, 2009 Spacedaisie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Lyrical text; gorgeous artwork. Perfect for those ready to fall in love with Wonder Woman all over again.

like · see review

Jul 09, 2012 Sesana rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: comics, superhumans

Like the other books in this line, it's really more of a character sketch than a real storyline. The basic idea here is to give an extended look at the character of Wonder Woman and illustrate it with very pretty Alex Ross paintings. And if that's all you expect, it certainly succeeds. But the depiction of Wonder Woman is a little on the shallow side. I'm starting to realize that some writers just have trouble with her, and Paul Dini seems to have been one of them.

3 likes · like · see review

Aug 16, 2008 Nicky rated it 5 of 5 stars

Beautiful and brilliant! Never becoming shrill or strident, this book addresses with a gentle hand some issues of being a female hero and an outsider. The best Wonder Woman story I've ever read.

like · see review

May 19, 2013 James rated it 5 of 5 stars

May 14, 2013 Elisabeth Rae rated it 4 of 5 stars

May 13, 2013 Carlos Marins rated it 3 of 5 stars

May 07, 2013 Kelly Harrington rated it 5 of 5 stars

May 04, 2013 Wil Simpson added it

May 04, 2013 Carol marked it as to-read

May 03, 2013 Jason marked it as to-read

May 01, 2013 Daniel Conrad rated it 3 of 5 stars

Apr 27, 2013 Adam rated it 3 of 5 stars

Apr 24, 2013 Jennifer Gilbert marked it as to-read

Apr 24, 2013 Hannah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novels-comics

Apr 23, 2013 Awale Abdi marked it as to-read

Apr 15, 2013 Elaine Mccarter rated it 5 of 5 stars

Apr 11, 2013 Sharon rated it 5 of 5 stars

Apr 11, 2013 Alex marked it as to-read

Apr 10, 2013 Dan marked it as to-read

Apr 09, 2013 Mabel marked it as to-read

Shelves: comics-graphic-novels

Apr 07, 2013 Oana marked it as to-read

Apr 07, 2013 Chad Thompson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Apr 04, 2013 Otoniel Cardenas rated it 4 of 5 stars

Apr 04, 2013 Mrsupporte rated it 4 of 5 stars

Apr 01, 2013 Wirotomo Nofamilyname marked it as to-read

Shelves: comics-superhero, english, i-bought-it

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 13 14 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend it | Stats | Recent status updates

combine
Other Editions (1)

Genres

Sequential Art > Graphic Novels

20 users

Sequential Art > Comics

17 users

Comics > Superheroes

5 users

Superheroes > Dc Comics

4 users

Graphic Novels Comics

4 users

Dc Comics > Wonder Woman

4 users

Comics > Comic Book

3 users

Fantasy

2 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Paul Dini

Paul Dini is an American television producer of animated cartoons. He is best known as a producer and writer for several Warner Bros./DC Comics series, including Star Wars: Ewoks, Tiny Toon Adventures, Batman: The Animated Series, Superman: The Animated Series, The New Batman/Superman Adventures, Batman Beyond and Duck Dodgers. He also developed and scripted Krypto the Superdog and contributed scr...more Paul Dini is an American television producer of animated cartoons. He is best known as a producer and writer for several Warner Bros./DC Comics series, including Star Wars: Ewoks, Tiny Toon Adventures, Batman: The Animated Series, Superman: The Animated Series, The New Batman/Superman Adventures, Batman Beyond and Duck Dodgers. He also developed and scripted Krypto the Superdog and contributed scripts to Animaniacs (he created Minerva Mink), Freakazoid, Justice League and Justice League Unlimited. After leaving Warner Bros. In early 2004, Dini went on to write and story edit the popular ABC adventure series Lost.

Paul Dini was born in New York City. He attended the Stevenson School in Pebble Beach, California on an art scholarship. He attended Emerson College in Boston, where he earned a BFA degree in creative writing. (He also took zoology classes at Harvard University.)

During college, he began doing freelance animation scripts for Filmation, and a number of other studios. In 1984, he was hired to work for George Lucas on several of his animation projects.

The episodes of the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe cartoon that were written by Dini have become favorites amongst the show's fans over the internet, although despite this as well as contributing to interviews on the released box sets of the series, Dini has made no secret of his distaste for Filmation and the He-Man concept. He also wrote an episode of the Generation One Transformers cartoon series and contributed to various episodes of the Ewoks animated series, several of which included rare appearances from the Empire.

In 1989, he was hired at Warner Bros. Animation to work on Tiny Toon Adventures. Later, he moved onto Batman: The Animated Series, where he worked as a writer, producer and editor, later working on Batman Beyond. He continued working with WB animation, working on a number of internal projects, including Krypto the Superdog and Duck Dodgers, until 2004.

He has earned five Emmy awards for his animation work. In a related effort, Dini was also the co-author (with Chip Kidd) of Batman Animated, a 1998 non-fiction coffee table book about the animated Batman franchise.

Dini has also written several comics stories for DC Comics, including an acclaimed oversized graphic novel series illustrated by painter Alex Ross. (A hardcover collection of the Dini and Ross stories was published in late summer 2005 under the title The World's Greatest Superheroes.) Other books written by Dini for DC have featured his Batman Animated creation Harley Quinn as well as classic characters Superman, Batman, Captain Marvel and Zatanna.

Best known among Dini's original creations is Jingle Belle, the rebellious teen-age daughter of Santa Claus. Dini also created Sheriff Ida Red, the super-powered cowgirl star of a series of books set in Dini's mythical town of Mutant, Texas. Perhaps his greatest character contribution is the introduction of Harley Quinn (along with designs by Bruce Timm) on Batman: The Animated Series.

In 2001 Dini made a cameo appearance in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back during the scene in which Jay and Silent Bob wear ridiculous looking costumes for a film being directed by Chris Rock, in which Dini says to them "you guys look pretty bad ass".

In 2006, Dini became the writer for DC Comics' Detective Comics. That same year, he announced that he was writing a hardcover graphic novel starring Zatanna and Black Canary. In 2007, he was announced as the head writer of that company's weekly series, Countdown. Paul Dini is currently co-writing the script for the upcoming Gatchaman movie. Dini is also currently writing a series for Top Cow Productions, based in a character he created, Madame Mirage.

Paul Dini is an active cryptozoologist, hunter and wildlife photographer. On a 1985 trip to Tasmania, he had a possible sighting of a Thylacine. He has also encountered a number of venomous snakes, a Komodo Dragon and a charging Sumatran Rhi(less)

More about Paul Dini...

Books by Paul Dini

Batman: Streets of Gotham, Vol. 1: Hush Money

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About Wonder Woman: Spi...

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

title link	preview: Wonder Woman: Spirit of Truth
avg rating	preview: Wonder Woman: Spirit of Truth Goodreads rating: 3.95 (300 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/198123.Wonder_Woman?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1308702287l/198123.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/198123.Wonder_Woman?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Wonder Woman: Spirit of Truth by Paul Dini[/url]

Wonder Woman: Spirit of Truth (Wonder Woman)

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website