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Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons #1
Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons #1
The wait is over, and the entire story of the Amazons can finally be told! Millennia ago, Queen Hera and the goddesses of the Olympian pantheon grew greatly dissatisfied with their male counterparts…and far from their sight, they put a plan into action. A new society was born, one never before seen on Earth, capable of wondrous and terrible things…but their existence could not stay secret for long. When a despairing woman named Hippolyta crossed the Amazons' path, a series of events was set in motion that would lead to an outright war in heaven—and the creation of the Earth's greatest guardian!
Legendary talents Kelly Sue DeConnick and Phil Jimenez unleash a reading experience the likes of which you've never seen, with unbelievably sumptuous art and a story that will haunt you—with subsequent issues featuring art by modern masters Gene Ha and Nicola Scott! One of the most unforgettable DC tales of all time begins here!
Legendary talents Kelly Sue DeConnick and Phil Jimenez unleash a reading experience the likes of which you've never seen, with unbelievably sumptuous art and a story that will haunt you—with subsequent issues featuring art by modern masters Gene Ha and Nicola Scott! One of the most unforgettable DC tales of all time begins here!
54 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 30, 2021
28 people are currently reading
699 people want to read
About the author
Kelly Sue DeConnick
365 books2,235 followersKelly Sue DeConnick’s work spans stage, comics, film and television. Ms. DeConnick first came to prominence as a comics writer, where she is best known for reinventing the Carol Danvers as “Captain Marvel” at Marvel and for the Black Label standard-setting Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons at DC. Her independent comics Bitch Planet and Pretty Deadly (both from Image Comics) have ranked as New York Times best-sellers and been honored with Eisner Awards, British Fantasy Awards and Hugo nominations.
Ms. DeConnick’s screen work includes stints on Captain Marvel, a film that earned $1B for Disney worldwide, and 2023’s forthcoming The Marvels with Marvel Studios; in addition to having consulted on features for Skydance and ARRAY, and developed television for NBCUniversal, Legendary Entertainment and HBOMax. Her most recent stage work is the mythic spectacle AWAKENING, which opened at the Wynn Resort Las Vegas in November 2022.
Mission-driven, Ms. DeConnick is also a founding partner at Good Trouble Productions, where she has helped to produce non-fiction and educational comics including the “Hidden Voices” and “Recognized” series for NY Public Schools and Congressman John Lewis’ Run, in partnership with Abrams Comics.
In 2015, Ms. DeConnick founded the #VisibleWomen Project, whose mission is to help women and other marginalized genders find paid work in comics and its related industries. The project continues to this day and recently expanded in partnership with Dani Hedlund of Brink Literacy.
Ms. DeConnick lives in Portland, OR with her husband, writer Matt Fraction, and their two children.
Ms. DeConnick’s screen work includes stints on Captain Marvel, a film that earned $1B for Disney worldwide, and 2023’s forthcoming The Marvels with Marvel Studios; in addition to having consulted on features for Skydance and ARRAY, and developed television for NBCUniversal, Legendary Entertainment and HBOMax. Her most recent stage work is the mythic spectacle AWAKENING, which opened at the Wynn Resort Las Vegas in November 2022.
Mission-driven, Ms. DeConnick is also a founding partner at Good Trouble Productions, where she has helped to produce non-fiction and educational comics including the “Hidden Voices” and “Recognized” series for NY Public Schools and Congressman John Lewis’ Run, in partnership with Abrams Comics.
In 2015, Ms. DeConnick founded the #VisibleWomen Project, whose mission is to help women and other marginalized genders find paid work in comics and its related industries. The project continues to this day and recently expanded in partnership with Dani Hedlund of Brink Literacy.
Ms. DeConnick lives in Portland, OR with her husband, writer Matt Fraction, and their two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
June 26, 2022
Well now. This is one gorgeous, heartbreaking volume. We get some fantastic artwork and a dive into the origins of the Amazons right from the cries of the female Greek Goddesses.
So much pain.
Truly, it's great. Good on every level. And it's impossible to stop here. :)
So much pain.
Truly, it's great. Good on every level. And it's impossible to stop here. :)
June 26, 2022
My god(desse)s! This is a thing of utter beauty!
The goddesses of the Olymp have had enough of the cruelty against and marginalisation of women that they had to witness throughout history. And it's not like they have been treated any better by the male gods of the Olymp.
Case in point, when they take their case to Zeus, guess how that goes. Yeah ...
So all except Hera meet in secret and hatch a plan that births the first Amazons.
Why Hera hasn't joined them and what it all has to do with a female baby that is supposed to be left in the wold because her family can't afford another daughter, we'll find out in the subsequent books, I guess.
Here, the groundwork is laid and it was heartbreaking.
Heartbreaking because it is true and while I do see and my heart breaks for all the male victims, looking at where we are today - yes, especially in light of last week's ruling by that joke that calls itself the US Supreme Court - the institutionalized version of marginalization is definitely stacked against women.
What also is breathtaking about this comic is the glorious artwork. Yep, I called it glorious. It must be some of if not THE best artwork I've EVER seen in a comic / graphic novel:
(Though one thought kept popping up in my head: since these are goddesses representing the female aspects of life, why is Hera surrounded by male peacocks and Artemis and her Amazons wear stags' antlers? I mean, sure, the female animals usually don't look as impressive as the male ones but still.)
A brilliant piece of art and book 2 has been out for a short while so I'll be getting that next. This is definitely one I have to hunt down and own in print!
The goddesses of the Olymp have had enough of the cruelty against and marginalisation of women that they had to witness throughout history. And it's not like they have been treated any better by the male gods of the Olymp.
Case in point, when they take their case to Zeus, guess how that goes. Yeah ...
So all except Hera meet in secret and hatch a plan that births the first Amazons.
Why Hera hasn't joined them and what it all has to do with a female baby that is supposed to be left in the wold because her family can't afford another daughter, we'll find out in the subsequent books, I guess.
Here, the groundwork is laid and it was heartbreaking.
Heartbreaking because it is true and while I do see and my heart breaks for all the male victims, looking at where we are today - yes, especially in light of last week's ruling by that joke that calls itself the US Supreme Court - the institutionalized version of marginalization is definitely stacked against women.
What also is breathtaking about this comic is the glorious artwork. Yep, I called it glorious. It must be some of if not THE best artwork I've EVER seen in a comic / graphic novel:
(Though one thought kept popping up in my head: since these are goddesses representing the female aspects of life, why is Hera surrounded by male peacocks and Artemis and her Amazons wear stags' antlers? I mean, sure, the female animals usually don't look as impressive as the male ones but still.)
A brilliant piece of art and book 2 has been out for a short while so I'll be getting that next. This is definitely one I have to hunt down and own in print!
May 13, 2023
4.5 stars but I’m rounding up for the sheer amount of time and effort that went into this book. The goddesses have seen woman live under the heel of man for far too long and have decided to do something about it. However, the Queen Hera, Wife of Zeus, has not joined up with them and has her own scheme going. Kelly Sue DeConnick does a far more superior job at telling this story than me and Phil Jimenez does some amazing art and arranges it in a manner I don’t think I’ve seen before. The book is absolutely gorgeous to look at and the story is captivating as hell. Highly recommended. These Black Label books have been swinging for the fences and for the most part, knocking it out if the park.
December 10, 2021
Literally the best comic book I have ever read. The writing and art are ASTOUNDING. There is nothing else like this. This really raised the bar and the stakes in visual storytelling Bravo to everyone involved.
January 6, 2023
Hey my first read of a comic published in 2023!
This was pretty dang great, essentially the mythological origins of the Amazons. The first few dozen pages by Phil Jimenez are absolutely stunning. The rest of the book maintains a super high quality, each of the 3 issues is drawn by a different artist. The way the book is formatted as three stories makes the art changes work in my opinion.
This was pretty dang great, essentially the mythological origins of the Amazons. The first few dozen pages by Phil Jimenez are absolutely stunning. The rest of the book maintains a super high quality, each of the 3 issues is drawn by a different artist. The way the book is formatted as three stories makes the art changes work in my opinion.
January 16, 2023
The “not all men” crew is gonna weep when they read this 😳
I thought it was brilliant and Jimenez is turning in career best art every damn page.
Edit: now that I’ve finished the series, I can confirm that there is no book more beautiful than this to ever come out of DC. It’s a visual storytelling tour de force that will awe you with every page. Never mind that the story is excellent and that we finally have a cool tale explaining the genesis of the Amazons, it’s the art that will stay seared in your brain. Phil Jimenez, Gene Ha and Nicola Scott have all turned in the best work of their respective careers.
I thought it was brilliant and Jimenez is turning in career best art every damn page.
Edit: now that I’ve finished the series, I can confirm that there is no book more beautiful than this to ever come out of DC. It’s a visual storytelling tour de force that will awe you with every page. Never mind that the story is excellent and that we finally have a cool tale explaining the genesis of the Amazons, it’s the art that will stay seared in your brain. Phil Jimenez, Gene Ha and Nicola Scott have all turned in the best work of their respective careers.
August 31, 2022
3.5 stars
Unconventionnal storytelling with beautiful art.
Unconventionnal storytelling with beautiful art.
December 6, 2021
The plot was super expository, but the art was out of this world. I’m definitely on board for more, if for the art alone.
March 20, 2024
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.
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.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 17, 2021
Review for #1:
Absolutely stunning, some of the most incredible art I've seen in a graphic novel. This truly feels epic in scope and tone, like we're listening to an ancient poem. Definitely excited to keep reading this.
Absolutely stunning, some of the most incredible art I've seen in a graphic novel. This truly feels epic in scope and tone, like we're listening to an ancient poem. Definitely excited to keep reading this.
December 1, 2021
It is a excellent dark retelling of The Amazon's origin from George Perez's run of Wonder Woman. The artwork by Phil Jimenez are absolutely gorgeous. The writing by Kelly Sue DeConnick is very compelling, suiting the grandeur of the Greek pantheon.
March 23, 2022
Une histoire qui s'annonce assez fantastique puisqu'on raconte la genèse des Amazones en s'appuyant très fortement sur la mythologie avec la présences des Déesses Héra, Hestia, Artémis, Démeter, Hécate, Aphrodite et Athéna qui créent les Amazones suite à leur indignation face aux violences envers les femmes. Ce n'est qu'un premier volume, mais le récit est vraiment incroyable, beaucoup beaucoup d'attention est déjà mis sur les différents personnages et les illustrations sont vraiment vraiment incroyables, épiques et rendent vraiment bien l'aspect mythologique et cosmologique de l'entreprise.
En fait, je peux difficilement rendre justice au travail du dessin (et la version papier aussi puisqu'il y a de nombreuses double pages et le centre de l'image s'avère souvent un peu perdu même en aplatissant au maximum la BD). Les premières pages rendent bien comptent de l'ambition du projet et l'idée d'utiliser les vases (et de les multiplier) pour rendre compte du récit des violences envers les femmes inscrit non seulement la BD dans un contexte historique/mythologique, mais donne une superbe mise en abyme aussi. Autant les parties excessivement colorées se situant dans l'Olympe que les parties du mondes humains plus sombres et ternes sont très bien rendues et on n'échappe pas à une belle utilisation des cases et des possibilités qu'elles offrent tout au long de ce premier volume.
Une lecture qui s'avère fascinante pour tous les fans de mythologie grecques et des Amazones.
En fait, je peux difficilement rendre justice au travail du dessin (et la version papier aussi puisqu'il y a de nombreuses double pages et le centre de l'image s'avère souvent un peu perdu même en aplatissant au maximum la BD). Les premières pages rendent bien comptent de l'ambition du projet et l'idée d'utiliser les vases (et de les multiplier) pour rendre compte du récit des violences envers les femmes inscrit non seulement la BD dans un contexte historique/mythologique, mais donne une superbe mise en abyme aussi. Autant les parties excessivement colorées se situant dans l'Olympe que les parties du mondes humains plus sombres et ternes sont très bien rendues et on n'échappe pas à une belle utilisation des cases et des possibilités qu'elles offrent tout au long de ce premier volume.
Une lecture qui s'avère fascinante pour tous les fans de mythologie grecques et des Amazones.
December 6, 2021
Holy shit this book is amazing. It’s an immersive graphic encyclopedia that also weaves a compelling narrative. Jimenez’s illustration defies description on every single page. I’m still not sure how DeConnick has accomplished this but it feels like such a true translation of Greek epic poetry into a comic, emulating the sweep and force along with the craft and artistry. Plus there’s a Herodotus reference, so I’m on board.
I’m a pretty massive nerd when it comes to loving reference books, so all the spreads that detailed various genealogies of goddesses and Amazonians had me absolutely hooked. This series is sure to be a ready reference for any WW title I read going forward.
Though steeped in myth, the book is of course extremely relevant — can’t help but feel the resonance of reading this book while the Supreme Court effectively overturns Roe v Wade. The double-spread early on depicting the infinite hall of vases documenting men’s violence against not-men was chilling.
I’m a pretty massive nerd when it comes to loving reference books, so all the spreads that detailed various genealogies of goddesses and Amazonians had me absolutely hooked. This series is sure to be a ready reference for any WW title I read going forward.
Though steeped in myth, the book is of course extremely relevant — can’t help but feel the resonance of reading this book while the Supreme Court effectively overturns Roe v Wade. The double-spread early on depicting the infinite hall of vases documenting men’s violence against not-men was chilling.
December 20, 2021
the writing is hard to read because THE ART. THE ART is so overwheming beautiful and strange, i couldnt in regards to all other aspects of this title. THE ART was extra and glorious. i dont know what i just read but i can 100% say ill read this again (and my 2nd review might be just as confused but delighted as i am now).
December 5, 2021
Womanist theology which should be required reading for colleges and seminars. Absolutely Amazing! Over Due. 5.5
December 8, 2021
An excellent Wonder Woman book; a vibrantly trippy, feminist retelling of the Amazons’ origin.
April 17, 2022
Jaw-droppingly stunning.
January 1, 2023
Wonder Woman Historia is an epic in the most literal sense of the term. Some of the full page spreads are simply breathtaking, and it is worth picking up for the art alone. The story did come to a pretty satisfying conclusion, and I’m not going to complain about this being one tremendously long origin story since Historia is in the title, but I would’ve loved the same artist doing a full book on Diana rather than one closing with her birth.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 11, 2024
Pretty gorgeous beginning!
The art is so beautiful and extraordinary, loved to check out all of those tiny details.
The art is so beautiful and extraordinary, loved to check out all of those tiny details.
December 24, 2023
Just stunning. The only thing that could improve this is if it were 1,000 pages. Luminous artwork, feminist mythology, heartbreaking but hopeful plot. Everything I want in a graphic novel.
I want more.
I want more.
June 3, 2022
Absolut spektakuläres Art Work. Man kann sich das stundenlang angucken und entdeckt immer noch was. Auch sehr tolle Reinterpretation & Integration klassischer griechischer & nicht-klassischer Mythologie.
December 30, 2022
Where do I begin? Well since comics should be prided for their art first and foremost I will state in complete and total sincerity that this series has the best art I have ever seen in comic books. Not just superheroes or even american comics. Worldwide artists. The colors, the painterly illustrations, the minimal use of inking to give it a renaissance feel with a modern kineticism of comic book art. It's breathtaking. Amazon and the Greek gods have been re-imagined in the most breath taking way imaginable. I'm serious. Not even movies can compare to the beauty of this miniseries. If James Cameron read this he would cry because he couldn't think of these images. I think maybe only Mira Nair with a huge budget could do this story justice if it were on the big screen. But it's a comic. Not a template for a movie.
The story is the most beautiful and epic fairy tale of a (bittersweet) Greek tragedy you could find. A story about freedom, honor, womanhood, being marginalized and finally standing your ground. This story acts as an origin about Themiscyra and Hippolyta in a very beautiful way. I'm adoring how DC is doing this right now with both this location and Tom King's very cool Gotham City Year One, a pulpy noir detective story. That's the excitement of DC's world. Marvel largely (with the exception being Wakanda) lives in our world. But fictional worlds can and should mirror ours in order to make us go back into our lives and see what we should do to fix our world. This book ahhhh! JUST READ IT!
The story is the most beautiful and epic fairy tale of a (bittersweet) Greek tragedy you could find. A story about freedom, honor, womanhood, being marginalized and finally standing your ground. This story acts as an origin about Themiscyra and Hippolyta in a very beautiful way. I'm adoring how DC is doing this right now with both this location and Tom King's very cool Gotham City Year One, a pulpy noir detective story. That's the excitement of DC's world. Marvel largely (with the exception being Wakanda) lives in our world. But fictional worlds can and should mirror ours in order to make us go back into our lives and see what we should do to fix our world. This book ahhhh! JUST READ IT!
January 7, 2022
I don't give five-star reviews. I just really don't... but I'm gonna. If Phil Jimenez doesn't get an Eisner for this, there has been a crime committed. This is seriously seminal career-defining work from him here. I don't have a whole lot to say about the story because it is still developing and this is the first part of it so there is a lot of heavy lifting and setup but, what there is of it, it is also great. I can't wait to see where this goes because the history of the Amazons has been criminally overlooked for decades now and it's about time someone did something about it.
September 3, 2022
It is absolutely okay that this book took almost a decade to complete, because all the hard work and effort the creative team for this book did was WORTH IT.
On top of providing some of the most beautiful renditions of the greek pantheon, there was a lot of diversity in skin tone, age and body types. Aphrodite, for instance, is usually depicted as a white woman, typically blonde but sometimes brunette, and petite. But, in this book, she is a curvaceous black woman with long, flowing, curly black hair. When preaching the lesson of treating other women as your sisters, it is important to include fat women, women of color, and disabled women, because white feminists often do not include those demographics when talking about sisterhood among all women. The fact that DeConnick & Jimenez recognized that is something that elevates this book to the next level.
The writing, the artwork, the message, literally everything about this books is *chef’s kiss*
On top of providing some of the most beautiful renditions of the greek pantheon, there was a lot of diversity in skin tone, age and body types. Aphrodite, for instance, is usually depicted as a white woman, typically blonde but sometimes brunette, and petite. But, in this book, she is a curvaceous black woman with long, flowing, curly black hair. When preaching the lesson of treating other women as your sisters, it is important to include fat women, women of color, and disabled women, because white feminists often do not include those demographics when talking about sisterhood among all women. The fact that DeConnick & Jimenez recognized that is something that elevates this book to the next level.
The writing, the artwork, the message, literally everything about this books is *chef’s kiss*
July 14, 2024
Visualmente potente y a nivel argumental intrigante. Es la presentación de una trilogía que te deja con ganas de más. En esta historia de orígenes de las amazonas cobran importancia las diosas y la mitología. Los autores cogen la mitología griega y mantienen la esencia de las historias, pero estéticamente se decantan por una versión moderna que a la vez incluye guiños a la tradición. Te deja con ganas de saber más sobre Hipólita y su historia.
December 11, 2021
This is pure beauty from start to finish. Every frame could be held in a gallery. truly recommend this one
June 20, 2022
If you are at all a fan of comics in any way you should read this. This book is a breathtaking work of art both in story and in the drawings.
December 25, 2022
Fans of Greek and Roman stories will appreciate this origin of the Amazons in the DC universe...
The attention to detail is simply AMAZING. It's a little bit of Alex Ross mixed with a healthy dose of George Perez. Leave it to Black Label to come up with another unique piece.
The attention to detail is simply AMAZING. It's a little bit of Alex Ross mixed with a healthy dose of George Perez. Leave it to Black Label to come up with another unique piece.
January 23, 2024
Awesome art. But apart from that...
Nothing really.
Nothing really.
January 1, 2022
10 stars! I'm blown away. Each panel is... a wonder, a beauty to behold. My goddesses, DC have outdone themselves. Historia has taken story and art to a whole other level. Seriously, a MUST READ for Wonder Woman fans.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews