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Wonder Woman (2011)
Wonder Woman, Volume 2: Guts
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Graphic Novels & Comics (2013)Wonder Woman would do anything to save the lives (and souls) of the people she loves. Now she must go to hell and back. Literally.
With her all-powerful father Zeus missing, Wonder Woman has been swept up by the mother of all family feuds: a battle for the throne of Olympus among the gods themselves. Her friend Zola - very mortal and, thanks to Zeus, very pregnant - is just another casualty, dragged into the shadowy realm of Hades, lord of the dead.
To free her friend, Wonder Woman must face the darkest secret of the Amazons...arm herself with weapons from the forge of the gods...ally herself with mercurial deities whose motives cannot be trusted...and travel into Hell, where Hades' every whim is made a horrifying reality.
And she must prepare to make the ultimate sacrifice. Because this mad and vengeful god wants more from Wonder Woman than just her soul...
Wonder Woman: Guts (collecting issues #7-12) is a glorious, gruesome epic from Brian Azzarello (Joker, 100 Bullets) and Cliff Chiang (Green Arrow/Black Canary). The acclaimed creative team of the New York Times best-selling Wonder Woman: Blood returns to deliver Wonder Woman to hell and back!
With her all-powerful father Zeus missing, Wonder Woman has been swept up by the mother of all family feuds: a battle for the throne of Olympus among the gods themselves. Her friend Zola - very mortal and, thanks to Zeus, very pregnant - is just another casualty, dragged into the shadowy realm of Hades, lord of the dead.
To free her friend, Wonder Woman must face the darkest secret of the Amazons...arm herself with weapons from the forge of the gods...ally herself with mercurial deities whose motives cannot be trusted...and travel into Hell, where Hades' every whim is made a horrifying reality.
And she must prepare to make the ultimate sacrifice. Because this mad and vengeful god wants more from Wonder Woman than just her soul...
Wonder Woman: Guts (collecting issues #7-12) is a glorious, gruesome epic from Brian Azzarello (Joker, 100 Bullets) and Cliff Chiang (Green Arrow/Black Canary). The acclaimed creative team of the New York Times best-selling Wonder Woman: Blood returns to deliver Wonder Woman to hell and back!
144 pages, Paperback
First published January 5, 2013
72 people are currently reading
2560 people want to read
About the author
Brian Azzarello
1,288 books1,105 followersBrian Azzarello (born in Cleveland, Ohio) is an American comic book writer. He came to prominence with 100 Bullets, published by DC Comics' mature-audience imprint Vertigo. He and Argentine artist Eduardo Risso, with whom Azzarello first worked on Jonny Double, won the 2001 Eisner Award for Best Serialized Story for 100 Bullets #15–18: "Hang Up on the Hang Low".
Azzarello has written for Batman ("Broken City", art by Risso; "Batman/Deathblow: After the Fire", art by Lee Bermejo, Tim Bradstreet, & Mick Gray) and Superman ("For Tomorrow", art by Jim Lee).
In 2005, Azzarello began a new creator-owned series, the western Loveless, with artist Marcelo Frusin.
As of 2007, Azzarello is married to fellow comic-book writer and illustrator Jill Thompson.
information taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Az...
Azzarello has written for Batman ("Broken City", art by Risso; "Batman/Deathblow: After the Fire", art by Lee Bermejo, Tim Bradstreet, & Mick Gray) and Superman ("For Tomorrow", art by Jim Lee).
In 2005, Azzarello began a new creator-owned series, the western Loveless, with artist Marcelo Frusin.
As of 2007, Azzarello is married to fellow comic-book writer and illustrator Jill Thompson.
information taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Az...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 523 reviews
October 6, 2020
(B+) 78% | Good
Notes: It endows humanity upon gods, who, in their cold divinity, admit forsakenness and love as fountainheads to motive.
Notes: It endows humanity upon gods, who, in their cold divinity, admit forsakenness and love as fountainheads to motive.
January 6, 2018
I enjoyed the second volume slightly more than the first one, because this volume was full of interesting plot twists. Also, I really liked how the gods are depicted, especially Hades.
August 26, 2013
3.5 stars
Considering how much I disliked the 1st volume, I'm a little surprised to say that this new Wonder Woman is growing on me.
I'm not in love with it, but I probably won't wait as long to try to read the next volume.
I think the main thing that turned the tide for me was Hephaestus and the whole Amazon babies storyline. I liked it, and I think that plot line could really go somewhere interesting.
The art didn't freak me out as much this time around, either. Hades still looks like a stupid birthday cake (was he as itty-bitty in the last book?), but I was ready for it this time.
Oh, and Zola annoys me. Does she annoy anyone else?
Considering how much I disliked the 1st volume, I'm a little surprised to say that this new Wonder Woman is growing on me.
I'm not in love with it, but I probably won't wait as long to try to read the next volume.
I think the main thing that turned the tide for me was Hephaestus and the whole Amazon babies storyline. I liked it, and I think that plot line could really go somewhere interesting.
The art didn't freak me out as much this time around, either. Hades still looks like a stupid birthday cake (was he as itty-bitty in the last book?), but I was ready for it this time.
Oh, and Zola annoys me. Does she annoy anyone else?
June 22, 2015
Azzarello’s Guts picks up right where Blood left off without missing a beat. Brian continues to mix it up by stirring in even more Greek mythology with Diana’s origin. This one starts out with Wonder Woman meeting up with Hephaestus “The Smith”. Really dig this guy. Diana comes to him for some help preparing for her road trip to the Realm of Hades. She also has a surprise in store for her when she discovers a little secret about home sweet home, Paradise Island. And this one shocks the hell outta her.
Couple of the other gods are introduced in this volume. Eros with his gold plated Desert Eagles of love, Aphrodite the goddess of beauty (she’s nekkid…*snicker*), and Artemis the hunter. More awesomeness. Azzarello’s interpretation of these folks continues to work for me. I really like the way Brian, Chiang, and Akins decided to depict Aphrodite (and yes, mostly because she’s nude, but that’s not all). And you’re not going to believe who she is married to. Lucky devil. The look on Hermes' face says it all when it comes to her. Is that a Caduceus in your pants or are you just happy to see me?
Diana’s trip to Hades to rescue Zola doesn’t exactly go as she expected. Again, I really loved the manner in which the creative team decided to depict the Underworld. Added a little bit of creepiness to the visit.
War makes another brief appearance in this one. Such a cool character. Love the backdrop for the sit down with Strife. Anybody else see a resemblance between Azzarello and War?
Finally, an all-out throwdown with Apollo spills over from a small town in Virginia to the top of Mount Olympus. The gloves are off and Diana is PISSED.
The last page of the book hints at things to come. Including an upcoming visit from another well-known DC alumnus.
The art continues to please. While I still prefer Chiang, I’m definitely warming up to Akins a little more. Both guys are doing a bang-up job on this title, as you can see for yourself.
Get this review and more at:
Couple of the other gods are introduced in this volume. Eros with his gold plated Desert Eagles of love, Aphrodite the goddess of beauty (she’s nekkid…*snicker*), and Artemis the hunter. More awesomeness. Azzarello’s interpretation of these folks continues to work for me. I really like the way Brian, Chiang, and Akins decided to depict Aphrodite (and yes, mostly because she’s nude, but that’s not all). And you’re not going to believe who she is married to. Lucky devil. The look on Hermes' face says it all when it comes to her. Is that a Caduceus in your pants or are you just happy to see me?
Diana’s trip to Hades to rescue Zola doesn’t exactly go as she expected. Again, I really loved the manner in which the creative team decided to depict the Underworld. Added a little bit of creepiness to the visit.
War makes another brief appearance in this one. Such a cool character. Love the backdrop for the sit down with Strife. Anybody else see a resemblance between Azzarello and War?
Finally, an all-out throwdown with Apollo spills over from a small town in Virginia to the top of Mount Olympus. The gloves are off and Diana is PISSED.
The last page of the book hints at things to come. Including an upcoming visit from another well-known DC alumnus.
The art continues to please. While I still prefer Chiang, I’m definitely warming up to Akins a little more. Both guys are doing a bang-up job on this title, as you can see for yourself.
Get this review and more at:
February 11, 2017
I love this volume down to its very last detail. It is a frenetic, smart, rich and surprisingly humorous installment of Brian Azzarello's stellar Wonder Woman run! In this book, our Amazon Princess literally goes to the underworld to marry Hell himself, as a price for the bargain she has with Hades.
Hephaestus and his automatons has an unexpected heartfelt backstory. It is in these details that make volume two of Wonder Woman a memorable read.
Azarello's New 52 Wonder Woman is a solid story of action, humor, compassion and deception. Read it.
Hephaestus and his automatons has an unexpected heartfelt backstory. It is in these details that make volume two of Wonder Woman a memorable read.
Azarello's New 52 Wonder Woman is a solid story of action, humor, compassion and deception. Read it.
November 9, 2014
A little melodramatic to start, but Azzarello has a compelling take on the classic WW mythology, that I happen to think make more sense - and make for a richer universe in which to set WW's stories. What makes more sense, and gives room for more pathos: Amazonians are a race somehow devoid of males, or that Amazonians *choose* not to keep the males as part of their culture?
This reminds me of Milligan's attempt to put a modernist spin on Greek mythology, in his Greek Street series. I didn't really care for it - for all his contortions to make the characters seem hip and relevant, it was too stiff and artificial for me to feel immersed. Here is a different story - Azzarello let's us observe the patient interplay between timeless beings who've been around and around this trouble too many times to count. I find this much more compelling - like we're watching a chess masters' competition, where each move is meaningful and heavily contemplated.
Skeptical as I've been that Azzarello has any real writing talent, I gotta admit his dialogue and plotting have been giving me pleasant surprises in this (and the previous) book. I find the writing not just clever but nearly artful - there's an underlying fluidity to the way the characters speak, and talk to each other - not poetic in the strictest sense, but...lingering, like there's an echo left behind by the words.
I'm enjoying the gods showing up only as much as they're necessary to the plot and then fading back again, and while there's far more gods than humans among the pages, somehow with Wonder Woman at the center of the action, it still feels grounded. Enough so that when WW is granted a new power, it's genuinely affecting and not just taken for granted.
Wonder Woman in these books is a woman of strength, conviction, bravery and empathy - but in no way is she a force to be f***ed with. I encounter no condescension or expectation that anyone else should "save" her - in fact more to the point, she's the ringleader of a gang of badasses that are just as much her equals as she theirs.
Chiang and Akins both bring their strong style to this book, making it feel bold, stark and arresting to watch the action. The secret star of the art team has to be the colourist however, who takes the pencils and gives them real life.
This reminds me of Milligan's attempt to put a modernist spin on Greek mythology, in his Greek Street series. I didn't really care for it - for all his contortions to make the characters seem hip and relevant, it was too stiff and artificial for me to feel immersed. Here is a different story - Azzarello let's us observe the patient interplay between timeless beings who've been around and around this trouble too many times to count. I find this much more compelling - like we're watching a chess masters' competition, where each move is meaningful and heavily contemplated.
Skeptical as I've been that Azzarello has any real writing talent, I gotta admit his dialogue and plotting have been giving me pleasant surprises in this (and the previous) book. I find the writing not just clever but nearly artful - there's an underlying fluidity to the way the characters speak, and talk to each other - not poetic in the strictest sense, but...lingering, like there's an echo left behind by the words.
I'm enjoying the gods showing up only as much as they're necessary to the plot and then fading back again, and while there's far more gods than humans among the pages, somehow with Wonder Woman at the center of the action, it still feels grounded. Enough so that when WW is granted a new power, it's genuinely affecting and not just taken for granted.
Wonder Woman in these books is a woman of strength, conviction, bravery and empathy - but in no way is she a force to be f***ed with. I encounter no condescension or expectation that anyone else should "save" her - in fact more to the point, she's the ringleader of a gang of badasses that are just as much her equals as she theirs.
Chiang and Akins both bring their strong style to this book, making it feel bold, stark and arresting to watch the action. The secret star of the art team has to be the colourist however, who takes the pencils and gives them real life.
December 31, 2021
Greek mythology scholars know that Zeus was a ladies’ man and none too faithful to his wife Hera. According to legend, and Rick Riordan’s fun writing, the world is bursting full of Zeus’ bastards.
Wonder Woman writer Brian Azzarello has more amusement with this idea as Zeus knocks up a little redneck girl from Virginia – probably disguised as a truck driver.
So there’s a scene where tall Amazon Diana is hanging out with Zola, barefoot and pregnant and wearing Dollar General attire.
Too fun!
Azzarello and team make like Neil Gaiman in American Gods and Kevin Hearne in his Iron Druid chronicles and have Wonder Woman and Hermes and Hephaestus and crew take on the other side of the house in a Grecian Family Feud!
I especially liked how Azzarello portrayed Eris, Strife, who is the provocateur behind the scenes, just like as the goddess is supposed to act and she is drawn in similar style to Neil Gaiman’s The Endless.
Azzarello knew he was on to something cool and doubled down and kept going with this very cool theme. This graphic novel collected issues #7-12.
It’s a tribute to a book to say that you could not put it down and I blazed through this one.
Another great story.
Wonder Woman writer Brian Azzarello has more amusement with this idea as Zeus knocks up a little redneck girl from Virginia – probably disguised as a truck driver.
So there’s a scene where tall Amazon Diana is hanging out with Zola, barefoot and pregnant and wearing Dollar General attire.
Too fun!
Azzarello and team make like Neil Gaiman in American Gods and Kevin Hearne in his Iron Druid chronicles and have Wonder Woman and Hermes and Hephaestus and crew take on the other side of the house in a Grecian Family Feud!
I especially liked how Azzarello portrayed Eris, Strife, who is the provocateur behind the scenes, just like as the goddess is supposed to act and she is drawn in similar style to Neil Gaiman’s The Endless.
Azzarello knew he was on to something cool and doubled down and kept going with this very cool theme. This graphic novel collected issues #7-12.
It’s a tribute to a book to say that you could not put it down and I blazed through this one.
Another great story.
April 3, 2019
Story: The story ramps up as Wonder Woman and gang head into hell to save Zola. However, in hell, there's always a price to pay. After Wonder Woman is wounded she is left by the gang as an exchange for Zola. Now, without their leader, the crew has to figure out how to save Wonder Woman. However, the amazon queen isn't about to back down so easy.
Art: It's weird. Some of the art doesn't work for me at all, while the emotional shots, and big fights, all look great. So basically best way to describe this title is when the art is good it's damn fucking good.
Enjoyment: Really enjoyed the pacing of this one. A lot of fast moving pieces, everyone has their own motives, and some unexpected twist. Everyone wants something and by the end we are down a few major players. I love all that. I also think Wonder Woman is so damn badass and also really well done in terms of being true to her character.
What didn't work: I'm still little confused on all the characters. There's SO many damn characters and it's hard to keep up with who is who. Also, sometimes art is pretty ugly.
Overall, a step up from a solid volume 1. I dunno if I'd go to a full 4 but close enough to bump it to it. 3.5-4 out of 5.
Art: It's weird. Some of the art doesn't work for me at all, while the emotional shots, and big fights, all look great. So basically best way to describe this title is when the art is good it's damn fucking good.
Enjoyment: Really enjoyed the pacing of this one. A lot of fast moving pieces, everyone has their own motives, and some unexpected twist. Everyone wants something and by the end we are down a few major players. I love all that. I also think Wonder Woman is so damn badass and also really well done in terms of being true to her character.
What didn't work: I'm still little confused on all the characters. There's SO many damn characters and it's hard to keep up with who is who. Also, sometimes art is pretty ugly.
Overall, a step up from a solid volume 1. I dunno if I'd go to a full 4 but close enough to bump it to it. 3.5-4 out of 5.
June 25, 2017
J'aurais dû lire ce deuxième volume plus tôt après ma lecture du premier, je ne me souvenais pas hyper bien de ce qui s'était passé dedans... mais bon ça reste un très bon tome ! Le dessin est toujours aussi beau et original, j'adore la façon dont les différents dieux sont représentés, l'intrigue est vraiment bonne, tous les éléments mythologiques sont géniaux, en bref, pour le moment, cette série c'est juste de la bombe ! (et ça me donne envie de lire un Hadès / Perséphone retelling ^^)
December 10, 2021
This series continues to be epic as we see Diana escaping from earth to meet with Hephaestus and the plight of the male children of the Amazon and then travelling to hell to rescue Zola from HADES and she does and well gets stuck there and its a great escape and how she manages to escape from there but they could have done the story so much better and make it more epic compared to a family gathering and if the plot of "Zola being abducted" was not enough she has to now go to Apollo and fight him in heavens as he becomes god now and its a war of words and her true nature is revealed.
I like the fight she has with him and that thunder power she displays looked so cool and that was one of the best part of the volume but the ending just shows double allegiances and bring another god in the mix and the god of garden, its gonna be interesting to see plus the coming of a future villain that will shake Olympus itself.
I like how this volume had so many gods and plays on the whole Greek Gods/olympus angle a lot more and shows the family rivalry and cunning nature of it and really delves deep into the Greek myths unlike anything else and its awesome in that regard and I love it, the art just gets better and the coloring is a treat especially, a must read!
I like the fight she has with him and that thunder power she displays looked so cool and that was one of the best part of the volume but the ending just shows double allegiances and bring another god in the mix and the god of garden, its gonna be interesting to see plus the coming of a future villain that will shake Olympus itself.
I like how this volume had so many gods and plays on the whole Greek Gods/olympus angle a lot more and shows the family rivalry and cunning nature of it and really delves deep into the Greek myths unlike anything else and its awesome in that regard and I love it, the art just gets better and the coloring is a treat especially, a must read!
August 12, 2020
*On rereading this- I really love that Azzarello wrote this as a horror story, a Vertigo title, calling back to his reallllllly effed up run on Hellblazer.*
I understand that some readers are feeling a little... uncomfortable with the rewritten backstory of the Amazons, in that they basically rape and kill seafaring men and then sell their male offspring into slavery. This is actually the true mythology behind the Amazons, and with Azzarello keeping in step with the extremely heavy mythological storyline, it seems a logical step. As he is also writing this book in a style that befits a Vertigo book, it seems like a brilliant idea to me.
So here is the second volume of one of the 5 best titles the Nu52 offered us. It might be good, but it doesn't come close to matching the first volume. By comparison, it feels like a slump in pacing and story, and is surprisingly lacking in some necessary dialogue. As I say that, though, overall the book is an outstanding achievement in every way imaginable. It would have been hard for any writer to carry that much energy for an entire year, and this severely Greek tragedy was a welcome one in light of the ridiculous trash Geoff Johns was writing for WW in the pages of the Justice League. I've congratulated writers many times for keeping certain books far removed from the continuity of other major books, and Azzarello sidesteps all of the silliness Johns has concocted in JL. He's so focused on telling his story, an the book's sales are so good, no one at DC can complain about it. I'm over the moon about Azzarello's take on this book.
Artwork? Well, Chiang is probably the best kept secret in the business. I'm floored by the simplicity, the angles, an the grace of his lines. As with the writing, the art further lends to the feeling of a Vertigo title. This damn well could be an indie book if we just changed WW's name. It's just too good.
Writing: B
Art: A
I understand that some readers are feeling a little... uncomfortable with the rewritten backstory of the Amazons, in that they basically rape and kill seafaring men and then sell their male offspring into slavery. This is actually the true mythology behind the Amazons, and with Azzarello keeping in step with the extremely heavy mythological storyline, it seems a logical step. As he is also writing this book in a style that befits a Vertigo book, it seems like a brilliant idea to me.
So here is the second volume of one of the 5 best titles the Nu52 offered us. It might be good, but it doesn't come close to matching the first volume. By comparison, it feels like a slump in pacing and story, and is surprisingly lacking in some necessary dialogue. As I say that, though, overall the book is an outstanding achievement in every way imaginable. It would have been hard for any writer to carry that much energy for an entire year, and this severely Greek tragedy was a welcome one in light of the ridiculous trash Geoff Johns was writing for WW in the pages of the Justice League. I've congratulated writers many times for keeping certain books far removed from the continuity of other major books, and Azzarello sidesteps all of the silliness Johns has concocted in JL. He's so focused on telling his story, an the book's sales are so good, no one at DC can complain about it. I'm over the moon about Azzarello's take on this book.
Artwork? Well, Chiang is probably the best kept secret in the business. I'm floored by the simplicity, the angles, an the grace of his lines. As with the writing, the art further lends to the feeling of a Vertigo title. This damn well could be an indie book if we just changed WW's name. It's just too good.
Writing: B
Art: A
November 6, 2022
In parts horror inspired, it's a creative spin on Wonder Woman and Greek Mythology. The world building continues to impress, with engaging character depictions and eye catching visuals and imagery. Where the last volume felt a little weak when it came to the action, this one manages to step up it's game slightly, but still remains the part that needs improving. Left on a great cliffhanger, there's not much that Azzarello does wrong with this one.
TRIGGERS: body horror, self harm
TRIGGERS: body horror, self harm
June 25, 2020
An okay production, The art is good and the plot not unreasonable, but the gods aren't as godlike as mythology and awful poor human beings. Never sure how much of the weirdness that the artist puts into the deities is based on some little mythological footnote, and how much is unabashed artistic license.
Th e plotting and dialog also leave more mysteries than they solve -- I'm never sure when the comic is supposed to be making a point and when it is just odd because the writer wasn't communicating clearly.
Th e plotting and dialog also leave more mysteries than they solve -- I'm never sure when the comic is supposed to be making a point and when it is just odd because the writer wasn't communicating clearly.
March 3, 2013
Guts is the second volume of Wonder Woman’s New 52 iteration. Now, I have to admit, I’ve never particularly been a Wonder Woman fan. I mean, sure, as a young boy, I liked her just as much as the next young boy, but I never read her comics. But, when DC decided to (sort of) reboot their shared universe with the New 52, and when I learned that Brian Azzarello would be taking over Wonder Woman, well, even as a thirty-five year old man with a wife and two daughters, I couldn’t resist. Azzarello is a superb writer. He’s multifaceted, visionary, and merciless to his characters. Plus, in the months preceding the series’ debut, he spoke at length about how his version would focus upon the Greek Gods and have more in common with horror than super hero adventures.
He had me at Greek Gods.
I haven’t reviewed the first volume of Wonder Woman yet because, while I loved it, I frankly wanted to wait and see if the second volume would sustain my interest. Not only did it sustain my interest, it in fact increased my interest.
With Guts, I have a lay of the land. I’ve gotten used to Azzarello’s interpretation of the Greek Gods and his general “atmosphere” for Wonder Woman. Now that I know what to expect in certain regards, I love the title all the more. His take on the Gods is unconventional, but that’s what makes it captivating. He gives us just enough to make them recognizable, but changes everything else. Make no mistake, however, this man knows his mythology. At no time does he write a God “out of character.” Of course, the genius is that these Gods have existed in world mythology for thousands of years, so that gives Azzarello a lot of wiggle room.
In Guts, Wonder Woman is trying to save a young woman who has been impregnated by a missing Zeus. Hera, as usual, wants the girl dead, and is going to great lengths to make that happen. Hermes is assisting Wonder Woman with the girl’s rescue, and before long Wonder Woman encounters Hephaestus, Demeter, Eros, Apollo, Artemis, Pandora, and Hades. They are exactly like you’d expect and nothing like you’d expect, and that’s why I love this title.
There is a lot going on in this book, but I never felt overwhelmed or confused beyond comfort. All literature should confuse a little, after all, for if the author makes everything crystal clear, well, that’s a little boring, isn’t it? But like the Greek Gods, Wonder Woman is recognizable enough to satiate the fans, but she and her back story have also undergone a few tweaks that makes the character even more likable and, to be honest, respectable.
Chiang’s art is definitely a great match for Azzarello. His Wonder Woman is attractive without being a sex object, powerful looking without losing her femininity, and is always drawn to look like the royal she is. As a father of two small girls, I’m always searcing for female super heroes they can look up to that are not a facsimile of a male super hero or presented as a pin up model. I got really excited when they were going to put pants on Wonder Woman because, you know, she’s basically wearing a bikini and I’d like her to put some clothes on for my daughters’ benefit. Of course, they opted to keep the corset and bottoms. Even with that being said, though, Chiang draws her in such a way that, again, she is beautifully rendered, but her clothes also completely cover her. She is not drawn with ridiculous cleavage or wearing a g-string. Admittedly, no matter how strongly she is written by Azzarello, if they did present her in such a fashion, I’d be too embarrassed to read her book. As it stands, though, I’d have no problem with my daughters (if they were twelve or older) reading it.
I’ve read several of the New 52, and I have to say that Wonder Woman is so far the best when it comes to art, action, dialogue, characterization, plot complexity, and general coolness. Even if you’ve never read the character, I urge you to do so. And don’t worry, instead of your wife rolling her eyes at you for owning it, she might just pick it up and read it herself … so long as she doesn’t mind a little bit of Greek God horror.
He had me at Greek Gods.
I haven’t reviewed the first volume of Wonder Woman yet because, while I loved it, I frankly wanted to wait and see if the second volume would sustain my interest. Not only did it sustain my interest, it in fact increased my interest.
With Guts, I have a lay of the land. I’ve gotten used to Azzarello’s interpretation of the Greek Gods and his general “atmosphere” for Wonder Woman. Now that I know what to expect in certain regards, I love the title all the more. His take on the Gods is unconventional, but that’s what makes it captivating. He gives us just enough to make them recognizable, but changes everything else. Make no mistake, however, this man knows his mythology. At no time does he write a God “out of character.” Of course, the genius is that these Gods have existed in world mythology for thousands of years, so that gives Azzarello a lot of wiggle room.
In Guts, Wonder Woman is trying to save a young woman who has been impregnated by a missing Zeus. Hera, as usual, wants the girl dead, and is going to great lengths to make that happen. Hermes is assisting Wonder Woman with the girl’s rescue, and before long Wonder Woman encounters Hephaestus, Demeter, Eros, Apollo, Artemis, Pandora, and Hades. They are exactly like you’d expect and nothing like you’d expect, and that’s why I love this title.
There is a lot going on in this book, but I never felt overwhelmed or confused beyond comfort. All literature should confuse a little, after all, for if the author makes everything crystal clear, well, that’s a little boring, isn’t it? But like the Greek Gods, Wonder Woman is recognizable enough to satiate the fans, but she and her back story have also undergone a few tweaks that makes the character even more likable and, to be honest, respectable.
Chiang’s art is definitely a great match for Azzarello. His Wonder Woman is attractive without being a sex object, powerful looking without losing her femininity, and is always drawn to look like the royal she is. As a father of two small girls, I’m always searcing for female super heroes they can look up to that are not a facsimile of a male super hero or presented as a pin up model. I got really excited when they were going to put pants on Wonder Woman because, you know, she’s basically wearing a bikini and I’d like her to put some clothes on for my daughters’ benefit. Of course, they opted to keep the corset and bottoms. Even with that being said, though, Chiang draws her in such a way that, again, she is beautifully rendered, but her clothes also completely cover her. She is not drawn with ridiculous cleavage or wearing a g-string. Admittedly, no matter how strongly she is written by Azzarello, if they did present her in such a fashion, I’d be too embarrassed to read her book. As it stands, though, I’d have no problem with my daughters (if they were twelve or older) reading it.
I’ve read several of the New 52, and I have to say that Wonder Woman is so far the best when it comes to art, action, dialogue, characterization, plot complexity, and general coolness. Even if you’ve never read the character, I urge you to do so. And don’t worry, instead of your wife rolling her eyes at you for owning it, she might just pick it up and read it herself … so long as she doesn’t mind a little bit of Greek God horror.
October 8, 2014
Bullet Review:
I found this better than volume 1, though maybe it was just because I now have a better grasp of previous WW works. That said, the art is weird (like how Aphrodite was seen at the waist) or awful (WW can't seem to be consistent between panels), and I can't BELIEVE we are still on this stupid "Ultimate Gods" showdown with that stupid Zola woman. I thought this was about WONDER WOMAN.
Wonder Woman herself isn't bad - at least she's confident and kicking ass instead of a questioning, simpering waif. But I am sooooo glad I didn't buy this.
I found this better than volume 1, though maybe it was just because I now have a better grasp of previous WW works. That said, the art is weird (like how Aphrodite was seen at the waist) or awful (WW can't seem to be consistent between panels), and I can't BELIEVE we are still on this stupid "Ultimate Gods" showdown with that stupid Zola woman. I thought this was about WONDER WOMAN.
Wonder Woman herself isn't bad - at least she's confident and kicking ass instead of a questioning, simpering waif. But I am sooooo glad I didn't buy this.
June 28, 2017
AMAZING. I think I'm in love. The direction in which Azzarello is taking Wonder Woman is nothing short of amazing. I love that he is giving so much weight to the different Greek Gods, and I enjoy seeing what he is doing with them, making them his and part of this story. Even when there are changes to the mythology (like Hades beig a kid and wanting to marry Diana, demoting Persephone) this changes do make the story so much more powerful as we are surprised by its turns.
I am really loving this series, can't you tell?
I am really loving this series, can't you tell?
June 20, 2017
Some more good twists on the Amazonian lore, and a bunch of unexpected surprises from the denizens of Olympia.
March 8, 2023
Convoluted plot with too many characters and carloads of witty remarks. That’s Azzarello for you.
Now to be honest Azzarello goes easy on the double entendre and the plot remains reasonably understandable without risk of a brain haemorrhage. And the final twist I never saw coming was a treat.
Oddly WW almost seems to be a guest star in her own book, overwhelmed as she is by half Olympus backstabbing the other half. I’m not accustomed to this character so I can’t say if she’s true to form or not.
Chiang’s art oscillates between subpar considering what he can actually do and pretty cool, alas more scarcely. Same goes for his character designs.
Now to be honest Azzarello goes easy on the double entendre and the plot remains reasonably understandable without risk of a brain haemorrhage. And the final twist I never saw coming was a treat.
Oddly WW almost seems to be a guest star in her own book, overwhelmed as she is by half Olympus backstabbing the other half. I’m not accustomed to this character so I can’t say if she’s true to form or not.
Chiang’s art oscillates between subpar considering what he can actually do and pretty cool, alas more scarcely. Same goes for his character designs.
November 22, 2016
3.5 stars
This series stands out as a New 52 title because of how heavy it is on Wonder Woman's Greek background. I've always liked mythology and it's cool to see it in a superhero comic.
This series is better so far as a cohesive storyline than it is as individual volumes. So far it's not amazing but it is enjoyable. Definitely interested in continuing.
This series stands out as a New 52 title because of how heavy it is on Wonder Woman's Greek background. I've always liked mythology and it's cool to see it in a superhero comic.
This series is better so far as a cohesive storyline than it is as individual volumes. So far it's not amazing but it is enjoyable. Definitely interested in continuing.
December 29, 2018
I like how the goddess of love is shown here. It's an interesting take on the gods.
December 12, 2013
It is my firm belief that Brian Azzarello's 'Wonder Woman' is the best New 52 book out there! Before 'Blood', I must confess, I'd never read a single one of Diana's graphic adventures, and I was completely blown away by the creativity, the artwork, the mythos and, above all, the character of the titular heroine. So, you can imagine how happy i was as I kept on reading into Volume 2 and found it even better!
Like a mixture of Clash of the Titans and The godfather, the Greek Gods are reimagined as a bitter and untrustworthy crime family, all competing for the currently vacant throne of Olympus after the disappearance of Zeus. However, the famously lecherous father of the Gods has resulted in a mortal woman being pregnant with the possible rightful heir to the throne. As such, WW is sworn to protect her! Immediately you can see that this is not just another 'superhero' story (new bad guy comes to challenge the hero's city and friends, hero must fight to top them). It's more complex than that. There are no out and out villains in the piece. Ares, God of War and Wonder Woman's primary antagonist in the older comics, takes on a surprisingly passive role in the events in the book (and is, buy the way, one of my favourite characters in the book). rather than the sadistic, armoured brute of the older comics, he's a frail looking old man who's clearly tired of his family's constant bickering. However, all of the reimaginings of the greek Gods and monsters are simply inspiring (with the possible exception of Poseidon, who looks like a giant, mutant toad, but he doesn't make much of an appearance). Also, while I am still not much of a fan of Wonder Woman's swimsuit look (and you can tell from some of the concept art that neither Azzarello or Chiang are either... most likely forced into it by the DC bigwigs), but thankfully the artwork and writing plays down the character's sex symbol status big time. Yes, she's attractive, but it's not the main focus. That's not easy to pull off when you're forced to give her such a revealing costume, but they miraculously manage to pull it off.
The dialogue is mostly strong and pleasantly witty. however, azzarello seems to have developed a strange habit of, only at certain points mind you, deliver some incredibly bad puns... and I mean BAD (ie. HADES: You are but meat to us now! WW: Meat? Meet an Amazon!) I don't know why he's doing this, but I hope he stops because it mildly spoils some otherwise brilliant writing, but thankfully they don't distract too much.
Finally, I must talk about my favourite part of the series, the character of Wonder Woman. As we see Superman revamped as a superpowered sociopath, Batman... being Batman and even Geoff john's psycho-Wonder Woman in the Justice League comics, I never believed it would take the guy who wrote 100 Bullets to let us remember that, at core, superheroes should be just really nice people. Yes, there is the odd bit... well, okay, a LOT of gore and splatter and pain in this book, but the character of Wonder Woman remains passionate, kind and optimistic. There's no attempt top 'Dark Knight' her. She doesn't mope and brood. I mean, yes there was a bit of that in Volume 1, but it was justified. Her mother had just been taken from her, she'd been rejected by her own people and her evil sister was taunting her about it. But, you know what, she comes back out of it with a smile on her face.She doesn't go around mashing people's skulls. My favourite part in the book is when she's forced to marry Hades. Hanging from her own lasso of truth and asked if she loves her demonic groom, she says, honestly, 'yes'. She then proceeds to escape, telling a confused hades that 'she loves everyone'. And she means it. Rather than beating up her captor, her final act to him is teaching him to love himself, the ultimate act of compassion performed in the most bad-ass way imaginable (thanks to Eros's magic bullets).
In conclusion, twisted and dark but with the burning light of hope, wit and humor coupled with drama and action, this is one of my favourite superhero books and i cannot wait to read Vol 3!
Like a mixture of Clash of the Titans and The godfather, the Greek Gods are reimagined as a bitter and untrustworthy crime family, all competing for the currently vacant throne of Olympus after the disappearance of Zeus. However, the famously lecherous father of the Gods has resulted in a mortal woman being pregnant with the possible rightful heir to the throne. As such, WW is sworn to protect her! Immediately you can see that this is not just another 'superhero' story (new bad guy comes to challenge the hero's city and friends, hero must fight to top them). It's more complex than that. There are no out and out villains in the piece. Ares, God of War and Wonder Woman's primary antagonist in the older comics, takes on a surprisingly passive role in the events in the book (and is, buy the way, one of my favourite characters in the book). rather than the sadistic, armoured brute of the older comics, he's a frail looking old man who's clearly tired of his family's constant bickering. However, all of the reimaginings of the greek Gods and monsters are simply inspiring (with the possible exception of Poseidon, who looks like a giant, mutant toad, but he doesn't make much of an appearance). Also, while I am still not much of a fan of Wonder Woman's swimsuit look (and you can tell from some of the concept art that neither Azzarello or Chiang are either... most likely forced into it by the DC bigwigs), but thankfully the artwork and writing plays down the character's sex symbol status big time. Yes, she's attractive, but it's not the main focus. That's not easy to pull off when you're forced to give her such a revealing costume, but they miraculously manage to pull it off.
The dialogue is mostly strong and pleasantly witty. however, azzarello seems to have developed a strange habit of, only at certain points mind you, deliver some incredibly bad puns... and I mean BAD (ie. HADES: You are but meat to us now! WW: Meat? Meet an Amazon!) I don't know why he's doing this, but I hope he stops because it mildly spoils some otherwise brilliant writing, but thankfully they don't distract too much.
Finally, I must talk about my favourite part of the series, the character of Wonder Woman. As we see Superman revamped as a superpowered sociopath, Batman... being Batman and even Geoff john's psycho-Wonder Woman in the Justice League comics, I never believed it would take the guy who wrote 100 Bullets to let us remember that, at core, superheroes should be just really nice people. Yes, there is the odd bit... well, okay, a LOT of gore and splatter and pain in this book, but the character of Wonder Woman remains passionate, kind and optimistic. There's no attempt top 'Dark Knight' her. She doesn't mope and brood. I mean, yes there was a bit of that in Volume 1, but it was justified. Her mother had just been taken from her, she'd been rejected by her own people and her evil sister was taunting her about it. But, you know what, she comes back out of it with a smile on her face.She doesn't go around mashing people's skulls. My favourite part in the book is when she's forced to marry Hades. Hanging from her own lasso of truth and asked if she loves her demonic groom, she says, honestly, 'yes'. She then proceeds to escape, telling a confused hades that 'she loves everyone'. And she means it. Rather than beating up her captor, her final act to him is teaching him to love himself, the ultimate act of compassion performed in the most bad-ass way imaginable (thanks to Eros's magic bullets).
In conclusion, twisted and dark but with the burning light of hope, wit and humor coupled with drama and action, this is one of my favourite superhero books and i cannot wait to read Vol 3!
August 9, 2015
Better than volume 1, but still not great
Yet again I find myself struggling with a rating on this. So far in this series, Azzarello will give me something I like and then I start feeling excited and then the next page there will be something that annoys the hell out of me and I'm right back to feeling ambivalent. And this time they're totally different annoying things!
I will say that so far the best thing about this series is how well written Wonder Woman is as a character. The side characters I honestly still don't care about all that much but Azzarello does a fantastic job making Wonder Woman feel like a genuinely strong female protagonist. In this volume, Wonder Woman descends into Hell to save Zola and ends up with more than she bargained for. In this situation, you almost expect someone to have to save her. But Wonder Woman doesn't need any of that shit, she's one of those self-rescuing princesses. YAAAAAAY!!!! Seriously, I cannot express how much I love Azzarello for that. He strikes a perfect balance between making her strong-willed and badass and yet not a cold, unfeeling bitch. I can find absolutely no fault whatsoever in how she's portrayed.
Even better, the story FINALLY starts getting interesting, particularly towards the end of this volume. I like this new gods vs old gods dynamic and the way in which Zola's child is being drawn into it. I'm curious to see where these relationship shifts are going to take Wonder Woman in the future volumes.
BUT...sweet Jesus the tone of the entire thing is SO melodramatic. I mean, I guess it's a grand Greek hero story so I should probably expect some of that but there were multiple times that had me rolling my eyes. Maybe it's just Azzarello's style, I really don't know. Can't say I've read much by him. Anything, actually. Either way, I'm not a fan. It just sucks to have this interesting story, a fantastic female lead and then...just silly writing. It pulls me out of the story and annoys the hell out of me.
My irritation with the melodrama aside, this is MUCH better than the previous volume. Overall, it's a good Wonder Woman story and the series has the potential for much more so I'm slowly starting to warm up to it.
Yet again I find myself struggling with a rating on this. So far in this series, Azzarello will give me something I like and then I start feeling excited and then the next page there will be something that annoys the hell out of me and I'm right back to feeling ambivalent. And this time they're totally different annoying things!
I will say that so far the best thing about this series is how well written Wonder Woman is as a character. The side characters I honestly still don't care about all that much but Azzarello does a fantastic job making Wonder Woman feel like a genuinely strong female protagonist. In this volume, Wonder Woman descends into Hell to save Zola and ends up with more than she bargained for. In this situation, you almost expect someone to have to save her. But Wonder Woman doesn't need any of that shit, she's one of those self-rescuing princesses. YAAAAAAY!!!! Seriously, I cannot express how much I love Azzarello for that. He strikes a perfect balance between making her strong-willed and badass and yet not a cold, unfeeling bitch. I can find absolutely no fault whatsoever in how she's portrayed.
Even better, the story FINALLY starts getting interesting, particularly towards the end of this volume. I like this new gods vs old gods dynamic and the way in which Zola's child is being drawn into it. I'm curious to see where these relationship shifts are going to take Wonder Woman in the future volumes.
BUT...sweet Jesus the tone of the entire thing is SO melodramatic. I mean, I guess it's a grand Greek hero story so I should probably expect some of that but there were multiple times that had me rolling my eyes. Maybe it's just Azzarello's style, I really don't know. Can't say I've read much by him. Anything, actually. Either way, I'm not a fan. It just sucks to have this interesting story, a fantastic female lead and then...just silly writing. It pulls me out of the story and annoys the hell out of me.
My irritation with the melodrama aside, this is MUCH better than the previous volume. Overall, it's a good Wonder Woman story and the series has the potential for much more so I'm slowly starting to warm up to it.
December 4, 2022
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 Zola, 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 of destiny might wrought the forces of Olympics and the various factions, are all out of claim or neutralize Zola and her child.
Standing in their way, are wonder women and her motley crew. Diana, who is herself reeling from the revelations of her parentage, not to mention the recent loss of her mother and sisters at the hand of Hera, has a lot to handle. But if anyone can carry through with her mission in such arduous conditions it is the warrior princess of Themyscira.
Thoughts
Volume 2 of Brian Azzarello's wonder woman run, sees us delving deeper into Diana's divine heritage, and explore the various Gods, factions and hidden worlds of the divine pantheon which seem to exist just underneath the veil of the modern era.
In a globetrotting adventure, Diana and crew travel of different locations, meeting Gods and their modern iterations that coexist with humans. We get to see the forges of Hephaestus, A giant mammoth like creature that is Poseidon, the diminutive unfeeling goth kid that is the Lord of Hades, and much more.
In exploring all of these gods and realms, we as readers are also treated with these environments and creatures inspired by archaic myths, crossed with modern furnishings.
Of Particular note, is Diana's tryst unto the realm of Hades which, curiously enough takes the form of Victorian London. It is a fantastical mockup made up entirely of the souls which the Lord of Hades has under his dominion. This particular story arc puts on display, in all of its macabre gory glory, the horrific Forniphilic BDSM inspired Body horror that Hades arrayed against Wonder women. Which briefly shifts the story from mythological fantasy to Nightmarish Horror.
The character design of Hades himself, as well as his personality, is something which is deep, empathetic and unique, and allows you to connect with the character, despite him being the Lord of the Underworld. I much like this iteration of the character, which is driven more by boredom and desire, rather than some sinister machination to take over the throne of Olympus.
Throughout the story, one of the pleasurable points to read, is Diana's steadfast, kind and compassionate nature. Where, true to her nature, she is capable of empathizing with friend, ally, rivals, enemies and even monsters. She is able to forge a bond with her long-lost siblings, other children of Zeus, and her compassion is able to melt the ancient indifferent hearts of even Gods.
Her interactions with Hades in particular, one which starts off as a sequel to Hades & Persephone, ends on a wholesome and emotional note. Even though he is still the Lord of Hades, who administers great suffering upon the souls that enter the underworld.
That part of the story reads more like a parable, about love, self-worth and compassion for oneself, which is oddly wholesome.
Hephaestus, the Greek God of the forge, acts almost like a Gandalf likewise mentor figure with well intentions. He is a decent person, for someone who is a God, and helps Diana and co. at various points in the story. Sadly, he is mostly acting in a supporting role, and we never have the focus on the forge God.
The Gods of the Greek Pantheon, even when they are having antagonistic motives to our main group, are portrayed, not as Villainous plotters, rather entities with their individual agendas, which they feel are true to their wellbeing. They are not portrayed as Godly, Benevolent, or evil. Being more in Line to actual Greek epics, the Gods of Olympus are portrayed as the dysfunctional family that they are.
Zeus, the self-serving, narcissistic, indifferent patriarch who is never around. Hera, the emotional, strict, codependent, violent matriarch who puts the Fury in Hell hath. And their children, the other gods, as broken antisocial individuals, who are suffering due to growing up in a toxic environment. But when given a chance, when put into the compassionate presence of Diana, they are capable of displaying better traits that they themselves probably never knew of.
Diana herself, in additional to her interactions with the Gods, wins her battles with her strength as much as her negotiation skills. Pitting the gods against one another, using their Hubris to achieve her mission, and ensure the safety of Zola and her child. She is willing to be proactive, smart and flexible when dealing with the Gods, who are like children 'playing Gods'.
The Art
Art style of this volume is, good, to be concise. This is not a particular action heavy series. But when there is fighting, the illustrators are able to do it justice.
However, most praise deserves to the various environments that are drawn to convey the distinct and awe-inspiring realms of the various gods.
As mentioned before, the realm of Hades, with its macabre body horror, definitely takes the cake in that regard.
Plus, they're able to convey a dreary downcast atmosphere, particularly when the Gods and their familiars are near, playing into their uncaring indifferent nature.
The Series as a whole is definitely on the uptick. I'm looking forwards to seeing where the story is heading to in the future.
Oh, also there is this mysterious giant of a man who was unearthed from the Artic tundra, who may have something to do with the Gods and the narrative. But we don' yet know enough to comment on that, so I'll leave it as such.
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 Zola, 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 of destiny might wrought the forces of Olympics and the various factions, are all out of claim or neutralize Zola and her child.
Standing in their way, are wonder women and her motley crew. Diana, who is herself reeling from the revelations of her parentage, not to mention the recent loss of her mother and sisters at the hand of Hera, has a lot to handle. But if anyone can carry through with her mission in such arduous conditions it is the warrior princess of Themyscira.
Thoughts
Volume 2 of Brian Azzarello's wonder woman run, sees us delving deeper into Diana's divine heritage, and explore the various Gods, factions and hidden worlds of the divine pantheon which seem to exist just underneath the veil of the modern era.
In a globetrotting adventure, Diana and crew travel of different locations, meeting Gods and their modern iterations that coexist with humans. We get to see the forges of Hephaestus, A giant mammoth like creature that is Poseidon, the diminutive unfeeling goth kid that is the Lord of Hades, and much more.
In exploring all of these gods and realms, we as readers are also treated with these environments and creatures inspired by archaic myths, crossed with modern furnishings.
Of Particular note, is Diana's tryst unto the realm of Hades which, curiously enough takes the form of Victorian London. It is a fantastical mockup made up entirely of the souls which the Lord of Hades has under his dominion. This particular story arc puts on display, in all of its macabre gory glory, the horrific Forniphilic BDSM inspired Body horror that Hades arrayed against Wonder women. Which briefly shifts the story from mythological fantasy to Nightmarish Horror.
The character design of Hades himself, as well as his personality, is something which is deep, empathetic and unique, and allows you to connect with the character, despite him being the Lord of the Underworld. I much like this iteration of the character, which is driven more by boredom and desire, rather than some sinister machination to take over the throne of Olympus.
Throughout the story, one of the pleasurable points to read, is Diana's steadfast, kind and compassionate nature. Where, true to her nature, she is capable of empathizing with friend, ally, rivals, enemies and even monsters. She is able to forge a bond with her long-lost siblings, other children of Zeus, and her compassion is able to melt the ancient indifferent hearts of even Gods.
Her interactions with Hades in particular, one which starts off as a sequel to Hades & Persephone, ends on a wholesome and emotional note. Even though he is still the Lord of Hades, who administers great suffering upon the souls that enter the underworld.
That part of the story reads more like a parable, about love, self-worth and compassion for oneself, which is oddly wholesome.
Hephaestus, the Greek God of the forge, acts almost like a Gandalf likewise mentor figure with well intentions. He is a decent person, for someone who is a God, and helps Diana and co. at various points in the story. Sadly, he is mostly acting in a supporting role, and we never have the focus on the forge God.
The Gods of the Greek Pantheon, even when they are having antagonistic motives to our main group, are portrayed, not as Villainous plotters, rather entities with their individual agendas, which they feel are true to their wellbeing. They are not portrayed as Godly, Benevolent, or evil. Being more in Line to actual Greek epics, the Gods of Olympus are portrayed as the dysfunctional family that they are.
Zeus, the self-serving, narcissistic, indifferent patriarch who is never around. Hera, the emotional, strict, codependent, violent matriarch who puts the Fury in Hell hath. And their children, the other gods, as broken antisocial individuals, who are suffering due to growing up in a toxic environment. But when given a chance, when put into the compassionate presence of Diana, they are capable of displaying better traits that they themselves probably never knew of.
Diana herself, in additional to her interactions with the Gods, wins her battles with her strength as much as her negotiation skills. Pitting the gods against one another, using their Hubris to achieve her mission, and ensure the safety of Zola and her child. She is willing to be proactive, smart and flexible when dealing with the Gods, who are like children 'playing Gods'.
The Art
Art style of this volume is, good, to be concise. This is not a particular action heavy series. But when there is fighting, the illustrators are able to do it justice.
However, most praise deserves to the various environments that are drawn to convey the distinct and awe-inspiring realms of the various gods.
As mentioned before, the realm of Hades, with its macabre body horror, definitely takes the cake in that regard.
Plus, they're able to convey a dreary downcast atmosphere, particularly when the Gods and their familiars are near, playing into their uncaring indifferent nature.
The Series as a whole is definitely on the uptick. I'm looking forwards to seeing where the story is heading to in the future.
Oh, also there is this mysterious giant of a man who was unearthed from the Artic tundra, who may have something to do with the Gods and the narrative. But we don' yet know enough to comment on that, so I'll leave it as such.
January 28, 2013
This is repulsive vandalism, a deliberate uglification of the character and her world.
The pace remains extremely slow and Wonder Woman is crowded out by the ensemble of gods. It was a gross mistake to turn over a classic character to a hardboiled misogynist and snuff pornographer. If you think invisible planes, purple healing rays, and Paradise Island are camp or silly, you have no business writing Wonder Woman.
The pace remains extremely slow and Wonder Woman is crowded out by the ensemble of gods. It was a gross mistake to turn over a classic character to a hardboiled misogynist and snuff pornographer. If you think invisible planes, purple healing rays, and Paradise Island are camp or silly, you have no business writing Wonder Woman.
March 2, 2013
What did I think? Hmm. While these were probably some of the most entertaining Wonder Woman stories I have ever read, I still think there is a great lack of storytelling in modern comics. Everything is downsized. There is no depth, very little characterization. What glimpses I got into the glory of the art form are no longer even attempted these days. I don't even know how to put it into words.
IF you're going to rely on artwork to tell the majority of the story, cutting the page count down to 20 pages a month, with many of those pages being splash/pin-up pages, or half pages being devoted to a scene...you really don't get much story in each issue. Hell, a full trade collection like this barely takes a half hour to read.
Again, this is just my opinion, but you sure don't get much entertainment value for your dollar any more.
One thing is for sure, people can't bitch any more about plots being too complicated or not being able to understand and just jump into comics. Now there just isn't much plot to bother being lost in at all. It's unfortunate.
Also (I can't believe I'm saying this), these comics are certainly no longer for kids. Wonder Woman now stabs out eyes, cuts off heads, etc. Not much "hero" in super-hero any more.
My attempt at trying comics again after six years away isn't showing me that I've missed anything. That's a shame.
Still need to find a new hobby.
IF you're going to rely on artwork to tell the majority of the story, cutting the page count down to 20 pages a month, with many of those pages being splash/pin-up pages, or half pages being devoted to a scene...you really don't get much story in each issue. Hell, a full trade collection like this barely takes a half hour to read.
Again, this is just my opinion, but you sure don't get much entertainment value for your dollar any more.
One thing is for sure, people can't bitch any more about plots being too complicated or not being able to understand and just jump into comics. Now there just isn't much plot to bother being lost in at all. It's unfortunate.
Also (I can't believe I'm saying this), these comics are certainly no longer for kids. Wonder Woman now stabs out eyes, cuts off heads, etc. Not much "hero" in super-hero any more.
My attempt at trying comics again after six years away isn't showing me that I've missed anything. That's a shame.
Still need to find a new hobby.
May 27, 2016
Excellent! So this volume pretty much picks up where the last volume left off, and based on the ending, this series will just be one long arc; however Brian is able to do this without it getting boring at all! Don't really wanna say more about the story, otherwise I'll be spoiling! What I can say, is that this a great series! I really like the interpretations of the Greek gods, their all done in interesting ways, my favourite character next to Wonder Woman herself is Strife, she's kinda like the Loki for Wonder Woman, their are times where she helps and times where she just sits back and watches the show, she's an agent of chaos! But overall another fantastic volume!
June 18, 2014
I'm loving everything about the direction they have taken Wonder Woman in. Love the visual representation, love the writing, love the characterizations.
My only qualm with this volume is that it was a little light on dialogue, although I felt the incredible artwork and action sequencing completely made up for it.
I'm hooked on this series.
4/5
My only qualm with this volume is that it was a little light on dialogue, although I felt the incredible artwork and action sequencing completely made up for it.
I'm hooked on this series.
4/5
October 15, 2022
This comic really MOVES! Azzarello's plot is not overburdened with narrative text or dialogue, but speeds along thanks to concise storytelling and cinematic visual composition.
March 2, 2019
3.5 stars
Loving the character designs. Some improvement in storytelling, although some of the dialogues are awful and wrought with terrible puns.
Loving the character designs. Some improvement in storytelling, although some of the dialogues are awful and wrought with terrible puns.
September 29, 2021
I’m digging Brian Azzarello’s run as writer for Wonder Woman from 2012, under the DC New 52 line. His contemporary take on Greek mythology is intelligent and humorous, and his “controversial” re-interpretation of Wonder Woman’s origin story is far more cynical and believable than the traditional origin story.
In Volume 2, “Guts”: Eros (or Cupid, for the Romans in the audience) has traded in his bow and arrow for gold-plated handguns; Hephaestus forges weapons under a jewelry shop in Italy; Diana discovers even more horrible truths about the Amazons, in regards to what happens to male children who are born in Themyscira; Diana goes to Hell, where she is to be Hades betrothed; she tricks her way out of marriage in a way that is both clever and a bit unbelievable (but whatever); Apollo and Artemis ride up on a chopper; Zola has the baby, but someone in the group has double-crossed them all…
In Volume 2, “Guts”: Eros (or Cupid, for the Romans in the audience) has traded in his bow and arrow for gold-plated handguns; Hephaestus forges weapons under a jewelry shop in Italy; Diana discovers even more horrible truths about the Amazons, in regards to what happens to male children who are born in Themyscira; Diana goes to Hell, where she is to be Hades betrothed; she tricks her way out of marriage in a way that is both clever and a bit unbelievable (but whatever); Apollo and Artemis ride up on a chopper; Zola has the baby, but someone in the group has double-crossed them all…
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