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Elseworld "German Cinema" trilogy #3
Wonder Woman: The Blue Amazon
Metropolis is at peace. Lois researches the history of the city with the help of Steve Trevor-son. They discover information about the three founders of Metropolis, Jon Kent, Lutor and Paula von Gunther, who crossed the "black sea" after the "time of smoke and soot" to create the city. Trevor-son, meanwhile, is in thrall to the exotic dancer Diana, known as the "Blue Amazon", who appears at Dr. Psykho's Palace of Sin, the last remnant of Lutor's criminal empire. Psykho exploits the amnesiac Diana, who was given to him by Lutor, but cannot divine her origins. When Trevor-son tries to free her, he is taken prisoner.
Meanwhile, a creature, the Cheetah, has come to Metropolis looking for Diana. After a brief encounter with the Nosferatu, the Cheetah locates Diana. Psykho uses his mental power to learn the truth. Metropolis is on a terraformed Mars, where the survivors of Mankind, led by Jon Kent, Lutor and Paula Von Gunther, resettled after Earth was wrecked by pollution. Biologist Paula von Gunther later left the others and created her own artificial, flying city, known as "Heaven", where she used her knowledge of genetics and the genes of the Earth animals she saved, to create her own race of beast-like Amazons. Diana is her perfect clone.
Later, needing new gene stock, Paula sent Diana to Metropolis below, where she was captured and had her memories erased by Lutor. In Heaven, the Cheetah led a rebellion and killed Paula. But now, she, too, needs Diana in order to save the Amazons. Psykho makes a deal with the Cheetah: he will give her Diana if she kills the Super-Man.
The Cheetah leads her Amazons in a battle royale against the Super-Man, who is then assisted by the Nosferatu and the inmates from the Asylum. When Psykho tries to kill Trevor-Son, Diana's love is enough to restore her memories. She becomes the Wonder Woman, challenges the Cheetah to a duel and wins. Peace is restored to Metropolis; the three "worlds", above and below the city, are reunited; the truth about the past has at last been learned.
Meanwhile, a creature, the Cheetah, has come to Metropolis looking for Diana. After a brief encounter with the Nosferatu, the Cheetah locates Diana. Psykho uses his mental power to learn the truth. Metropolis is on a terraformed Mars, where the survivors of Mankind, led by Jon Kent, Lutor and Paula Von Gunther, resettled after Earth was wrecked by pollution. Biologist Paula von Gunther later left the others and created her own artificial, flying city, known as "Heaven", where she used her knowledge of genetics and the genes of the Earth animals she saved, to create her own race of beast-like Amazons. Diana is her perfect clone.
Later, needing new gene stock, Paula sent Diana to Metropolis below, where she was captured and had her memories erased by Lutor. In Heaven, the Cheetah led a rebellion and killed Paula. But now, she, too, needs Diana in order to save the Amazons. Psykho makes a deal with the Cheetah: he will give her Diana if she kills the Super-Man.
The Cheetah leads her Amazons in a battle royale against the Super-Man, who is then assisted by the Nosferatu and the inmates from the Asylum. When Psykho tries to kill Trevor-Son, Diana's love is enough to restore her memories. She becomes the Wonder Woman, challenges the Cheetah to a duel and wins. Peace is restored to Metropolis; the three "worlds", above and below the city, are reunited; the truth about the past has at last been learned.
64 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
110 people want to read
About the author
Jean-Marc Lofficier
404 books23 followersJean-Marc Lofficier is a French author of books about films and television programs, as well as numerous comic books and translations of a number of animation screenplays. He usually collaborates with his wife, Randy Lofficier
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 10, 2017
Like the first 2 volumes, Superman: Metropolis and Batman: Nosferatu, this tries to mesh Wonder Woman with another film of German Expressionism, The Blue Angel. Wonder Woman is barely in this story as it focuses on Dr. Psycho and Cheetah instead. The story is nonsense and Wonder Woman treated as a victim until the last 2 pages. This is the worst of a not very good trilogy of stories.
October 26, 2012
I'm not entirely sure what I think about Blue Amazon, other than that I didn't like it. It's an interesting take on an alternate reality... I think. Ultimately, the artwork and storytelling is so muddled (not to mention short on space) that I never really got a firm grasp on exactly what this world was like. The artwork reminded me, more than anything, of some of the more excessive panels from Batman: Arkham Asylum. It really did nothing for me.
Now, Diana herself... Oh, dear. When I think of the essential characteristics of Diana, I think of her strength, her compassion, her faith, and her resiliency. Lofficier, apparently, thought only about her sex appeal, and decided to play with that trait in the most skin-crawlingly creepy way possible. And that kept me from enjoying the book.
Now, Diana herself... Oh, dear. When I think of the essential characteristics of Diana, I think of her strength, her compassion, her faith, and her resiliency. Lofficier, apparently, thought only about her sex appeal, and decided to play with that trait in the most skin-crawlingly creepy way possible. And that kept me from enjoying the book.
May 8, 2017
After reading some of the reviews of this graphic novel, I think a few major points about it are being missed:
1. This is an Elseworlds title. In Elseworlds, creators are free to experiment with characters, telling stories that have nothing to do with any kind of continuity. No, this isn't the Wonder Woman that you're familiar with, and it's not supposed to be. It's a different take on the character.
2. This book, and the two others that make up the trilogy (BATMAN: NOSFERATU and SUPERMAN: METROPOLIS) are based on important films from the period of German Expressionism (that basically covered the decade of the 1920s). The Batman and Superman volumes are obvious in revealing their origins, but this one might be a bit more obscure. It's based on the film THE BLUE ANGEL (1930), directed by Josef von Sternberg and starring Marlene Dietrich as Lola Lola, a German Dancer/Prostitute in Berlin who causes the downfall of a respected professor (Emil Jannings). Dietrich's character is all about her sexuality and desirability, so it's no surprise that these characteristics show up in this book. She's a rather cruel and unforgiving character, which is reflected here.
3. The art style also very much reflects the German Expressionist tradition, which sought to expose an inner, rather than an outer, reality. Edward Munch's The Scream is a great example of this artistic style. So, it's not supposed to look "realistic" but instead is supposed to convey the inner nature or inner turmoils of the people about whom the story is being told.
4. Now, with all that said, if you don't like it, you don't like it, and that's your choice. But I'd suggest trying to come to the books in this trilogy on their own terms, rather than as what you want them to be. If you can, watch the films upon which they're based and then read the books again. Having seen all of these man y times, I think the creators have done a magnificent job in capturing the spirit both of the films and the characters and bringing the two together in a fascinating way. These are my very favorites of the Elseworlds books, and I can reread them over and over again.
1. This is an Elseworlds title. In Elseworlds, creators are free to experiment with characters, telling stories that have nothing to do with any kind of continuity. No, this isn't the Wonder Woman that you're familiar with, and it's not supposed to be. It's a different take on the character.
2. This book, and the two others that make up the trilogy (BATMAN: NOSFERATU and SUPERMAN: METROPOLIS) are based on important films from the period of German Expressionism (that basically covered the decade of the 1920s). The Batman and Superman volumes are obvious in revealing their origins, but this one might be a bit more obscure. It's based on the film THE BLUE ANGEL (1930), directed by Josef von Sternberg and starring Marlene Dietrich as Lola Lola, a German Dancer/Prostitute in Berlin who causes the downfall of a respected professor (Emil Jannings). Dietrich's character is all about her sexuality and desirability, so it's no surprise that these characteristics show up in this book. She's a rather cruel and unforgiving character, which is reflected here.
3. The art style also very much reflects the German Expressionist tradition, which sought to expose an inner, rather than an outer, reality. Edward Munch's The Scream is a great example of this artistic style. So, it's not supposed to look "realistic" but instead is supposed to convey the inner nature or inner turmoils of the people about whom the story is being told.
4. Now, with all that said, if you don't like it, you don't like it, and that's your choice. But I'd suggest trying to come to the books in this trilogy on their own terms, rather than as what you want them to be. If you can, watch the films upon which they're based and then read the books again. Having seen all of these man y times, I think the creators have done a magnificent job in capturing the spirit both of the films and the characters and bringing the two together in a fascinating way. These are my very favorites of the Elseworlds books, and I can reread them over and over again.
June 23, 2021
Unadulterated garbage. At least the first two installments in the trilogy had some vague cultural touchstones. This one has none I am familiar with and even worse art and dialogue.
March 5, 2025
Big epick battel
August 25, 2015
Concept: Duits expressionisme. Deel één is een vertaling van Fritz Lang’s Metropolis. Deel twee is een mashup van Das Kabinet des Dr Caligari en Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens.
In deel drie, met inspiratie van Der blauwe Engel en Dr. Mabuse, der Spieler, blijkt Diana, de Blauwe Amazone, van de “Hemel” afkomstig te zijn, vanwaar Metropolis even later aangevallen wordt. Diana wordt Wonder Woman, de slechteriken uit de Hemel worden verstaan, alles is weer peis en vree, en we weten op het einde van de drie boeken waar we precies zijn en wat er precies eigenlijk allemaal gebeurd is.
De tekenstijl is expressionistisch en zal niet naar iedereens zin zijn. En ik heb die oude films allemaal staan en allemaal gezien en allemaal graag gezien, het kan zijn dat ik bevooroordeeld was, maar: hugely satisfying, vond ik.
In deel drie, met inspiratie van Der blauwe Engel en Dr. Mabuse, der Spieler, blijkt Diana, de Blauwe Amazone, van de “Hemel” afkomstig te zijn, vanwaar Metropolis even later aangevallen wordt. Diana wordt Wonder Woman, de slechteriken uit de Hemel worden verstaan, alles is weer peis en vree, en we weten op het einde van de drie boeken waar we precies zijn en wat er precies eigenlijk allemaal gebeurd is.
De tekenstijl is expressionistisch en zal niet naar iedereens zin zijn. En ik heb die oude films allemaal staan en allemaal gezien en allemaal graag gezien, het kan zijn dat ik bevooroordeeld was, maar: hugely satisfying, vond ik.
July 6, 2012
I totally dug the artwork. Nosferatu (Batman) and Cheetah were brilliant. The story itself was interesting. However it was extremely obvious that this was a man writing a Wonder Woman tale because it took everything about Wonder Woman's strength and independence, laid it out the table and shot it's jizz all over those aspects of her character. ***mild spoilers ahead*** The start Wonder Woman off as a BDSM sex slave for Dr Psycho was a huge turn off. However all the other aspects of the story, such as the origins of Metropolis and Heaven (aka Themyscira) were an interesting take that kept me going. I also loved batman being called Nosferatu and having him leading the underground that included all of his villains.
October 2, 2018
Wonder Woman: The Blue Amazon is an Elseworlds imprint. Written by Jean-Marc Lofficier and Randy Lofficier, and illustrated by Ted McKeever. It is patterned after the classic films The Blue Angel and Dr. Mabuse, the Gambler. It is the final part in a trilogy based on German Expressionist Cinema.
Metropolis is finally at peace and Lois researches the history of the city with the help of Steve Trevor-son. They discover information about the three founders of Metroplis, Jon Kent, Lutor and Paula von Gunther, who came a vast distance from beyond the sea to help them build the city.
Diana is an amnesiac exotic dancer known as the Blue Amazon, who appears at Dr. Psykho's Place of Sine – the last remnant of Lutor's criminal empire. Psykho exploits the amnesiac Diana, who was given to him by Lutor, but cannot divine her origins. Steve Trevor-son is enthralled by the Blue Amazon and was taken prisoner when he tries to free her.
In the quest in regaining her memories, Diana soon discovers the truth of the city and herself. That she is the perfect clone of Paula von Gunther and that Metropolis is a city on a terraformed Mars, when the survivors of Earth, led by Jon Kent, Lutor, and Paul von Gunther, resettled after Earth was wrecked by pollution. She becomes Wonder Woman to stop the civil war that was threatened over her.
Overall, the trilogy was a rather ambitious project which execution was mediocrity done. Elseworlds stories are generally a hit or a miss and this trilogy mostly fall in the second category. It took fact that the city of Metropolis was based on the 1927 film of the same name and ran with mixing the DC Comics Trinity with German Expressionist Cinema. The result is a mediocre story that was too big for three issues, but the penciling was rather well done.
All in all, Wonder Woman: The Blue Amazon is written and constructed somewhat well. Although the plot seemed rushed and there was too much story to cover in with little space. It was however somewhat successful in mixing the worlds of Wonder Woman with German Expressionist Cinema.
Metropolis is finally at peace and Lois researches the history of the city with the help of Steve Trevor-son. They discover information about the three founders of Metroplis, Jon Kent, Lutor and Paula von Gunther, who came a vast distance from beyond the sea to help them build the city.
Diana is an amnesiac exotic dancer known as the Blue Amazon, who appears at Dr. Psykho's Place of Sine – the last remnant of Lutor's criminal empire. Psykho exploits the amnesiac Diana, who was given to him by Lutor, but cannot divine her origins. Steve Trevor-son is enthralled by the Blue Amazon and was taken prisoner when he tries to free her.
In the quest in regaining her memories, Diana soon discovers the truth of the city and herself. That she is the perfect clone of Paula von Gunther and that Metropolis is a city on a terraformed Mars, when the survivors of Earth, led by Jon Kent, Lutor, and Paul von Gunther, resettled after Earth was wrecked by pollution. She becomes Wonder Woman to stop the civil war that was threatened over her.
Overall, the trilogy was a rather ambitious project which execution was mediocrity done. Elseworlds stories are generally a hit or a miss and this trilogy mostly fall in the second category. It took fact that the city of Metropolis was based on the 1927 film of the same name and ran with mixing the DC Comics Trinity with German Expressionist Cinema. The result is a mediocre story that was too big for three issues, but the penciling was rather well done.
All in all, Wonder Woman: The Blue Amazon is written and constructed somewhat well. Although the plot seemed rushed and there was too much story to cover in with little space. It was however somewhat successful in mixing the worlds of Wonder Woman with German Expressionist Cinema.
July 1, 2025
I'll give credit to McKeever's artwork, which is expressionistic and striking, but the story is a mess.
BLUE AMAZON is modeled after a 1930 German film called THE BLUE ANGEL. The movie tells of a college professor, who meets a cabaret singer, falls for her and quits to marry her, but becomes a broken shell of himself when his notion of his own self-worth collapses living her life. In short, it's about a dude who can't swallow his pride and becomes a miserable drunk. Lola, the singer, is strong and initially loving until he turns sour, at which point she becomes bitter.
About the only connection in this book is Diana performing in a cabaret. There's this incredibly long (and uninteresting) back story about how Metropolis was founded, ridiculous amounts of arbitrary fighting, and entirely too much Super-Man and Nosferatu. Diana is a prop for nearly the entire story. The film's fall of a man is nowhere to be found. Not a glimmer of the heroine's warmth and slow descent into indifference. There is no significant character beat anywhere in this book.
This is just some meaningless "myth building" in a universe that lost its reason to exist after one book.
BLUE AMAZON is modeled after a 1930 German film called THE BLUE ANGEL. The movie tells of a college professor, who meets a cabaret singer, falls for her and quits to marry her, but becomes a broken shell of himself when his notion of his own self-worth collapses living her life. In short, it's about a dude who can't swallow his pride and becomes a miserable drunk. Lola, the singer, is strong and initially loving until he turns sour, at which point she becomes bitter.
About the only connection in this book is Diana performing in a cabaret. There's this incredibly long (and uninteresting) back story about how Metropolis was founded, ridiculous amounts of arbitrary fighting, and entirely too much Super-Man and Nosferatu. Diana is a prop for nearly the entire story. The film's fall of a man is nowhere to be found. Not a glimmer of the heroine's warmth and slow descent into indifference. There is no significant character beat anywhere in this book.
This is just some meaningless "myth building" in a universe that lost its reason to exist after one book.
September 4, 2019
The German Expressionist trilogy is now complete. Inspired by Dr. Mabuse and the Blue Angel-- this is about the past coming to,haunt Metropolis.
How the world wad destroyed and became a place if Smoke and Soot. Three Savanti/Visonaries dared cross rhe black sea to make a new have and create a perfect city. Luthor, Kent and Paula Von Gunther.
It was a new beginning thst became corrupted. At the end of,the trilogy the dream has become reclaimed..
How the world wad destroyed and became a place if Smoke and Soot. Three Savanti/Visonaries dared cross rhe black sea to make a new have and create a perfect city. Luthor, Kent and Paula Von Gunther.
It was a new beginning thst became corrupted. At the end of,the trilogy the dream has become reclaimed..
November 15, 2020
Read as part of the Elseworlds: Justice League Vol. 2 collection.
Tons of expository backstory again drags this conclusion to the trilogy down. I'm fascinated by the world building, but in order to do justice to it, lots more pages are needed.
Tons of expository backstory again drags this conclusion to the trilogy down. I'm fascinated by the world building, but in order to do justice to it, lots more pages are needed.
December 15, 2023
"Wonder Woman: The Blue Amazon" provides a solid resolution to DC Elseworlds' German Cinema trilogy while drawing inspiration from the 1930 film, "The Blue Angel". Although the action and plot development are more difficult to follow than in the previous two books it does tie up a few consistent plot points that run through the entire series and, in doing so, focuses on and develops several well known DC characters in new and sometimes unexpected directions. Thus Doctor Psycho, Steve Trevor, Lois Lane and the Cheetah all stand out in this book. However, Wonder Woman / Diana proves to be a problematic and unconvincing analog for the character of Lola from the movie and the book's attempt to borrow and adapt the theme of the "The Blue Angel" is only partially successful.
Three and a half stars rounded to three .
Three and a half stars rounded to three .
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February 20, 2021Not my cup of tea
May 12, 2024
I agree with the reviewer named Chad. These German influenced comics are just terrible. Hard to read. Confusing. Not my cup of tea.
December 27, 2012
The art in The Blue Amazon is super cool. It's sort of got the whimsicalness of Skottie Young and the dark, deranged feel of Dave McKean at the same time. The art for Cheetah and Wonder Woman was my favorite; it reminded me of a lot of different takes of the Hindu goddess Kali. Cheetah was more the terrifying, out-of-control, bloodthirsty Kali, and Wonder Woman was the more benevolent/domesticated but still crazy powerful Kali. The world that The Blue Amazon takes place in is very imaginative. I was impressed with it. I loved Batman/Nosferatu. What really bothered me about the story, though, was Wonder Woman as the sort of stripper/sex slave with amnesia. I felt like the minds who worked on this were creative enough not to need to resort to placing her in that tired role that strong women (especially superhero women) are so often cast in. Also, the explanation for how she came to be the amnesiac stripper/sex slave felt sort of convoluted, and I felt that they could've taken the narrative in a different direction without resorting to the same old degradation and over-sexualization that you see in so many comics.
February 5, 2017
Narrative and storyline were muddled, but artwork was really interesting.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews