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kevinowenkelly's review
4.0
The story beats in this issue are familiar for all of the post-apocalyptic art that has been generated in the last 15 years, and may as well have been lifted wholesale from The Walking Dead, but Diana adds a unique wrinkle to the concept and a great heart to it all, even this early in the series. And for all the familiarity of sole of the story beats that occur, the book still has a good sense of mystery about it such that you can't see too far ahead, or even much behind, leaving me plenty to be excited about in future issues.
Also worth noting, the art is solid, the panels and action having a really great flow, but the colors are what really stand out, drubbing you through apocalypse reds and darks before drizzling in some eye-popping psychadelic blues and greens and purples.
Also worth noting, the art is solid, the panels and action having a really great flow, but the colors are what really stand out, drubbing you through apocalypse reds and darks before drizzling in some eye-popping psychadelic blues and greens and purples.
jsjammersmith's review
5.0
Hot damn this book is a ride and I'm here for it. Please, PLEASE give me more.
malu's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
billyjepma's review
2.0
I am...so conflicted about this.
On the one hand, this is a visually stunning comic that takes full advantage of the Black Label imprint. Johnson’s art and Spicer’s colors are unreal—except in a few cases where the action becomes a little hard to follow—and it gives the comic an identity that is wholly distinct from anything else DC is doing right now. And the story is compelling and grapples with ideas and themes that I’m all about.
But on the other hand, Johnson’s script fails to mind the themes it introduces, opting instead for spectacle and mythological ideas. There are kernels of something deeply profound here—of what it means to be a victim, a perpetrator, of the consequences we carry with us and our inability to absolve ourselves of them—but the surface of them is merely scratched.
This take on an angry, hurting, and volatile Wonder Woman is one I love in theory, but in execution, it feels weak. I don’t know if having a woman write this story would’ve solved the issues I have with it...but it definitely wouldn’t have hurt. Johnson gives a solid attempt at doing something unique, and he succeeds in that he capitalizes on his setting, but he fails in his attempts to weave meaningful thematics.
The best example of the comic’s inability or unwillingness to go deeper than the surface is best seen in a supporting character’s “redemption” arc. He starts out as a ruthless, obviously horrid abuser who rebels in the power he has over others, but after spending a day (?) in a jail cell, is suddenly meant to be a sympathetic character? It’s frustrating, to say the least, and speaks to the deeper issues that prevent the comic from ever crossing the threshold from “cool” to “memorable.”
“Wonder Woman: Dead Earth” is full of exceptional, memorable, and grisly artwork that I loved. It’s also full of ideas that seem right up my alley. But it never lives up to any of the potential if presents, and ultimately ends in a shallow, borderline soulless adventure. If you’re into the idea of Wonder Wiman by the way of Mad Max, then you’ll get a solid experience out of this. But if you’re hoping for anything that goes beyond that, as I was, you’ll probably walk away disappointed.
(I edited this review because the longer I sat with it the more frustrated I became with it. Not even the art can make up for a story this lacking in conviction.)
On the one hand, this is a visually stunning comic that takes full advantage of the Black Label imprint. Johnson’s art and Spicer’s colors are unreal—except in a few cases where the action becomes a little hard to follow—and it gives the comic an identity that is wholly distinct from anything else DC is doing right now. And the story is compelling and grapples with ideas and themes that I’m all about.
But on the other hand, Johnson’s script fails to mind the themes it introduces, opting instead for spectacle and mythological ideas. There are kernels of something deeply profound here—of what it means to be a victim, a perpetrator, of the consequences we carry with us and our inability to absolve ourselves of them—but the surface of them is merely scratched.
This take on an angry, hurting, and volatile Wonder Woman is one I love in theory, but in execution, it feels weak. I don’t know if having a woman write this story would’ve solved the issues I have with it...but it definitely wouldn’t have hurt. Johnson gives a solid attempt at doing something unique, and he succeeds in that he capitalizes on his setting, but he fails in his attempts to weave meaningful thematics.
The best example of the comic’s inability or unwillingness to go deeper than the surface is best seen in a supporting character’s “redemption” arc. He starts out as a ruthless, obviously horrid abuser who rebels in the power he has over others, but after spending a day (?) in a jail cell, is suddenly meant to be a sympathetic character? It’s frustrating, to say the least, and speaks to the deeper issues that prevent the comic from ever crossing the threshold from “cool” to “memorable.”
“Wonder Woman: Dead Earth” is full of exceptional, memorable, and grisly artwork that I loved. It’s also full of ideas that seem right up my alley. But it never lives up to any of the potential if presents, and ultimately ends in a shallow, borderline soulless adventure. If you’re into the idea of Wonder Wiman by the way of Mad Max, then you’ll get a solid experience out of this. But if you’re hoping for anything that goes beyond that, as I was, you’ll probably walk away disappointed.
(I edited this review because the longer I sat with it the more frustrated I became with it. Not even the art can make up for a story this lacking in conviction.)
readingrainbill's review
5.0
A very interesting idea. Action mixed with good life lessons. Can't wait for number 2.
morrigan's review
4.0
Love the idea of Wonder Woman in an apocalyptic world and can't wait for the next one.
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