Customer Reviews

Wonder Woman: Spirit of Truth (Wonder Woman (Graphic Novels))

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As Alex Ross' model for Diana Prince/Wonder Woman, I put that costume on many, many times over the course of several months. (It was an emotional day when we did our last scenes!) Upon seeing the final product, I was thrilled to have been a part of such a beautifully painted and well-told story (kudos, Paul Dini!). What struck me most deeply was how Diana Prince was portrayed - as being so very warm, compassionate and loving. I know I'm not exactly an unbiased reviewer, but if you enjoy comic books or graphic novels at all, or if you ever looked up to Wonder Woman as a little girl (or were a teenage boy with a crush - and I've met many of you!), get this book while you can! You may be surprised at how it will move you. And to think, this book was conceived well before September 11. Woah.

Artist Alex Ross & Writer Paul Dini continuue their annual series of oversized Graphic Novels with The Spirit of Hope, and this one is just as good, if not better, than the previous three.

Wonder Woman is, without question, one of the iconic "Big Three" DC characters, alongside Batman and Superman. She also comes in a distant third in terms of high-quality stories. Very few creators have been able to really get a handle on the Amazon Princess. An immensely powerful (and beautiful) Amazon sent to the outside world as an Ambassador of peace, she has often been portrayed (wrongfully) as a butt-kickin' brute.

Well I'm happy to say that Dini & Ross have gotten it right! Spirit of Hope stands right alongside Chris Moeller's amazing Wonder Woman Graphic Novel JLA: A League of One as my all-time favorite Wonder Woman books.

Spirit of Hope doesn't really have a story, per se; more an overlying theme: Wonder Woman questions the way she has been going about her mission of peace. After consulting Clark (Superman) Kent in a wonderfully understated scene (They have coffee together...), she decides to try to accomplish her goals in a more low-key manner: Not as Wonder Woman, but as Diana.

Ross manages to successfully alternate between the bombastic Wonder Woman scenes, filled with double-page spreads, to the quiet scenes of Diana helping in a more Human manner. The pages of Wonder Woman saving a young girl from a tank are amazing! You really feel Wonder Woman's pain and confusion as she is greeted, less than enthusiastically, by the Arab people she is trying to save. Dini and Ross really capture her true essence: A loving, kind woman, who also happens to be able to toss around Tanks! It's also nice to be able to finish a comic and have a warm feeling inside....Good job, guys!

This is the fourth of the excellent oversized format Alex Ross/ Paul Dini collaborations. Personally, while I liked this one too, I would probably rank it after the Superman, Captain Marvel, and Batman books. Don't get me wrong, it is an excellent read- and the quality of the artwork is magnificent. There is just something better about the other three books.

I think the problem may be the one that the Amazon Princess herself faces in the storyline- she is just too darn perfect- and it intimidates people. After all, this is a perfect demi-goddess created out of the earth of Themyscira itself by the power of the gods. She is inhumanly perfect because, technically, she is not quite human. She is an Ideal made flesh- and that can be hard to identify with. Indeed, over and over, her shere power and presence overwhelms those she is helping as much as the bad guys- especially if they come from cultures that repress and dominate women. That's a hard character to infuse with the simple humanity of the other books....

As with the other three books, the original art work of this one was auctioned off for charity (this time it was for the victims of 9-11 and their families.)

Breathtaking artwork with a compelling story reminiscent and worthy of the golden age Wonder Woman, this oversized "graphic novel" is a real treat for fans and new readers alike. Satisfies lovers of both the traditional comic character and Lynda Carter-lovers.

This is the fourth oversized ("tabloid") graphic novel by Paul Dini (writer of the various modern Batman cartoons) and painter Alex Ross (Marvels, Kingdom Come).

None of Dini and Ross's stories are about gaudy supervillains. Instead they deal with heroes trying to make the world a better place. It deals with issues of repression (including a Taliban-like appearance, coincidence as this book was written before 9/11).
Usually in comics, people either love their heroes (Superman) or fear and hate them (X-Men). Here, the emotions are much more complex and human. Told through Wonder Woman's eyes, she teaches compassion, but also learns lessons of humanity.

Fans of the TV series might remember Wonder Woman's alter ego as Diana Prince. In 1986, the WW story was restarted from stratch. Now, she did not assume a secret identity. But this tale shows the value and need of such an identity. The lesson comes from an old friend, who also has experience hiding behind glasses.

Simple, elegant writing and absolutely gorgeous large art. This is a great Wonder Woman story!

These are the features of the book which any reader would find interesting:

(1) Wonder Woman, through her actions, makes some political statements. In the first part of the book, she is an antidisestablishmentarianist: she saves a Third World government from being overthrown by a military coup. This reminds me so much of my country, the Philippines.
In the middle part of the book, Wonder Woman shows her pro-democracy stance: she saves an Asian-looking woman from being run down by a military tank. This brings to mind the violence on Tiananmen Square in Communist China during the late 80s.
In the last part of the book, Wonder Woman terrorizes the terrorists: she saves some Middle-eastern women from being used as human shields. The women are wearing burquas, a dress code strictly prescribed by the Taliban in Afghanistan.

(2) This Wonder Woman is a composite of different WW versions. Dr. William Marston's contributions are evident in WW's seeming need to use an invisible plane and the Amazons' riding kangas on Paradise Island. Lynda Carter's presence as a bespectacled Diana Prince is obvious (where WW leaps high and through a window is also reminiscent of Carter's bionic stunts on TV). George Perez's revamped WW costume and "womanly muscles" were the ever-present guide for Alex Ross's version. Although Ross used Marston's Queen Hippolyta in a number of pages, there's one page where you could see Perez's Hippolyta in her purple robes. A certain dark-skinned Amazon must be Philippus, a Perez invention to make the Amazons multi-ethnic, not just a race of white women-warriors.

Since Ross had made this WW rather "flightless," I wish he had used the Wonderdome/Lansinarian technology. WW would have looked fantastic and more mythological riding a winged chariot (shown lately in the regular WW comics). Nevertheless, this work is still perfect.

This is the final installment of Paul Dini and Alex Ross's 60th anniversary present to the classic superheroes. Each installment consist of Alex Ross's reverent paintings and Paul Dini's text.

Wonder Woman shines in the large coffee-table size format. Alex Ross obviously had fun with this character and her costume. Her bright, satin cape is a shiny stand-out. Her face has the rigid beauty of a Greek statue, which is only fitting. The invisible jet is done correctly for the first time. Visually, the book is as dramatic as the previous offerings in this series.

The story involves Diana's mis-understanding of what it means to be human, and her quest to make a connection with the women of the world. There are some really tender moments. Paul Dini's strength is not serious prose writing, but he does an admirable job accompanying Ross's overwhelming art.

The cameo from a certain Clark Kent is pretty fun, but a little strange. Previous books have focused exclusively on the character, where as this one gets a little help from a friend. Still, very enjoyable.

If you loved Wonder Woman in Kingdom Come, this book is perfect for you. Alex Ross' paintings are incredible! I am a big fan of Alex Ross' work, and I am a Wonder Woman fan. I especially love the way he makes her a WOMAN and not a GIRL like DC is doing now. This is the REAL Wonder Woman as far as I am concerned. She's beautiful, curvy, strong, and proud. A true Amazon warrior. The story is not a graphic novel length book. Its a single issue comic book length but printed in a very large format which allows you to really appreciate the artwork. A great book to add to your collection.

PS: I ordered a used copy and to my shock, it was autographed by Alex Ross! As if that wasn't awesome enough, it was made out to my middle name!!!!! Blew my mind!

Not what I expected. This is not a graphic novel, but a retrospective on the legend of Wonder Woman. I wish there had been a review of the contents (no real plot!).

Comics fall into three basic types--action driven, plot run, or character piece. Wonder Woman: Spirit of Truth is a character piece--and one of the absolute best looks into the heart and mind of the Amazon Princess. The beautiful artwork matches both the writing and the intent behind the story, to create a unified whole that is one of the few examples of comic mastery. Too often all we get in comics is a mindless action run or an overworked plot, rarely do we get to see the 'Capes'--really see them. This comic fills this genre lack with a flawless grace and superior style that is entirely fitting for our favorite Princess.

I'm not afraid to say I am utterly and quietly awed every time I move through the pages. Finally someone caught HER. And let us feel Wonder Woman's heart and mind as she looks at us.

Wonder Woman is show RIGHT here. And she is utterly and completely and entirely beautiful.