Wonder Woman: Amazon Warrior by Steve Korte
Published by Scholastic, February 23, 2016. Paperback of 128 pages at $5.99. Intended for ages 8 – 12, grades 3 – 7.
Note: I read an advanced copy so anything may have changed by publication.
The cover: Wonder Woman looks to her right as the breeze on Paradise Island sets her hair in motion. Behind the princess one can see a bit of Themyscira, but it’s somewhat hidden by being blanket colored by all the greens used. Diana stands out fantastically in her bright colors, but Patrick Spaziante’s backgrounds are somewhat rendered invisible by the coloring. The design of this cover is credited to Rick DeMonico. Overall grade: B
The premise: From the back cover, “Before she became Wonder Woman, Diana lived on an island far away from the world we know. There she was raised by fierce warriors who taught her to fight for what is right. But how did Diana come to our world? When did she earn the name ‘Wonder Woman’? Who are her greatest allies and most fearsome foes? In this illustrated biography you’ll learn the answers to these questions and more while uncovering the epic history of Wonder Woman: Amazon Warrior.” This addresses every question a young reader might have about the Maid of Might. The last time I read anything involving Wonder Woman Jill Thompson was the illustrator, so I’m looking forward to seeing what Diana’s origin is. Overall grade: A
The sections: The book is divided into nine chapters by author Steve Korte. After a Foreword, written by Wonder Woman, the book is separated into Paradise Island, The Birth of Diana, Amazon Life, The Contest, The Champion, Becoming Wonder Woman, Awesome Allies, Fearsome Foes, and The Amazing Amazon. As with the Superman and Batman books in this series of Backstories, this tells the complete origin of Wonder Woman. A reader can discover how the Amazons came to be, how Diana was born, what her youth was like, and why she came to the world of man. Heck, even I learned something, such as why she was named Diana, and it makes perfect sense. The amount of information on the different Amazons is impressive and I felt as though I was brought up to speed on all the inhabitants of Themyscira. The listing of Diana’s friends won’t produce any surprises for anyone who’s vaguely familiar with the princess, though there were several villains I’ve never heard of, such as Devastation and Doctor Poison. Each section concisely conveys the history of Wonder Woman and the important people in her life. Overall grade: A
The art: None of Marcus To’s illustrations were complete in the advance copy I received to review. The book has several rough sketches with some rough inks, but I can’t comment on what the final images will look like. However, what I’m seeing looks very impressive, as the characters look magnificent. Only a look at a published edition can create a complete review, so I’m just going off the sketch work I’m seeing. Overall grade: A
The final line: Of the big three, Wonder Woman is the DC hero I know the least about. After reading this book I feel I’m completely up to speed to read one of the Amazonian’s adventures, or be prepared for her appearance in the upcoming Batman v Superman. Recommended for fans of all ages. Overall grade: A
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