Wonder Woman Vol. 1: Blood (The New 52)

by Brian Azzarello, Cliff Chiang (Illustrator)

Overview

Wonder Woman’s world is shattered when a secret her mother, Hippolyta, queen of the Amazons, kept all her life is revealed: Diana is not clay brought to life, but is in fact the child of Zeus!

In this reimagining of Diana’s history, superheroics and mythology seamlessly blend as Brian Azzarello (JOKER, 100 BULLETS) creates a new direction for one of the world’s best-known heroes. With stunning art by Cliff Chiang and Tony Akins, Wonder Woman has never looked better.

Nuanced and bold, this new beginning of the iconic character is considered one of the greatest stories in the history of the Amazon Warrior. WONDER WOMAN VOLUME 1: BLOOD—the critically acclaimed and best-selling series—collects issues #1-6 from the New 52 era.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781401235628
Publisher:	DC Comics
Publication date:	01/15/2013
Series:	Wonder Woman: The New 52 Series , #1
Pages:	160
Sales rank:	683,037
Product dimensions:	6.66(w) x 10.02(h) x 0.29(d)

About the Author

Brian Azzarello is the writer and co-creator of the award-winning Vertigo series 100 BULLETS.  Azzarellos's other writing credits for DC Comics include the graphic novel JOKER, as well as BATMAN: BROKEN CITY, LEX LUTHER: MAN OF STEEL, and HELLBLAZER. Brian has been featured in ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY, THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE and other publications.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“This is clear storytelling at its best….It’s an intriguing concept and easy to grasp. The reader doesn’t need to know that much about Wonder Woman because she is, well, Wonder Woman.” – The New York Times

“Azzarello is...rebuilding the mythology of Wonder Woman.” – Maxim

“Azzarello is crafting a highly-intelligent, and surprisingly gory, affair that's drenched in Greek mythology and godly mischief. And if that's not enough, artist Cliff Chiang simply kills it on every panel he touches. Put your presumptions aside because this is actually a Wonder Woman book worth reading.” – Complex Magazine

 “This series will hopefully elevate Diana back into the limelight with Superman and Batman where she belongs.” – Christian Science Monitor

“Beautifully illustrated and brings a fresh, fascinating and fun take to the Amazon Princess and her world.” – IGN

“It’s a different direction for Wonder Woman, but one still steeped in mythology...great things from Azzarello and Chiang.” – The Onion A.V. Club

“Enthralling.” - UGO

 “This book is weird and worth your while.” – io9

“It’s the kind of writing that’s made Azzarello such a sought after comic book author.” – CraveOnline

“Brian Azzarello is going for a much more horror-oriented book than previous incarnations, and that works well with Cliff Chiang’s art. In fact, they’re probably one of the best paired teams for the New 52 so far.” – Comic Book Resources

“Page after page, Azzarello just unfurls more and more smart ideas in what is probably the best hope for the great Wonder Woman story we’ve all been hoping for. Unsurprisingly, Cliff Chiang delivers some phenomenal visuals, presenting us with a heroine who reads as dynamic, elegant, powerful, and even godly. People, I think they’ve figured it out.” – iFanboy

Editorial Reviews

This is clear storytelling at its best….It’s an intriguing concept and easy to grasp. The reader doesn’t need to know that much about Wonder Woman because she is, well, Wonder Woman.” —The New York Times

“Azzarello is...rebuilding the mythology of Wonder Woman.” —Maxim 

“Azzarello is crafting a highly-intelligent, and surprisingly gory, affair that's drenched in Greek mythology and godly mischief. And if that's not enough, artist Cliff Chiang simply kills it on every panel he touches. Put your presumptions aside because this is actually a Wonder Woman book worth reading.” —Complex Magazine 

“Beautifully illustrated and brings a fresh, fascinating and fun take to the Amazon Princess and her world.” —IGN 

“It’s a different direction for Wonder Woman, but one still steeped in mythology...great things from Azzarello and Chiang.” —A.V. Club

 “This book is weird and worth your while.” —io9

“It’s the kind of writing that’s made Azzarello such a sought after comic book author.” —Crave Online 

“Brian Azzarello is going for a much more horror-oriented book than previous incarnations, and that works well with Cliff Chiang’s art. In fact, they’re probably one of the best paired teams for the New 52 so far.” —Comic Book Resources 

From the Publisher

As part of DC’s “New 52” reboot, this title presents Wonder Woman as she is called on to protect a young woman pregnant with Zeus’s child from the wrath of Hera. Meanwhile, it appears that the throne Zeus once held is empty and could be up for grabs. Despite the well-trod plot of Hera’s anger, Azzarello (of 100 Bullets fame) and Chiang’s reinvention of the Olympians and their dysfunctional family politicking comes across as intriguing rather than soapy. We also learn of the true circumstances of Wonder Woman’s birth, which is not quite the miracle as was told. Happily, this side plot doesn’t distract, and Azzarello successfully transforms Wonder Woman from your average prepackaged hero into an appealing character with room to grow. Chiang’s artwork is good, but readers will especially enjoy seeing his creative character designs.

Verdict A New York Times best seller and one of the better reboots of the “New 52” series so far. Both the clever dialog and story progression keep pace with the heavy action. A must-read for Wonder Woman fans and those interested in seeing how she stands apart from the Justice League of America. [Wonder Woman. Vol. 2: Blood, was previously included in Xpress Reviews, 2/8/13.—Ed.]—Marlan Brinkley, Atlanta-Fulton P.L.

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Library Journal

Yet another reboot of an iconic character who has eluded the grasp of most comics producers. Azzarello gives Diana (Wonder Woman) a new origin, not as a baby her mother, Hippolyta, molded out of clay but as the illegitimate daughter of Zeus. As such, she’s a target for the jealous rage of Hera, Zeus’ wife, but she finds a new role as protector of a waifish young woman who’s currently carrying Zeus’ baby. The king of the gods, meanwhile, has vanished, and the other deities of Greek mythology are weighing their chances of grabbing more power, while brutally stomping on anyone in their way. Azzarello’s script moves briskly along, and Chiang and Akins’s art is suitably vigorous and moody without pandering. Although much of this book consists of dismantling Wonder Woman’s old framework and just hinting at what the new structure may be, the fresh look is promising. (June)

Publishers Weekly