DC Comics and Wonder Woman: Historia The Amazons #3 Spoilers and Review follows.
Gruesome Fate For Hercules / Herakles / Heracles, But Is Diana A Goddess Or Magic Clay Based?! Demythifying Their Shared Past!
What To Expect.
WONDER WOMAN HISTORIA: THE AMAZONS #3
Written by KELLY SUE DeCONNICK
Art and cover by NICOLA SCOTT
Variant cover by YANICK PAQUETTE
1:25 “Library” faux-leather design variant
$7.99 US | 72 pages | 3 of 3 | 8 1/2″ x 10 7/8″ | Prestige Plus
ON SALE10/25/2212/17/22The third and final chapter of the critically lauded and Eisner-nominated secret history of the Amazons crescendos with the inevitable—an all-out war against the gods. When Zeus discovers the goddesses defied him by creating the Amazons, seemingly nothing can stop his fervor to eliminate their warriors…not even Hera herself. But the Amazons’ numbers have grown, and there is a distinctly and unpredictably human element among their ranks now in Hippolyta and the tribe she leads. Their very fight for existence will alter the course of history itself and bring about one of the greatest protectors the world has ever known!
In addition the main cover, solicitation and creators credit page above the title has a few variant covers below.
Context.
1) 1942
Wonder Woman was introduced in All Star Comics #8 (December 1941), featured in Sensation Comics #1 (January 1942) before she earned her own self-titled series (Summer 1942).
Hercules and Diana’s clay origins have been key parts of the Wonder Woman mythos since Wonder Woman #1 (Summer 1942).
Her self-titled series opened with a blurb about the Greek pantheon.
Then we get into the origin of the Amazons.
Included Hercules’ attack on them and their Queen Hippolyta.
Hippolyta would later be Wonder Woman’s mother.
Hippolyta and the Amazons eventually defeat Hercules and his forces.
The Greek gods bless Hippolyta with a child Diana, who would become Wonder Woman, through magic infused through clay.
2) 1987
Artist and Writer George Perez led the creative team rebooting Wonder Woman in the wake of the Crisis on Infinite Earths maxi-series.
It included a retelling of the Wonder Woman origin story.
A story that begins well before Diana’s birth.
Opening with the Amazons and a petulant Heracles.
The demi-god son of Zeus.
Someone easily manipulated by his god-brother of war Ares.
Heracles and his forces fell the Amazons.
Including their Queen Hippolyta.
Heracles is quite vile and misogynistic with Hippolyta.
He may have even done criminal things, by “man’s world” standards, to her.
With the backing of a goddess, the Amazons gain the strength to rise up against their captors.
They free themselves and scare off Heracles and his forces.
We then pivot to the Amazons building a society for themselves.
A hidden one on Paradise Island.
An island where Hippolyta remains the Amazonian Queen.
A warrior people who will not be captives ever again.
A story that includes the birth of Queen Hippolyta’s daughter by way of goddess’ magic and clay.
3) 2011
During the New 52 era, coming out of Flashpoint, Wonder Woman was rebooted and had a series of her own.
In its third issue, Queen Hippolyta reveals Diana’s origins to her.
She is not made of clay any longer.
She is a demi-goddess.
Whose father is Zeus, king of the gods, with Queen Hippolyta his willing partner as her mother.
An adult Diana is disgusted by the news.
She is ashamed of her origins and does not want the mantle of goddess.
She is just Wonder Woman now.
Hercules / Herakles doesn’t appear to have a role in Amazonian history, but his father Zeus has an outsized role particularly with Diana now.
4) 2022
This is where the DC Black Label series Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons #3 (of 3) comes in concluding a three part series.
Wonder Woman: Historia: The Amazons #3 Spoilers and Review.
Like it’s 1942 predecessor, the issue opens with a relevant listing of the goddesses for our story.
Later, Heracles comes to the Amazons.
He is spoiling for a fight.
Antiope confronts him.
As does Hippolyta.
As do the other Queens of the remaining number of the seven Amazonian tribes namely Queens Pythia, Hellene, Io, Penthesilea and Menalippe.
These Queens descend on Heracles.
And its a massacre.
Heracles was slaughtered and beheaded.
Heracles head was returned to the gods.
Zeus is livid that his son has been killed.
The gods are stunned by the impudence of the Amazons.
A war between the Amazons and the gods was unavoidable due to Hippolyta’s lack of humility according to the gods.
They Amazons lost and were transported to an island, a paradise no longer, to be forever tied to it.
Hippolyta felt she had betrayed her Amazonian people.
However, in the Amazon’s darkest hour hope sprung from the sands of their island prison.
Queen Hippolyta made a clay child on the beach.
The goddesses were amused by this act.
They give the clay child life.
All the goddess patronesses of the seven Amazonian tribes seemingly bequeathed this child their attention.
Perhaps even some powers to use as she grew up.
Queen Hippolyta is drawn back to the beach.
Their she meets her daughter.
An Amazonian warrior the goddess’ had named Diana.
The Pulse.
What a gorgeous issue first of all. Nicola Scott leads an amazing art team. Kelly Sue DeConnick weaves a fascinating tale featuring the Amazons that elaborate on their complex role in the world. Beauties and beasts rolled in one considering what they did to Heracles. Courageous to stand-up to their gods. Culminating in the birth of Queen Hippolyta’s daughter’s birth. Very cool to compare its key moments to the others I have chronicled here. An entertaining issue. 8 out of 10.
