Book Review: Wonder Woman Vol. 1: The Lies (Rebirth) by Greg Rucka; Liam Sharp

Wonder Woman Vol. 1: The Lies (Rebirth) is written Greg Rucka, with artwork by Liam Sharp,  Paulo Siqueira, and Matthew Clark. After suffering an unimaginable loss, Diana must rebuild her mission as Earth's ultimate protector and champion. However, in the midst of her grief, her Lasso of Truth stopped working! Start down the rabbit hole as dark secrets from Wonder Woman's past unravel her present!

Wonder Woman Vol. 1: The Lies takes Diana and readers on a journey of discovery. The various origin stories and timelines of Wonder Woman are explored as she tries to figure out what is real and what is not. I will admit that I have not read or follow Wonder Woman over the years, so I know the basics of the original origin story, but I was not aware of all the variations that had been used. I liked seeing some of the things I did know crop up, and characters I know from one place or another play their part. The art work was extremely well done, with details and lines that really made the read worth it. As a whole I found it well done and entertaining, but with my lack of knowledge of the universe here I am not sure that I will stick with it.  

Wonder Woman Vol. 1: The Lies (Rebirth) offers a fresh look at Wonder Woman, and offers just what the title promises, a rebirth for our heroine. Well worth the read for fans, but readers like me without background knowledge might not enjoy it as much. 

Book Review: DC SuperHero Girls Hits and Myths: by Shea Fontana, Yancey Labat

DC SuperHero Girls: Hits and Myths is a children’s graphic novel written by Shea Fontana and illustrated by Yancey Labat. It is the second volume of the series. The first volume was Final Crisis, which I did not read. “Intro to Epics” is one of Wonder Woman’s favorite classes at DC Super Hero High, but even for an overachiever, balancing high school literature assignments with learning to be a superhero can be tough. But you know what they say about learning, experience is the best teacher! So when Wonder Woman, Batgirl, Supergirl, Bumblebee, Poison Ivy, Katana, and Harley Quinn fight a cyclops, a witch, and a bevy of sirens, they’re sure to learn a thing or two about The Odyssey, if they survive their epic battle in the underworld! 

Hits and Myths is a fun story that does a good job of introducing a variety of DC Comic characters to young readers. I am a little confused with why some of the characters are heroes or villains- since in the stories I know some are switched- but that could be as simple as using information from story arcs that I have missed over the years. I like the humor and adventure, and found myself wishing I saw more of some fringe characters, like those from Teen Titans, but there is no way they could get every character in a single story. The story line was broken down into chapters- each a individual part of the adventure, and with a different portion of the characters. I think some readers might be a little confused here, but the breaks were clear enough that it should not be a big problem. I really liked the comradery and the message of not having to do absolutely everything yourself. Delegating tasks, working as a team, and trusting your friends are major parts of the story and are things even adults need to be reminded of.

Hits and Myths is a nice introduction to the DC universe and its characters for young readers. The writing is well done, and the strong female (and male)  characters are important in works for readers of all ages.

Book Review: Hidden Universe Travel Guide to the Complete Cosmos: With Notes by the Guardians of the Galaxy by Marc Sumerak

Hidden Universe Travel Guide to the Complete Cosmos: With Notes by the Guardians of the Galaxy by Marc Sumerak is the ultimate guidebook to Earth, the Nine Realms, and other dimensions from Marvel Comics, as told by Peter Quill, Rocket, Groot, and the rest of the Guardians of the Galaxy.

Ever since Super Heroes like Thor and the Guardians of the Galaxy started stomping around planet Earth, we’ve had to open our horizons a little and embrace the wider reaches of space. If you’re thinking of journeying to one of the many new realms for a little down time, then don’t leave home without Hidden Universe’s guide to the cosmos. Whether you’re looking to enjoy the divine splendor of Asgard or soak up the multicultural atmosphere of intergalactic waypoint Knowhere, this is the book for you. It even provides some tips on surviving excursions to Planet Moord and Chitauri Prime, if you like your vacations to be on the extreme side. 

Hidden Universe Travel Guide to the Complete Cosmos is a good place to start if you are know to the Marvel universe, or just want to fill in some knowledge gaps. It is not comprehensive- as there are just so many things to cover, but it an entertaining start because of the interjections of the Guardians. This book offers readers information on the hot spots, history, and culture of more than forty locations in the Marvel Universe, including Planet X, Halfworld, Weirdworld, and the Planet of the Symbiotes. There is also some discussion of some of the Earth's most exotic and mysterious locations, such as Wakanda, Latveria, the Savage Land, and New Attila. The humor and snark of the commentary really made the book a fun read, and I learned a few things.

Hidden Universe Travel Guide to the Complete Cosmos is a good guide to those who enjoy some of the graphic novels or movies that feature the Marvel world of superheroes and creatures. It helps fill in the blanks that you might not know if you have missed an important issue or movie- and want to fully understand the possible implications of wise cracks, drawn weapons, and diplomatic mistakes.