If you’re into Wonder Woman comics, you probably know there are a ton of them out there — so many, in fact, that it can be overwhelming for someone just starting out. So, where’s a good place to dip your toes into the Wonder Woman universe? Personally, I recommend checking out Wonder Woman | Historia | The Amazons.
Wonder Woman Historia provides a captivating and mythologically rich glimpse into the world of the Amazons — the legendary origins that ultimately gave rise to Wonder Woman. While her presence is primarily hinted at through her striking appearance on the eye-catching cover, the story itself delves deeply into the Amazonian legacy. It traces the vibrant history of these fierce warrior women from ancient times, offering a narrative far removed from the typical superhero tale. Instead, this graphic novel explores the rise of the Amazons and how they evolved into the formidable tribe of female warriors living in an era when Olympian gods and goddesses still actively intervened in earthly affairs.
All of these female Amazons devoted themselves to honoring the goddesses, recognizing that it was the divine femininity of the goddesses that created them and granted them their existence. Six tribes of Amazons were established, each led by courageous female warriors. At the heart of their reverence were the goddesses Hestia, Artemis, Demeter, Hecate, Aphrodite, and Athena, whose divine influence inspired their strength and purpose.
As you can see, most are Olympian goddesses — though Hera is notably absent, with Hecate making a surprise appearance.
In this Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons review, you’ll get to see some of the really bold, eye-catching illustrations that pop right off the pages. Honestly, the book is loaded with fantastic artwork that makes flipping through it pretty awesome. The history of the Amazons? It’s super interesting and full of cool details that give you the inside scoop on how the Amazons came about. It’s a rich, mythologically charged Amazon story that offers a brilliant perspective on the origins of Wonder Woman’s world. Here’s a quick sneak peek of what you’ll see inside!
Review of Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazon
In Wonder Woman | Historia | The Amazons, the Greek mythology story explores why the Amazons were created in the first place. It’s about the goddesses seeking revenge on men! Yep, they don’t much like them, for good reason — because of their evil ways toward women of the ancient world.
This graphic novel provides a comprehensive look at Amazonian history and mythology, offering only a brief glimpse of how Diana, aka Wonder Woman, eventually comes to be. So, it’s not Wonder Woman’s story that you’ll be reading about here, but rather Hippolyta’s journey — who, legend has it, was Diana’s mother!
Wonder Woman: Historia offers an impressive deep dive into Amazon mythology, giving readers a behind-the-scenes look at their origins and revealing quite a few surprises. For instance, it is the goddess Hera, wife of Zeus, who plays a major role in this Amazon storyline.
So, in Wonder Woman Historia: the Amazons, it kicks off with seven Greek goddesses — Artemis, Hestia, Demeter, Hecate, Aphrodite, Athena, and Hera — getting all fired up and demanding that mortal men be punished for how they treat women. But Zeus, being his usual self, just brushes them off. Let’s face it, probably because he’s got a thing for womanizing.
In Wonder Woman | Historia | The Amazons, Zeus boldly reveals his profound perspective on the true meaning of life for mortals. It’s a treasure trove of divine wisdom, offering insights from the gods themselves that will deepen your understanding of the human experience, heroism, and purpose.
Even though Hera is in on the idea of the Amazons, she doesn’t join the others when they head over to the Well of Souls (they call it the Well of the Lost here). Each goddess assists in creating a group of five female warriors, made from the souls of women who were murdered — kind of like their revenge squad.
The six goddesses each bestowed their power upon one individual, resulting in the creation of six formidable Amazon tribe leaders, each guided by her own patron goddess. These legendary leaders included the first Amazon, Penthesilea; Io, born from Hestia’s vessel; Menalippe, shaped by Hecate; Hellene, inspired by Athena; Pythia, gifted by Aphrodite; and Antiope, born from the goddess of the wild, Artemis.
Wonder Woman Historia: Amazon Mythology about Hippolyta
Hippolyta is an ordinary woman living in a brutal world ruled by ruthless male traffickers who prey on, enslave, and tragically end the lives of women.
She begins her journey as a widowed midwife’s assistant, still far from becoming one of the legendary Amazons. When she is ordered to abandon an unwanted newborn girl, something within her shifts. Driven by compassion and urgency, she races against time to save the infant. Along the way, in her desperate attempt, she crosses paths with dangerous foes.
Ultimately, she is saved by the fierce and formidable Amazons, who swoop in at the last moment to thwart the traffickers and free her from danger. The experience ignites an undeniable spark within her — an insatiable desire to join their ranks and embrace the strength, courage, and honor of the Amazonian way.
On her Amazonian journey, we learn about the six Amazon tribes and where they are located.
Hippolyta won’t be joining one of the existing Amazon tribes. Instead, she hopes to forge her own path by creating a new Amazon tribe.
This marks the birth of a seventh Amazon tribe, with Hippolyta stepping in as their leader and queen. However, becoming a true Amazon isn’t just about claiming the title — it requires earning it through knowledge and skill.
Their training includes lessons from Oenone, who teaches them the healing power of plants. Niobe instructs them in the mathematics needed for building and crafting. Pythia guides them in harnessing the spiritual energy of dance. There’s also more training the new Amazon tribe must undertake, but I won’t reveal everything…
Wonder Woman | Historia | The Amazons: Revenge of the Gods
So, one day when the sun is up, a young Amazon ends up taking the life of a trafficker’s son while praying to Apollo. That moment kind of blows the lid off the fact that there are these fierce female warriors around. Up until then, the Amazons had been operating under the cover of darkness at night. But because of this daytime killing, Apollo becomes aware of what’s been going on. Naturally, the male gods aren’t too happy about it and want to send an all-male army to wipe out the Amazons.
Hercules gets involved, determined to put an end to the Amazons’ rebellion. But, of course, things don’t go according to plan — his efforts backfire in the most unexpected and chaotic way, turning the situation into a wild, unpredictable mess!
As the Amazons clash with their opponents, they manage to hold their ground with some notable successes. However, after suffering devastating losses, Hippolyta — now the sole Amazon queen — journeys to Olympus to negotiate with Zeus. She offers a harrowing bargain: the lives of her sisters in exchange for their freedom. In the end, nearly all Amazons — whether living or fallen — are granted long lives but are forever confined to Themyscira, free to roam under the watchful eye of the sun god.
Once a month, Artemis temporarily assumes guardianship of the warriors she helped create. Heartbroken over her sisters’ confinement, Hippolyta crafts a clay girl, blessed by the seven goddesses, and reincarnates her from the soul of the child she was forced to abandon. Named Diana after the moon goddess, she grows up to become Wonder Woman — steadfast in her pursuit of justice and equality for her mother and Amazon sisters.
As you might have noticed, this rendition of Diana’s origin story in Historia offers a fresh perspective compared to the more widely known myth — that her parents are Zeus and Hippolyta. What makes this version truly captivating is its unique take on her divine heritage, adding layers of depth and intrigue to her legendary tale.
WONDER WOMAN HISTORIA: Review Rating
I’m going to give Wonder Woman | Historia | The Amazons a rating of 9 out of 10. It’s a beautiful book that explores the early history of the Amazons in a way that’s super engaging, and the artwork is fantastic — it totally brings the story to life and makes the whole experience really enjoyable. That said, the art quality dips a bit in the middle, and if those sections had been a little better, I think it could’ve easily been a perfect 10.
One more minor thing I was a bit bummed about is that Wonder Woman herself doesn’t actually show up. I was kind of expecting to see her somewhere in the story, but the only hint of her inside the graphic novel comes from a young, recently born child. It would’ve been really cool if the story had ended with a tease of Wonder Woman’s mythology or a glimpse into her future — maybe with a time jump that leaves you excited for what’s on the horizon. Overall, though, it’s still a fantastic and really compelling read.
If you’re a devoted fan of Wonder Woman or captivated by the legendary Amazons, you absolutely must dive into Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons. It’s a fascinating exploration that brings the myth and magic of these fierce warriors to life. Trust me, you won’t want to miss this — it’s a must-see that will deepen your love for the Amazonian mythos!
American comic book writer Kelly Sue DeConnick, along with talented artists Phil Jimenez, Gene Ha, and Nicola Scott, have all done an exceptional job!
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These reviews may also be of interest if you’re looking for more Greek mythology comics and graphic novels.
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