Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo ~ a Review

by MK French

Diana wants to prove herself a warrior, but discards the chance to save the life of an outsider. Alia Keralis is not an ordinary human, however. She is a Warbringer, a descendant of Helen of Troy, fated to bring misery and bloodshed to the world.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

January 2020; DC Comics; 978-1401282554
ebook, print (208 pages; superhero

This is the graphic novel adaptation of Leigh Bardugo's novel by the same title. Kit Seaton does the art, and it's predominantly in black and blues, with gray shading. This makes the color from the visit to the Oracle pop, stressing that it's an extraordinary event to speak with her. This stress also pops up later in the story, when some of the warbringer lineage is discussed, as well as bombs going off and the land where the spring is. Fight scenes and action sequences are choreographed very well in this book, and there is the visual tension in the panels as well as the dialogue as the story progresses.

Feeling worthless, Diana wants to be taken seriously as a warrior. She was born of clay, but the other warriors of Themyscira all were resurrected into immortality there after dying in battle. The race to Bana-Mighdall is only undertaken by the fastest and cleverest warriors, no one expected her to win. That she was distracted to save a life from a wrecked ship isn't even a consideration, but she couldn't let innocent lives die. This leads to a different origin for Diana Prince and her entry into the world of mankind than in the movie or other comic books. As a seventeen-year-old girl, Alia isn't even aware of her heritage aside from being half black and half Greek.

Alia and Diana have to go to the spring where Helen of Troy once lived in order to cleanse her of her bloodline's heritage. There are mishaps along the way, increasing the tension of the plot, until we reach the conclusion of the story. Even then, there are hints that more is to come for Diana. As a reader, we know she will become Wonder Woman and fight for those that cannot fight for themselves. Getting to that point is going to be a fun journey to take with her.

Buy Wonder Woman: Warbringer at Amazon

canva

Get even more book news in your inbox, sign up today! Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small commission is earned when purchases are made at Amazon using any Amazon links on this site. Thank you for supporting Girl Who Reads.