Warning! Spoilers for Wonder Woman: Historia #1
The ancient history of the Amazons will finally be explored in an upcoming DC Black Label limited series titled Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons. The tales of Wonder Woman’s tribe has been referenced throughout the years, but writer Kelly Sue DeConnick and artist Phil Jimenez are expanding their mythology.
Although the mainstream DC Universe has established the Amazons and continues to establish who they are in the context of Wonder Woman, their past remains somewhat mysterious. However, DC Black Label gives creators the opportunity to write outside the restrictions of canon, experimenting with the heroes and legacies of DC Comics. Intended for a more mature readership, the imprint has a reputation of diving into the deep end, sometimes depicting a darker world than fans might expect from their favorite characters.
Revealed in a new preview by DC Comics, Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons promises to add a new layer to the legend of Themyscira. Set thousands of years before Diana became Wonder Woman, Queen Hera led the Amazons into a new direction, creating a secret society without men. After Hippolyta meets the Amazons, a sequence of events transpire that impact the course of history, leading to Wonder Woman. As Book One begins on November 30, the limited series will span across three parts, telling a story that takes place over thousands of years. Writer Kelly Sue DeConnick spoke on the book, saying, “We wanted to do a Homeric epic with a woman at the center. We took all the language and iconography that we’re used to in stories about men as heroes, and put women at the center. Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons is like a history book for a young Amazon where she learns the history of her people, from the perspective of her people.”
Kelly Sue DeConnick and artist Phil Jimenez aren’t just creating a new story— they’re crafting a fully realized culture. As revealed in the preview, the first issue will feature pages detailing the designs of the Amazons’ tribal identity. The Tribe of Artemis, Hestia, and others appear to play a central part in the limited series’ premise. Jimenez spoke on his creative process, saying, “The thing that excited me the most about this project was Kelly Sue’s take on the mythology. This book also allowed me to rethink the design of the Amazons. I wanted to represent the different types of women around the world. It was important that readers see themselves somewhere represented physically among these women.”
Coming just in time for Wonder Woman’s 80th anniversary since her comic book debut, the DC Black Label limited series continues to expand the mythos of DC’s most iconic princess warrior. DeConnick and Jimenez will bring a new dimension to Wonder Woman’s people with their original story. Although DC Black Label is set outside of mainstream continuity, elements could inspire changes in Wonder Woman’s actual canon.
Source: DC Comics