Graphic Novel Review - 'Les Normaux: Volume One' by Janine Janssen, S. Al Sabado

'Les Normaux'

Hmmm.

Apparently this has been a popular webcomic - a 'global phenomenon and iconic, chart-topping Webtoon series', according to the blurb - for over ten years now. Yet why did I not hear of its existence until I saw the hardcover edition of the first volume in my local bookshop last week?

This is a phenomenon in of itself. It is the strangest thing for a fantasy and diversity/representation fan and pusher - in comics and everything else - like myself to have missed out on.

I guess I haven't been following webcomics and webtoons as much as I thought.

But whatever. Regardless, I'm glad I decided to impulsively buy 'Les Normaux' in all its hardback glory (along with 'The Ojja-Wojja') on the day I first saw it.

'Les Normaux' is something special, indeed.

It is an ongoing French fantasy romance webcomic, for older teens and up, about a cute, LBGTQ+ developing relationship between the two male leads, Sébastien and Elia, and it is set in an alternate, magical world where there's witchcraft and a witchcraft college, and fantasy creatures are everywhere. You name it - vampires, werewolves, mermaids, cyclopes, genies (or djinns), fairies, Frankenstein's monsters, and more are present and completely normal. The paranormal is the norm.

In this version of beautiful, gorgeous Paris, as well as real magic and fantastical, fairy tale creatures, there are tons of LBGTQ+ people, people of colour, and disabled people.

It is like a dream. A nighttime, clubbing, dancing, fashionable dream (seriously, the fashions in this comic are also of excellent quality, quantity, and taste).

Plus, there's a cute little pet rabbit who thinks he's a world-conquering doctor and general. Pierre the bunny doesn't get nearly enough page time in this volume. He hardly appears, and doesn't actually contribute to anything, yet I feel he deserves his own spinoff series.

He isn't as cute as Elia, however.

Elia, the blue, bisexual, biracial vampire love interest of the main protagonist, the gay, demisexual, Filipino and green-haired Sébastien. Elia may be my new husbando, or should I just say comic book boyfriend? He is absolutely adorable, hilarious, flustered, vulnerable, and a sweetie, no matter how cool and mature he acts around anyone other than Sébastien and his group of close girl-friends. That he's sexy as hell helps his iconic status.

'Les Normaux' really is like a fantasy version of 'Heartstopper'. Heck, Alice Oseman is even quoted on the hardback book's cover saying, 'One of my favourite webcomics of all time'! It is a contemporary, slice-of life romance, comedy and drama, set in the fantasy genre. The supernatural elements are merely the icing on the cake. It is also like a better version of 'Lore Olympus' and 'Eat Your Heart Out' by Terry Blas, in my opinion.

I must add that it has some of the best artwork I have ever seen in a webcomic.

What a great, versatile, sweet, heartfelt experience 'Les Normaux' by Janine Janssen is. A pleasant, hopeful surprise in 2025 for me.

From the hardback blurb: ''Monster' is just a word for someone different...'

How right that is.

"Monster" is subjective.

"Normal" is subjective. And a construct.

"Different" is never always bad.

Let romance and happiness bloom and shine! Like magic.

Final Score: 4/5

Graphic Novel Review - 'Mixed-Up' by Kami Garcia (Writer), Brittney Williams (Artist), Tyler Smith (Letterer)

'Mixed-Up' is a cute and heartwarming middle grade graphic novel. Its main subject is dyslexia, and also friendship. It teaches the reader about both.

It is so positive and uplifting, and all the female schoolteachers and helpers are wonderful.

There's lots of geekiness and geek girl gaming included, which I love. The newly fifth-grade protagonist, Stella, and her best friends Emiko and Latasha, are into a witchy franchise called 'Witchlins', which is popular enough to get its own interactive online RPG, and its own section in bookshops! It is this aspect, among many others, like its coming-of-age theme, that 'Mixed-Up' reminds me of 'The New Girl' by Cassandra Calin.

Goddesses, how I wish there were clubs, and other open fans, of things like 'W.I.T.C.H.' and 'Sailor Moon' at school when I was a kid! I wish that geek culture was louder, prouder, and more popular and therefore more accessible (not to mention more inclusive), more than twenty years ago. It would have been easier for me to socialise and make friends.

What an abundance of proud geek love and happiness!

The artwork of 'Mixed-Up' by Brittney Williams is colourful, bold, adorable and brilliant. Nearly every character is a POC, to boot.

It's not perfect, mainly due to the rushed ending, and a friends-falling-out plot not really ending with an apology - it resolves itself with hugs, tears, and opening up and talking about problems, but no "I'm sorry" is in sight. The book is also rather too after-school-special-ish, and too positive and upbeat, with barely any conflict (there don't seem to be any bullies at Stella's school, at best we get a grumpy assistant librarian - where is this utopia she's at?).

But 'Mixed-Up' is a great graphic novel for children, and for school libraries. Realistic or not, it is a helpful, hopeful story that needs to be told. It is clearly a personal, passion project for parent Kami Garcia, as well. how many more P alliterations can I put in here?

It celebrates creativity, using your strengths to solve problems, and doing things your own way - creative writing and storytelling forever! - which further highlights it for me, making me sing its praises.

Oh, and asking for help and support, and being honest, are always important lessons to teach.

It is a lovely, contemporary comic, that isn't mundane at all. It is its own kind of magical.

Final Score: 4/5

Graphic Novel Review - 'The Ojja-Wojja' by Magdalene Visaggio (Writer), Jenn St-Onge (Artist)

'The Ojja-Wojja' - wow, what a children's graphic novel!

It has it all: superb, fantastic artwork, a coming-of-age school story, feminism, queer representation, autism representation, tackling bullying issues, mystery, horror, scary imagery, its own folklore, witchcraft, ghosts, a helluva dose of geeky love and references, UFO conspiracy theories, parody storytelling segments, libraries, great, supportive school teachers, and most importantly, friendship.

Friendships between kids - between weirdos, the social outcasts and pariahs - that can last a lifetime. Maybe even survive a toxic, demonic invasion, determined to destroy everything that is good and kind and progressive in the world, because of one person's loneliness, fears, insecurities, and sense of entitlement.

'The Ojja-Wojja' is like 'Scooby-Doo', 'Stranger Things', Stephen King's 'It', 'Riverdale', 'Gravity Falls', and 'Dead End: Paranormal Park', all mixed into a blender. But it is its own unique kind of comic book, and not just because it is relatively scary for a modern kids' graphic novel. There is horror, the paranormal, and demonic forces at work, but vitally, it has heart.

And great characters, mostly in the form of the two main leads: Val Malloy, who is autistic, fat, and white, and a super geek, willing to try anything; and Lanie Pham, who is Asian, transgender, probably gay, and bespectacled, and also a super geek, and into witchcraft. This outcast duo, who initially bonded (and argued) over geeky interests, is brilliant. Phenomenal. They work so well together, and are the best of friends. Anyone who is a geek, a nerd, or any kind of loner in the social hierarchy due to their differences (what makes them blooming great people!) can relate to this pair.

There is no romance in this story. Friendship is the main theme. I adore the ending, too, as rushed as it is (like the authors were hit with a sudden deadline they needed meet as quickly as possible). Without spoiling anything, I will unapologetically disclose and declare that it made me squeal with pure joy. A geek girl's joy, to be precise. My heart was set aflutter, butterfly.

Compassion, sympathy and empathy - and bonding over special interests - are the other key themes in 'The Ojja-Wojja'.

It is far from perfect, with slight pacing issues, and the other three kids in Val's and Lanie's "little weirdo club" who aren't nearly as developed and fleshed out as they should have been. It's easy to forget they exist when they are not on a page. There are side characters who do not receive proper resolutions, or any resolution at all. It's easy to forget about them, too, like the comic seems to, towards the end shut up with the tos and toos, Artemis, learn proper grammar.

Oh yeah, there's that rushed ending, those last few pages. I could tell that the authors did the best they could with the little time and space they had left, however. So it's something.

There you go: if you like a bit of comedy, horror, paranormal, teen drama, school angst, conspiracy, witchcraft, female empowerment, geekiness and geek culture served like candy snacks, and a whole range of race, LBGTQ+, and disability representation - diversity, it matters - then read 'The Ojja-Wojja'.

Even though it has a title where, were I to say it out loud to anyone, they would ask me if I was okay.

'The Ojja-Wojja' - it ain't no phantasm.

To every "outcast", "loser", geek, nerd, and "unpopular" person in any crowd - you win! You will win!

Final Score: 3.5/5

Non-Fiction Book Review - 'Witch in Darkness: Magick for Tough Times, Bad Days and Moments of Total Catastrophe' by Kelly-Ann Maddox

An appropriate time to read something like this, with that title, isn't it?

It could not have come out at a more appropriate time, either.

'Witch in Darkness: Magick for Tough Times, Bad Days and Moments of Total Catastrophe' is exactly what it says on the tin. It is a spiritual, therapeutic, sublime self-help witchy book by Kelly-Ann Maddox, and a follow up to her first book, 'Rebel Witch'. I devoured it in a week, when I could, absorbing as much as I could, and I think it helped me somewhat, in dealing with my own issues. I could relate to a lot of the subjects talked about, and it is always nice to feel I am not alone, in similar, toxic situations, troubles, and thought patterns. Dark, depressive, oppressive, anxious thought patterns.

Maddox consciously, carefully goes pretty deep, and gives sound life advice. The book is life-affirming, dark yet hopeful and comforting, friendly, and a very personal journey, without being too harrowing, scary and overwhelming. I felt for the author as well as myself whilst reading.

Us individual humans, each with unique, differing experiences, are not so different in certain human life experiences, after all.

'Witch in Darkness' should help someone through some deeply troubling, traumatic, shattering times and aspects of their lives, via psychological and spiritual takes, whether or not they are a witch, or whatever they like to call themselves in a likeminded mood and, well, spirit. On giving and receiving positive and caring vibes, in soul-searching and practicing witchcraft.

In slowly, surely beating depression, and healing from it.

The author of 'Witch in Darkness', as I said in my review of 'Rebel Witch', writes personally, comfortingly, and free-thinkingly, like a friend holding your hand along the way, and giving you the choice of what you want to do and how you want to go about it; what feels right to you. Like a true therapist. It's not coddling or cloying, it's helping you on your journey, your path to mental, emotional and spiritual recovery and wellbeing.

While, like with 'Rebel Witch', the advice can get repetitive and too simplified, it is overall never dull and it engaged me enough to keep reading and taking it to heart and psyche. 'Witch in Darkness' gives the readers space to think - think for themselves, as everyone needs to do - as every mind, every psychological issue is different.

It can be a lot to take in, but with all the issues it discusses, it is an easy, accessible guide, by a caring, thoughtful writer.

I love that Maddox is crystal-clearly an openminded and grounded individual, never coming across as judgemental, forceful, pressuring, or a know-it-all with the pretence of having all the answers. She doesn't. No one does.

We just have to keep trying. Keep going.

In my opinion, 'Witch in Darkness' is more strongly written than 'Rebel Witch', giving clear activities, ideas, spells, and notes, such as at the end of each chapter (note-taking and journaling are fundamentally essential on the road to being a witch and towards self-recovery. Also tarot card and oracle card reading).

Cool, dark illustrations are included. A further win for yours truly, witch-ily. Sorceress-ly.

Keep it simple. Do what feels right to you - a spell, a ritual, however you want to design your alter, etc. Take notes and journal your experiences, memories and observations. Recall you energy healthily. Practice selfcare as well as witchcraft. Whatever positive, loving energy and vibes you are sending into the world must come from within, and be truthful, authentic and effectual to yourself. To save the world, you have to save you first. Know yourself. Love yourself.

These are my personal takeaways from 'Witch in Darkness: Magick for Tough Times, Bad Days and Moments of Total Catastrophe'. Bless you, Kelly-Ann Maddox, you lovely, wonderful, patient teacher.

Now I don't mind calling magic "magick", when I was put off by that spelling (heh) before. It sounded more hokey than hocus-pocus to me, but I don't mind it as much anymore.

But, seriously, Ms Maddox, I will never use, nor mix, recreational drugs into anything I do, let alone in any kind of witchiness. Though in 'Witch in Darkness', it is written in more responsibly and in more detail than in 'Rebel Witch' (overcoming and conquering addiction is another chapter subject Maddox goes into).

Speaking of, here is my review of her debut, 'Rebel Witch', for more.

We can all find our way out of the darkness - in our minds, our hearts (from past heartbreaks and traumas), and the chaotic, divided world at large. We will get there. Together.

Love you all.

Final Score: 4/5

Non-Fiction Book Review - 'Rebel Witch: Carve the Craft that's Yours Alone' by Kelly-Ann Maddox

'Rebel Witch' - a newish nonfiction how-to-witch book, that doesn't really contain much about witchcraft, or at least any set rules in any areas of witchcraft developed over time. It doesn't give specific info or instructions on any spells, though it mentions rituals, props, sacred spaces, cleansing, consecrating, seasons, the Wheel of the Year, traditions, occasions, lunar moon cycles, etc. Basically, there are no rules - you make your own. Be creative in your witchcraft! Be experimental! Be flexible! You do you, that's the only rule of being a rebel witch. Nothing stifling and rigid, and no limitations and binaries. Let no one tell you no, that's not right.

It is more a spirituality, self-taught, get-creative, do-what-feels-like-you, be-the-witch-you-wanna-be modern witchy book. At times it gets rather childlike, wishy-washy, airy-fairy, and vague, with the naïve and somewhat dubious mindset of do-whatever, make-believe, make-it-up, pretend-rituals-to-try-to-feel-good-about-yourself.

However, it does not read like a chaotic, lazy, anti-intellect and anti-research scam. The writing and tone are very comforting, supportive, encouraging, reassuring, nurturing, and sincere and earnest. 'Rebel Witch' is an inspirited breeze to read. It's like Kelly-Ann Maddox is a friend who is guiding you by hand through your individual, try-it-and-see-the-results witchy path, which makes sense since she is a spiritual guidance counsellor as well as a long-practicing witch.

'Rebel Witch: Carve the Craft that's Yours Alone' is charming, funny, inspiring, and enlightening towards finding your inner witch/child and sense of wonder and magic. It is likewise down-to-earth, constructive and practical when it needs to be, at its most sensible, serious parts. It gives sensible advice. It offers alternate solutions to various problems in life that aren't "witchy", like seeking professional therapy and counselling. And it is therapeutic, committing, convincing, dedicated, compassionate, and passionate.

It is a real, authentic, expressive, and personal passion project and self-help book by Kelly-Ann Maddox; that's a witch's truth.

The author certainly makes sure you know that being a witch, or other similar word for a similar identifier and purpose, is a lifelong path and commitment. It's to be taken seriously, not lightly and half-heartedly, and you should approach the spiritual, wicked trail with enthusiastic dedication. You do have to do things, and make plans and goals, that suit you and your tastes - whatever they may be, and however you may want to go about them - as a badass witchy-witch. Being a rebel witch doesn't mean being lazy and indecisive. It is about making your own choices, which are subject to change, due to life experiences. Write down your thoughts, feelings, activities, and experiences, and perform some rituals, if not outright spells, that feel good and right for you, etc.

Above all, don't forget to have fun being a witch! If you feel that's your calling - calling to you! It's a positive you identity and power, and a way to help regain control over your life.

It's a way to believe in yourself, to build yourself up, and be kind to yourself.

Female power and support forever.

'Rebel Witch: Carve the Craft that's Yours Alone' - recommended for practicing witches, and for a different kind of, and approach to, spirituality and feel-good, inspiring, life-changing-and-affirming vibes. The author seems so nice, genuine and human - a friend. Plus I am always openminded about new, modern ways of spiritual practices and enlightenment, and never limiting your creativity and inventory.

One last mark against the book, a caveat I must give, however, is:

 I wish Maddox, when she talks about recreational drugs, could have gone more into the negative ramifications of using them, and performing witchcraft while under the influence. Such as anything about addiction, on top of its other dangers. Like when she made a full comprehensive list of the consequences of doing spells to harm people for whatever reason, however you feel towards the dark, toxic issue and whatever your ethics, Maddox needed to take further serious responsibility when writing about drugs in her book - potentially dangerous, easily misused drugs - and implement more facts about them.

Practice selfcare as well as witchcraft, everyone.

Final Score: 3.5/5

Graphic Novel Review - 'The Legend of Auntie Po' by Shing Yin Khor

'The Legend of Auntie Po' - a surprising, colourful, sweet, and bittersweet all-ages graphic novel.

It is part history, part historical fiction, part folklore, part made-up stories, part magical realism, and all human heart. And learning from our past - our history, our stories, and the truths they reveal about ourselves.

I'll let the first half of the blurb sum up what 'The Legend of Auntie Po' is about:


'In a Sierra Nevada logging camp in 1885, thirteen-year-old Mei bakes the most delicious pies and tells the best stories about Auntie Po, a gigantic elderly Chinese matriarch who could probably cut even more trees than Paul Bunyan.

In the midst of racial tumult following the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act, Mei tries to remain blissfully focused on her job, her close friendship with Bee, the camp foreman's daughter, and her stories.'


Basically, Mei and her father, Hao, are Chinese immigrants, and they are the best chefs and piemakers at a nineteenth century American logging camp - all the white male loggers and their families, and one Black family, would starve without them. Mei tells stories about Po Pan Yin, or Auntie Po, her version of Paul Bunyan, to the loggers' kids at campfires. Amid racial tension and violence, Auntie Po, and her blue buffalo Pei Pei, suddenly seem to come to life to Mei, in times of need at the camp.

Times for stories, making your own myths when the land you live on and serve doesn't respect you or your culture, and for needing to believe in a saviour, a protector, a god, who will watch over you, when faced with crises and tragedy.

Mei is also falling in love with her best friend, Bee.

'The Legend of Auntie Po' is about making your own faith, in order to live, and thrive, and hope for things to get better in the future. Sometimes your imagination is your greatest asset when one crisis after another stumps you, devastates you, keeps you as unchanging and unmoving as stone. Immigrants imagine, and invent stories, while retaining and respecting their traditions and roots.

Don't let your own culture, history, and faith fade, even when in a foreign country.

Let's talk about the artwork: I didn't like it at first. I didn't like the dead-eyed, beady-eyed humans. And why do some eyes look demonically red? Was that a stylistic choice, or an artistic and/or printing mistake? But I got used to it the further I read, and I got more immersed in, and engaged with, the story and characters. The art reminds me of Melanie Gillman's work, actually. I like the colours, and Pei Pei is so cute!

Most of the characters are likeable. It is easy to follow, support and root for the hardworking, feisty, and imaginative young Mei. She likes to read books, and dreams of a life and adventure outside of the logging camp. She is definitely fit for higher education.

When I first bothered to properly read the blurb (not doing so before buying graphic novels is a bad habit of mine), I was shocked to find out that Mei, and her bubbly, sweet, fat, blonde and white friend Bee, are supposed to be thirteen-years-sold. They are almost the same height as the adults. They are smarter than a lot of them, too (not that age denotes intelligence, of course). I knew they must have been teenagers, but I didn't think they were that young!

Mei's father Hao is a sweet, kind, gentle, protective, and good soul, equally as hardworking and talented as his daughter. He is candid and blunt when talking about racial injustice. Bee's foreman father, Hels Andersen, is surprisingly a good, thoughtful man, who knows what's what and what's right, and at least tries not to be racist. However, he is a pushover and enabler, prone to caving in under unfair and unjust laws, and fearmongering. But he learns and develops into a better person.

Hels will go above and beyond for Hao. He respects and listens to Hao - their families are like one family - and it is laudable, heartwarming and wonderful to see.

Mei's romantic feelings for Bee are obvious from the start, and her struggles with them, and what to do about them, are gradually, organically shown to the reader in pieces, at appropriate times. Her and Bee's friendship is very close-knit, regardless of any deeper, more intimate emotions, and theirs is a supportive, playful, adorable, and complex bond. Female interracial friendships through political tensions and tragedy and suppressed nonplatonic love FTW!

Heck, the relationship between their fathers could also, almost be read as something verging on the romantic! They have many private conversations, albeit work related, and they touch each other's shoulders, they tease each other and tell jokes, they give each other gifts, and they go out to eat meals together. Their relationship development grows into a warm and understanding connection. The white-boss-and-immigrant-employee, power imbalance between them will not matter.

But simply being nice, kind, decent human beings to other human beings is enough. Platonic love should be showcased, too.

Seeing people of different ethnic, cultural and social backgrounds effortlessly getting along and completing one another, and forming their own established community, especially in America at this time period, is another beautiful element in the comic, realistically or not, fairy tales or not.

By the end of this wonderous, tasty (those pies, and other foods!), historical, political drama graphic novel for children, full of trees, logging, girl power, real nontoxic man power, dreams, the magic of having a voice and the written word, and loving your own non-whitewashed, non-appropriated culture and history, I was left with one burning question:

What happened to Mei's mother? Bee's mother is mentioned once, but not Mei's.

But seriously, I do recommend 'The Legend of Auntie Po', for a fun, sweet read, and an American history lesson, of a part that is widely overlooked and swept under the rug (typically, yet again).

On that note, another thing I will bring up is I wish the book could have highlighted the racism and racist laws against Black people, as well as Chinese people. Slavery would have been abolished (mostly) for around twenty years in 1885 in the California state, and racial tensions were still strained, to say the least. And I know that the author, Shing Yin Khor, says in their Author's Note at the end that they didn't include any Indigenous and Native American characters in their story because they felt that part of American history wasn't theirs to tell, but it still feels a bit dodgy and disingenuous to not mention something about it within the story itself. Native American communities had their own logging camps in the Sierra Nevadas, and there is a whole complicated history there. It feels like further erasure of marginalised and colonised people.

But Shing Yin Khor is aware of what they are doing - they are smart and thoughtful, they did their research, and they know their storytelling capabilities and limitations, for a 283-page graphic novel. I like that they state the following important fact, also relating to 'The Legend of Auntie Po':


'But they were there. We were all there. This history, like all American history, is not a white story.'


Race representation and LBGTQ+ representation in an overlooked aspect of American history, told in a graphic novel for all ages. Add in the storytelling and magical realism and faith-based realism elements, plus the themes of intimate friendships and comradery, and you have a gleaming gem in your hands, a mined diamond in the rough (in every sense of the word).

Final Score: 4/5

Graphic Novel Review - 'Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons' by Kelly Sue DeConnick (Writer), Phil Jimenez (Illustrator), Gene Ha (Illustrator), Nicola Scott (Illustrator), Hi-Fi (Colourist), Arif Prianto (Colourist), Romulo Fajardo Jr. (Colourist), Wesley Wong (Colourist), Annette Kwok (Colourist), Clayton Cowles (Letterer)

My first five-star review of 2025.

How do you make one of the best 'Wonder Woman' comics ever, without Wonder Woman herself?

Well, you hire Kelly Sue DeConnick, one of the best modern female writers in the business, for a start.

Then gather the best artists working in the comics industry, to create one of the most visually stunning, awe-inspiring, magnificent, diverse, intricately detailed comic books ever blessed to be printed and sold.

'Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons' is akin to a sacred, holy text; a rich, raw tapestry, about Greek mythology, and women. It is that good.

It is like a gift from the goddesses.

It is a fresh, epic take on the origin of the Amazons. A whole story, a tragedy, set before Wonder Woman's birth. I won't dare spoil any specific details for the uninitiated, but know that 'Historia' is as grand, empowering, and human as they come, for a Greek tragedy. That somehow manages to remain hopeful by the brutal end.

I will add that I love this version of Artemis, introduced thusly, "The huntress. She is the moon, and the wilderness, and the restless heart. Artemis knows you for the wild creature you truly are." It is one of the best interpretations of her that I have ever seen. She quite literally is a wild child, full of spark and confidence, and is fearless, feisty, and passionate to the core (and care); never faltering in her help and support of the Amazons. Now this is the Artemis I idolise. She is cool, badass, and complex, like all the women here.

In fact, all the goddesses of the Olympian pantheon who created the Amazons - such as Hecate, Hestia, Demeter, Aphrodite, and even the understandably absent outlier Hera, the goddess of women - are great. Including Athena, who I never really cared about in any other version of her I've seen. Standing equal with the other goddesses, Athena manages to be a likeable, sensible (she is supposed to be the goddess of wisdom and cunning), and worshipful character worth rooting for, and I didn't think that was possible before. Her design is very unique, too. Every design for each of the goddesses is diverse AF.

Their pantheon is a supportive, fierce sisterhood. A triumph of the power of women working together to counteract patriarchal BS, that relies on the suffering and subjugation of women in order to function and thrive. It is a stubborn, hubristic, poisonous system of death and destruction that keeps on turning, refusing to cease, refusing to give up or share control...

Another significant element: I love the origin of the name of the Amazonian princess - Diana. How she received it will forever warm my heart.

'Historia' is justified in its label of epic. It is a beautiful, poignant, introspective, heartbreaking treasure, a master--no, mistresspiece. I only wish it could have been a bit longer, and brought more focus back to women's issues - women's damn rights - and the dangers that women all over the world continue to face, even today, which is the biggest tragedy of them all. I wish we could have had closure on that hope.

In terms of LBGTQ+ rep, it is extremely slight and in the background. Disappointing for a current times DC Amazons comic.

But with literally everything else it has going for it - and wow, look at its art, it is art, comics are art - I would be remiss to give it less than all the brightest stars in the cosmos. It has earned the stars, and the moon in the lunar eclipse, and the praise of every Greek goddess, and every other goddess there is.

'Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons' deserves to be ranked alongside other graphic novels of critical acclaim, and historical and cultural significance - the classics, starring, and made by and for, men, such as 'Watchmen', 'Batman: The Dark Knight Returns', Batman: The Killing Joke', 'V for Vendetta', 'Sin City', 'The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen', and 'Maus'. I'm serious. It can even be compared to 'Persepolis', as well.

Stories and legends are powerful. They are powerful tools for humanity to use to enact real change in the world when it is most needed. They exist to teach us. To inspire us. To lift us up. To give us hope.

Never give up the fire, the flames, of hope. For humans - for women - keep cycling, repeating, but always try to do and be better, one way or another. They persist, for the nigh-impossible and unreachable goal of peace, harmony and equality for everyone on earth.

Like Wonder Woman.

She would never give up, and neither would the goddesses who made her. And the Amazons before her, who raised her, who taught her.

'Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons', scripted by Kelly Sue DeConnick and worked on by a team of artists and colourists, and published under the DC Black Label, is one of the greatest DC Amazons stories in history.

Read also my review of a separate, recent DC Amazons book, 'Amazons Attack', to see the fight for women's right to simply exist and be heard and be free in the patriarchy's stranglehold struggle on.

While I'm at it, here are these: 'The Legend of Wonder Woman', 'Wonder Woman: The True Amazon', 'Wonder Woman, Vol. 2: Year One', 'Wonder Woman by Greg Rucka, Vol. 1', 'Wonder Woman, Vol. 3: The Circle', 'Wonder Woman, Vol. 1: Gods and Mortals', 'Wonder Woman Tempest Tossed', 'Diana and the Hero's Journey', and 'Wonderful Women of the World'.

I remain proud to call myself an Amazon. And possibly a geek goddess. No, actually, I don't want that kind of unfathomable power and responsibility. Maybe a sorceress will do.

Artemis Crescent, of the wild and the moon. And of women and magic.

Final Score: 4.5/5