The new and improved 'Amethyst' series, originating from the 1980s, is one of the few good things to come out of DC's New 52 reboot launch. It contains nearly all of the things that I love, as both a fantasy fan and a feminist pop culture junkie: A kickass female lead, fantasy worlds, magical girls, magical kingdoms, matriarchs, queens, princesses, mother-and-daughter relationships, female friendships, swords, gemstones, witchcraft, flying beasts, cool battles that don't hold back on the brutal killings and consequences, the collective power of women overcoming a male villain (an ancient one, too), and gorgeous artwork that doesn't sexualize its female characters once. The worldbuilding is glorious. A variety of vibrant colours is used to match the gemstones, like pink, purple and lilac!
It's just a shame that it never got the chance to become a fully developed, fleshed out and complete story. Its impending cancellation resulted in a rushed ending that left quite a few loose ends, and side characters discarded and forgotten about. It makes me wonder what could have been. Judging from the beginning, I'm positive it could have been a truly amazing series.
But that's the New 52 for you. I'm impressed that DC even allowed a female-centered, sword and sorcery fantasy series to get off the ground to begin with; and written by a woman, Christy Marx, also a writer for their 'Birds of Prey' comics, but better known as the creator and head writer of another eighties series for girls, the cartoon 'Jem and the Holograms'. Who the hell says that girls don't read comics?
Another huge plus to give DC at the time? There's practically no romance in 'Sword of Sorcery, Vol. 1: Amethyst'. There's a hint, but nothing comes of it, again probably due to the rush, following cancellation. There are many fleshed out POC players, who are just as important, endearing and dynamic as the blonde white leads, and a side character is coded as gay.
Hopefully Princess Amaya, or Amethyst, or Amy Winston, along with Gemworld, will receive the treatment they deserve sometime in the future. I know Amethyst has shown up in a smattering of other DC comics, but for her to star in her own series again would be nice...
Final Score: 3.5/5
P.S. I could watch the 'Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld' cartoon shorts on YouTube all day.
P.P.S. No I won't review the two short story issues at the end of this trade paperback, since they have absolutely nothing to do with Amethyst and have no business being associated with the series.
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