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WORK TITLE: Wonder Woman: The True Amazon
WORK NOTES: author and illustrator
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE: 11/20/1966
WEBSITE:
CITY:
STATE:
COUNTRY:
NATIONALITY:
http://www.dccomics.com/talent/jill-thompson * http://comicbookdb.com/creator.php?ID=885 * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jill_Thompson * http://nerdist.com/wonder-woman-the-true-amazon-creator-jill-thompson-talks-recreating-diana/ * http://comicsalliance.com/jill-thompson-true-amazon-review/
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
ADDRESS
CAREER
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist Oct. 15, 2016, Jesse Karp, “Wonder Woman: The True Amazon.”. p. 37.
Publishers Weekly Sept. 19, 2016, , “Wonder Woman: The True Amazon.”. p. 56.
Publishers Weekly May 19, 2014, , “The Graveyard Book Graphic Novel: Volume I.”. p. 71.
Booklist Apr. 15, 2013, Flagg, Gordon. , “The Shade.”. p. 48.
Booklist May 15, 2011, Karp, Jesse. , “Delirium’s Party: A Little Endless Storybook.”. p. 37+.
Publishers Weekly Apr. 18, 2011, , “Delirium’s Party: A Little Endless Storybook.”. p. 41.
Booklist Dec. 15, 2010, Karp, Jesse. , “Scary Godmother.”. p. 37.
Booklist Oct. 15, 2009, Kan, Kat. , “Magic Trixie and the Dragon.”. p. 44.
Booklist Sept. 1, 2008, Kan, Kat. , “Magic Trixie.”. p. 100.
Booklist Feb. 1, 2005, Coleman, Tina. , “Thompson, Jill. The Little Endless Storybook.”. p. 952.
Library Journal Jan., 2004. Raiteri, Steve. , “Thompson, Jill. Death: Vol. 1: at Death’s Door.”. p. 80.
Publishers Weekly Oct. 24, 1994, , “The Sandman: Brief Lives.”. p. 57+.
School Librarian Winter 2014 p. 246., Librarian, Jennings, Tanja. , “Gaiman, Neil and Russell, P. Craig: The Graveyard Book: Volume 1 (Graphic Adaptation).”. p. 246.
School Library Journal July, 2011. Russell, Benjamin. , “Thompson, Jill. Delirium’s Party: A Little Endless Storybook.”. p. 123.
School Library Journal Mar., 2009. Mattox, Sadie. , “Thompson, Jill. Magic Trixie.”. p. 174.
School Library Journal Sept., 2005. Gordon, Ronnie. , “Thompson, Jill. The Little Endless Storybook.”. p. 243.
Xpress Reviews Aug. 19, 2016, Potter-Reyes, Teresa. , “Thompson, Jill. Wonder Woman: The True Amazon.”.
Xpress Reviews Sept. 5, 2014, Claringbole, Ryan. , “Morrison, Grant (text) & Steve Yeowell & others (illus.). The Invisibles: The Deluxe Edition.”.
ONLINE
Comics Alliance, http://comicsalliance.com (October 7, 2016), review of Wonder Woman
Nerdist, http://nerdist.com ( October 5, 2016), review of Wonder Woman
School Library Journal, http://blogs.slj.com (December 30, 2008 ), review of Magic Trixie
Scott William Foley, https://scottwilliamfoley.com (January 7, 2017 ), review of Wonder Woman
Fantasy Literature, http://www.fantasyliterature.com (April 15, 2017), review of Wonder Woman
Daily Dot, https://www.dailydot.com (September 27, 2016), review of Wonder Woman
Newsarama, https://www.newsarama.com (July 21, 2008), review of Magic Trixie
Jill Thompson
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the American educator and politician, see Jill Long Thompson.
Jill Thompson
10.15.11JillThompsonByLuigiNovi1.jpg
Thompson at the 2011 New York Comic Con.
Born November 20, 1966 (age 50)
Nationality American
Area(s) Writer and Illustrator
Notable works
The Sandman
Scary Godmother
Beasts of Burden
Jill Thompson (born November 20, 1966)[1] is an Eisner Award-winning American comic book writer and illustrator who has worked for stage, film, and television. Well known for her work on Neil Gaiman's The Sandman characters and her own Scary Godmother series, she has worked on The Invisibles, Swamp Thing, and Wonder Woman as well.
Contents
1 Early life
2 Career
3 Personal life
4 Awards and honors
5 Bibliography
5.1 Comics
5.1.1 Comico
5.1.2 First Comics
5.1.3 DC Comics
5.1.4 Marvel Comics
5.1.5 Topps
5.1.6 Dark Horse Comics
5.1.7 Sirius Entertainment
5.1.8 Bongo Comics
5.1.9 Caliber Comics
5.1.10 Scholastic
5.2 Other material
5.2.1 Harper Collins Children's Books
5.2.2 Stageplay
5.2.3 Film
5.2.4 Scary Godmother Animated Specials
6 References
7 External links
Early life
Thompson attended The American Academy of Art in Chicago, graduating in 1987 with a degree in Illustration and Watercolor.[2]
Career
Thompson illustrating in her sketchbook
Jill Thompson began her comics career working for such publishers as First Comics and Now Comics in the 1980s.[3] She became the artist of DC Comics' Wonder Woman series in 1990.[4] Her work on the "Chalk Drawings" story in Wonder Woman #46 (Sept. 1990) drew praise from writer George Pérez who stated "It was a good, quiet story, and I think Jill and I worked really well together on that one."[5] Thompson illustrated the Brief Lives story arc in The Sandman issues #41-49,[6] and the story "The Parliament of Rooks" in issue #40 (part of the Fables and Reflections collection).[7] Within this tale she created the characters Li'l Death and Li'l Morpheus, childlike versions of two of the Endless based on classic comic characters Sugar and Spike.
She has since written and illustrated several stories featuring the Sandman characters. These include the manga-style book Death: At Death's Door, one of DC's best selling books of 2003,[8] set during the events of Season of Mists, and The Little Endless Storybook, a children’s book using childlike versions of the Endless.[9] In 2005 Thompson wrote and illustrated the Dead Boy Detectives, an original graphic novel based on two minor characters from Season of Mists.[4]
Thompson designs the ring attire for WWE wrestler Daniel Bryan.[10]
Thompson created the comic book series Scary Godmother, originally published by Sirius Entertainment and later by Dark Horse Comics. The books spawned two television specials: Scary Godmother Halloween Spooktacular, which aired in foreign countries in 2003 before being picked up by Cartoon Network in 2004. This was followed by Scary Godmother: The Revenge of Jimmy in 2005. Both were animated using CGI. Thompson did scripting for the project and maintained a measure of creative control. In 2003, the merchandising rights to Scary Godmother reverted to Thompson, allowing her to proceed with plans to create a Scary Godmother fashion doll for which she promoted a successful Kickstarter campaign.[11]
Thompson was a body model for other comics artists, and uses herself as the basis for several characters in her work, most notably as the original model for Scary Godmother.[12] Her likeness has been used by P. Craig Russell in his graphic novel The Magic Flute,[13] and many other works by Russell. In a 2012 interview, she said,"For his Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight story ‘Hothouse,’ I was this evil doctor, or someone who was manipulating Poison Ivy...He used me for operas and things, like Brunhilda and Ring of the Nibelung."[14] Alex Ross used her likeness for the character Duela Dent in Kingdom Come.[15][16]
Thompson is a featured interview in the film Ringers: Lord of the Fans, a documentary about The Lord of the Rings fandom.[17] She was also interviewed for the film She Makes Comics, a documentary about the history of women in the comics industry.[18]
In 2015, Thompson was ranked fourth in the "Top 50 Female Comic Book Artists" poll conducted by Comic Book Resources.[19]
Personal life
Thompson is married to fellow comic book writer Brian Azzarello, creator of 100 Bullets and former writer of Hellblazer and Batman.[2]
Thompson studied improvisation comedy at Chicago's The Players Workshop and The Second City Training Center. She performed for four years with the Cleveland Improv Troupe.[20]
Thompson is an avid gardener and holds a Master Gardener Certificate from the Chicago-based Extension program.[21]
Awards and honors
Thompson has won multiple Eisner Awards, including in 2001 for best painter for Scary Godmother, 2004 for "Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art)" for her work on The Dark Horse Book of Hauntings,[22] and in 2005 for "Best Short Story" for Unfamiliar (from The Dark Horse Book of the Dead) with Evan Dorkin.[23] In 2011 the National Cartoonist Society named her Best Comic Book Artist for Beasts of Burden.[24]
She was nominated for Lulu of the Year in 1998[25] and won in 1999.[26]
National Cartoonists Society Award
2011 Best Comic Book Artists Beasts of Burden[27]
Eisner Awards:
2000 Best Humor Publication Bart Simpson's Treehouse of Horror (group award) 2000[28]
2001 Best Painter/Multimedia Scary Godmother (interior art)[29]
2001 Best Title for a Younger Audience Scary Godmother: The Boo Flu[29]
2004 Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art) "Stray" The Dark Horse Book of Hauntings[30]
2005 Best Short Story, "Unfamiliar" The Dark Horse Book of Witchcraft Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson 2005[31]
2007 Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art) "A Dog and His Boy" The Dark Horse Book of Monsters (etc.)[32]
Eisner Award nominations:
1998 Talent Deserving of Wider Recognition[33]
1998 Best Graphic Album-New Scary Godmother[33]
1998 Best Publication Design Scary Godmother[33]
2000 Best Painter/Multimedia Scary Godmother: The Mystery Date[28]
2004 Best Anthology The Dark Horse Book Of Hauntings (group award)[30]
Bibliography
Comics
Comico
The Elementals #13, 20, 23-25, 27-29 (1987–1988)
Fathom #1-3 (1987)
First Comics
Classics Illustrated: The Scarlet Letter (artist 1989)
The Chronicles of Corum (artist 1989)
DC Comics
Wonder Woman vol. 2 #45-48, 50-51, 53-55, 57-59, 61-64, Special #1 (1990–1992)
The Sandman #40-49 (1992–1993)
"The Parliament of Rooks" in Fables and Reflections
Brief Lives
Black Orchid #1-6 (1993–1994)
The Invisibles #5-9, 13-15 (1995)
Swamp Thing #159 (1995)
Seekers into the Mystery #11-14 (1996–1997)
The Dreaming #13-14 (1997)
The Books of Magic #42 (1997)
Challengers of the Unknown #10, 13 (1997–1998)
Finals #1-4 (1999)
The Invisibles vol. 3 #3-4 (2000)
Transmetropolitan: Filth of the City #1 (2001)
Bizarro Comics HC (writer/artist 2001)
The Little Endless Storybook (writer/artist 2001)
9-11: The World's Finest Comic Book Writers & Artists Tell Stories to Remember, Volume Two (2002)
Looney Tunes #100 (2003)
Death: At Death's Door (writer/artist 2003)
Batman: Gotham Knights #44 ("Batman Black and White" backup story) (writer/artist 2003)
Masks: Too Hot for TV #1 (2004)
Dead Boy Detectives (writer /artist 2005)
Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall: "Fair Division"
Fables #59 (2007)
House of Mystery vol. 2 #2 (2008)
Delirium's Party: A Little Endless Storybook (writer/artist 2011)
The Unexpected vol. 2 #1 (2011)
Shade vol. 2 #8 (2012)
Batman: The Master Race (variant cover art 2015)
Marvel Comics
Shadows and Light #2 (Spider-Man) (1998)
X-Men Unlimited #32 ("Dazzler - Beyond the Music") (2001)
Topps
The X-Files: Afterflight
Dark Horse Comics
The Badger: Shattered Mirror
The Dark Horse Book of...:
Hauntings: "Stray" (2003)
Witchcraft: "The Unfamiliar" (2004)
The Dead: "Let Sleeping Dogs Lie" (2005)
Monsters: "A Dog and His Boy" (2006)
Beasts of Burden #1-4 (2009)[34]
Sirius Entertainment
Scary Godmother books (all creator/writer/illustrator):
Scary Godmother (1997)
The Revenge of Jimmy (1998)
The Mystery Date (1999)
The Boo Flu (2000)
Scary Godmother comics:
Scary Godmother: My Bloody Valentine (1998)
Scary Godmother Holiday Spooktakular (1998)
Scary Godmother Activity book (2000)
Scary Godmother: Wild About Harry (2000)
Scary Godmother: Ghoul’s Out for Summer (2000–2001)
Bongo Comics
Bart Simpson's Treehouse of Horror (writer 2000)
Bart Simpson's Treehouse of Horror (artist 2002)
Caliber Comics
The Bandyman (artist 1999)
Scholastic
Goosebumps Graphix: Terror Trips - One Day at HorrorLand (as illustrator)
Other material
Harper Collins Children's Books
Created by, written and illustrated by Thompson:
Magic Trixie (2008)
Magic Trixie Sleeps Over (2008)
Magic Trixie and the Dragon (2009)
The Curse of the Royal Ruby: A Rinnah Two Feathers Mystery (as illustrator)
The Secret of Dead Man's Mine: A Rinnah Two Feathers Mystery (as illustrator)
Mick Foley's Halloween Hijinx (as illustrator)
Tales from Wrescal Lane (as illustrator)
Stageplay
Adaptation/ co-writer, art director, set designer:
Scary Godmother 2001 at the Athanaeum Theatre in Chicago with Runamuck Productions
Film
Actor, "Aunt Lindsay":
Meet Me There 2014 film from Greenless Studios
Scary Godmother Animated Specials
With Mainframe Entertainment:
Scary Godmother: Halloween Spooktacular co-writer, editor, art director, background painter, prop designer, executive creative director
Scary Godmother: The Revenge of Jimmy creative consultation, executive producer, prop and character designer
Jill Thompson
Search for 'Jill Thompson' on Amazon
Bio:
Jill Thompson is an American comic book illustrator and creator and graduate of the American Academy of Art in Chicago. She has been professionally illustrating comic books the majority of her life. She would not have it any other way. She has illustrated comic books and graphic novels for Dark Horse Comics, DC Comics, Harper Collins, Marvel Comics, Sirius Entertainment, Vertigo Comics. She has collaborated with George Perez on Wonder Woman, Neil Gaiman on Sandman, Grant Morrison on The Invisibles, Will Pfeifer on Finals, Evan Dorkin on Beasts of Burden and WWE Wrestling Legend Mick Foley on Halloween Hijinx and Tales from Wrescal Lane.
She is best known for her own creations THE SCARY GODMOTHER and MAGIC TRIXIE! Some of the other works she has written and Illustrated include The Little Endless Storybook, Delirium’s Party, 2003’s best selling manga style book- Death: At Death’s Door and The Dead Boy Detectives.
Many of her comics have been translated into German, French, Portugese, Spanish, Italian, Norwegian, Danish and Korean language editions.
Jill is a multiple Eisner Award winning illustrator and was awarded the 2011 Reuben Award for Best Comic Book Artist for Beasts of Burden.
In 2001 Jill collaborated with Runamuck Productions to bring her creation The Scary Godmother to the stage for a successful run of 26 performances at the Athanaeum Theater. Working to create children’s theater was a richly rewarding experience that found Jill lending her skills in adapting and co-writing the play as well as working as art director and set designer on the production.
The Scary Godmother was adapted for television by Mainframe Entertainment as two holiday specials, The Scary Godmother Holiday Spooktakular and Scary Godmother-The Revenge of Jimmy. Jill spent her time juggling duties as co-writer, editor, art director, background painter, prop and character designer, executive creative director, creative consultation, and executive producer over the course of both productions. She found it incredibly rewarding to work so closely with the director and the animation team to bring her creation to television life!
Jill spends her non comic book creating hours trying to be more organized, cooking delicious things, making jewelry, riding her bike, training at Forteza Fitness, gardening, travelling to conventions and book signings, watching wrestling and designing wrestling gear for WWE Superstar Daniel Bryan.
Date of Birth: November 20, 1966
Birthplace:
Website: http://www.jillthompsoncreations.com
Blog: http://jillthompson.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/theJillThompson
Favorite Creators:
Jill Thompson is a favorite creator of 14 users
Awards:
1993 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards - Nominee - Best Writer/Artist Team: ("Brief Lives," in Sandman #41-49 (DC Comics) - with Neil Gaiman)
1998 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards - Nominee - Talent Deserving of Wider Recognition: (for Scary Godmother [Sirius])
2000 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards - Nominee - Best Painter/Multimedia Artist: (Scary Godmother: The Mystery Date (Sirius))
2001 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards - Winner - Best Painter/Multimedia Artist: (Scary Godmother: The Boo Flu (Sirius))
2004 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards - Winner - Best Painter/Multimedia Artist: ("Stray," in The Dark Horse Book of Hauntings (Dark Horse))
2007 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards - Winner - Best Painter/Multimedia Artist: ("A Dog and His Boy" in The Dark Horse Book of Monsters; "Love Triangle" in Sexy Chix (Dark Horse);"Fair Division," in Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall (DC Comics/Vertigo))
2009 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards - Winner - Best Painter/Multimedia Artist: (Magic Trixie, Magic Trixie Sleeps Over (HarperCollins Children’s Books))
2010 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards - Winner - Best Painter/Multimedia Artist: (for Beasts of Burden [Dark Horse]; Magic Trixie and the Dragon [HarperCollins])
Notes:
Married to Brian Azzarello.
View a chronological listing of this creator's work
Writer:
Action Girl Comics (1994)
Bart Simpson's Horror Show (1998)
Batman Black and White (1996)
Batman: Gotham Knights (2000)
Beasts of Burden (2010)
The Dead Boy Detectives (2005)
Death: At Death's Door (2003)
Delirium's Party: A Little Endless Storybook (2011)
Fractured Fables (2010)
Girl Comics (2010)
Goosebumps (2006)
Guest of Honor-Neil Gaiman (1993)
Hellboy: Opowie¶ci niesamowite (2010)
Hellboy: Weird Tales (2003)
Jingle Belle: Jubilee (2001)
Jingle Belle: The Whole Package (2016)
Jingle Belle's Cool Yule (2002)
The Little Endless Storybook (2001)
Little Nemo: Dream Another Dream (2014)
Magic Trixie (2008)
Masks: Too Hot for TV! (2004)
MySpace Dark Horse Presents (2007)
Previews (1988)
Scary Godmother (1997)
Scary Godmother (2002)
Scary Godmother (2010)
Scary Godmother - The Boo Flu (2000)
Scary Godmother - The Mystery Date (1999)
Scary Godmother - The Revenge of Jimmy (1998)
Scary Godmother and Friends (1997)
Scary Godmother Comic Book Stories (2011)
Scary Godmother: Activity Book (2000)
Scary Godmother: Bloody Valentine (1998)
Scary Godmother: Ghouls Out For Summer (2001)
Scary Godmother: Holiday Spooktakular (1998)
Scary Godmother: Spooktakular Stories (2004)
Scary Godmother: Wild About Harry (2000)
Sexy Chix (2006)
Sirius Gallery (1999)
Strip AIDS U.S.A. (1988)
Treehouse of Horror (1995)
Trilogy Tour II (1998)
Vertigo X Anniversary (2003)
Wildstorm Presents (2011)
Wonder Woman 75th Anniversary Special (2016)
Wonder Woman: The True Amazon (2016)
Penciller:
9-11 (2002)
The Absolute Death (2009)
Action Girl Comics (1994)
Aesop's Desecrated Morals (1993)
All-New X-Men (2013)
The Annotated Sandman (2011)
Archie: 50 Times An American Icon (2011)
The Art of Matt Wagner's Grendel (2007)
The Art of Neil Gaiman (2014)
The Art of Painted Comics (2016)
The Art of Red Sonja, Volume 2 (2017)
Ba¶nie (2007)
Ba¶nie: Z 1001 nocy królewny ¦nie¿ki (2008)
Bad Doings and Big Ideas: A Bill Willingham Deluxe Edition (2011)
Badger Goes Berserk! (1989)
Badger: Shattered Mirror (1994)
The Bandy Man (1996)
Batman Black and White (1996)
Batman: Gotham Knights (2000)
Batman/Superman Sonderband (2009)
Beasts of Burden (2009)
Beasts of Burden (2010)
Beasts of Burden: Hunters & Gatherers (2014)
Beasts of Burden: Neighborhood Watch (2012)
Beasts of Burden: What the Cat Dragged In (2016)
Before Watchmen: Ozymandias/Crimson Corsair (2013)
The Best American Comics (2006)
Big Bang Comics (1996)
Bizarro Comics (2001)
Black Orchid (1993)
The Books of Magic (1994)
Calibrations (1996)
The CBLDF Presents Liberty Annual (2010)
A Century of Women Cartoonists (1993)
Challengers of the Unknown (1997)
The Chronicles of Corum (1987)
Classics Illustrated (1990)
Classics Illustrated (2007)
Comics Code Illustrated (1997)
Corum: The Bull and the Spear (1989)
Crazy Christmas (2014)
Creator-Owned Heroes (2012)
The Dark Horse Book of Hauntings (2003)
The Dark Horse Book of Monsters (2006)
The Dark Horse Book of the Dead (2005)
The Dark Horse Book of Witchcraft (2004)
Dark Horse Presents (2011)
Dawn: Dreams of Dawn (1999)
DC Comics Covergirls (2007)
The Dead Boy Detectives (2005)
A Death Gallery (1994)
Death: At Death's Door (2003)
Death: The Deluxe Edition (2012)
Delirium's Party: A Little Endless Storybook (2011)
The Dreaming (1996)
Elementals (1984)
The Endless Gallery (1995)
Fables (2002)
Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall (2006)
Fathom (1987)
Finals (1999)
For Unlawful Comic Knowledge (2007)
Fractured Fables (2010)
Future Quest (2016)
Girl Comics (2010)
GloomCookie (1999)
Goosebumps (2006)
The Graveyard Book: Graphic Novel (2014)
Grendel Omnibus (2012)
Grendel: Red, White, & Black (2002)
Grimjack (1984)
Guest of Honor-Neil Gaiman (1993)
Harley Quinn (2016)
Heartbreakers (1996)
Hellblazer Special (1993)
Hellboy: Opowie¶ci niesamowite (2010)
Hellboy: Weird Tales (2003)
Hellboy/Beasts of Burden: Sacrifice (2010)
House of Mystery (2008)
Invisibles Monster Edition (2008)
The Invisibles (1994)
The Invisibles (1999)
The Invisibles: The Deluxe Edition (2014)
Jim Henson's Labyrinth Artist Tribute (2016)
Jingle Belle (1999)
Jingle Belle: Jubilee (2001)
Jingle Belle: Naughty & Nice (2000)
Jingle Belle: The Whole Package (2016)
Jingle Belle's Cool Yule (2002)
Jonny Quest Special (1988)
Kabuki Library Edition (2015)
Kabuki-Images (1998)
A Little Book Of Art (2011)
The Little Endless Storybook (2001)
Little Nemo: Dream Another Dream (2014)
Looney Tunes (1994)
The Lost (1997)
Magic Trixie (2008)
Marvel Now!: All-New X-Men (2014)
Mick Foley's Halloween Hijinx (2001)
Minimum Wage (vol. 02) (1995)
Monstrosis (2011)
Motor City Comic Con Program (1989)
MySpace Dark Horse Presents (2007)
Neil Gaiman and Charles Vess' A Fall of Stardust (1999)
The Neil Gaiman Coloring Book (2017)
The Nocturnals (1995)
Nocturnals: Archives (2007)
Nocturnals: Troll Bridge (2000)
Nocturnals: Unhallowed Eve (2002)
Once Upon a Time Machine (2012)
Origins of Marvel Comics (2010)
Origins of Marvel Comics: X-Men (2010)
Peter Parker: Spider-Man [GER] (2001)
Previews (1988)
The Quotable Sandman (2000)
Sandman (2002)
The Sandman Companion (1999)
The Sandman Gallery Edition (2015)
The Sandman (1989)
The Sandman: King of Dreams (2003)
Scalped (2007)
Scary Godmother (1997)
Scary Godmother (2002)
Scary Godmother (2010)
Scary Godmother - The Boo Flu (2000)
Scary Godmother - The Mystery Date (1999)
Scary Godmother - The Revenge of Jimmy (1998)
Scary Godmother and Friends (1997)
Scary Godmother Comic Book Stories (2011)
Scary Godmother: Activity Book (2000)
Scary Godmother: Bloody Valentine (1998)
Scary Godmother: Ghouls Out For Summer (2001)
Scary Godmother: Holiday Spooktakular (1998)
Scary Godmother: Spooktakular Stories (2004)
Scary Godmother: Wild About Harry (2000)
Seekers Into the Mystery (1996)
Sexy Chix (2006)
The Shade (2011)
Shadows & Light (1998)
Sirius Gallery (1999)
The Song of Mykal (2001)
Speed Racer (1987)
Spider-Man Family Featuring Spider-Clan (2007)
Squarriors (2014)
Stray (2004)
Strip AIDS U.S.A. (1988)
Superman/Batman (2003)
Swamp Thing (1985)
Tales from Wrescal Lane (2004)
Tome (2013)
Transmetropolitan (1997)
Treehouse of Horror (1995)
Trilogy Tour II (1998)
The Unexpected (2011)
The Unexpected (2013)
Vertigo Preview (1992)
Vertigo Rave (1994)
Vertigo Resurrected: Finals (2011)
Vertigo Secret Files and Origins: Swamp Thing (2000)
Vertigo Visions: Artwork from the Cutting Edge of Comics (2000)
Vertigo X Anniversary (2003)
Who's Who in the DC Universe (1990)
Wonder Woman (1987)
Wonder Woman 75th Anniversary Special (2016)
Wonder Woman Gallery (1996)
Wonder Woman Secret Files (1998)
Wonder Woman Special (1992)
Wonder Woman: The True Amazon (2016)
The X-Files: AfterFlight (1997)
X-Men (2013)
X-Men Unlimited (1993)
Inker:
9-11 (2002)
The Absolute Death (2009)
Action Girl Comics (1994)
Aesop's Desecrated Morals (1993)
All-New X-Men (2013)
The Art of Matt Wagner's Grendel (2007)
The Art of Red Sonja, Volume 2 (2017)
Ba¶nie (2007)
Ba¶nie: Z 1001 nocy królewny ¦nie¿ki (2008)
Bad Doings and Big Ideas: A Bill Willingham Deluxe Edition (2011)
Badger Goes Berserk! (1989)
Badger: Shattered Mirror (1994)
Batman Black and White (1996)
Batman: Gotham Knights (2000)
Batman/Superman Sonderband (2009)
Beasts of Burden (2009)
Beasts of Burden (2010)
Beasts of Burden: Hunters & Gatherers (2014)
Beasts of Burden: Neighborhood Watch (2012)
Beasts of Burden: What the Cat Dragged In (2016)
Before Watchmen: Ozymandias/Crimson Corsair (2013)
The Best American Comics (2006)
Big Bang Comics (1996)
Bizarro Comics (2001)
The Books of Magic (1994)
Calibrations (1996)
The CBLDF Presents Liberty Annual (2010)
Classics Illustrated (1990)
Classics Illustrated (2007)
Corum: The Bull and the Spear (1989)
Crazy Christmas (2014)
The Dark Horse Book of Hauntings (2003)
The Dark Horse Book of Monsters (2006)
The Dark Horse Book of the Dead (2005)
The Dark Horse Book of Witchcraft (2004)
Dark Horse Presents (2011)
The Dead Boy Detectives (2005)
A Death Gallery (1994)
Death: At Death's Door (2003)
Death: The Deluxe Edition (2012)
Delirium's Party: A Little Endless Storybook (2011)
The Dreaming (1996)
The Endless Gallery (1995)
Fables (2002)
Finals (1999)
Fractured Fables (2010)
Girl Comics (2010)
Goosebumps (2006)
The Graveyard Book: Graphic Novel (2014)
Grendel Omnibus (2012)
Grendel: Red, White, & Black (2002)
Harley Quinn (2016)
Heartbreakers (1996)
Hellblazer Special (1993)
Hellboy: Opowie¶ci niesamowite (2010)
Hellboy: Weird Tales (2003)
Hellboy/Beasts of Burden: Sacrifice (2010)
House of Mystery (2008)
The Invisibles (1994)
The Invisibles (1999)
The Invisibles: The Deluxe Edition (2014)
Jingle Belle (1999)
Jingle Belle: Jubilee (2001)
Jingle Belle: Naughty & Nice (2000)
Jingle Belle: The Whole Package (2016)
The Little Endless Storybook (2001)
Little Nemo: Dream Another Dream (2014)
Looney Tunes (1994)
The Lost (1997)
Magic Trixie (2008)
Marvel Now!: All-New X-Men (2014)
Mick Foley's Halloween Hijinx (2001)
Mildly Microwaved Pre-Pubescent Kung-Fu Gophers (1986)
Minimum Wage (vol. 02) (1995)
MySpace Dark Horse Presents (2007)
The Neil Gaiman Coloring Book (2017)
Nocturnals: Archives (2007)
Nocturnals: Troll Bridge (2000)
Nocturnals: Unhallowed Eve (2002)
Once Upon a Time Machine (2012)
Peter Parker: Spider-Man [GER] (2001)
Previews (1988)
The Sandman Companion (1999)
Scalped (2007)
Scary Godmother (1997)
Scary Godmother (2002)
Scary Godmother (2010)
Scary Godmother - The Boo Flu (2000)
Scary Godmother - The Mystery Date (1999)
Scary Godmother - The Revenge of Jimmy (1998)
Scary Godmother and Friends (1997)
Scary Godmother Comic Book Stories (2011)
Scary Godmother: Activity Book (2000)
Scary Godmother: Bloody Valentine (1998)
Scary Godmother: Ghouls Out For Summer (2001)
Scary Godmother: Holiday Spooktakular (1998)
Scary Godmother: Spooktakular Stories (2004)
Scary Godmother: Wild About Harry (2000)
Seekers Into the Mystery (1996)
Sexy Chix (2006)
The Shade (2011)
Shadows & Light (1998)
Spider-Man Family Featuring Spider-Clan (2007)
Squarriors (2014)
Stray (2004)
Strip AIDS U.S.A. (1988)
Swamp Thing (1985)
Tales from Wrescal Lane (2004)
Transmetropolitan (1997)
Treehouse of Horror (1995)
Trilogy Tour II (1998)
The Unexpected (2011)
The Unexpected (2013)
Vertigo Resurrected: Finals (2011)
Vertigo Secret Files and Origins: Swamp Thing (2000)
Vertigo X Anniversary (2003)
Wonder Woman (1987)
Wonder Woman 75th Anniversary Special (2016)
Wonder Woman Gallery (1996)
Wonder Woman Secret Files (1998)
Wonder Woman: The True Amazon (2016)
The X-Files: AfterFlight (1997)
X-Men (2013)
Colorist:
The Absolute Death (2009)
All-New X-Men (2013)
The Art of Matt Wagner's Grendel (2007)
The Art of Red Sonja, Volume 2 (2017)
Ba¶nie: Z 1001 nocy królewny ¦nie¿ki (2008)
Bad Doings and Big Ideas: A Bill Willingham Deluxe Edition (2011)
Batman/Superman Sonderband (2009)
Beasts of Burden (2009)
Beasts of Burden (2010)
Beasts of Burden: Hunters & Gatherers (2014)
Beasts of Burden: Neighborhood Watch (2012)
Beasts of Burden: What the Cat Dragged In (2016)
Before Watchmen: Ozymandias/Crimson Corsair (2013)
The Best American Comics (2006)
Classics Illustrated (1990)
Classics Illustrated (2007)
Crazy Christmas (2014)
The Dark Horse Book of Hauntings (2003)
The Dark Horse Book of Monsters (2006)
The Dark Horse Book of the Dead (2005)
The Dark Horse Book of Witchcraft (2004)
Dark Horse Presents (2011)
A Death Gallery (1994)
Death: The Deluxe Edition (2012)
Delirium's Party: A Little Endless Storybook (2011)
The Endless Gallery (1995)
Fables (2002)
Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall (2006)
Fractured Fables (2010)
Girl Comics (2010)
Harley Quinn (2016)
Hellboy: Opowie¶ci niesamowite (2010)
Hellboy: Weird Tales (2003)
Hellboy/Beasts of Burden: Sacrifice (2010)
House of Mystery (2008)
Kabuki Library Edition (2015)
The Little Endless Storybook (2001)
Little Nemo: Dream Another Dream (2014)
Magic Trixie (2008)
Marvel Now!: All-New X-Men (2014)
Mick Foley's Halloween Hijinx (2001)
Minimum Wage (vol. 02) (1995)
MySpace Dark Horse Presents (2007)
Once Upon a Time Machine (2012)
Previews (1988)
Scalped (2007)
Scary Godmother (1997)
Scary Godmother (2002)
Scary Godmother (2010)
Scary Godmother - The Boo Flu (2000)
Scary Godmother - The Mystery Date (1999)
Scary Godmother - The Revenge of Jimmy (1998)
Scary Godmother Comic Book Stories (2011)
Squarriors (2014)
Stray (2004)
Superman/Batman (2003)
Tales from Wrescal Lane (2004)
Treehouse of Horror (1995)
Trilogy Tour II (1998)
The Unexpected (2011)
The Unexpected (2013)
Wonder Woman 75th Anniversary Special (2016)
Wonder Woman: The True Amazon (2016)
X-Men (2013)
Letterer:
9-11 (2002)
Action Girl Comics (1994)
Beasts of Burden (2010)
The Dark Horse Book of Hauntings (2003)
The Dark Horse Book of the Dead (2005)
The Dark Horse Book of Witchcraft (2004)
The Dead Boy Detectives (2005)
Death: At Death's Door (2003)
Fractured Fables (2010)
Goosebumps (2006)
Grendel Omnibus (2012)
Grendel: Red, White, & Black (2002)
Hellboy: Weird Tales (2003)
Jingle Belle: Jubilee (2001)
Jingle Belle: The Whole Package (2016)
Little Nemo: Dream Another Dream (2014)
MySpace Dark Horse Presents (2007)
The Neil Gaiman Coloring Book (2017)
Previews (1988)
Scary Godmother (2010)
Scary Godmother - The Boo Flu (2000)
Scary Godmother - The Mystery Date (1999)
Scary Godmother - The Revenge of Jimmy (1998)
Scary Godmother and Friends (1997)
Scary Godmother Comic Book Stories (2011)
Scary Godmother: Activity Book (2000)
Scary Godmother: Bloody Valentine (1998)
Scary Godmother: Ghouls Out For Summer (2001)
Scary Godmother: Holiday Spooktakular (1998)
Scary Godmother: Spooktakular Stories (2004)
Scary Godmother: Wild About Harry (2000)
Stray (2004)
Strip AIDS U.S.A. (1988)
Trilogy Tour II (1998)
Vertigo X Anniversary (2003)
Cover Artist:
100 Graphic Novels for Public Libraries (1996)
Advance Comics (1989)
Archie (1960)
Badger: Shattered Mirror (1994)
Batman (2011)
Beasts of Burden (2009)
Beasts of Burden (2010)
Beasts of Burden: Hunters & Gatherers (2014)
Beasts of Burden: Neighborhood Watch (2012)
Beasts of Burden: What the Cat Dragged In (2016)
Before Watchmen: Ozymandias (2012)
Betty and Veronica (1987)
Black Magick (2015)
Bloodlines (2016)
Calibrations (1996)
Classics Illustrated (1990)
Classics Illustrated (2007)
Comic-Con International Update (1996)
The Comics Journal (1977)
Convergence (2015)
Convergence Nightwing/Oracle (2015)
Crazy Christmas (2014)
Dark Knight III: The Master Race (2016)
The Dead Boy Detectives (2005)
Death: At Death's Door (2003)
Delirium's Party: A Little Endless Storybook (2011)
Elementals (1984)
Finals (1999)
The Flintstones (2016)
Future Quest (2016)
Girl Comics (2010)
Goosebumps (2006)
Headlocked (2014)
Hellboy/Beasts of Burden: Sacrifice (2010)
Inhuman (2014)
The Invisibles (1994)
Life With Archie (2010)
A Little Book Of Art (2011)
The Little Endless Storybook (2001)
The Lost (1997)
Magic Trixie (2008)
Mara of the Celts Book 2 (1995)
Mick Foley's Halloween Hijinx (2001)
Moonshine (2016)
Musings (1993)
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic (2012)
The Neil Gaiman Coloring Book (2017)
Previews Gift Guide (2016)
Reading With Pictures (2010)
Red Sonja (2013)
Scary Godmother (1997)
Scary Godmother (2002)
Scary Godmother (2010)
Scary Godmother - The Boo Flu (2000)
Scary Godmother - The Mystery Date (1999)
Scary Godmother - The Revenge of Jimmy (1998)
Scary Godmother and Friends (1997)
Scary Godmother Comic Book Stories (2011)
Scary Godmother: Activity Book (2000)
Scary Godmother: Bloody Valentine (1998)
Scary Godmother: Ghouls Out For Summer (2001)
Scary Godmother: Holiday Spooktakular (1998)
Scary Godmother: Spooktakular Stories (2004)
Scary Godmother: Wild About Harry (2000)
The Shade (2011)
Speed Racer (1987)
Tales from Wrescal Lane (2004)
The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl (2015)
Vertigo Resurrected: Finals (2011)
Wolf Moon (2014)
Wonder Woman (1987)
Wonder Woman Special (1992)
Wonder Woman: The True Amazon (2016)
WWE Superstars (2013)
X-Men Unlimited (1993)
Jill Thompson
Credited as:
Colorist, Inker, Penciller, Writer, Cover Painter, Variant Cover, Letterer, Introduction, Artist, Cover
Jill Thompson is the most well-known, female comic book artist working in the comics industry today. She has risen to the top of the male-dominated field and has garnered acclaim for her work on WONDER WOMAN, SWAMP THING, BLACK ORCHID and the award winning title, THE SANDMAN with Neil Gaiman. Jill's first children's book, The Scary Godmother was released to critical acclaim and was adapted into 3-D animation. Jill enjoys working with different writers and artists and most recently collaborated with former-wrestler-turned-author, Mick Foley illustrating Mick Foley's Halloween Hijinx, which debuted at number seven on the New York Times children's books best seller list.
September 30, 2016
Jill Thompson on new 'Wonder Woman' graphic novel
Jill Thompson, on her graphic novel 'Wonder Woman: The True Amazon'
Artist and writer Jill Thompson discusses her graphic novel "Wonder Woman."
Web BehrensChicago Tribune
Artist and writer Jill Thompson grew up in Forest Park, where her love of geek culture took root at a young age. After graduating from the American Academy of Art in Chicago, she pursued her calling as an artist, breaking into the big leagues in 1990 by illustrating DC Comics' "Wonder Woman."
Highlights in her storied career since then include collaborating with author Neil Gaiman on his acclaimed "Sandman" series, co-creating "Beasts of Burden" with writer Evan Dorkin, about pets who solve supernatural mysteries, and striking out on her own with "Scary Godmother," an all-ages picture-book series.
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Now with seven Eisner Awards, she's come full circle, returning to the character that launched her career with a stunning graphic novel, painted in her lush signature watercolors. With 75 years of comics, TV shows and, recently, movie appearances under her tiara, Wonder Woman is everywhere, seemingly known to all.
Yet Thompson gives us something entirely fresh: a bracing look at Princess Diana's Paradise Island backstory. What was childhood like for the Amazon queen's daughter? The book's original title, "Wonder Woman: The Very Selfish Princess," sets up the premise: Given that she grew up an only child, gifted by the gods, a spoiled Diana faces tough lessons in her teen years. Thompson spent a few years writing and painting the book, now titled "Wonder Woman: The True Amazon."
She discussed her labor of love with the Tribune over coffee near her Andersonville home.
Jill Thompson
A selfie of Jill Thompson closes the artist’s graphic novel "Wonder Woman: The True Amazon." (Jill Thompson)
Q: What was the first comic you remember reading?
Well, I loved "Peanuts" in the newspaper. That's what caused me to want to draw comics. Then I got those little pocket books, compilations of "Peanuts" strips. They definitely smelled of old book. To me, that's what amazing things smell like. You walk into a used-book store and there's so much cool stuff to find! Knowledge smells like old paper to me.
Q: Why is Wonder Woman special to you? Is it her cultural significance or because she was your first big professional gig?
I have great affection for her as a character. I like her strength and the ideals that she stands for. She's definitely a feminist icon. For the longest time, she was the only major female superhero anywhere. It was a very radical way to say, "Maybe we should switch over to a matriarchy, because maybe there would be less war."
Q: You must be familiar with that amazing cover from a very early issue of her comic: She's speaking to a rally of women, and there's an enormous banner that reads, "Wonder Woman for President"! So far ahead of its time in the early '40s I mean, that's still upsetting to some people today.
Very upsetting to some people! I just recently watched the movie "Suffragette." I'm not sure younger women understand what had to be done just so we have the right to vote. And in the 1940s, Wonder Woman was a character who spoke to equality for everyone, while she's also fighting Nazis in World War II. Most women couldn't do any of that, which is why she's an amazing symbol. But in my version, she didn't start out so perfect. To me, that means: "It doesn't matter if you're not perfect. You don't have to be a perfect person to do something good for the world."
Q: Most versions of her origin involve military man Steve Trevor crashing into Paradise Island. Another interesting thing about your take: He's not here at all.
Wonder Woman's a creation of magic — she's stronger, faster, better — and she comes from an island. How did the Amazons get to the island? That's an interesting story to tell. I didn't feel the need to bring characters from the outside world into the situation. But that's just me. One of the things I really love about the trinity of DC characters: Because their origins are so iconic, you can drop them into any era, any genre, and tell a story. What if Batman lived in Jack the Ripper's time? What if Superman's rocket landed in Russia?
Q: Who's "The True Amazon" written for? Did you have an age range in mind?
No. I always write to entertain myself first, and I keep getting older. (Laughs.) It's not for very little kids. I tell parents, "This has some adult themes in it, and there's some violence. You read it first." This book is for all ages, but if your kid is under 10, open it up and read it yourself.
"Wonder Woman: The True Amazon"
By Jill Thompson, DC Comics, 128 pages, $23
GO: Jill Thompson will appear Oct. 15 at Challengers Comics, 1845 N. Western Ave., and Oct. 22 at Third Coast Comics, 6443 N. Sheridan Road.
Web Behrens is a freelance writer.
Jill Thompson, Jewel of the Comics Industry
With The True Amazon, She Gets Wonder Woman Right (Finally)
by Suzette Smith
Wonder Woman: The True Amazon by DC Comics
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ALL OF MY IRE can’t undo decisions that were made. The upcoming Wonder Woman movie will be set during World War I—Hollywood again declaring its love for jodhpurs—and the Amazonian princess Diana will stare, all romantic-faced, into the eyes a man (barf). But in the film’s accompanying wave of merchandising material and books, I have found one shining, silver lining: Jill Thompson’s Wonder Woman: The True Amazon.
Thompson is better known as an illustrator than an author—she illustrated the Sandman: Brief Lives story arc as well as copious other Vertigo/DC titles. When Thompson does write, it’s only for books she intends to illustrate—as she did with The True Amazon. This is doubtless to save some poor illustrator from having to live up to her expressive, colorful style. Thompson’s art is a true jewel of the comics industry and The True Amazon is a real pleasure, because it takes place on the magical island of Themyscira—a location comics readers have often wanted to visit but few artists have been able to imagine. Thompson is more than up to the challenge, and fills the mythical, women-only island with muscles, monsters, and Amazonians of color (although it would have been nice to see a main or supporting character of color).
On the other hand, I’ll warn you that Thompson’s writing, while good, is aimed at a young audience. I liked her award-winning Scary Godmother series for the art, but I would put her recommended reader age in the “child to tween” category. I suspect that The True Amazon is aimed at the same demographic, because at the beginning of the book, the narration edges around rape threats that male soldiers (and Zeus!) are making towards Wonder Woman’s mother, Queen Hippolyta, and her all-female Amazonian army. Thompson deftly gets to the heart of why the soldiers want to harm the Amazonians without addressing how. She does this without looking away from the violence, but with compassion for the sensitivities of her young fans.
Since Wonder Woman’s character creation in the 1940s, she has borne an unfortunate curse: Though often beautifully depicted, Wonder Woman is consistently poorly written. A couple exceptions are Christopher Moeller’s A League of One (where Wonder Woman fights a DRAGON) and her brief but haunting appearance in Planetary’s Terra Occulta series. I’m adding The True Amazon to the list.
Wonder Woman: The True Amazon
Jesse Karp
113.4 (Oct. 15, 2016): p37.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2016 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
Wonder Woman: The True Amazon. By Jill Thompson. Illus. by the author. Oct. 2016. 128p. DC Comics, 522.99 19781401249014). 741.5. Gr. 9-12.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
With Wonder Woman bringing her bulletproof bracelets to the silver screen in summer 2017, DC is offering a bounty of material featuring the character, who turns a vigorous 75 this year. Thompson's effort, however, will stand unique in this pantheon, for she spins a story both lyrical and thrilling and weaves it together with passionate, characterful illustrations. Always honoring the humanity within her fantasies, Thompson renders Wonder Woman's body in realistic though athletically impressive proportions and grants her an exquisitely expressive face, exalting the heat and depth of her feelings. Remolding the Amazons origin as fairy tale, Thompson draws from Greek myth to create a recognizable aesthetic and culture and imbue the allegory with grandeur and ferocity. Princess Diana is born from her mothers longing and the sympathetic tears of the Olympian gods. As she grows, so do her incomparable skills, her unrivaled courage, and her overbearing arrogance until, in the midst of the great Amazonian contest of skill and strength, she impetuously unleashes horrific calamity. Providing Diana with this poignant motivation for her superheroic deeds affords her complexity and accessibility heretofore mainly absent. Wonder Womans story has always had epic scope, but Thompson manages to transform the tale, as she did Spider-Mans, from simple heroism into heroic tragedy.--Jesse Karp
Karp, Jesse
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Karp, Jesse. "Wonder Woman: The True Amazon." Booklist, 15 Oct. 2016, p. 37. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA468771294&it=r&asid=0c2312186f0b828fc20c6bac6c51129e. Accessed 2 June 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A468771294
Wonder Woman: The True Amazon
263.38 (Sept. 19, 2016): p56.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2016 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Wonder Woman: The True Amazon
Jill Thompson. DC, $22.99 (128 p) ISBN 978-14012-4901-4
Thompson's (Sandman) retelling of the origin of Wonder Woman settles the story squarely in Greek mythology. The Amazon women, led by Queen Hippolyta, are driven from their home in a bloody war with Herakles. With the establishment of a peaceful, paradisiacal nation on the island of Themyscira, Hippolyta longs only for one thing, a child. The gods grant her wish and provide a daughter, who is doted on and loved by every woman on the island. Diana grows up strong, brave, beautiful, and spoiled rotten. When her recklessness leads to a terrible accident, Diana learns to face consequences for the first time. The pages are painted in gorgeous, detailed watercolors. The racially diverse Amazons live in palaces of white marble and dance in gardens overflowing with flowers and fruit. Though the narration often tells exactly what the artwork shows, giving some pages a repetitive feel, this is a solid introduction to Wonder Woman and her world that will appeal to all ages. (Oct.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Wonder Woman: The True Amazon." Publishers Weekly, 19 Sept. 2016, p. 56. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA464352746&it=r&asid=accea6e3875ab8823aba50b60bdca9d9. Accessed 2 June 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A464352746
The Graveyard Book Graphic Novel: Volume I
261.20 (May 19, 2014): p71.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2014 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
* The Graveyard Book Graphic Novel: Volume I
Neil Gaiman, adapted by P. Craig Russell, illus. by Scott Hampton, Tony Harris, et al. Harper, $17.99 (192p) ISBN 978-0-06-219481-7
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
As he did with Coraline, Russell makes the recasting of Gaiman's Newbery-winning novel into graphic form look easy with this vastly entertaining adaptation, first in a two-book set (the second volume is due in late September). Russell conceives the look and layout of the graveyard world inhabited by Bod (short for "Nobody"), the infant who has escaped his family's murderer; six artists, including Kevin Nowlan, Stephen B. Scott, Galen Showman, and Jill Thompson, contribute a chapter apiece. The overall effect is remarkably unified, and the thread of the narrative is always crystal-clear. Bod's devoted adoptive parents, the ghosts Mr. and Mrs. Owens, and the other graveyard inhabitants are dressed in evocative period costumes and drawn in ethereal blue, while Bod's teacher and mentor Silas, about whose status the book was coy, is revealed as a vampire, with a splendid cape and a chiseled jawline. The artwork sets out to entertain rather than to horrify; even the initial murder scene has a certain tranquility. It's a treasure worth having even if the novel is already on the shelf. Ages 8-12. (Aug.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"The Graveyard Book Graphic Novel: Volume I." Publishers Weekly, 19 May 2014, p. 71. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA369462432&it=r&asid=e4f2799d0c103720a15e553ab7250f22. Accessed 2 June 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A369462432
The Shade
Gordon Flagg
109.16 (Apr. 15, 2013): p48.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2013 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
The Shade.
By James Robinson. Illus. by Cully Hamner and others.
2013. 280p. DC Comics, $19.99 (9781401237820). 741.5. Gr. 8-12.
The charmingly amoral and seemingly immortal antihero from the much-lauded Starman comic returns in a miniseries that begins with a savage attempt on his life by the supervillain for hire Deathstroke. The Shade's quest to learn who's behind the attack takes him around the world, reuniting him with several of his descendants, before culminating in a cataclysmic battle with Egyptian gods held captive beneath the British Museum. As a bonus, the tale delves into the heretofore unrevealed mystic calamity in Victorian London that gave him the power to manipulate shadows to devastating effect. The story's deliberate pace and provocative characterizations set it apart from standard superhero fare. The various chapters are drawn by some of comics' foremost artists, including Darwyn Cooke, Jill Thompson, and Cully Hamner. Many fans of the Shade have likely moved on in the decade that's elapsed since Starman's celebrated run; even so, this revival of one of the DC universe's most intriguing characters is arguably one of the best things the company's published since it overhauled its superhero line two years ago.--Gordon Flagg
Flagg, Gordon
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Flagg, Gordon. "The Shade." Booklist, 15 Apr. 2013, p. 48. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA327988493&it=r&asid=5d260f87bedce4d993371263cf0c4b95. Accessed 2 June 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A327988493
Delirium's Party: A Little Endless Storybook
Jesse Karp
107.18 (May 15, 2011): p37.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2011 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
Delirium's Party: A Little Endless Storybook.
By Jill Thompson. Illus. by the author.
May 2011. 64p.Vertigo, $14.99 (9781401224776). 741.5. Gr. 9-12.
To readers of Thompson's Beasts of Burden and Scary Godmother (both 2010), it will come as no surprise that Delirium's Party could be sold simply on the basis of her art. She brings toddler versions of Neil Gaiman's Sandman cast to life with a dark fairy-tale flair that, in details like Deliriums phantasmagorical and ever-changing hairdos and Despair's glaring eyes and changeless frown, is alive with personality and imagination. Despite the baleful siblings of the Endless (including the likes of Death and Destruction) and the fairly bizarre nature of the project--a parody, one is to presume, of such properties as The Muppet Babies--Thompson crafts a winning story concerning the family's efforts to cheer up the ever-grim Despair. Incorporating the familial push and pull, archetypal lessons, and simple twist ending that give excellent storybook tales their charm and power, Thompson creates a book that will serve not only as a delightful confection for Gaiman's fans but also enchant those looking for a beautifully rendered, deceptively childlike fantasy with shadows lingering at its edges.--Jesse Karp
Karp, Jesse
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Karp, Jesse. "Delirium's Party: A Little Endless Storybook." Booklist, 15 May 2011, p. 37+. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA257511792&it=r&asid=3ad70a49edf4727093dd9e01d96b1345. Accessed 2 June 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A257511792
Delirium's Party: A Little Endless Storybook
258.16 (Apr. 18, 2011): p41.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2011 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Delirium's Party: A Little Endless Storybook
Jill Thompson. DC/Vertigo, $14.99 trade paper (64p) ISBN 978-1-4012-2477-6
The Endless--six quasi-mythological figures created by Neil Gaiman in the pages of the Sandman comics--return in their child-size versions in this whimsical tale of sibling dynamics by acclaimed artist Thompson (Scary Godmother). Delirium, accompanied by her loyal dog Barnabas, is hell-bent on throwing her dour sister, Despair, the most wonderful birthday party ever. The little girl stays true to her name, and Thompson's illustrations capture the manic energy Delirium pours into party planning. When the rest of the family arrives-brothers Destiny, Dream, Destruction and sisters Despair, Death, and Desire--Delirium promises a party they won't soon forgot. But nothing cracks Despair's grim facade (even presents) or move her to utter anything other than "..." It isn't until Delirium puts aside her own assumptions about what makes the perfect party and sees the event through her sister's eyes that she realizes what's missing. Thompson's watercolors bring this eccentric family to life, from the frenetic Technicolor whirlwind of Delirium doing everything in her power to coax a smile out of her sister to her cloaked and hooded siblings presenting Despair with increasingly elaborate birthday presents. (May)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Delirium's Party: A Little Endless Storybook." Publishers Weekly, 18 Apr. 2011, p. 41. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA254594620&it=r&asid=c0a52a3ded496cc4614915a282ef0547. Accessed 2 June 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A254594620
Scary Godmother
Jesse Karp
107.8 (Dec. 15, 2010): p37.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2010 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
* Scary Godmother.
By Jill Thompson. Illus. by the author.
2010. 192p. Dark Horse, $24.99 (9781595825896). 741.5. Gr. 3-5.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
It's not every day you see a work that manages to capture universal themes and imagery in a distinct and wonderfully sophisticated style, and that reinvents the familiar in a wild crackle of creative energy. But you'll see it four times over in this new collection compiling all four of Thompson's original Scary Godmother stories plus extra goodies. Told in oftenrhyming prose and word balloons on vibrant pages that balance a visually lavish picture book aesthetic with sequential-art page composition, the stories burst with complex color tones and creepy cartoon figures. Whether little Hannah is giving the mean big kids a scare with the help of Scary Godmother, putting a stop to cousin Jimmy's Grinchian plan to prevent Halloween from coming, helping find out who Scary Godmother's secret admirer is, or taking over Halloween chores when the Boo Flu strikes, the wonder of secret childhood friends and the thrill of ghosts and goblins are magically evoked and rendered. With a sense of weird, Seussian fun,Thompson casts Halloween monsters as the most inviting group of playmates ever, and young readers will want to visit them again and again. This book deserves a prime place in every graphic-novel collection.--Jesse Karp
Karp, Jesse
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Karp, Jesse. "Scary Godmother." Booklist, 15 Dec. 2010, p. 37. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA245737992&it=r&asid=d7718766bbebee831eb77303627662da. Accessed 2 June 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A245737992
Magic Trixie and the Dragon
Kat Kan
106.4 (Oct. 15, 2009): p44.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2009 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
Magic Trixie and the Dragon.
By Jill Thompson. Illus. by the author.
2009. 96p. HarperTrophy, paper, $7.99 (9780061170508). 741.5. Gr. 3-5.
In her third graphic-novel outing, young witch Magic Trixie goes to the circus with her grandma Mimi and falls in love with the fire-breathing, flying dragons. She obsesses over wanting one but doesn't notice the effect this has on her cat, Scratches, who begins to think that Trixie doesn't like him anymore. But when Trixie accidentally transmogrifies her baby sister into a large and rambunctious dragon, she needs her feline friend to help her. Thompson's colorful art showing dragon Abby gleefully tearing up the house will have young readers laughing, and they'll cheer Trixie's solution to her problems.--Kat Kan
Kan, Kat
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Kan, Kat. "Magic Trixie and the Dragon." Booklist, 15 Oct. 2009, p. 44. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA210723765&it=r&asid=eb249e7f14a12c51bbfb9acc3bf43294. Accessed 2 June 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A210723765
Magic Trixie
Kat Kan
105.1 (Sept. 1, 2008): p100.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2008 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
Magic Trixie.
By Jill Thompson. Illus. by the author.
2008. 96p. HarperCollins/Trophy, paper, $7.99 (9780061170454). 741.5. Gr. 3-5.
Magic Trixie may be the big sister, but her family pays more attention to baby Abby Cadabra and, she's convinced, doesn't let her have any fun. At Monstersorri School, everyone is going to be doing something special for show-and-tell, but they've already seen all the magic spells that Trixie knows. She feels she has to do something that will make everyone go "Wow!" but none of the adults will allow her to touch the big magic wand, the magic cauldron, or the spell book. What can she do? Finally, she remembers she knows one more spell: making something disappear. In this graphic novel, Thompson has created a loving, close family and a great group of friends and classmates of Trixie's that also happen to be witches, monsters, vampires, mummies, werewolves, and ghosts. Bright colors and a whimsical style make everything friendly rather than scary. Underneath the supernatural trappings lies a classic story of sibling envy to which every big sister and big brother can relate.--Kat Kan
Kan, Kat
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Kan, Kat. "Magic Trixie." Booklist, 1 Sept. 2008, p. 100. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA185166300&it=r&asid=9471e10a64b2b43868901389b9e31bd8. Accessed 2 June 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A185166300
Thompson, Jill. The Little Endless Storybook
Tina Coleman
101.11 (Feb. 1, 2005): p952.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2005 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
Thompson, Jill. The Little Endless Storybook. 2004.56p. illus. DC Comics/ Vertigo, $15.95 (1-4012-0428-7). 741.5.
Incredibly enedearing art makes this picture book a page-turner. Barnabas the Dog accidentally loses track of little Delirium when he excuses himself to take care of some puppy business. His search for her leads him to the realms of her siblings, who award him with vague advice and a charm from each of them. Thompson's Little Endless conception made just one appearance in Neil Gaiman's original run of Sandman but was, nevertheless, a fan favorite. If this story is short and faithful to children's-book conventions (e.g., art and text appear on facing pages), the art is fabulous--cute but not without the edge that one expects from the Sandman line. The story is funny and appealing in itself, yet it incorporates enough insider jokes to gratify Sandman fans. A few pages at the end of the book are dedicated to explaining how the stories came about and relaying a few tidbits about the Little Endless dolls and figures.--Tina Coleman
YA/L: Unlike many other Sandman stories, these are accessible for YAs; bathroom jokes make up the "mature content." TC.
YA/L, for books with a limited teenage audience
Coleman, Tina
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Coleman, Tina. "Thompson, Jill. The Little Endless Storybook." Booklist, 1 Feb. 2005, p. 952. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA131083946&it=r&asid=f8a2965efff68c053773c3fea1d23ede. Accessed 2 June 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A131083946
Thompson, Jill. Death: Vol. 1: at Death's Door
Steve Raiteri
129.1 (Jan. 2004): p80.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2004 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.libraryjournal.com/
Vertigo: D.C. Comics. 2003. 204p. ISBN 1-56389-938-8. pap. $9.95. F
In this manga-esque spin-osff of Neil Gaiman's popular series, Thompson presents a retelling of some of the events of the fourth "Sandman" volume, Season of Mists, interspersed with new material of her own. Here, the Sandman (a.k.a. Dream) goes to Hell to try to free an old lover, and Lucifer, who has closed Hell and sent away all of the demons and souls, gives Dream the key to Hell. As Dream deals with the various gods and other beings who desire the key, Dream's sister, the popular goth girl Death, throws a party for Hell's inhabitants. Thompson's Death is undeniably cute, and the retelling of the original story in shojo manga (girls' comics) style is compelling, but the comedy at Death's party clashes with the seriousness of Dream's story. This is probably a better introduction to "Sandman" for manga fans than vice versa, but those who are already fans of both will be entertained, There's a bit of nudity (actually, Despair is always nude). Recommended for older teens and adults, wherever "Sandman" is popular.
Steve Raiteri is Audiovisual and Reference Librarian at the Greene County public Library in Xenia, OH, where he started the graphic novel collection in 1996. He posts his Recommended Graphic Novels for Public Libraries at my.voyager.net/~sraiteri/graphicnovels.htm
Raiteri, Steve
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Raiteri, Steve. "Thompson, Jill. Death: Vol. 1: at Death's Door." Library Journal, Jan. 2004, p. 80. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA112482498&it=r&asid=9a8098d9a9af65841a4c44de365d0982. Accessed 2 June 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A112482498
The Sandman: Brief Lives
241.43 (Oct. 24, 1994): p57.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 1994 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Jill Thompson and Vince Locke, afterword by Peter Straub. DC Comics/Vertigo, $19.95 ISBN 1-56389-138-7
Gaiman's very popular Sandman series (this is the eighth book in the series) continues with another tale of the Endless, the family of mythic cosmic beings that govern the psychic and physical realms of Dream, Desire, Despair, Destiny, Delirium, Destruction and Death. Morpheus, Lord of Dreams and the central figure in the series, is asked by his sister, the unstable and touchingly demented Delirium, to help locate their brother Destruction. Destruction abandoned his duties 300 years ago (about the time of the Enlightenmentnt), dropping out of sight after a prescient and despairing glimpse of the rise of human reason and its own destructive proclivities. The grimly ironic Morpheus and his whimsically erratic sister travel among the mortals of earth in search of their brother and ultimately learn something of Destruction's reasons for abdicating. Gaiman's works often follow the plots of classical and mythical narratives and Brief Lives, like his other works, can often look and sound as ponderous as a bad period costume movie. But his works are also driven by sharply drawn characters and his knack for capturing the patterns of intimacy, even in an otherworldly setting, can be affecting. Thompson and Locke contribute subtle and vividly colored drawings, rendered in an awkward but agile line. (Nov.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"The Sandman: Brief Lives." Publishers Weekly, 24 Oct. 1994, p. 57+. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA15845587&it=r&asid=9d3355f4a6c81aa935b053c431c14db1. Accessed 2 June 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A15845587
Gaiman, Neil and Russell, P. Craig: The Graveyard Book: Volume 1 (Graphic Adaptation)
Tanja Jennings
62.4 (Winter 2014): p246.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2014 The School Library Association
http://www.sla.org.uk/school-librarian.php
Gaiman, Neil and Russell, P. Craig
The Graveyard Book: Volume 1 (Graphic Adaptation)
Bloomsbury, 2014, pp188, 12.99 [pounds sterling]
978 1 40885 899 8
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
The 2008 modern classic gets the graphic novel treatment in this adaptation employing a stellar line up of illustrators. The Greenaway shortlisted UK version for children memorably peopled with Chris Riddell's creepy and evocative black and white illustrations, and Dave McKean's psychologically compelling adult US edition, are hard acts to follow, but the intriguing idea of using an array of illustrators to interpret different chapters using a sumptuous and rich colour palette is an innovative and creative solution.
The opening of the novel is disturbing as the nefarious man Jack slaughters Bod's entire family. Riddell portrays him as a menacing figure on the stairs with a fell purpose cleverly using chiaroscuro to highlight his shadow on the wall while McKean uses a sequence of images to signify to the reader what is happening--namely the child's dummy and the knife mirroring Gaiman's first line. While the graphic novel also uses these motifs, the effect is shockingly visceral as Kevin Nowlan chooses to portray the bloody carnage of Jack on page 2. Whether this explicitness is necessary is a matter open to debate.
In Chapter 1, as Bod takes refuge in the graveyard, finding a ready-made family of ghosts and acquiring a vampiric protector, Kindzierski uses midnight blues, blacks, browns and grey with splashes of red to signify violence. Craig Russell's section interchanges night with day in the graveyard and is cheerfully colourful when Bod makes friends with a human girl, using purples and browns when they discover a secret below ground. Segueing into Chapter 3, The Hounds of God, a collaboration between Harris and Hampton, the characters of Bod, Miss Lupescu and Silas become sinister through the use of dark facial shadows, glowing red eyes, midnight blues and chiaroscuro to create a sense of foreboding. Shifting into Chapter 4 Galen Showman humanises Silas and makes the ethereal beings two dimensional as they dominate their panels and warn Bod of the dangers of the unknown. Bod's encounter with the human world employs emotive facial expressions and shifts from darkness to light. Sandman collaborator and comic book artist Jill Thompson takes over in Chapter 5 as Gaiman's ghosts perform the Macabray reminiscent of Saint Saens' Danse Macabre. Her art is celebratory as ghosts and humans mingle. Frustratingly, the novel ends with Scott's dark Convocation interlude resulting in the reader seeking out the original text to find out what happens next.
This adaptation has been praised as diverse and cohesive. While it is true that the art work is remarkable, there are some criticisms. Sometimes the shifts between styles jar. Occasionally Bod's age seems indeterminate. He appears older in Part 3 than he does in Part 5. Also Gaiman writes that his eyes are grey but they are depicted as hazel. However, these are minor quibbles as the artistry is imaginative and inventive. It's disappointing that readers have to wait for Volume 2 but it will offer more surprises with new artists being added to the project. This weird and wonderful collaboration is clearly a labour of love which should bring joy to fans of sequential art.
Jennings, Tanja
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Jennings, Tanja. "Gaiman, Neil and Russell, P. Craig: The Graveyard Book: Volume 1 (Graphic Adaptation)." School Librarian, Winter 2014, p. 246. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA396137562&it=r&asid=ca85192b88f842e50ba5fe6fb83bf2db. Accessed 2 June 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A396137562
Thompson, Jill. Delirium's Party: A Little Endless Storybook
Benjamin Russell
57.6 (July 2011): p123.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2011 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
THOMPSON, Jill. Delirium's Party: A Little Endless Storybook. illus. by author. unpaged. Vertigo. 2011. Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-1-4012-2477-6. LC number unavailable.
Gr 6 Up--Delirium, the youngest of the seven Endlesses, throws a party for her sister Despair after realizing that she has never smiled. The story is a spin-off from a "mature readers" comic book illustrated in semi-chibi style featuring a naked, depressed, obese character. The main character is the personification of addlepated whimsy, and the pages are filled with appropriately imaginative fancies and absurdities. The characters, despite their childish reductions, hew recognizably to their established grown-up personae. And the predominant narrative voice is one that chimes with the cheerful ease of a read-aloud. But the ultimate message is that some people are only happy when other people are unhappy. This is certainly character-appropriate, but one must question the audience. It seems clear that Vertigo thinks of the book as something that will appeal to both veteran readers of Nell Gaiman's "Sandman" as well as their nerd-indoctrinated offspring, but, despite Thompson's excellent craftsmanship and well-honed tone, this enjoyable and clever story is more likely to inspire giggles than raise disturbing questions. It may be too insular to be truly accessible, and is likely more of a lark for adults.--Benjamin Russell, Belmont High School, NH
Russell, Benjamin
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Russell, Benjamin. "Thompson, Jill. Delirium's Party: A Little Endless Storybook." School Library Journal, July 2011, p. 123. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA261730344&it=r&asid=bd92828b6fc45104dae28c2d98a8a6af. Accessed 2 June 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A261730344
Thompson, Jill. Magic Trixie
Sadie Mattox
55.3 (Mar. 2009): p174.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2009 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
THOMPSON, Jill. Magic Trixie. illus, by author. 94p. CIP. HarperTrophy. 2008. pap. $7.99. ISBN 978-0-06-117045-4. LC 2007024298.
Gr 3-5--With a charming amount of sass, Magic Trixie starts her week on the wrong side of the bed. First, her baby sister ruins her chance for cloudberry pancakes. Then she finds out she has to do show-and-tell at the end of the week. As time goes on, Trixie frets about what to take to school. Finally, she decides to take her sister and show everyone a neat disappearing spell. That would solve two problems at once. Frantic, silly, and earnest, Trixie is a delightful little witch. Her dead-on expressions will leave all kids laughing in the aisles, quick to share her stories. The playful art and bright colors splashed on the page bring the child and her supernatural friends to life.--Sadie Mattox, DeKalb County Public Library, Decatur, GA
Mattox, Sadie
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Mattox, Sadie. "Thompson, Jill. Magic Trixie." School Library Journal, Mar. 2009, p. 174. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA198288218&it=r&asid=fe609773ee911e2eba805ed56ba673bd. Accessed 2 June 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A198288218
Thompson, Jill. The Little Endless Storybook
Ronnie Gordon
51.9 (Sept. 2005): p243.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2005 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
THOMPSON, Jill. The Little Endless Storybook. illus. by author. unpaged. DC Gomics. 2004. Tr $9.95. ISBN 1-4012-0428-7. LC number unavailable.
Gr 10 Up--Delirium, the youngest of the Endless family, and her brothers and sisters are encountered as adults in Neil Gaiman's graphic novel series "The Sandman" (DC Comics). Thompson, Gaiman's collaborator, has created a world of the Endless as children. In this story, Delirium's small dog is in charge of keeping her safe, because she is easily distracted. When he goes off into the woods to "see a man about a tree," she goes off in search of him. When he returns he cannot find her so he visits each of her siblings, including Destiny and Death (two major characters in Sandman), to try to find her. Each one gives him a charm (a symbol of their adult character), but it is not clear how they will help him. It is difficult to determine the intended audience, although the book itself indicates it is meant for mature audiences. The writing is uneven, and the humor is very adult, but the plot is simple and too predictable for older readers. Not a true graphic novel, but an illustrated story, the full-page manga-style art seems aimed at younger children. Sandman fans are the most likely audience, and they are sure to find these illustrations disappointing and substandard.--Ronnie Gordon, Brooklyn Public Library, NY
Gordon, Ronnie
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Gordon, Ronnie. "Thompson, Jill. The Little Endless Storybook." School Library Journal, Sept. 2005, p. 243. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA136386480&it=r&asid=9f9ded4c04ce238b5b5433d1c5b5cd3b. Accessed 2 June 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A136386480
Thompson, Jill. Wonder Woman: The True Amazon
Teresa Potter-Reyes
(Aug. 19, 2016):
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2016 Library Journals, LLC
http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/reviews/xpress/884170-289/xpress_reviews-first_look_at_new.html.csp
GRAPHIC NOVELS
Thompson, Jill. Wonder Woman: The True Amazon. DC. Oct. 2016. 128p. ISBN 9781401249014. $22.99. SUPERHERO
In this work by Eisner Award winner Thompson (Scary Godmother), we learn of the life-altering events that force Princess Diana, who would later become Wonder Woman, to leave the Amazon island paradise of Themyscira. Growing into a self-indulgent and shallow leader, she causes a tragedy that brings suffering and an end to her sister's life, forever changing the course of her own. Rather than sentence Diana to death, Queen of the Amazons Hippolyta banishes her daughter as punishment for her crimes. During Diana's exile and quest for atonement, she discovers that she can be a hero not only for herself but also for her Amazon siblings, ultimately finding her strength as Wonder Woman. Thompson's art is soft and magical, atypical of superhero comics. In her capable hands, this work provides insight into the early years of the heroine and is a solid addition to the stand-alone stories of her character, a callback to DC's refreshing "New 52" series originally spearheaded by writer Brian Azzarello and artists Tony Akins and Cliff Chiang.
Verdict A riveting take on Wonder Woman's origin story, this True Amazon will please fans of both the superhero and writer/illustrator Thompson.--Teresa Potter-Reyes, Helen Hall Lib., League City, TX
Potter-Reyes, Teresa
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Potter-Reyes, Teresa. "Thompson, Jill. Wonder Woman: The True Amazon." Xpress Reviews, 19 Aug. 2016. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA462327886&it=r&asid=2d530eb8ae2e37f57550a3f9fbfa930f. Accessed 2 June 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A462327886
Morrison, Grant (text) & Steve Yeowell & others (illus.). The Invisibles: The Deluxe Edition
Ryan Claringbole
(Sept. 5, 2014):
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2014 Library Journals, LLC
http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/reviews/xpress/884170-289/xpress_reviews-first_look_at_new.html.csp
[star]Morrison, Grant (text) & Steve Yeowell & others (illus.). The Invisibles: The Deluxe Edition. Vol. 1. Vertigo. 2014. 328p. ISBN 9781401245023. $29.99; ebk. ISBN 9781401250287. Rated: M. SUPERHERO
Reading the first volume of The Invisibles, written by Morrison and illustrated by Yeowell, Jill Thompson, Dennis Cramer, Chris Weston, John Ridgway, Steve Parkhouse, and Duncan Fegredo is like having your vision and hearing go out intermittently while walking through the world's craziest fun house. Morrison, known for his work in Batman and All-Star Superman, among other things, broke new ground when he put this title out under the DC Vertigo imprint back in 1994, blazing a trail for writers such as Garth Ennis and Warren Ellis to follow. The story revolves around a small group who call themselves the Invisibles and their newest recruit as they battle an unseen enemy, aliens from another dimension who already have a hold on most of humanity. Team members are able to travel through time, dimensions, realities, and more. At one point, they journey back to bring the Marquis de Sade to 1980s San Francisco to play a key role in their ongoing struggle. Morrison's writing is as brilliant and cryptic as ever. Symbolism and intertwining themes run throughout the book, and the art superlatively gives the readers a semblance of the majestic chaos that makes up the world Morrison created. Verdict A great introduction to a vibrant dystopia in which humanity's only hope is a small rag-tag bunch who don't fit into society's norms in more ways than one. This graphic novel is for those who enjoy sf, dystopian fiction, and tales of rebellion against Orwellian-like authority.--Ryan Claringbole, Coll. Lib. at the Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison
Claringbole, Ryan
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Claringbole, Ryan. "Morrison, Grant (text) & Steve Yeowell & others (illus.). The Invisibles: The Deluxe Edition." Xpress Reviews, 5 Sept. 2014. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA382806573&it=r&asid=dbe97aab168413476256833db7a52592. Accessed 2 June 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A382806573
Jill Thompson’s ‘The True Amazon’ And The Secret Strength Of Wonder Woman’s Confusing Origins
by J. Caleb Mozzocco October 7, 2016 9:00 AM
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Gender is far from the only thing that separates Wonder Woman from her DC Comics peers Superman and Batman. One rather dramatic difference that has grown more and more pronounced over the course of the last three decades is the fluidity of the character’s origins.
This is most often expressed as a negative, a frustration articulated by referring to the character as “confusing,” or citing the fact that she doesn’t have her own classic, standalone comic that you can point a curious fan to the way, say, Batman: Year One will satisfy anyone curious about Batman and how he came to be.
Jill Thompson’s Wonder Woman: The True Amazon responds to that aspect of the character, but not simply by filling a perceived hole with an analogue to Year One. Rather, The True Amazon capitalizes on that fluidity to tell a Wonder Woman story unlike any other.
Note: This article contains spoilers for the events and ending of The True Amazon.
Certainly the World’s Finest have had their backstories tweaked in the comics every now and then, and they vary slightly from mass media adaptation to mass media adaptation, but every version agrees on the important stuff. Superman was rocketed to Earth from a doomed planet as a baby, and was adopted and raised on Earth, where his extraordinary powers kicked in. Batman’s wealthy parents were killed before his eyes when he was a boy, and he devoted his life and fortune to fighting crime in the guise of a bat.
And Wonder Woman?
Well, she’s from a secret island of Amazon women, and came to “Man’s World,” where she became a superhero. That never really changes. Everything else, however, seems negotiable.
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Was she born on that island? Sometimes she was the daughter of Zeus and Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons. More often she was a clay or sand sculpture, brought to life to please Hippolyta by the Amazons’ patron deities.
Why did she leave? Often in order to save the life of the first man she ever met, a man she fell in love with. And to defend America and its democratic allies from the Axis Powers. Or to defend America and the world from the influence of war god Ares and his worshippers. Or merely because of her insatiable curiosity about the world beyond her island’s shores. Or some combination of the above; usually at least two.
She was armed with a magical vehicle and accessories, the origins of which vary from telling to telling. More impressive yet were her amazing powers, which also vary from telling to telling, as do the precise source of those powers.
Even when she arrived varies, as her creator William Moulton Marston tied her origin to current events in 1942, so that her origin necessitates a great deal more tinkering than those of many heroes not tied directly to a fixed point in time. Sometimes she pre-dated her superheroic peers, sometimes she was their contemporary, sometimes she began her career long after they began theirs.
As stories piled up — and as one of only a handful of characters whose comics have been in continuous publication since a Golden Age debut, she has a lot of stories — writers and editors went to sometimes comical lengths to update her, and then explain everything that changed when they did so. (Her mother, and especially her sometimes partner Wonder Girl, suffered far more from such adjustments than she did.)
I find it ironic that so many of the best Wonder Woman stories of some length or prestige that DC has published in the last decade or so have been origin stories, and all been quite different: Ben Caldwell’s Wonder Woman strip in Wednesday Comics, Grant Morrison and Yanick Paquette’s Wonder Woman: Earth One, Renae De Liz’s The Legend of Wonder Woman, Greg Rucka and Nicola Scott’s ongoing Wonder Woman arc “Year One” and now, of course, Thompson’s Wonder Woman: The True Amazon.
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Each of these stories differs dramatically in ways big and small, and, with the exception of “Year One,” all are set outside of the DC Universe’s official continuity, and thus don’t feature what regular readers would think of as the “real” Wonder Woman. Nor do they lead directly into other comics the way that Batman: Year One or Superman: Secret Origin might; Caldwell’s Wonder Woman and Morrison and Paquette’s Wonder Woman exist only in the pages they’ve worked on, and you won’t find her in other collections or in any issue of Wonder Woman’s ongoing series.
Having just read Thompson’s The True Amazon, though, I find myself reevaluating what often seemed like a weakness in DC’s strategy of making every Wonder Woman prestige project a standalone origin story. Narrative fluidity is another way to say flexibility, and had Thompson not been permitted to stray so far from some established, canonical origin story — be it Marston’s original, or George Perez’s post-Crisis one, or Thompson’s husband Brian Azzarello’s post-Flashpoint origin, she wouldn’t have been able to tell this story, and that would have been too bad.
Because Wonder Woman: The True Amazon is an amazing story, unlike any other Wonder Woman story, and unlike almost any other superhero story, period.
Thompson begins her story in antiquity, writing in simple, declarative language that has the cadence of a fairy tale of Amazon history. The warrior women of Amazonium warred against nine armies all across the known world, battling forces lead by the hero Herakles, who was eventually joined by his disguised father Zeus, who sought to have his way with Queen Hippolyta.
Hearing of her husband’s plan, Hera enlisted the aid of Poseidon, and they rescued the Amazons, who had been driven to the edge of the sea, delivering them to safety on their own hidden island.
Their melancholy queen would fashion a baby out of wet sand on the beach at night, and sing it a sad, beautiful song that reached Olympus, causing the gods and goddesses there to cry tears of silver and gold that rained down upon Themyscira, and brought the girl to life.
So far, so good — and more complex and more mythic than most other versions.
And then things get really interesting, as the baby Diana is the Amazon society’s only child — in addition to being its princess — and possesses extraordinary powers gifted to her by the gods themselves. Really, is there a better recipe for a girl growing up being spoiled?
And so Princess Diana grows from a callous little brat into an arrogant, reckless young woman, the sole queen bee and mean girl in a world that can’t help but fawn over her.
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The conflict at the heart of Thompson’s story arises when Diana meets simple stable girl Alethea, whose affection can’t be bought, bullied or bragged out of her, and Diana begins to try to be a good person to win over the single woman who doesn’t love her in the manner to which she feels entitled.
Things come to a head when the Amazons engage in games wearing disguises, something that usually occurs when Hippolyta is trying to determine which Amazon is best-suited for the mission of bringing Steve Trevor, who plays no part in this story at all, back to Man’s World.
Diana wins each event, but is surprised at how difficult it is to do so, as she is arrogant enough to think no Amazon should be able to match her in any way. Her desperation to win the final event leads her to a course of action that cripples and even kills some of her sisters.
Contrary to what one might think, and what one will of course be lead to believe, Wonder Woman is not the true Amazon of the title; Althea is. And, in punishment for her actions, Diana leaves the island not to rescue Steve Trevor, not to save the outside world from any threat, not to serve as an ambassador from a more enlightened society, and not even due to the restlessness and curiosity of a young woman. Rather, she was banished, forced to leave her home forever — or until she has found a way to redeem herself, and atone for all the damage she caused.
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In the last sequence, she puts on a version of her iconic costume, here explained as a form of punishment — her tiara, the prize she cheated to win, is literally referred to as a “crown of thorns” — and rows away.
And, Thompson writes, “Even now she wanders the world, defending the weak, righting wrongs and fighting evil.”
This is Wonder Woman’s origin as a tragedy, fitting given how inspired she was by Greek mythology — and Thompson’s Amazon society is very Greek in mythology, eschewing the garbled mythology and mélange of sci-fi and fantasy that Marston presented. Still being a superhero story, however, it does end hopefully, as our world gets one of its greater heroes in the process, and a door is left open for Wonder Woman to redeem herself, rather than blinding herself with a sharp object and throwing herself to her death, as she might have done in a traditional Greek tragedy.
A superhero with massive character faults who experiences a life-changing tragedy and becomes a true hero isn’t unique, but it’s certainly unique in Wonder Woman origins, and to the sunnier heroes of DC Comics in general. This sort of psychological drama calls to mind weapons-dealer Tony Stark becoming Iron Man, selfish Peter Parker becoming Spider-Man, arrogant surgeon Stephen Strange becoming the Sorcerer Supreme, or spoiled, arrogant Thor being cast down to Earth until he proves himself worthy.
And in those stories, more familiar in pop culture than any origin of Wonder Woman’s, thanks to Marvel’s movie success of the 21st century (Strange’s origin is still in the works, but will beat Wonder Woman’s to the silver screen), the examination of their protagonists’ many flaws and the personal crises that motivates them to do good is simply the first act of their stories.
In The True Amazon, there is no further story following Wonder Woman’s banishment. Of course, as we all know, Wonder Woman turns out to be a great superhero — that is one aspect of her ever-changing origin that never changes — but it’s not part of this story. Thompson doesn’t show us Wonder Woman’s inevitable redemption. After all, we’ve seen Wonder Woman the noble, selfless superhero; we’ve not seen Diana the ignoble, selfish child.
It’s as subversive and provocative as any story featuring a foundational, iconic superhero as I’ve ever encountered. It has many more virtues than can be enumerated upon here, but what may very well be its most noteworthy accomplishment is the way in which it takes one of the Wonder Woman character’s perceived deficiencies and turns it into a great strength. Which, come to think of it, is a very Wonder Woman way to tell a story.
This is Wonder Woman as you’ve never seen her, and a superhero comic like none you’ve ever read.
Read More: Jill Thompson's 'True Amazon' And The Strength Of Ambiguity | http://comicsalliance.com/jill-thompson-true-amazon-review/?trackback=tsmclip
WONDER WOMAN: THE TRUE AMAZON Creator Jill Thompson Talks Recreating Diana
Posted by Eric Diaz on October 5, 2016
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Eisner Award-winning illustrator and writer Jill Thompson has been in the business for nearly 30 years, making a name for herself with such well regarded titles like Neil Gaiman’s Sandman and her own long running series Scary Godmother. But among Thompson’s earliest works was drawing Wonder Woman under writer George Perez, the man who reinvented Princess Diana in the ’80s and ’90s to great acclaim. Now, Thompson has returned to the world of the Amazons after a long absence in her new original graphic novel Wonder Woman: The True Amazon. Written and illustrated by Thompson, this is a fully painted graphic novel which gives fans a lush, new interpretation of DC Comics‘ #1 heroine.
So why the return to Paradise Island after so long away? Thompson told us, “I’ve been trying to get this out for a long time. I just had to find a place for it, and [DC co-publisher] Jim Lee said they would do it. I knew I just had a good story in my head, one where I know what happens next, and I can’t stop drawing or writing until I get it out, and that’s what happened with this one.”
With this latest OGN, Wonder Woman’s origins are re-explored and re-contextualized, with a lot of elements being reintroduced. Five years ago, writer Brian Azzarello, who happens to be Thompson’s husband, changed Wonder Woman’s origin to make it more “realistic.” Instead of being the gift of a clay sculpture given life by the Olympians, Diana was now the product of an affair between the Amazon Queen Hippolyta and Zeus. With this latest version of Wonder Woman’s origin, Thompson has gone back to creator William Moulton Marston for inspiration, and even more so back to the weird and lyrical nature of Greek mythology itself.
“The thing I wanted to accentuate was the fact that I love fairy tales and fables,” Thompson said. “So whenever I would describe this story or pitch it, I would always describe it as starting ‘Once upon a time.’ I always wanted to have the reader have the ‘omniscient narrator’ in their head. But I also always wanted it to be like a fable or a story that your grandmother would tell you. Something that was true… yet maybe also not true.”
Although Thompson went back to the original 1940s concepts for her new interpretation of Wonder Woman, she definitely added more Greek legend than has been there for some time, saying, “I tried to pull in the Marston original, but then I wanted to add in other historical tweaks, and add in things in that I really liked. I wanted to mix together the Marston origin, plus add the fables, plus the things I think define Greek Mythology. Things like there being some kind of curse, or Achille’s heel, or some kind of tragedy that goes along with the regular story. Something that either spurs your hero on, or ruins them completely by the very end.”
Perhaps the biggest change to this version of Wonder Woman, even more so than other recent updates to her origin story from creators like Greg Rucka and Renae de Liz, is that for the first time ever, young Princess Diana is portrayed as something of a spoiled brat growing up. Amazingly, the change works, and manages to give the younger Diana a very Marvel-like arc.
So why this change? Thompson said, “I have a problem with the idea of a perfect person. If you come out perfect, you either stay perfect, and it’s this kind of boring state to stay in, or you’re perfect and the only other way to go is down. But if you’re a perfect wonderful child on an island full of grandmas and aunties, you may end up very spoiled. And a lot of my favorite fairy tales feature a haughty princess or prince that need to learn how the other half lives, like The Prince and the Pauper. So I created a situation where Diana had to learn to be an Amazon, because she didn’t have to go through what the other Amazons did. So Diana’s motivation is different, but she still ends up in Man’s World, fighting for everything that’s right.”
Not only is Diana portrayed differently, but to a certain extent so is her mother, Queen Hippolyta, with Thompson showing a side of the regal leader rarely seen in other versions. “I saw (Hippolyta) as an amazing ruler,” Thompson said. “She’s very just, she’s super strong, has been the strongest leader ,and thinks of the good of everyone first. And to me, those are very mothering instincts.”
Thompson continues, “And then once she gets to the island, and her ‘children’ are taken care of and safe, she still has this need to be a mother, and she obviously is good at being a mother. But with the appearance of Diana, it would be such a novelty after hundred of years of just being around adults, of course you’d love to see that child’s face light up, you’re amazed at what they can do. We’ve all seen kids that can snow their parents… I don’t think it makes Hippolyta gullible. It’s just something that happens to all parents sometimes.”
Much like Grant Morrison’s recent Wonder Woman: Earth One graphic novel, Wonder Woman: The True Amazon gives us yet another distinct version of Diana for newer fans to latch on to. But the question remains: will we see more of Thompson’s take on Diana, in either a sequel, or maybe somewhere else? Thompson remains hopeful, mentioning one especial form she’d like to see the Wonder Woman story take.
“What I’ve really always wanted from this, was a Wonder Woman video game, and seeing that it was set on the island of Themyscira,” Thompson said. “Because of how I set up what the island is, a place for forgetful gods to put all their cool junk, it would be an interesting way to have adventure games that would include her. I have ideas for stories, I just don’t know if anyone wants anymore yet.” Well, count us in as those who certainly do want more of “The True Amazon.”
Wonder Woman: The True Amazon original graphic novel is currently available at comic book shops everywhere.
Review of the Day: Magic Trixie by Jill Thompson
December 30, 2008 by Elizabeth Bird
Magic Trixie
By Jill Thompson
Lettered by Jason Arthur
Harper Collins
$7.99
ISBN: 978-0-060117045-4
Ages 6-10
On shelves now
You know how you’ll be prepared to dislike something and then, through no fault of your own, you are forced to take a close and in-depth look at the very thing you were trying to avoid? Well there was nothing about the cover or premise of Magic Trixie that initially appealed to me. First off, it was being sold as a graphic novel that would appeal to the Babymouse set. And since I am Babymouse faithful, this was not an appealing notion to me. Then to look at it, the book is colorful. Incredibly colorful. Garishly colorful? It was difficult to say, but I wasn’t feeling optimistic. But through one occurrence or another I was sent my own copy of Magic Trixie a book that may well be the first in a series but that works perfectly well as its own stand alone story. To my surprise (heck delight) I found the story strong and the metaphor (oh yeah, I’m gonna talk “metaphors” about nine-year-old graphic novels) consistent. Magic Trixie is one of those comics that sneak up on you. Cleverer than you’d suspect and smarter than the average comic book, this is a story that’s going to get itself some fans whether or not it’s the Halloween season or not.
Today could probably be called a bad day, from Magic Trixie’s point of view. As always, her new baby sister is hogging everyone’s attention. Her grandpa beat her down the stairs so she has to eat prune pancakes for breakfast, her dad won’t drive her to work, she brought the wrong lunch to school, and now to top it all off next week is show-and-tell week and Trixie doesn’t have anything she can do to impress her friends. That is, until she gets a cunning plan. A plan that goes wrong in all the right ways.
I can pinpoint the exact moment when the book won me over. I had been intrigued by the fun choices Thompson had made regarding werewolves in flip-flops and mummies passing notes. But when Trixie’s grandmother showed up at school, I was a goner. I have never quite seen a middle grade author completely capture a phenomenon that is more recognizable to kids today than it was in the past. Are any of you familiar with grandparents who dislike the notion of being recognized AS grandparents? The ones who prefer to be called names like “Mimi”? I swear I’ve never seen this entity so well displayed as Trixie’s “Mimi” who is portrayed so perfectly in this book. The green fishnet tights. The leopard print high-heeled boots. The blond hair and serious facial work done over the years. Just blew me away, it did. After she leaves the other kids discuss their own grandparents and another one has “a mimi” that’s rather similar to Trixie’s (though she prefers to be called “Cookie”). In any case, it wouldn’t have worked if Thompson had only gone halfway but since the picture is so over the top the shock of it completely won me over, heart and soul.
The heart and soul of the story is just your basic sibling rivalry tale, which a lot of kids can dig. A mistake made by people doing graphic novels for younger kids is to rest entirely on the belief that the visual elements of the story will be so strong that you won’t need a cohesive story to pair alongside it. And if you do have a story, if your tale is set in a magical world then it will have to be some Secrets of Droon-like alternate world without a hook in kids’ everyday reality. Magic Trixie, however, is aware that while the characters are capable of magic, grounding everything in a big sister/little sister context is absolutely necessary. Then you can throw in fun elements like albino vampires and Hispanic werewolves and they’re just great supplements; not something your entire tale rests on for the sake of quality. Other elements keep it interesting. The baby is never entirely seen until the moment when Trixie, having snuck her into school for nefarious purposes, finds her surprise revealed too early. This is a good idea, though the baby is a surprisingly attractive little cuss. And it’s a good city book. Lots of attention to detail is spent on place and setting, though we never really find out what city all this takes place in. It’s New Yorkish, certainly, with the school appearing in a kind of Central Park area.
The lettering is by Jason Arthur, sure, but it’s based entirely on Jill Thompson’s own hand letters. However, I’m not entirely certain who did the inking and the coloring for this book. Is that Thompson too, or was someone entirely uncredited involved in that process? Because the colors really give the book some kick. There is a rule of thumb amongst some publishers that states that kids will not read a comic if it’s in black and white. And while I’ll agree that a colored Bone reprinted by Graphix is far tastier than its original b&w format, kids have been happily devouring comics, comic books, and online cartoons without a smidgen of interest in color for decades now. And Diary of a Wimpy Kid may sport some magnificent covers, but inside it’s a colorless humorous world as far as the eye can see. Still and all, while I’m sure a muted Magic Trixie would have been just as fun, I’m glad indeed that Harper Collins decided to give her a Technicolor kick.
Though she’s prone to the occasional “rememborize” and other Junie B. Jones-type purposeful mispronunciations, “Magic Trixie” is not your typical spunky redheaded heroine. Well . . . okay, maybe Trixie herself is, but the book is very much a group effort on the part of the characters. A monster book with a girl heroine, it may make the odd leap across gender lines if people are willing to help it to do so. I would bet that there’s many a little boy who’d like to read Magic Trixie and all its vampires, mummies, monsters, and werewolves even if it DOES sport a girl witch and a kitten on its cover. Funny, well-drawn, and original to its core, if you’re in need of a new graphic novel for a young child, Magic Trixie is more than the sum of its parts.
On shelves now.
Side Note: I would like the word “sassy” stricken from the English language. This is not a joke.
January 7, 2017
Wonder Woman: The True Amazon by Jill Thompson – A Book Review
I have to be honest, I’m a huge fan of Wonder Woman, but my interest in her derives from two very distinct sources.
Firstly, I have two young daughters, and as a lifelong comic book lover, I very much want them to have a super hero for whom they can both admire and aspire. With her rich history, roots in Greek mythology, and general decency, Wonder Woman fits the bill. Best of all? She is not derivative of a male counterpart. My girls love Batgirl and Supergirl as well, but I don’t want them subconsciously believing they have to copy a boy to be cool. Wonder Woman shows them they can walk their own path and achieve heroism just fine.
Secondly, Brian Azzarello rocketed Wonder Woman up the ranks to become one of my favorite characters, and this happened well within the last six years with the advent of The New 52. By reinventing the Greek Gods and plopping them right down into the world of both man and Wonder Woman, Azzarello brought a complexity to Wonder Woman that, for me, didn’t exist in any other title. He somehow merged the world of super heroes, ancient Greek mythology, and modern day concerns into a monthly title that never failed to captivate my imagination. As you can probably guess, I was disappointed when he moved on.
Grant Morrison recently released his version of Wonder Woman’s origin set within the Earth One imprint. I’ve reviewed that title already, but in a nutshell, it seemed to rehash events and themes already well covered within the character’s multigenerational existence, albeit with wonderful Morrison flair.
When I discovered Wonder Woman: The True Amazon, I felt both intrigued and fatigued. On the one hand, Jill Thompson is an amazing talent and the fact that she both wrote and illustrated this book makes it a must-buy. On the other hand, I’ve experienced quite a bit of Wonder Woman’s origin within the last few years, so much so that I really didn’t want to go down that road yet again.
In the end, I’m glad I made the trip down said road, but I’d be lying if I said a few bumps did not jostle me from time to time.
Let’s first discuss the art. I could pretty much summarize it with one word and be done: magnificent. However, I’m not a one word kind of guy, so allow me to offer a bit more.
Thompson’s drawings and colors have an ethereal picture book quality, which is meant as a compliment. As I read this book, I felt as though I’d entered a fairy tale, not in content, but rather in terms of atmosphere. The material is fairly serious, as I’ll discuss later, and there are some imposing monsters and gruesome circumstances, yet Thompson manages to maintain an almost otherworldly quality that struck me as … well … magical.
Her Amazons are also incredibly interesting. Thompson depicts them as strong, sometimes brutal women, but they never appear brutish or even physically menacing. Their strength resonates though a certain grace Thompson bestows upon them. They are athletic, but not hulking. They are beautiful, but not sexualized. They are lithe and light except when weighed down by armor. Thompson conveys a race capable of winning wars but very much more interested in art and culture.
As for the story, I congratulate Thompson on taking a different approach, but I wish she had avoided the “origin” element of the tale. In this version, Princess Diana is a gift to Hippolyta from the Gods, and the Amazons treat her as such. As a result, Diana is spoiled, humored, and given chance after chance even when behaving badly. That’s not to say she does not have the heart of Wonder Woman within. She is still capable of great feats, and is, for the most part, a decent woman, and the book takes care to remind the reader as such, but the book also spends a lot of time displaying Diana’s flaws.
By this point, Thompson had me hooked. I liked this new approach in that Wonder Woman did not always have a heart of gold. Though born physically perfect, the Amazons’ influence ironically tainted her persona. She exercised selfishness, lied, took advantage, and even treated others poorly. Again, though, Thompson made a point to showcase her heroic tendencies as well.
I won’t spoil the ending of the book, but Wonder Woman’s impetus for travelling to the world of Man is given a major overhaul. She now has an express reason for wearing her armor, bracelets, lasso, and golden girdle. I especially love the tiara’s new concept and its implications upon her character.
Part of me, though, and again, I’ll try not to spoil too much, did not enjoy the significant change in motivation behind Wonder Woman’s mission to Man. Thompson executed it well, but it does bring a certain level of darkness to the character that I’m not sure I wanted. Does it make more sense than her original origin? Yes, absolutely. But, at the same time, we’ve seen this story unfold hundreds of times before with other characters, especially those within the comic book medium. In a way, it lessens Wonder Woman’s originality even as the event itself is unique and new to the character. I’m honestly conflicted about the issue. Perhaps this is a good sign, though. Thompson evoked a lot of thought from me concerning her iteration, which means that I didn’t close the book, set it aside, and move on. It’s been days since I finished it, in fact, and yet here I am, still thinking about it and trying to revolve my feelings regarding it.
Speaking of lingering issues, Grant Morrison made his Amazons overtly homosexual in Earth One. It makes perfect sense when you really think about it – an island paradise solely comprised of eternal women. Thompson handles the matter far more deftly, with a far lighter touch, but proves even more provocative in doing so. She hints at much, reveals nothing, and accomplishes the perfect tone as a result. My pre-teen daughter could read this book and think nothing of Wonder Woman’s sexuality, whereas, as an adult, a few scenes led me to certain conclusions.
Ultimately, Wonder Woman fans need to read this book. It is beautiful to behold and delivers a distinctive exploration of the character’s incentives. Thompson takes a super hero trope and manages to make it feel fresh, especially in regards to Wonder Woman’s garb and tools. I like that Thompson scuffed Wonder Woman’s personality up a little, making her not quite so pure hearted and good intentioned, but I’m not convinced of its necessity. The True Amazon will leave you with much to think about, and that’s ultimately the sign of a successful work.
Wonder Woman by Jill Thompson
Readers’ average rating:
WONDER WOMANWonder Woman by Jill Thompson
Wonder Woman by Jill Thompson is the story of Diana’s life before she becomes the superhero we all know and love. Jill Thompson is the recipient of seven Eisner awards and is well-known for her work on Sandman with Neil Gaiman. Her artistic style can vary greatly, and in this comic she uses one that lends the tale the quality of a myth told many times, which suits this graphic novel perfectly since Thompson shows us Wonder Woman’s coming-of-age, and young Diana exists in the first place only because of intervention on the part of Greek Gods and Goddesses.
First, we are told the story of the Amazonians and how they came to live on Themyscira, their secret island full of magic and free of men. This part of the story brings in Zeus, Poseidon, and other gods and goddesses intervening in the lives of the women. After their arrival at the island, their leader, Queen Hippolyta, yearns for only one thing now that they have a home and peace: She longs for a child to call her own. Again, Jill Thompson’s Wonder Woman crosses into myth as Hippolyta, making a child of sand, looks at the child and sings a song fit for the gods. The gods listen, and Diana, the future Wonder Woman, is born of magic.
Apparently, Diana had a lot of growing up to do, since she was not the most selfless of children. And Diana’s immaturity is the central story of Wonder Woman: We see her from birth to her teen years as her every whim is obeyed. The story reaches its peak in her teen years as Diana finds that in a world that revolves around her, there is one person whom she cannot command by any means. Her coming-of-age is a result of this relationship, the story of which is the best part of this graphic novel. Unfortunately for Diana, she, as with many self-centered people, must go through a major disastrous event to get her to take a good look at her habitual actions and treatment of others.
Wonder Woman is going to stay in print a long time, I believe: I read it digitally and already want to buy it in hardback and give copies to my children. As all myth, though, it is a story for all ages, and though some might claim the message borders on the didactic, it fits the morality tale aspects from which Jill Thompson is clearly working. In other words, the didacticism and art style come together to make a well-combined mythic morality tale told for a contemporary audience. Other than a few panels with some inconsistency of facial continuity, this book is perfectly done and would make for an excellent gift. I highly recommend getting the beautifully produced hardback copy.
Review: ‘Wonder Woman: The True Amazon’ reimagines the superhero’s origin story
Gavia Baker-Whitelaw—
Sept 27 at 11:16AM | Last updated Feb 24 at 1:26PM
wonder woman
Photo via Wonder Woman: The True Amazon
This new graphic novel is an ideal introduction to Wonder Woman’s beginnings in the all-female Amazons.
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As part of its celebration of Wonder Woman‘s 75th anniversary, DC Comics brought back Jill Thompson (Sandman, Wonder Woman) to reimagine Diana of Themyscira’s origin story with Wonder Woman: The True Amazon.
It’s strange to realize that despite her worldwide fame, Wonder Woman’s origins are nowhere near as widely known as Batman‘s or Superman‘s. She’s more likely to be seen as a fully-formed hero, which is why Jill Thompson had room to retell the prologue to Diana’s life as Wonder Woman—beginning with how the Amazons created their all-female society on the island of Themyscira.
Like Marvel‘s Thor, Wonder Woman is a superhero with one foot planted solidly in the world of ancient mythology. Fleeing attacks from Herakles and mortal men (and amorous advances from Zeus, a common theme in Greek myths), the book begins with Queen Hippolyta leading her Amazon warriors to create a matriarchal paradise on the island of Themyscira. The one thing Hippolyta misses, in classic fairytale fashion, is a child.
Jill Thompson’s storytelling style and vibrant watercolor art feel more like a children’s mythology book than a superhero story, creating a fanciful world with the rhythmic narration of a much-repeated legend. As Diana grows up, it becomes clear that her main enemy isn’t a monster or supervillain, but her own immaturity and ego—another familiar trope among ancient warrior hero tales. As the only child of the Queen in a childless nation, she has everyone under her thumb.
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Wonder Woman: The True Amazon
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Following the formula of many Greek myths, it’s not hard to predict what will happen: Diana is sure to be brought down by her own hubris. As the princess of Themyscira and later a hero in her own right, there’s nothing stopping the young Diana from becoming completely full of herself—until she meets Althea the stable girl, a new character introduced by Thompson to provide a lone foil for Diana’s hotheadedness.
Diana’s obsession with Althea is an obvious nod to Wonder Woman’s queer roots, dovetailing with the book’s feminist view of Amazon culture. Just as Thompson chose to retell a version of Diana’s conception that didn’t require a traditional pregnancy, she subtly confirms that the Amazons are not exactly pining for romance from men. As Wonder Woman said in a comic last year, “My country is all women. To us, it’s not ‘gay’ marriage, it’s just marriage.”
Wonder Woman: The True Amazon
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Wonder Woman: The True Amazon comes at exactly the right time for the audience of next year’s Wonder Woman movie, which will focus heavily on Diana’s upbringing among the Amazons. It’s an ideal introduction for new readers, but thanks to its fairytale style, it will still seem fresh to longtime fans of more traditional superhero books.
Wonder Woman: The True Amazon is out on Sep. 28.
All-Ages Reads: Magic Trixie, Knights & Sticky Burr
By Tracy, Sarah and Shelby Edmunds July 21, 2008 04:59am ET
All-Ages Reads: Magic Trixie and More
Welcome to All-Ages Reads. Our review crew consists of Tracy (mom, teacher, and avid comic reader), Sarah (age 9) and Shelby (age 12). Our mission is to seek out comics and graphic novels that both kids and adults can enjoy and tell you all about them so you can enjoy them, too. Ever wonder what actual kids think about comics? Read on!
Magic Trixie, by Jill Thompson (Harper Trophy)
Sarah says: Magic Trixie is really, super, awesomely cute and funny and has a good story. Magic Trixie is this little witch that doesn’t really like her baby sister. She goes to a school that has a ghost teacher and her friends are Loupe Garou, the werewolf girl, Stitch Patch, the Frankenstein’s monster, the vampire twins, and Nefi, the mummy girl. Nefi writes notes to Magic Trixie on her bandages and Stitch Patch eats batteries for lunch! Magic Trixie has normal kid problems and magic problems, so it’s a good balance of both and it’s a good story mixing them in together. Mimi is Magic Trixie’s grandma and she’s my favorite character because she’s all fancied up with a peacock feather broom and lots of jewelry and crazy clothes. She really needs some fashion advice. Jill wrote the story well and added a lot of tiny little details in the art, like Magic Trixie’s bed looks like a haunted house and she has a Dia de los Muertos skeleton doll and her backpack is a fly. I like her cat, Scratches, which is a really good cat name. Every single panel is really pretty because it has so many different colors and little things to look at. I think Magic Trixie is kind of like a magical Junie B. Jones. Everybody would really like Magic Trixie because it’s funny and everyone will get it and the story is simple and easy to understand, and the art is bold, colorful, and very detailed.
Shelby says: This is probably the most colorful book I have ever seen in the world! The art...where do I start? All the art is watercolor and that is a really hard medium to use because you can’t fix anything if you mess up, but Jill is a master. Everything is so three-dimensional because there’s shading in everything, even the blacks and whites. Everything looks so realistic, yet it’s still cartoony and adorable beyond words. Magic Trixie is kinda like Sarah because she won’t stop talking and she’s really hyper, but she’s kinda like me because when I was about her age I was jealous of my little sister, too. I like how Magic Trixie doesn’t have any front teeth and whenever she’s talking you can see this big gap in between her teeth, like every other kid at that age. I like the vampire twins and Nefi the mummy girl because they’re very cute instead of scary. My friends will pretend it’s dumb because it’s cute, but I think everyone will like it, even if they won’t admit it.
Tracy says: From the candy-colored watercolors (which make me want to lick the pages) to the adorable characters (who are just begging to be made into plushies for bedtime snuggles) to the sweet and witty story (with an “Aaaawwww” ending), Magic Trixie is a delight all around. Trixie’s friends are cute, cuddly takes on classic monsters with personalities that could easily belong to real, live children, and the adults feel so real that I wonder if Thompson modeled them on her own friends and family. Magic Trixie herself is a very bright, mischievous bundle of energy with a knack for getting in trouble – she reminds me of a certain curly-haired 9-year-old I know who shall remain nameless. I can’t recommend Magic Trixie highly enough – it’s jumped straight into my top ten all-ages comics of all time.
Meet the whole gang over at Magic Trixie’s blog. We can’t wait for Magic Trixie Sleeps Over!
Knights of the Lunch Table, by Frank Camusso (Scholastic Graphix)
Shelby says: The story is about a boy named Artie King who is new in town and he has to go to a new school called Camelot Middle School. His sister, Morgan, is just a jerk who makes him miss the bus and makes him a soap sandwich for lunch. Artie makes the school bully mad because he gives him a soap sandwich that his sister made. Artie is the only one who can open cursed locker number 001XCL, so he becomes like the king of the school. The school bully, who thinks he’s the king, challenges Artie to a game of dodgeball against The Horde. Artie’s friends’ names are Percy, Wayne, and Gwen and they play dodgeball with Artie. The supervillanous principal, Mrs. Dagger, is on the bullys’ side, I guess ‘cause she’s evil. The science teacher is Mr. Merlyn and gets Artie and his friends out of trouble.
Sarah says: Knights of the Lunch Table is good for everybody. The story is basically the King Arthur story at a school, and instead of a sword in a stone, it’s a locker that’s busted and only can Artie King can open it. If you know about King Arthur and the whole pulling-the-sword-out-of-the-stone story, you can understand it and get the references. But, if you haven’t heard about that, you can still enjoy it because it makes sense on its own. Some people might not get that the lunch ladies are the three witches from Macbeth, but even if they don’t get that, they’ll get that the ladies are weird. The story is still really good and funny even if you don’t get any of that other stuff. I read it 3 times in a row!
Shelby says: I liked the drawings because the characters were cartoony but the settings were detailed and it was really, really colorful. Kids will like this book even if they don’t know the story of King Arthur because I liked it and I don’t know that much about it. I liked the pictures because they are really colorful and fun. I like the story, too, because it wasn’t exactly like every other story in the world.
Tracy says: This is a great example of an all-ages book. Kids will love the story of Artie and his friends facing down the bullies and the evil principal, while older readers will get a kick out of the clever parallels and references to everything medieval and literary. The amazing thing is how well the story stands on its own even with all the word play. It’s clever and easy to follow and each character is clearly defined visually. The panel layouts are dynamic but never get in the way of the story. Knights of the Lunch Table flows beautifully and keeps the action and laughs coming. I highly recommend this book for all libraries and classrooms.
See a sneak peek here.
Sticky Burr by John Lechner (Candlewick Press)
Sarah says: Sticky Burr is about a sticky burr (duh). He lives in Burrwood Forest with his best friend, Mossy Burr, and his enemy is Scurvy Burr. His dragonfly friend is Draffle and he helps Sticky by flying him around when he’s in trouble. They get along really well. There’s also a grasshopper that teaches Mossy Burr karate. You can tell which burr is which because Scurvy Burr has a hair on the top of his head, Mossy Burr has a bow, and Sticky has a big part in the middle of his hair…I mean stickers…oh, I don’t know, but he has a part. The first part of the story is about Scurvy being mean, the second part is about rescuing fireflies from inside a maze tree, and the last part is about trying to get the wild dogs out of Burr Village. This book has a lot of little things in it – some of them are Sticky Burr’s journal pages about the creatures and places in Burrwood Forest. Another thing I like is the song in the back called “Stuck in a Tree.” I tried to play it on the piano and I like to sing it. Sticky Burr is more like a kids’ book. It’s good for kids in elementary school.
Shelby says: Sticky Burr is for younger kids because the dialog is very simple and easy to read. It sounds childish to me. The character designs are really simple but some of the backgrounds of the forest are complex and painted well. I liked the idea of the maze tree and the little tiny village – it’s adorable because everything is so tiny. It’s cute and I like it, but it just seems like it’s for a younger audience.
Tracy says: Sticky Burr is definitely written for kids. It’s silly and sweet and the characters are charming. The character designs are very simple, so kids will enjoy drawing Sticky and his friends themselves – there is plenty here for kids to expand on in their own Burrwood Forest tales. The story is told in traditional paneled comic pages, but Lechner mixes it up by also including large splash pages, Sticky’s “diary” pages, a “newspaper,” and even a song, which I think will help hold young readers’ attention. It’s a nice amalgamation of picture book, comic, and activity book that younger kids will really enjoy. I recommend Sticky Burr for early elementary readers.
Sticky Burr started as a black and white webcomic, but the book is a completely new story in full color. Visit the Sticky Burr website for mucho goodies, including Sticky’s journal, games, and the Sticky Burr theme song.
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