Essential Wonder Woman Encyclopedia Review

Authors: Phil Jimenez & John Wells
Publisher: Del Rey

What I would have given for this book to come out five years ago when I was re-reading my Wonder Woman trades and I needed a source of information to fill in the missing gaps not reprinted. Sure that information was vaguely available online, but for a character that has been around longer than Spider-man, the X-men, and Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) she sure didn’t get that much spotlight and the resources were very limited. I couldn’t think of a better person to write this database on information than Phil Jimenez (since he did have a run on the book for four years), well I guess other than William Moulton Marston.

Of course William Moulton Marston could write an encyclopedia on the character he created in 1940, but didn’t get introduce to the DC universe until 1941. He is also the creator of the polygraph machine, which I’m assuming might have something to do with the lasso of truth. See, its information like this that you will absorb just browsing through the book. You will also find the complete story of Diana’s origins, as imagined written by various creators from different generations and even her creator Marston. There are biographies of every major character in Wonder Woman’s universe, including her mother, Hippolyta, who was Wonder Woman herself back in the Golden Age. Her sister/reincarnation/daughter/replacement/ Donna Troy; Yes Donna Troy could have an essential encyclopedia all to herself. Her lover or sometimes just ally Steve Trevor. And what is a handbook without a complete guide of her villains such as Hades, Giganta, Silver Swan, Circe as well as classic foes like Ares, Cheetah, Darkseid, and the members of Villainy Inc. Although the almost 500 page massive book is printed in classic black-and-white pages there are 32 pages of full-color artwork inserts and an original cover illustration by fan-favorite artist Adam Hughes. We are still waiting on that All Star Wonder Woman Adam, don’t think we’ve forgotten! Did I mention the awesome introduction by Birds of Prey, Wonder Woman, and Secret Six author Gail Simone?

Don’t think this book is just for the hard core Wonder Woman addict, anybody could pick up the book and enjoy it. However, I wouldn’t consider this a coffee table book either; it is definitely intended as a reference guide than a book anyone can just pick up and browse through. Instead of having a constant narrative like most books that have covered this particular subject, Jimenez and Wells make this book into a handbook as it has alphabetical listings of each character, the issues they first appeared in and the stories behind their first appearance and in case they are dead, their last appearance. For those that want to become experts on Wonder Woman and her huge cast of secondary character this is the book for you. If you have ever wondered the difference between Gods, Demi-gods, Titans, and New Gods…well look no further. You want to know why Princess Diana surrenders her powers to become Diana Prince, student of Chinese martial arts mentor I Ching; this is what you’ve been looking for! It is an exceptionally thorough work that seems like it was years in the making and is everything most every fan of Wonder Woman or just casual fans that are interested in the character would ever need or want. A

The Talisman #1 & 2

Writers: Stephen King & Peter Straub (Script - Robin Furth)
Artists: Nei Ruffino & Tony Shasteen:
Letterer: Bill Tortolini

So I got the first two issues of the Talisman back a week or so ago and they have been sitting in my pile, mocking me.

Originally I had tried listening to the audiobook version of King & Straub's "The Talisman" a year or so ago and I feel asleep I was soo bored by it. The comics apparently hit a better flow with me.

The initial story is set back around the 80s and centers around a boy and his mother. The two travel to an area of New Hampshire after the death of the father and more recently the boy's Uncle Tommy. Essentially the mother is driving there to escape another "evil uncle" whilest at the same time finding a place to fight the cancer that is slowly consuming her. The boy is all too aware of things going on around him and his inability to do anything about it. Eventually an old fellow named Speedy runs into Jack (the boy) and tells Jack that the daydreams he often has are not daydreams but in fact visions of another real world, wherein sorcerers, queens, etc all exist. Apparently his evil uncle in his reality is an evil wizard in the other reality and slowly taking over everything. Eventually Speedy tells the kid that he must go to this other reality and obtain "The Talisman" should he want to save everyone. The kid says his vague goodbye's to his mother, telling her he has to disappear for awhile and soon enough after Speedy sends the boy on his way to the other reality.

Ok so first and foremost, this is not one of those "symbolic" stories where everything is an analogy for what's happening in the boy's life and everything is simply a figment of the boy's imagination....all of this is actually happening. Now that I got that little tidbit out of the way, I'll say that from what I have read, these first two issues of "The Talisman" have been alright, and I didn't fall asleep completely while turning each page. I do have a problem with Jack's mother being ok with him disappearing for an indeterminate amount of time, not probing him with questions or arguing with her son, I mean ok...fantasy story and all yea but still...the mother is ok with her son just saying he's gonna vanish for awhile...seems to push believability there a bit but, I digress. The story again so far is ok, the inclusion of wizards and alternate realities is interesting and intriguing on it's own, especially when you realize it's not another one of those tired "EVERYTHING IS A METAPHOR FOR SOMETHING" stories. The story looks like it will have a slow burn though as being based off a large book there is still a lot of material left for the comic to cover, so your best off buying or borrowing a trade of this when it comes out if slow burns aren't your idea of fun. (There's a joke there but I'm not taking it). The actual text is pretty close to the original content, with descriptions handled decently by the artists.I am not a huge fan of the style but by the second issue I think it was starting to grow on me a little.

Final thought, if you like Stephen King, or even just fantasy try checking this title out. B+