Trial of the Amazons: Wonder Girl #1 Review

Answers and More Questions

Written by: Joëlle Jones

Art by: Joëlle Jones

Colors by: Jordie Bellaire

Letters by: Pat Brosseau

Cover art by: Joëlle Jones, Jordie Bellaire

Cover price: $3.99

Release date: March 22, 2022

 

Trial of the Amazons: Wonder Girl #1 takes a different view of the Esquecidas' arrival on Themyscira as a member of their tribe has grave visions involving Doom's Doorway. Meanwhile, Cassie continues her investigation of Hippolyta's murder and discovers an important clue.

Was It Good?

Trial of the Amazons: Wonder Girl #1, aka Trial of the Amazons Part 4, is a disjointed, clunky, and difficult comic to get through. Your mileage may vary.

If you've been following along with all the interconnected comics that comprise the Trial of the Amazons, one of the (many) questions that pop up is how and why the Esquecidas found out about the Trial and how they got to Themyscira. The answers may SHOCK you!

[SPOILERS AHEAD]

Surprise! The answer isn't shocking at all. One of the Esquecidas had a vision about Doom's Doorway, and their Queen said (summarizing here) "Go check it out."  there is no hint as to how the Esquecidas got to Themyscira, why they are depicted as never having heard of or know anything about the Amazonians, but also why they were so readily accepted into the tournament.

You get the feeling Jones used this issue to fill in blank spots from her now-canceled Wonder Girl run, and while some of those empty spots get filled in, Jones's explanation winds up creating new holes. For example, we get a brief primer into the Esquecidas' origins, but the answer doesn't make any ancestral connection to the Amazons, the gods, or how the tribes inspired "countless around the world" when the tribes of Themysicra and Bana-Mighdall had no idea the Esquecidas existed. It doesn't make sense that a powerful offshoot of the Amazons could be impacting the world for so long, and nobody noticed.

In parallel, Cassie spends her time after Hipployta's death investigating every angle via interviews and evidence gathering. This issue doesn't give her conclusion entirely, but it's heavily implied that a black goo seeping from Door's Doorway is at the heart of things. If accurate, the ending of the murder mystery won't be so dramatic.

While the story isn't great,  Jones's art is gorgeous. The character designs, costumes, and panel composition are all exquisite. It's hard to get mad at a comic when it looks this good.

Bits and Pieces

Trial of the Amazons: Wonder Girl #1 answers some questions about the Esquecidas arrival at the event and fills in a few blanks surrounding Yara Flor's backstory, but the answers invite almost as many questions as they answer. Meanwhile, Cassie's investigation lacks tension, and the answer may already have been given away, inviting readers to wonder if Hippolyta's murder was even necessary. Regardless of the writing, the art is gorgeous and might be worth the purchase alone.

5/10