Item: Wonder Woman: Bloodlines
Rating: 6.5
Author: Rosie Knight

This is an advance review out of New York Comic Con 2019. Wonder Woman: Bloodlines arrives on Digital starting October 5, 2019, and on 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack and Blu-ray Combo Pack on October 22.

Though it's only been two years since her solo live-action movie debut, Wonder Woman is headed back to Themyscira in this new offering from DC Animation that once again looks to offer up an origin for Diana Prince. Beginning with the classic meet-cute of Steve Trevor and the Amazonian princess, Wonder Woman: Bloodlines sticks to well-trod ground, with the pair quickly connecting and Diana deciding to abandon her life and family to help save Man's World. Despite the fact that this character beat makes no more sense here than it does in any other version of her story, Bloodlines at least offers up a strong and emotionally charged backstory that explains why the Princess of Themyscira would choose to stay in the alien society.

The 13th feature-length film in the DC Universe Movies acts as both a prequel and sequel to 2014's successful Justice League: War, which saw the Justice League face down DC's intergalactic big bad, Darkseid. Here the stakes are only slightly lower with Diana and Steve teaming up to take on Villainy Inc. and Doctor Poison after they ensnare one of Wonder Woman's loved ones. This isn't one of the strongest offerings from the lauded animation studio and pales in comparison to the humor and originality of recent offerings like Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Teen Titans Go! Vs. Teen Titans. But it does offer up a whole bunch of Wonder Woman-centric action and will likely please underserved fans of the often-overlooked hero.

Wonder Woman: Bloodlines

Beginning with a retread of Diana's origin, the big difference here from the Patty Jenkins flick is the fact that the continuity for the main DC Universe animated movies is inspired by The New 52, meaning that the story is set in modern times instead of World War I. Rosario Dawson returns to voice the titular heroine and brings the grounded compassion that the character needs, especially in a film with so much violence.

Much of Diana's on-screen life has been spent fighting and has been less focused on her skills as a diplomat and pacifist, as summed up in this powerful quote from Wonder Woman Vol. 3. #25: "We have a saying, my people. Don't kill if you can wound, don't wound if you can subdue, don't subdue if you can pacify, and don't raise your hand at all until you've first extended it." Here Diana is very much action first and diplomacy later, but she does get the chance to build a familial relationship with some of the new characters.

Speaking of the roster, Bloodlines boasts an impressive cast of classic Wonder Woman characters, including her timeless love interest Steve Trevor (Jeffrey Donovan), her best friend and closest confidante Etta Candy (Adrienne Moore), and her powerful mother Hippolyta (Cree Summer). The film also features iconic villains like Cheetah and Giganta (both voiced by Kimberly Brooks), and for fans of the recent live-action film, Doctor Poison makes a starring appearance here voiced by Courtenay Taylor. In that way, this animated offering works as a thematic link between the first live-action Wonder Woman movie - which featured the young Princess battling the cruel and machiavellian poisons expert - and the 2020 sequel which will see her face down Kristen Wiig's Cheetah, even if the timeline differs.

Watch an action scene from Wonder Woman: Bloodlines below:

Although the first act does its best to get straight to the action, the second act does drag slightly. Wonder Woman: Bloodlines really picks up once Diana heads off on her third act mission to save a loved one. This storyline resonates because that's really what Wonder Woman is all about... love. Love for friends, family, and for the weak and corrupted creatures called humans. Her humanity and compassion shines as she tries to do her best in the face of unimaginable odds, and it helps that once again the DC animators excel when it comes to showcasing their action chops. The fight sequences are fun and filled with big bombastic moments, and though The New 52 costume is far from her best, Diana looks dynamic wearing it as she fights her way through Villainy Inc.

Fans of Justice League: War and the ongoing continuity which began with that movie will more than likely want to check out this extension of that world and lore. Wonder Woman fans will also enjoy the character's second animated lead outing, though probably not as much as the '09 flick. If you're not a diehard fan of either, though, you'll be okay skipping this solid if slightly slow addition to the ever-growing DC animated movie canon.

Verdict

It's nice to see Diana leading her second animated film after 10 years, even if it's not the best that the DC Universe Movies have to offer. Whilst starring a stellar voice cast and always impressive animation from DC, this retread of Diana's origin manages to add very little new to the company's most famous heroine. Despite the fact that it all feels a little familiar, Wonder Woman: Bloodlines will still be a worthwhile watch for fans of the character and the canon that DC and Warner Bros. have built for themselves with their current animated universe.