The Sequential Art Of Amanda Conner (graphic novel review)
Tracking down some of comicbook artist Amanda Conner’s early work for DC Comics is made rather easy with this book, ‘The Sequential Art Of Amanda Conner’ released some 14 years ago and there are still some copies floating around at a fairly reasonable price. These 17 stories, some of which are continuing, start from 1998-2010. Notable runs are with ‘Bird Of Prey’ and the Justice Society. With the latter, the focus is on Power Girl as she’s not quite sure who she is and various super-people try to convince her where she belongs. It’s also an opportunity to see Conner draw members of the Legion Of Super-Heroes. Well, it’s more a case of maybe as this is spoiler and the wrong Earth. All of these stories are long before a certain female villain, so don’t expect to see her here.
In this early period, Conner is allowed free on the odd comedy piece. I suspect at the time, her editors were seeing what she could and couldn’t do. She certainly had her choice of good writers who obviously wanted to work with her.
Seeing Conner’s early work, not to mention pencils and cover designs, Conner’s technique is somewhat minimal. However, for facial expressions, although they verge on cartoon, shows her dependency on eyes and mouth to express emotions and there is a lot of that. Probably my favourite scene is from the penultimate story, ‘Ame-Comi Girls Featuring Wonder Woman’ with the minotaurs’ expressions are told to go back to their labyrinth by Diana’s mum. In many respects, Conner hits on how we look at people’s faces and what is important to show without too many lines, which she has noted would age characters.
I can’t recall seeing any of these stories before so if you’re after Conner’s early work, then this book is worth seeking out as she works for different writers. It’s easy to see how she became legendary. I’m being careful what to say about them as so much is spoiler.
GF Willmetts
April 2026
(pub: DC Comics, 2012. 304 page hardback graphic novel. Price: varies. ISBN: 978-1-40123-740-0)
check out website: www.dc.com
