WW84: Wonder Woman - The Junior Novel

The Wonder Woman '84 (titled "WW84") film came out three years ago (back in 2020).  As with the first film, there were plenty of merchandising that came out with the film, including a junior novelization of the film.  Unlike the first film, however, there was no adult novelization (which surprised me).  Since I pretty much collect all things Wonder Woman, I picked up the junior novel when it came up, and it has sat up on my "to-be-read" shelf ever since.  Having seen the movie, I knew the reading the book would feel a little redundant - but, I also knew that sooner or later I'd pick it up and read it just to see how it compares with the film.  And it pretty much was what I was expecting.

WW84: Wonder Woman is an abridged version of the movie, just as the junior novelization of the first movie was.  The original film was adapted by Steve Korte, while this one was adapted by Calliope Glass; however, Glass did not do any better of a job than Korte did with the original.  There are quite a number of elements from the film - important elements to the story! - that are missing in the book.  Now, I can understand when you are writing a book aimed at younger readers, you might want to leave out any adult content (such as scenes of a sexual or intimate nature, or scenes of harsh violence); but I don't understand leaving out elements that are important to the plot.  It leaves the story lacking and incomplete.

For example, in the opening scene, in which a young Diana is ready to compete in the Amazon games on Themyscira, Glass leaves out a very important part that results in Antiope stopping Diana before she can complete, and possibly win, the game.  In the film, Diana is knocked off her horse, and so she cheats by taking a short cut to catch up with her horse and stay ahead of the other contestants.  Thus, it makes sense when Antiope catches her and stops her from throwing the spear at the end, because she has to learn the lessen that she cannot take short cuts  cheat in order to win at something.  Sometimes it's just not meant for her to win.  Yet, that element of the story is omitted from this novelization, and so when Antiope snatches her out from victory, it doesn't make sense.

There's also the story of Steve Trevor's return.  The book follows the story with regard to Diana's wish for her one true love to return; however, the book completely ignores the fact that his return is in the form of taking over another man, whose life and identity disappears when Steve takes over the form.  Instead, Steve merely wakes up and is there, with no mention of this other man.  Readers also lose out on Maxwell Lord's son, who plays a pivotal role in his part of the story.  He is nowhere to be seen in this book.

And, just like the junior novelization of that first film, this book completely leaves out the final climactic battle, instead ending on the part where Diana and Steve are getting ready to stop Maxwell Lord and Barbara Minerva, while at the same time preventing the world from entering a nuclear war.  That final battle is important on so many levels, with the redemption of Lord, the complete conversion of Minerva over to the Cheetah, and Diana's ultimate sacrifice.  Young readers get none of that.  And while I'm all for not wanting to spoil the ending of a movie, this is a novelization, and as such, it should have the full story, regardless of how abridged.  Leave out the cheating, leave out the son, leave out the stolen identity - but leave out the ending?  No, sorry, that just doesn't work for me.

The book does include eight pages of color photos from the movie, so that is one saving grace.  Otherwise, this book feels much less than what it should be and is a big disappointment.

RATING:  5 wish-granting citrines out of 10 for, at the very least, giving young readers a portion of the story.