I’m assuming that DC comics was trying to make today the BEST BIRTHDAY EVER for this Amethyst fan, as the news broke that Amethyst was getting a new series written by Christy Marx, the creator of Jem and the Holograms.

Here’s the interview on i09

Look at that cover!

I think it is wonderful that in her new costume Amethyst has some pants. It always struck me as a bit impractical that she was running around swinging a sword, riding a flying unicorn, and doing magic in a sometimes skimpy miniskirt.

I’m happy that Amethyst is getting a new series, and the reboot sounds like it will differentiate itself from the original series created by Dan Mishkin, Gary Cohn and Ernie Colón in several ways.

Here’s the issue summary from DC Comics:

SWORD OF SORCERY – Writer: Christy Marx. Artist: Aaron Lopresti

Featuring the return of Amethyst, Amy Winston leads a strange life on the road with her mother and resents it. She’s about to learn it’s all been necessary when she discovers she’s the lost princess of Gemworld—and she’s being hunted by her murderous aunt. With a back-up story written by Tony Bedard with art by Jesus Saiz, set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, the monstrous warrior Beowulf is charged with finding and defeating the evil Grendel.

In the new series it sounds like Amy Winston is much older, 17 as opposed to 13 in the original series. With Amethyst’s dramatic shifts in age as she traveled between Earth and the Gemworld, the series really did touch on themes relating to adolescence and change. Amy’s young mental age made the possibility of romance on Gemworld really problematic, as in her relationship with Prince Topaz when he realized that Amy really was a 13 year old girl.

So I’m interested to see if an older Amy results in some romance in the new series. Another difference comes in the description of Amy’s family life and the villain for the series. New Amethyst’s murderous aunt probably means no Black Opal, at least not to start out with. Christy’s comments about Gemworld’s magic system and illustration style are interesting, it will be nice to see how that all fits together when the issue hits the stands. September is so far away!

This is all very promising. I’m happy that DC Comics got a writer on the project with a strong resume of girl-centric work. I’m hoping that this reboot means a genuine fresh start for the character, because Amethyst’s appearances in the DC Universe in Flashpoint and the Weirdoverse in the 1990s left much to be desired.

I was hoping that Amethyst might return in a new series. I hope that everyone who checks out the new series also picks up the Showcase Presents: Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld Volume to experience the original. I still think it is worthwhile to pick up a few of the back issues of the original series too, because the coloring of the book really gave it a great fantasy feel.