Xenophobia, sexism, and false patriotism are just some themes in Wonder Woman #1. As part of the Dawn of DC initiative, Tom King and Daniel Sampere are taking over the series with a brand new direction and a whole new threat for Wonder Woman to contend with. This threat doesn’t just harness guns and political might, but has weaponized the American people against Wonder Woman. In a story that feels partly in response to ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) rounding up immigrants and shipping them off–in some cases leaving their children behind–this series feels as pertinent and as important as ever.
This is a compelling issue for a few different reasons, one of which is King’s ability to add complexity and layers to a narrative. You see it right off the bat with a mysterious voice narrating the comic via captions in the very first line, “This is the story of how she defeated us.” It’s an interesting way to start a comic when the presumed villain admits defeat. In a weird way, it gives us hope in an issue that is mostly losses for the good guys. For a Wonder Woman comic, that feels right.
The issue starts with a lot of wrongs, chiefly in the form of an Amazon getting groped and responding in kind. Her response is extreme, though, as she kills every man in the bar. You can read the entire sequence in the preview, which details the extremity of the situation. This sparks a response that puts all Amazons in danger as well as Wonder Woman. That includes U.S. arrests of Amazons and the intention of removing parents from children. Sound familiar?
There are also layers with news briefs giving us the temperature of the country and the 24-hour news media’s slant. We can see Wonder Woman is beloved, but the people’s love of the hero can only take so much. King, in a way, is commenting on media spin, as it were, which is backed up by the nefarious things the villain does to achieve “justice” in the eyes of the public. In one key scene, we see how far the media has tainted public minds through a father of a daughter speaking on the topic of Amazons and Wonder Woman. He’s clearly okay with his daughter loving Wonder Woman, but he spits vitriol that basically speaks to a fear of women and toxic masculinity.
Gonna need a new pool table.
Credit: DC Comics
That latter element is even more compelling once you get to the cliffhanger. I won’t spoil it, but King reveals something that upends what we think we know about the narrator, the stakes Wonder Woman faces, and what America stands for. It’s a bold choice paired with an only-in-superhero-comics weapon.
Daniel Sampere brings the highly detailed and dynamic layout design we’ve come to expect from him and from superhero comics. There are some interesting choices, like a mirrored scene at the Washington Monument using long panels to draw the eye from left to right. The level of detail is unparalleled throughout, with intense action sequences that are quick and efficient. When Wonder Woman lets loose, we get to see her use all her abilities, which will please Wonder Woman fans. There’s a new villain that is introduced too, which has a compelling costume when you realize the implication of what he stands for.
If you dig the larger Amazon tapestry, there are also some nice moments with other Amazon characters outside of Wonder Woman. Pretty much every base is covered in this first issue save for heroes like Batman and Superman and where they stand, but there’s plenty to chew on after putting this book down.
I can only imagine the political and social commentary going on in this book will annoy some, but it’s books like this that move the needle and feel important in our daily discourse. Wonder Woman #1 is an intelligent thriller with a complex story looking at our culture composed for modern comic readers. Along the way, it features Wonder Woman showing off her abilities while trying to navigate a complex situation that only she can resolve. She’s the target against an enemy threatening all of America because she may be the only thing to save us.
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