Since her first appearance in last year’s Wonder Woman #800, Trinity’s story has yet to truly unfold. Created by Tom King and Daniel Sampere for their run as the stewards of all things Amazonian, Trinity has been relegated to backup stories with her origins remaining a mystery. Collected here as Trinity Special #1, you can read all of her appearances, plus a new story from King and Sampere. But is that enough to justify picking this book up?
Odds are, if you’re interested in learning more about the newest character in the Wonder Woman mythos, you’re already reading King and Sampere’s run. But if you’re not (despite AIPT’s glowing recommendation) here’s a quick primer. Trinity is Elizabeth Marston Prince, Wonder Woman’s daughter.
In the same vein as Damian Wayne and Jon Kent before her, Lizzie is growing up in the shadow of a giant. Unlike the Super Sons, however, she exudes confidence and fearlessness when faced with that legacy. In this respect, King does a great job of having her stand out when the obvious comparisons to Jon and Damian can be made.
King and artist Belén Ortega have this dynamic play out in a series of shorts called “World’s Finest.” Originally ran as backups in recent issues of Wonder Woman, the three-part “World’s Finest” is reprinted in Trinity Special #1. The first part sees Jon and Damian as Lizzie’s babysitters. It’s a lighthearted story about the Super Sons being in way over their heads while watching five-year-old Lizzie. Damian wants to teach her how to be a superhero, while Jon wants to keep her safe in Wayne Manor. It’s cute, if a bit sitcom-y. The next two parts take place further in the future, with that same dynamic playing out as Lizzie grows up and becomes braver and bolder than her de facto brothers.
When I first read “World’s Finest” as backups in Wonder Woman, they felt out of place with the mature themes of King and Sampere’s featured story. But collected here, they form a cozy introduction to Trinity, even if her true origins are still a mystery.
Trinity Special #1 is bookended by another reprint. This time it’s the story “Trinity” from Wonder Woman #800, by King and Sampere. It once again plays with the dynamic between Lizzie, Jon, and Damian, who have now taken the mantles of Superman and Batman, respectively. Lizzie is still as adventurous as she was as a kid and it made for an impressive introduction when it was released last year.
“Trinity” sets up some of the core mysteries being explored in Wonder Woman, including the Three Lassos of Fate. As a prelude, I believe it works. But as of its republishing, the mysteries remain mysteries. That makes me feel like this one-shot is coming out just a bit too soon. We still don’t know all that much about Trinity. So am I, or other readers, going to be personally invested enough to warrant this collection?
It also reminds me that we sort of did this exact same thing with Yara Flor / Wonder Girl not that long ago. Yara is still a supporting player in Wonder Woman, but it’s hard not to feel she has been sidelined a bit since her debut. So if I was excited about Yara in 2021, only for her to be relegated to a handful of cameos, why should I get excited about Trinity in 2024? It all feels just a bit too soon.
Sandwiched between the reprints is a brand-new story from King and Sampere called “Mothers and Daughters.” It’s a clever, but brief, look into an Amazonian trial as it’s faced by Diana and Lizzie. The trial plays out simultaneously in the past and future, allowing the reader to compare mother and daughter’s attitudes and reactions. Sampere and colorist Tomeu Morey are the stars here, rendering subtle differences between past and future with great clarity.
My feelings on Trinity as a concept and as an editorial decision do not reflect my feelings on the actual content here in Trinity Special #1 or the ongoing Wonder Woman. What’s on the page has been fantastic. The character is in the hands of great creators and thus far, I have no reason to think her origin story won’t play out in a satisfying way. Unless you’re a collector trying to get in on Trinity stock when the price is low, I don’t know what this collection offers especially if you have been keeping up with the Amazons.
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