In the next issue of Wonder Woman, writer Tom King and artist Daniel Sampere are embarking on what they both describe as one of the most crucial moments of their run: the birth of Trinity, Wonder Woman’s daughter. I spoke to both over Zoom yesterday to unpack the importance of Wonder Woman #14, out October 16th, and having read it, I think they may have nailed Trinity’s birth story.
Courtesy DC Comics
With the Absolute Power tie-in wrapped up, both creators are thrilled to return to the core storyline quietly building for 14 issues. King, in particular, is happy to be back. “It’s a joy to be back. Those [tie-ins] were fun to write. They had some badass moments and a lot of jokes with the Damian stuff, but this book thrives when it’s focused on Wonder Woman and not big crossover events,” he says. For King, this arc represents a return to what the book was meant to be, and the focus on Wonder Woman’s legacy is exactly where the heart of the story lies.
For Sampere, the return to the main storyline felt equally fulfilling. After taking a brief break to work on a DC All In Special, he’s excited to re-enter Wonder Woman’s world, and the timing couldn’t be better. “It feels the same, like going home again,” Sampere says. “I’m having the best time on this series, and this issue is crucial for us.” Both King and Sampere see Wonder Woman #14 as a turning point, not just for their run on the series but for the future of Wonder Woman in the DC Universe.
At the heart of this issue is the introduction of Trinity, the daughter of Wonder Woman. King sees this as the biggest moment in the series so far, even more significant than the first issue. “This is the biggest issue of the series. I think it’s bigger than issue one,” King explains. For him, the first 14 issues were just the prologue. Now, with the birth of Trinity, the real story begins.
“We’ve kind of cleared our throat with these first 14 issues, and now it’s time to get down to business to write, hopefully, the most epic Wonder Woman story of all time,” King says. Trinity’s birth, with all the complications that arise, is set to drive the narrative forward for potentially the next hundred issues, establishing her as a central figure in the Wonder Woman mythos.
When asked about the emotional weight of creating Trinity, both King and Sampere acknowledged the deep connection they feel to the character. King draws parallels to the introductions of Damian Wayne and Jon Kent, two characters who redefined their respective legacies in the DC Universe.
“I think Damian’s an absolute essential pillar to the DC Universe now. And I think Jon gives us a new generation’s look at what a superhero can be,” King explains.
Trinity, he hopes, will offer the same kind of legacy-shaping potential for Wonder Woman. For King, who explained that he has spent much of his career revamping existing characters, the chance to create a new character with such importance is deeply personal. “Adding a new character with a big personality who can play a major role is very important to me, sort of in the legacy of my career.”
Courtesy DC Comics
Sampere, too, feels a strong emotional bond with Trinity, joking that he and King are like her “moms” but also emphasizing the seriousness of the creation. “We created her. We care about her. And we hope that it’s gonna be an important character in future DC comic books,” Sampere says. As long-time fans of the DC Universe, both creators view Trinity as a character with the potential to leave a lasting mark on the world of Wonder Woman and the broader DCU.
The process of crafting Wonder Woman #14 posed unique challenges for King. Describing it as a “puzzle box,” King had to balance multiple major moments in one issue: the birth of Trinity, the reveal of her father, and the fate of her father.
“To do all of those in one issue and also try to put some emotional content in, I knew I would be [challenged],” King explains. His editor initially told him it couldn’t all fit into one issue, but King pushed through, fine-tuning the script until everything fell into place. The result, King says, was one of the most difficult yet rewarding scripts he’s worked on. “It was a difficult issue to write, but a beauty to come together and just be proud of it when I was done with it.”
It’s also an issue that is too challenging to have written about in his Dan Didio days. “I grew up in the Dan Didio days of comics, and Dan would yell at me for writing a comic like this. Because sort of Dan Didio’s philosophy was always to stretch stuff out, if you have a big moment, make it into a mini-series. And we have three huge moments in this issue,” King said.
Wonder Woman #14 interior page.
Credit: DC Comics
For Sampere, the challenge was equally daunting, particularly in capturing the emotional depth of the story. While he’s no stranger to drawing epic, action-packed sequences, this issue presented a different kind of difficulty.
“Trying to capture the emotions, the really hard feelings… I had to pay a lot of attention to the acting, the expressions on the faces,” Sampere says. Despite the lack of action, he believes it’s one of the most powerful issues he’s ever drawn. “It’s super peaceful, but at the same time, it’s very powerful. That was another challenge for me,” Sampere explains.
The emotional impact of the script even moved Sampere to tears. “When I read the script for the first time, I was on a train coming back home from a small convention in Spain. I had to hide behind my sunglasses because I was starting to cry at certain moments of the issue,” Sampere recalls. Drawing such an emotional issue was an intense experience for him, but one that he believes will resonate deeply with readers.
King noted that the introduction of Trinity also ties into the ongoing Sovereign storyline, which will be wrapped up in Wonder Woman #19. King teases that while the Sovereign arc will conclude, its impact will ripple throughout the rest of the series. “There are aspects of it that will keep repeating, and his impact will keep going forward,” King explains.
Wonder Woman #14 interior page.
Credit: DC Comics
While he doesn’t want to drag out a single villain’s story for too long, parts of the Sovereign’s legacy, particularly those tied to Trinity, will continue to influence Wonder Woman’s journey.
Beyond the birth of Trinity, the dynamic between Trinity, Damian Wayne, and Jon Kent also promises to be a major focus. In the backup stories with Belén Ortega, King has established the trio’s sibling-like bond. “They’re pretty much a trio. They’re very much the Three Stooges. They’re brothers and sisters in the best way,” King says.
Wonder Woman #14 interior page.
Credit: DC Comics
Drawing on his experience as the father of two boys and a girl, King hopes to capture that sibling dynamic in a way that will resonate with readers. “As much as my daughter couldn’t exist without her brothers, Trinity wouldn’t exist without Damian and Jon,” King adds, referencing the energy and youthful fun that made Super Sons such a beloved series.
With Wonder Woman #14, King and Sampere are creating a pivotal issue in their run and laying the groundwork for the future of Wonder Woman and the DC Universe. As they continue to develop the character of Trinity, they are poised to explore new depths in Wonder Woman’s legacy, all while introducing a new generation of readers to the world of DC Comics. As King says, “Now it’s time to get down to business and write the most epic Wonder Woman story of all time.”
This is an edited version of the interview. Be sure to tune into the AIPT Comics podcast in October for an extended, unedited version of this conversation!
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