Writer: Tom King
Artist: Daniel Sampere
Colors: Tomeu Morey
Letters: Clayton Cowles
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $4.99
Release Date: September 19th, 2023
Tom King is the new writer on Wonder Woman and Wonder Woman #1 sets up what promises to be a controversial and through-provoking run, with events reflecting many of the same issues we’re facing in America these days and putting Wonder Woman in a crisis situation she has never experienced before.
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The Story
Wonder Woman #1 starts with an Amazon being groped in a pool hall by a biker. When she protests, the rest of the groper’s biker gang gets involved and things escalate past the breaking point into bloody violence. As with most events in America, the story spreads like a raging fire, resulting in Amazons being banned from American soil, even though the bikers started the whole mess. This storyline will likely cause tons of controversy (even though I feel the bikers definitely got what they deserved). But that’s the great thing about this, it goes beyond the standard cookie-cutter “hero vs. villain” stories we get 99% of the time these days, incorporating politics and espionage to form a story that’s more like a Robert Ludlum-style thriller than a superhero adventure.
Tom King, much like Geoff Johns, has always had a knack for bringing old obscure characters back into the spotlight, and here, he brings back a character who first appeared way back in 1987’s Legends mini-series and has appeared in Checkmate and other books. The character’s a hardcore ice cold operative for the government and he’s so manipulative and mission-focused that he makes Amanda Waller look as light-hearted as a Smurf by comparison. It’s fascinating to see him pop up again and he’s a great foil for Wonder Woman. We see him in action at several points in the issue and with his squad of elite soldiers, he’s ruthless and brutal. He stays focused on his goal and can’t be bargained with or talked out of it.
Wonder Woman has to quickly adjust to this new status quo and it’s a rough transition for her, not only having to worry about her Amazon sisters who are living in America, but for Steve Trevor too, who could be killed for being so closely associated to her. It makes her incredibly inspiring though, watching her adhere to her standards of honor and respect for others even as she’s being vilified and attacked for nothing more than the fact she’s an Amazon. I feel in future issues, Wonder Woman will also come into conflict with the other Amazons. We get their viewpoint on this (including one scene where tragedy occurs) and the battle-ready Amazons may not agree with Wonder Woman’s insistence on trying to deal with things peacefully and defensively.
The Art
Daniel Sampere’s art on Wonder Woman #1 is composed of dynamic panel layouts that keep the action moving at a furious pace. He brings out the direness of the situations through the characters’ expressiveness. The story changes through multiple locations which he captures in lovely detail throughout, from Paradise Island to Washington DC.
Final Thoughts
Wonder Woman #1 is a riveting start to a new storyline, one of the best first issues I’ve read in a long time. It holds up a mirror to America, delivering a politically charged story that puts Wonder Woman on the run and gives her two new formidable enemies. It’s filled with heart-breaking moments as well as blazing action. I look forward to seeing where next issue takes us.