Wonder Woman #23: Mouseman Knows!

Wonder Woman #23 begins with the formal aftermath of the series’ first major arc: Wonder Woman’s fight against the Sovereign. While there was an excellent two-issue interlude and another issue of setup in between, we’ve finally arrived at the introduction to the next big chapter in this ongoing Wonder Woman series. At the end of the Sovereign arc, it was revealed that Etta Candy had found Emilie and helped her give birth to her daughter—but also that they were somehow trapped in a militant-looking area dedicated to Mouseman. For those who need a refresher, Emilie was the Amazon whose outburst of rage sparked the United States’ distrust of all Amazons, leading to the entire plotline of the Sovereign arc.

While the last issue introduced Mouseman as a throwaway villain who felt stuck in the Silver Age, this issue promises much more for the character. It is revealed that a number of U.S. citizens fled the country after the events of Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths, reaching an agreement with the United Nations to remain in isolation from the rest of the world. This new nation also happens to be where Etta, Emilie, and the baby are located—creating a potential international incident if Diana were to enter, especially since she is a prominent member of the Justice League.

This new plot thread is consistent with writer Tom King’s ongoing use of the series to comment on real-world issues through the lens of the DC Universe. The Sovereign arc served as an obvious commentary on misogyny in the United States, illustrating how easily the Sovereign manipulated a patriarchal society by appealing to people’s base instincts. Here, the story appears to comment on the state of immigration, proposing a universe in which a significant number of refugees have fled from the United States—flipping the typical narrative of the U.S. as a “safe haven.”

The deeper commentary seems to center on Mouseman himself, though he does not appear in this issue. It appears he has taken control of this new country on a psychological level, forcing its inhabitants to speak in repeated phrases. While the full extent of this control is yet to be revealed, it’s clear that this depiction of Mouseman symbolizes the powerful preying on the weak and helpless. His manipulation of people in crisis feels eerily similar to how certain American business interests exploit refugees and immigrants for personal gain. Wherever this arc is headed, it’s clear that King has something significant to say on the subject.

As one might expect, Wonder Woman fits into this narrative perfectly by being the force that refuses to play by the rules. Though unaware of Mouseman’s presence and militant control, she defies the Justice League’s orders simply because she knows a friend is in danger and needs help. In many ways, this is exactly who Diana is as a hero—and what sets her apart from others in the DC Universe. Interestingly, this also seems to parallel a plot point from a major blockbuster released this summer, but Comic Watch isn’t here to spoil movies for you.