Wonder Woman #25: Premonitions of Death

Wonder Woman #25 picks up with Diana still on her journey to locate Etta Candy, Emelie, and Emelie’s newborn baby. Along the way, she has encountered a nation of people trained to speak only two phrases “Mice have ears” and “Mouse Man knows,” as well as a little girl searching for her missing mother. This issue brings both of these storylines to fruition, while Diana undergoes her own journey of self-discovery as she questions why she is pursuing this mission at all. Meanwhile, glimpses of the future reveal what Emelie’s baby daughter will become.

At the start of this arc, it was clear that Diana sought out Emelie and Etta in an attempt to conclude the mission that began when the Sovereign tried to destroy her life. Matters grew more complicated once she arrived on the isle to find her missing friends, drawing her into a conflict she had not anticipated. In traditional comic book stories, the principle of protecting the innocent at all costs often triumphs above everything else; however, writer Tom King shifts focus to the emotional toll this role takes. Diana feels the weight of this when she encounters a group of resistance fighters in Mouse Man’s country, who immediately assume she is there to aid them. King seems to be playing with the audience’s expectations, aware that mainstream comics often brush past the consequences of prior stories too quickly. Diana’s realization that she is still wrestling with everything that has happened comes as something of a shock.

The moments where Diana reflects on herself are the true highlights of this series, especially when she expresses her vulnerability to the ordinary people around her. When this series began, King spoke candidly about how Diana differs from Batman and Superman. That distinction shines through here: her defining quality is her ability to show vulnerability to those who expect so much of her. Where Batman hides in the shadows as a fearsome and mysterious figure, and Superman strives to act as a beacon of hope embodying humanity’s best, King’s Wonder Woman is portrayed as a powerful force of good who builds common ground with those around her and relates to them as someone who also faces hardship.

Throughout this issue, flash-forwards to the future show various members of the DC Universe being killed in unique and sometimes brutal ways. Green Arrow, for example, is pierced through the chest with a spear, while Martian Manhunter is burned at the stake. These disturbing visions are revealed to be the grim destiny awaiting Lyssa, Emelie’s newborn daughter. This setup is particularly compelling because both Lyssa and Trinity are still depicted as infants, while the future glimpsed in the first major arc of the series foreshadowed a mysterious battle that led to Trinity acquiring the three lassos. Much of this issue is devoted to setting the stage for what lies ahead, but it works well in context, as Diana’s quest to rescue her friends and protect Lyssa is contrasted against the terrifying visions of Lyssa’s future conquest.