Wonder Woman #27: Wait, WHAT?!?!

Wonder Woman #27 continues Diana’s journey through Mouse Man Island, gaining momentum as what began as a straightforward rescue mission evolves into something far more complex. As the issue opens, an event occurs that is likely to be very divisive among readers, and understandably so. However, as the story progresses, we are treated to one of the strongest portrayals of Wonder Woman in the run so far. The writing and artwork remain consistently excellent, but that single narrative decision negatively affects not only the reading experience of this issue, but the run as a whole.

Spoilers to follow:

One of the ongoing criticisms of Tom King and Daniel Sampere’s Wonder Woman run has been the treatment of the Emelie character. The series opened with Emelie killing several men in a bar after being sexually assaulted and harassed, which led to a nationwide sanction against Amazonians. Diana later uncovered a conspiracy within the government revealing that The Sovereign was using the incident to manipulate the country in pursuit of his own misogynistic goals. However, one thing the series seemingly stepped away from was Emelie herself and what became of her after that first issue.

Partway through the run, Diana learned that Emelie was pregnant, something many fans assumed would tie into Trinity’s origins, only for it to be a red herring. But as The Sovereign arc concluded, King and Sampere revealed that Diana’s quest to find Emelie was not over. Diana had secretly sent Etta Candy to track her down, only for both women to end up trapped on Mouse Man Island.

Cut to the present, and Diana has found Etta, Emelie, and Emelie’s newborn baby, rescuing them while also attempting to end Mouse Man’s reign of terror once and for all. But as the issue opens, something shocking happens: Emelie is killed. While this is a startling way to begin the issue, it is even more surprising for readers who have followed the series from the start. Was Emelie only ever a plot device? Was she never intended to develop into her own character? It’s clear the story is building toward Emelie’s daughter becoming a major threat in the future, but killing Emelie so abruptly, within the first few pages and in the middle of an arc, undercuts much of what the series has established. Readers already know that Mouse Man is a cruel, power-hungry misogynist; Emelie didn’t need to die to reinforce that point.

As frustrating as Emelie’s death is, the rest of the issue is quite strong. Diana began this arc simply wanting to save her friends and move on, but she is pushed by a young new companion to embrace the heroic ideals Wonder Woman is known for and to save the people of the island. In contrast, Mouse Man is portrayed as a power-mad despot whose authority crumbles the moment he loses control of a situation. At the end of the previous issue, it appeared that he had the upper hand, but this chapter reverses the dynamic, showcasing once again what sets Diana apart from Batman and Superman.

What follows is a powerful takedown of this D-list villain, with Diana defeating him both physically and psychologically. She breaks his body and his ego, and the final moments of the issue perfectly reflect the growth she has undergone throughout this arc. This is a Wonder Woman who needed to be reminded that her grief-driven objectives cannot distract her from the true heroic responsibility of carrying the mantle.