Wonder Woman #3: I’d like to talk about Madeleine Ashton

Tom King and Daniel Sampere continues their run on the Amazing Amazon, shaking the American people’s trust in Wonder Woman, and the rest of the Amazons. Sarge Steel’s back, and he’s ready to use the entire United States Armed forces to bring her down, and we see the Sovereign amp up his campaign against Diana, using his lasso to manipulate a soldier as his pawn. Plus we get a hint for Trinity’s parents, and it’s not who you think it is! So let’s get into it, shall we? 

Tom King’s story has been a slow burn, and while some of the reactions towards Amazons seems a bit hamfisted, and excessive over the actions of one Amazon. The concept isn’t one that I couldn’t see Americans take, especially since 9/11, and the rise of MAGA, and the isolationist take that the conservative movements have taken over the last twenty years, it just seems a trifle exaggerated. But the Sovereign, and what his ultimate goal is interesting. We haven’t had an actual villain who is attacking Diana, and the Amazonian culture because they are a shining beacon of feminism, and the Sovereign seems to be the epitome of fragile masculinity. He reminds me of another of Diana’s rogues that doesn’t get the attention that he deserves. The Duke of Deception! 

The Duke of Deception is a Golden Age villain, who is patterned after the Greek god Dolos, who is the god of lies and deceit. The Duke was an ally and agent of Mars (pre-Crisis Ares), but would become a full on WW villain, with stories that span from her Golden Age stories up through the years before the Crisis hit, wiping out his history with Diana. The Duke was last seen in Wonder Woman during the fan favorite run by Becky Cloonan and Michael W. Conrad, so while I don’t think the Sovereign is the Duke, there’s a lot of similarities that could be mined to work with here. 

Daniel Sampere continues to completely astonish me with every new issue that comes out. His line work is so lush, and his Diana evokes a casual regality, that’s equal parts unadulterated femininity and warrior goddess. She towers over the average man, but Sampere gives Diana this warmth and affability that just makes the reader, and general public, want to love her. Even when they’re angry, or trying to defeat her, Diana continues to inspire. Regardless of the situation that King’s story calls for, Sampere’s one of those artists that can flawlessly capture a characters spirit, and bring them to life with each passing panel. DC needs to lock Sampere to his Wonder Woman drawing board for a very long time.