Wonder Woman #34: She’s Got the Willpower

Wonder Woman #34 continues the dystopian future storyline, showcasing Diana, Trinity, and Steve Trevor’s last-ditch effort to stop the Matriarch once and for all. Everything up to this point has led to this moment, pitting Diana against the future dictator in a sword fight for the ages. Meanwhile, the issue flashes back to answer a question that has been on many readers’ minds: How did the Matriarch come into possession of a Green Lantern ring, and why did it choose her? By the end, the issue may leave readers with more questions than answers. However, if you’re paying attention to future solicitations for the series, it’s fairly easy to see where the story is heading next.

The main plot, set in the present day, sees Diana battling the Matriarch while the Fates narrate the conflict. Because this story jumped so far into the future to tell its tale, there is unfortunately not much emotional weight behind the confrontation beyond what is implied. There is no doubt that the fight is engaging and visually stunning under Daniel Sampere’s pencils, but it also feels somewhat weightless at times. Readers are expected to accept that a great deal of emotional baggage exists between these characters, even if much of that history remains unknown. Tom King appears to double down on this idea by the issue’s conclusion, revealing that the plan which led the characters to the Fates in the previous issue was never truly about the fight itself. Instead, the battle serves as a distraction for Diana’s actual objective.

One of the recurring criticisms of the Matriarch is that readers are largely asked to accept that she is every bit as formidable as the story claims. Because we have spent relatively little time getting to know her outside of this dystopian future, much of the arc has required readers to take her reputation at face value. While previous glimpses of the character primarily showcased her ability to defeat many of DC’s most powerful heroes, this issue finally explores that concept in greater depth by revealing the aftermath of her victory over Green Lantern and explaining how she acquired his ring.

As it turns out, the ring did not choose her at all. In fact, the issue reveals that the ring had another intended target, which King reconsiders as having always been the true purpose of a power ring seeking a host. Instead, as the ring attempted to fly away and locate its chosen bearer, the Matriarch snatched it from the air and forced it onto her finger. Even when confronted by a Guardian of the Universe, she demonstrates that she can wield the ring through sheer determination and willpower, despite never being selected by it. She later reveals that she is engaged in a constant struggle to keep the ring on her finger. The character has received considerable criticism for being excessively overpowered without sufficient explanation, but this issue goes a long way toward addressing those concerns. By showcasing the sheer force of her will and determination, the story provides a compelling justification for her abilities. In many ways, this feels like a direct response to those criticisms, and it is executed in a brilliant and genuinely awesome fashion.

Prior to the release of this issue, DC Comics published solicitations for later this year that revealed this storyline is only the first half of a two-part arc. The second chapter will see Trinity and Steve traveling back to the point where the story originally diverged in an effort to prevent this future from ever occurring. It feels like a logical next step for a story of this scale, but only time will tell whether the execution is strong enough to justify some of the confusion and inconsistencies that have emerged as a result of the jump into the future.