Wonder Woman #37
Anthony Bergamini
Recap
Steve Trevor and his daughter Trinity arrive in the present after a heartbreaking defeat at the hands of the Matriarch twenty years in the future. Now they must find Wonder Woman and convince her of the threat a seemingly innocent child will pose in the years to come. Will the truth prevail?
Review
Wonder Woman #37 picks up with the main creative team returning to finish off the “Wonder War” arc. The last couple of issues saw writer Tom King, artist Daniel Sampere, and company take a break, but they return here in full force. Through a short burst of dual storytelling, the issue transitions between Trinity and Steve Trevor’s not-so-welcome arrival on Themyscira and Diana taking baby Lizzie and Lyssa on a teaching journey to show them what it means to face a monster.
When the first part of this story arc kicked off, it really threw readers for a loop. The story jumped twenty years into the future, introducing a future version of Lyssa known as the Matriarch, who has managed to defeat almost every major DC superhero and amass their power. This alternate future definitely could never come to pass, especially considering how fast and loose it plays with continuity, so it was clear that King and Sampere were using it primarily as a staging ground for the story.
That brings us to Wonder Woman #37, where the return to the modern day begins sowing the seeds of destiny for the main cast. The big question is what will become of Trinity, Steve Trevor, and the Matriarch if Diana is able to prevent their future from ever coming to pass.
The storytelling in this issue feels very much in keeping with King’s style. The entire section involving Diana’s journey to fight a monster with the two babies is clearly setup for what comes later, foreshadowing how her understanding of what makes someone a monster may change when that monster turns out to be someone she loves. You might feel a little clever for picking up on the storytelling device, but King makes no attempt to hide it. Instead, he places everything right in front of the reader, leaving us with only one real course of action: trust Diana.
Sampere’s art is top-notch as always. Early in the issue, Trinity and Steve Trevor are attacked by a couple of Amazon warriors, leading to a fantastic moment where Trinity catches a spear that was aimed directly at her father. Sampere captures the moment in a way that makes it feel every bit as epic as it is clearly intended to be, setting the stage for what looks like a full-blown blockbuster action sequence.
Final Thoughts
Wonder Woman #37 expertly balances foreshadowing and top notch action to deliver a blockbuster beginning to the second part of the "Wonder War" story arc.
Wonder Woman #37: Act II
- Writing - 9/109/10
- Storyline - 9/109/10
- Art - 9/109/10
- Color - 9/109/10
- Cover Art - 9/109/10
