Written by: Tom King
Art by: Daniel Sampere
Colors by: Tomeu Morey
Letters by: Clayton Cowles
Cover art by: Daniel Sampere, Tomeu Morey
Cover price: $4.99
Release date: May 22, 2024
Wonder Woman #9 takes a montage trip with Steve Trevor through Wonder Woman’s mind as she endures the torture of isolation as the Sovereign’s captive.
Is Wonder Woman #9 Good?
ļ»æAt some point, somebody within DC Editorial has to exhibit an ounce of courage to step in and tell Tom King this isn’t working. King’s secret weapon of using spectacular artists to cover his thematic shortcomings won’t work this time, and DC’s greatest female hero suffers for it. I’m not talking about the torture she’s enduring in the comic.
When last we left Wonder Woman, she endured a torturous series of hallucinations while under the control of the Lasso of Lies. Serving as a bizarre vehicle to showcase how the Bible is misused to oppress women, the Sovereign ultimately failed in forcing Wonder Woman to know her “place.” The issue ended with Wonder Woman using her super strength to break the Lasso of Lies and charge the Sovereign.
In Wonder Woman #9, Wonder Woman was somehow recaptured and stowed in an isolation cell, courtesy of Lex Luthor’s power-dampening tech. No explanation was given as to how the Sovereign’s men were able to restrain her and get her in a cell while she still had her super strength.
The entire issue follows Wonder Woman engaging in snippets of conversations with her imagined version of Steve Trevor as they travel the world, fight enemies, stroll on the beach, or simply watch the news on a sofa at home.
The issue ends with the Sovereign paying Wonder Woman a visit in her cell to see if he’s broken her yet. The answer is “no.”
“Wait! What!? That’s it. It’s all just Wonder Woman talking to Steve to keep her sanity?” you might wonder. Yes, that’s right. There’s no explanation as to how she got in the cell, the series of hallucinations take place over two months where nobody appears to be searching for her, and there’s no hint of where the story is going next.
What’s great about Wonder Woman #9? Daniel Sampere’s art is spectacular in this issue. Between Dan Mora and Daniel Sampere, DC has some of the best superhero comic artists around. Well, at least Dan Mora’s talents aren’t wasted.
What’s not so great about Wonder Woman #9? It’s all superficial atmosphere, buoyed by amazing art, but not a lick of substance, themes, or plot. Grossly, this issue is almost a sadistic demonstration by King to see how much punishment he can inflict on a woman before somebody intervenes. If you’re into torture porn, this issue might work for you, but for any reader with a healthy outlook on life, you’ll likely find this issue repugnant.
About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.
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Final Thoughts
Wonder Woman #9 forces the reader to stand by and watch as Wonder Woman holds on to her sanity while enduring months of mental torture. Daniel Sampere’s art is a joy to behold, but Tom King’s script dips into torture porn territory of the misogynistic variety.