Wonder Woman's Darkest Moment Returns, As DC Confirms She's Still a Killer

Summary Wonder Woman faces her darkest moments, willing to cross a line few DC heroes would.

While she fantasizes about killing the Sovereign, he's fated to be imprisoned instead.

Wonder Woman will still kill when absolutely necessary.

Warning! Spoilers ahead for Wonder Woman #9!One of the darkest chapters in Wonder Woman's life returns in a moment that proves she's willing to cross a line few DC heroes will. Diana has been taken captive by the Sovereign, America's secret king. During this tense situation, Wonder Woman brings up a harrowing event from her past that proves she's not afraid of killing.

In Wonder Woman #9 by Tom King and Daniel Sampere, the Sovereign has isolated Wonder Woman in a cell with no human contact. To hold onto her sanity, Wonder Woman retreats inward and speaks with an imaginary version of Steve Trevor.

During one conversation with 'Steve', Diana speaks about the Sovereign and the pain he's caused both her and her Amazon sisters. Wonder Woman imagines snapping the Sovereign's neck in the same way she killed Maxwell Lord so many years ago. Her fantasy version of Steve reminds Diana that she's supposed to be good and questions if killing is good.

Wonder Woman Fantasizes About Killing Her New Enemy in a Familiar Way

Killing has always been on the table for Wonder Woman, but generally only under rare and extreme circumstances. Unfortunately for him, Maxwell Lord found that out the hard way. The psychic villain took control of Superman's mind and turned him into his puppet. Lord had the Man of Steel attack Diana and in the chaos of the fight, she discovered that the only way to break Lord's hold on Clark was to kill Maxwell. Without hesitation, Wonder Woman snapped Lord's neck and freed Clark from mind control, an act that was broadcast all over the world by Brother Eye.

The page where Wonder Woman fantasizes about killing the Sovereign is intentionally modeled after the scene where Diana killed Maxwell Lord. Wonder Woman killing Lord was possibly the most high-profile kill Diana ever committed, but it was when she had no other choice and the world was facing the prospect of a mind-controlled Superman. The Sovereign, as vile as he is, has not placed Wonder Woman or any of her loved ones in as much danger yet. But this sequence is a stark reminder that Wonder Woman does kill and hints that she wants Sovereign to feel her wrath.

Is Wonder Woman Going to Kill the Sovereign?

Thankfully, fans already have an answer to that. The current Wonder Woman series is a story being told by the Sovereign to Wonder Woman's future daughter, Trinity. In this future, Sovereign is in one of the most secure prisons on Themyscira, far away from society. While this means fans won't be seeing Wonder Woman murdering her new foe, her fantasy reminds everyone that she has it in her to kill. When the Sovereign ultimately winds up in prison, he'd better be grateful knowing what other fate Wonder Woman had dreamed up for him.

Wonder Woman #9 is available now from DC Comics.

Wonder Woman #9 (2024) Writer: Tom King

Artist: Daniel Sampere

Colorist: Tomeu Morey

Letterer: Clayton Cowles

Cover Artist: Daniel Sampere