WARNING: Contains potential spoilers for WONDER WOMAN #14!
I’ve always been a big Wonder Woman fan, but one thing I could never understand was why the Amazon Princess was so in love with Steve Trevor when she literally fought alongside Superman every two weeks. However, thanks to Tom King, I finally understand what makes WonderSteve’s Ship one of DC’s best canon novels.
Witnessing Wonder Woman’s devastating pain offered one of the most profound and moving portrayals of her love for Steve Trevor.
Tom King, Daniel Sampere, Tomeu Morey and Clayton Cowles Wonder Woman Issue #14 is by far one of the most impactful and defining issues in Diana Prince comic book history. This issue navigates the precarious line between life and death with the shocking death of Steve Trevor – Wonder Woman’s character’s most enduring and defining relationship – alongside the “birth” of her daughter, Elizabeth. “Lizzie” Prince Marston.
King’s entire career illuminated the depth of Trevor and Diana’s connectionbut it is this central issue, marked by Steve’s death and Lizzie’s conception, that solidifies him as Wonder Woman’s greatest love interest, surpassing even the Man of Steel himself.
A brief history of Wonder Woman’s romances with Steve Trevor and Superman
Diana Prince and Steve Trevor’s relationship began in Action comics #8, lasting over 83 years
There’s no denying that the romance between Wonder Woman and Steve Trevor has a long and storied past, making it iconic whether you’re a fan of the duo or not. Their relationship is as old as the characters themselves, starting with William Moulton Marston and H.G. Peter’s Star Comics #8 (1941) when the two meet on Themyscira after Steve’s plane lands on the island. Diana rescues him and nurses him back to health, simultaneously falling in love with his bravery and humanity – marking the beginning of their romance.
In contrast, Superman and Wonder Woman as a romantic pair didn’t really take off until DC’s release. New 52—a significant and controversial reboot that introduced new continuity and attempted to modernize the characters by revamping their origin stories and reimagining the characters’ relationships. While many of these changes were hated by fans, others embraced the romantic relationship between Wonder Woman and Superman.—I was one of them. At the time, the couple seemed more fitting than Diana being with a relatively boring human man. But man, Tom King proved me wrong last year.
My love for WonderSteve romance began in Wonder Woman #9 (2024)
Tom King reveals Steve Trevor’s true purpose in Wonder Woman’s story
From the beginning, Tom King Wonder Woman run placed great emphasis on Diana and Steve’s relationshipwith Steve being one of the most recurring characters besides Diana herself. Although I wasn’t a fan of Steve at the time, I was intrigued and willing to accept that this relationship would be an important part of the narrative. However, as the series progressed, I found myself transitioning from a neutral stance towards the novel to gaining a deep respect and even adoration for it – with Wonder Woman #9 officially starting to sell me on the relationship.
In this issue, Steve Trevor’s true purpose as a character is revealed: he is Wonder Woman’s strength. This revelation occurs in one of Wonder Woman’s dreamscapes, and while it’s not outright stated, it’s heavily implied in dialogue that reads like a riddle: “You are what I was given – what I always carry. Which now, in these dark days, has carried me.” While this line is open to interpretation, for me, feels like a direct statement that the Colonel is one of Wonder Woman’s greatest pillars of strength.
Some may cringe at the notion of Wonder Woman’s strength being linked to a man, fearing that it implies weakness. However, this is not the implication here; instead, Diana’s strength derives from her love for Steve. This sentiment aligns perfectly with what fans have long known about Diana – love is one of her defining virtues and the cornerstone of her character. Thus, Wonder Woman’s relationship with Steve is defined by the strength she gives her. This revelation opened my eyes to the depth and authenticity of their bond, but ultimately it was Wonder Woman #14 that turned me into a passionate supporter of the WonderSteve ship.
Steve Trevor’s Death Convinced Me He’s Wonder Woman’s Biggest Love Interest
King gave Steve and Diana one of the BEST romances in DC Comics
As dark as it may seem, Ultimately, it was Steve’s death that solidified my belief in him as Wonder Woman’s best love interest. Witnessing Diana’s devastating pain offered one of the most profound and moving portraits of her love for him, bringing me to tears multiple times as her sadness resonated deeply with me, thanks to King, Sampere, and Morey’s extraordinary storytelling. It was through these poignant moments when Diana was mourning Steve that I truly felt the depth of their connection. And when Wonder Woman channeled her pain into raising her daughter, I realized I could never ship Diana with anyone else.
King’s moving narrative captured the essence of Diana and Steve’s love during a moment when the Amazon Princess combines the threads of their souls to create her daughter: “There are those who don’t understand Wonder Woman and Steve Trevor. They believe that the mere soldier is unworthy of the powerful princess… What these naive people can never understand is that this distance between them actually explains them. For a sunless shadow dissipates into nothingness, unchallenged and undefined. And a sun without a shadow… this is just a distant star in the night, shedding its dim light, lost among the forgotten gods.”
This narration touched me, as my struggle to understand their relationship stemmed from reconciling what someone so extraordinary could be like with someone so ordinary. However, this poetic explanation of balance, along with the wrenching emotions of the issue – including the moving “birth” of his daughter resulting from the merging of their souls – made me a true believer. I now see not only that Steve is the best match for Diana, but also that their love is one of the deepest in DC Comics. So sorry Supermanbut Steve Trevor Now you’re the only love interest I’ll accept Wonder Woman.
Wonder Woman #14 is now available from DC Comics!
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WONDER WOMAN #14 (2024) |
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