It’s a time-honored tradition bestowed upon the Amazons by the gods, with roots that span millennia and lifelong glory to whomever emerges triumphant. But the Trial of the Amazons to determine who will have the honor of guarding Doom’s Doorway along with which queen will hold sovereignty over all the tribes has been marred by mistrust and murder.
Hippolyta, mother of Diana and for years the queen of Themyscira, has been fatally poisoned, bringing grief to the usually joyous proceedings and setting everyone on edge. A shadowy new threat has emerged from Doom’s Doorway, its intentions and capability still unknown—but two Amazons were killed during its escape. And as if all this weren’t enough, a strange male figure has seemingly made his way to Themyscira with clearly malevolent intentions. In short, Paradise Island has become a powder keg, which is hardly the ideal location for a challenge that will pit four of the greatest Amazonian warriors against each other with everything on the line.
Yet, that’s exactly where we find ourselves as “Trial of the Amazons,” the seven-part crossover event featuring the entire Wonder Woman family, kicks off its second half. In this first look at next week’s Wonder Woman #786, the trial proper begins, with Themyscira’s Philippus, the Esquecida’s Yara Flor, Bana-Mighdall’s Donna Troy and Wonder Woman, who is representing all Amazons collectively, all vying to come out on top. The contest promises to challenge each of them in ways both unexpected and trying, and while all challengers and tribes respect the tradition and have vowed to compete with honor, it’s inevitable that tempers will be short. That’s if the challenge can even be completed. For while it’s said that the trial, once it’s begun, can only be halted by the gods, there sure seem to be a lot of sinister forces determined to put that rule to the test…
Wonder Woman #786 by Becky Cloonan, Michael W. Conrad, Jordie Bellaire, Rosi Kämpe and Paulina Ganucheau is available Tuesday, April 12 in print and as a digital comic book.
