The main antagonist in the beginning of DC Comics' current Wonder Woman comic book run was a man who ruled America behind the scenes, named the Patriarch. He held the Lasso of Lies and used it and a variety of other means to make sure that the American way, as he saw it, remained. This meant keeping disenfranchised people at the bottom while wealthy men remained in control. Eventually, he was stopped, but that wasn’t the end of the fighting. The Amazons and the Justice League were killed in something called the Wonder Wars (this happens in Wonder Woman No. 19).
After getting information about this from the Patriarch, Diana's Daughter, Trinity, learns the truth of who started the Wonder Wars and killed the Justice League and all of the Amazons. Fun fact, it can be directly traced to Emelie, a rogue Amazon who set things in motion in Tom King’s first issue of Wonder Woman. Her name is the Matriarch, and she's not to be messed with.
Wonder Woman No. 25 creative team
- Writer: Tom King
- Artists: Daniel Sampere and Jorge Fornés
- Colors: Tomeu Morey
It’s funny how a small snowball can turn into a destructive force. It shows that seemingly insignificant events can change the course of the universe. What began with a fight in a bar turned into a law that banned Amazons in America. The same Amazon in the bar fight (Emelie) later has a daughter named Lyssa. In Wonder Woman No. 25, it's revealed that Lyssa is the one leading the charge that murders all of the Amazons and the Justice League. So far, the only heroes left are Damian Wayne (Batman), Jon Kent (Superman), and Trinity (Wonder Woman).
Other than who Matriarch’s mother is, there isn’t much readers know about her. However, the things that are revealed should terrify people. She weakened Superman and killed him while he was on his knees. Hawkman's wings were removed before he was pushed off a building. Aquaman died with his own hook hand broken and stuck in his chest. And Batman was hung by the Lasso of Truth.
When we finally see the Matriarch, she's intimidating. She's big, has a ring from the Legion of Super-Heroes, and a Green Lantern Power Ring. That means she likely killed people to get them. Either that, or the ring chose her. It’s unclear which one is scarier.
Thankfully, there is something positive. Even as the Justice League was executed, they all knew Wonder Woman would save them. The question is whether this is Trinity or Diana. Stay tuned to Bam Smack Pow to find out.
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