Wonder Woman, Vol. 2: Sacrifice

Wonder Woman (2023)

by Tom King, Daniel Sampere (Artist), Tony S. Daniel (Artist)

Wonder Woman’s critically acclaimed and character-defining series from writer Tom King and Daniel Sampere reaches its second volume!

Writer Tom King and artist Daniel Sampere have taken Wonder Woman from Goddess to an enemy of the state in their critically acclaimed Wonder Woman series in the Dawn of DC. Captured by a team of villains, Diana Prince finds herself up against the nemesis of our story, The Sovereign, wielding the Lasso of Lies. As her new adversary tightens the grip on Wonder Woman’s psyche, will she prove victorious over the web of Amazon lies weaved in Man’s World?

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Dc Comics, Wonder Woman, Superheroes, Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics

192 pages, Paperback

First published November 19, 2024

Reviews

[Diz · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are two main storylines here. The first is the continuing story of Wonder Woman's battle with the Sovereign. This focuses on the psychological battles that Wonder Woman must wage against her enemy. This part of the story is a bit trippy as it takes place in her mind. This part of the story is a bit slow as it focuses on talk rather than action. Towards the end of this storyline, the focus shifts to the Wonder Girls. The chemistry between these characters is great. This is probably the best part of this volume for me as the personality differences between the Wonder Girls creates a lot of funny dialogue. Then there is a battle between Wonder Woman and Cheetah, which is, as always, a lot of fun.

The second storyline is a break in the first story to participate in the Absolute Power storyline. This part of the volume is dull and not very interesting. I'm not a fan of regular stories being interrupted by events.

Finally, there is a one-shot story about Wonder Woman and Superman going to an intergalactic mall to buy a birthday present for Batman. Of course, this turns out to be a difficult task. This story is cute, but it's not really a necessary read.

[Rod Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm loving Tom King's Wonder Woman run so much, I didn't even care when the battle against the Sovereign was abruptly set aside halfway through so some silly Absolute Power crossover tie-in issues could take over the end of the volume.

The book actually starts with a stand-alone tale of Wonder Woman and Superman hanging out as they look for a birthday present for Batman. Funny and heartwarming. King is a master of the superhero playdate.

Then poor Diana gets tortured by the Sovereign for multiple issues, having been taken prisoner last volume. They are well-done tales of indomitable spirit and a sort of tribute to the numerous times William Moulton Marston tied up the Amazon in the original comics back in the 1940s.

And -- whump! -- we're dumped into Absolute Power, a crossover series I haven't been following. The Amazo attack is the only time I was bored in the book. Things picked up when Diana had some one-on-one time with Damian Wayne as she and Robin tried to dig some information out of Captain Boomerang. The subsequent jailbreak had some good moments too, but I really enjoyed the alternate take of the last two stories Damian provides in a short epilogue set in the future.

FOR REFERENCE:

Contents (All stories written by Tom King): #7. Gifted / Guillem March, illustrator -- #8. Sacrifice, Part 1 / Daniel Sampere, illustrator -- #9. Sacrifice, Part 2 / Daniel Sampere, illustrator -- #10. Sacrifice, Finale / Daniel Sampere, illustrator -- #11. Absolute Power: The Worst of Times / Tony S. Daniel, illustrator -- #12. Absolute Power: The Stick and the Carrot / Tony S. Daniel, illustrator -- #13. Absolute Power: Reunion / Tony S. Daniel, illustrator -- #13. The Secret Origin of Trinity, Daughter of Wonder Woman / Khary Randolph, illustrator

[Molly™☺ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another mixed bag which isn't entirely King's fault. The issues where he has more free reign range from good to awful, but it's the Absolute Power tie-ins that really seal this volume's fate. Absolute Power in itself is a badly organised event, and whilst King's writing is definitely nothing to write home about, there isn't too much to work with. Still disappointing, there are panels that prove potential, yet it is a frustratingly flawed run so far.

[Khurram · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book of two stories. I like each of them separately but mixed together without finishing either one? The format does not work for me.

The first issues/chapter is Superman and Wonder Woman travel off plannet to get a gift for Batman. It's a complete filler story that really adds nothing to the ongoing story arc. I would give this one 3.5 stars. I do not even include the two story arcs.

Since her physical battle ended, Wonder Woman is captured by the Sovereign, who will try to spiritually, psychologically, or physically break her. This story would have been 5 stars if it had been seen through to the end. Get rid of the first stand alive story to get the extra space to finish this one. 4 stars.

The prelude to Absolute Power and two Wonder Woman stories teaming up with Damian to break the heroes our during Absolute Power. 4 stars again.

The artwork was perfect for every story, especially issue 8 the old school art with old school thinking/rhetoric. Good stories but terrible format, finish one before moving on to the next. The book finishes with a varient covers gallery.

[Rory Wilding · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having written Batman and Superman, it was only a matter of time until Tom King was going to tackle the third wheel of DC’s holy trinity. Along with artist Daniel Sampere, King’s take on Wonder Woman has been one of the most successful runs during the Dawn of DC initiative. Following an epic first volume with our heroine facing the U.S. government that is being secretly manipulated by a new villain known as the Sovereign, Diana was left in a battered state.

However, the second volume begins not with Diana in her current predicament, but a flashback issue in which she and Superman go shopping to find a perfect birthday gift for Batman. Drawn by Guillem March, who makes good use of the cosmic setting that is the Andromeda Mall where many different aliens shop in, the issue has more in common with the “Super Friends” issues of King’s Batman run, showing these superheroes in fun if mundane social activities. While there is some acknowledgement of her current situation, the issue functions as more as a pleasant detour that really showcases the friendship between DC’s most iconic superhero trio.

And then we get to the main course with three issues where Diana being imprisoned by the Sovereign, who is determined to break her with his Lasso of Lies, which acts as the opposite to her Lasso of Truth, enforcing one's belief in any falsehoods spoken to them while entangled in its binds. Although King maintains his sincerity in how he writes Wonder Woman, it is with these issues where King deconstructs her through sequences that are there to psychologically torment her. A recurring image that hearts back to the character’s history, which is her being tied up by some villain, only for her to break out of her situation herself, and King pushes that to a psychological effect here.

Instead of super-powered fights that you would expect from superhero comics, Wonder Woman goes through a private hell where she is in a domestic lifestyle as a 50s homemaker for Steve Trevor, to then enduring isolation where she creates an imaginary friend in Steve to maintain her sanity. There is a big fight in the end where Diana fights her longtime nemesis Cheetah, but even how it is resolved is more emotionally complex with the internal and external conflicts that she is going through. Whilst you have the Sovereign delivering his captions with biblical references, you have the Wonder Girls adding nice comic relief. There are some readers that will be frustrated with King’s thought-provoking ideas over superhero spectacle, but Daniel Sampere makes every page is a thing of beauty as you can feel the compassion that Wonder Woman shows, no matter how much she gets beaten.

The remaining issues are another detour from the main narrative, as King ties in with last year’s crossover event Absolute Power, where Amanda Waller has neutralized the ability of every metahuman around the world, causing the Justice League and the remaining heroes to form a resistance. Drawn by Tony S. Daniel, these are serviceable issues that best showcase the unlikely alliance between Diana and Damian Wayne, with the best issue featuring them interrogating Captain Boomerang to learn the location of Waller's metahuman prison.

This may not reach the quality of the first volume, mostly because of the issues that detract from the main narrative, which continues to be some of the best work that Tom King and Daniel Sampere have produced. Hopefully with the next volume, we will get more answers with the ongoing mystery that is going on in the best Wonder Woman run in recent years.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.9 stars

[Scott Frank · Rating 3 out of 5]

The overall quality is still pretty good, but it's such a mixed bag. The continuation of the "Sacrifice" storyline starts out strong (the Sovereign engaging in psychological torture; and how she survives it), in the end the whole thing definitely ends not with a bang, but a whimper; I don't want to go into details because...well, spoilers, but...a LOT is let unresolved. A shame because part one was one of the best storylines in comics over the past few years. Ah well, they can't all be gems.

[Frédéric · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I think Sovereignty is too unsubtle a choice of villain to be really interesting the first part of this book which sees him trying to break Diana by various means is well constructed - à la King so to speak - and Daniel Sampere does a marvellous job with the drawing.

The tie-in part of Absolute Power isn't particularly extraordinary but it's nothing to be ashamed of either. Of no interest if you don't read the main story of course.

[Murphy C · Rating 4 out of 5]

More like 3.5 💫s.

[Raphael Muniz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Das sete edições compiladas nesse volume, apenas três fazem parte da história principal contada pelo Tom King. Esses três números são ótimos, bem mais interessantes que os demais, mas o formato mix desse volume acaba prejudicando um pouco a leitura. Nesse momento da história, o King aposta numa narrativa mais introspectiva, com a Diana aprisionada pelo Soberano e refletindo sobre sua condição enquanto heroína, sua relação com Steve Trevor e o papel que desempenha na humanidade. No último número rola uma luta com a Mulher-Leopardo que achei meio jogada, mas a edição é divertida ainda assim, especialmente pela ótima interação entre as Wonder Girls.

Já as outras edições confesso que não tive muito interesse em ler e apenas dei uma folheada. Três edições são tie-ins de ligação com a trama maior de "Poder Absoluto", mega-evento da DC que tava rolando na época e que levaria à criação do universo Absolute, além de uma que conta a história da Diana e do Superman indo comprar um presente de aniversário pro Batman.

[Roman Zarichnyi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Том Кінґ у другому томі «Диво-Жінки» продовжує свою розповідь без суттєвих змін у підході. А сам том складається з кількох історій.

Перша історія — флешбек, де Диво-Жінка разом із Суперменом вирушає до міжгалактичного торгового центру, шукаючи подарунок для Бетмена. Це легкий і веселий епізод, але він не додає нічого важливого до загального сюжету.

Далі йде основна сюжетна лінія. Диво-Жінка потрапляє в полон до Суверена, який використовує Ласо Брехні, змушуючи її вірити в будь-яку неправду. Це найбільш напружена частина коміксу, де головна героїня проходить через психологічні випробування. Особливо виділяються сцени, де вона змушена жити у вигаданій реальності 50-х років чи бій із Барбарою на острові. Це було гарно зроблено.

Однак після цієї історії комікс переривається кросоверною частиною «Абсолютна Влада», де Диво-Жінка та Деміен Вейн намагаються протистояти змові Аманди Воллер. Ця сюжетна лінія, як зазвичай личить тайінам, є додатковим матеріалом до основної події.

Малюнок Даніеля Сампере — одна з головних переваг цього тому. Його стиль чудово передає, і драматичні моменти, і бойові сцени, надаючи кожній панелі виразності та глибини.

Головний недолік тому — його розрізненість. Поєднання кількох різних історій без логічного завершення головного сюжету створює відчуття незавершеності. Я таке не люблю. Але саме головна історія про Суверена є найкращою в томі.

У підсумку, цей том залишає посереднє враження. Він має свої вдалі моменти, особливо у візуальній частині, але чогось особливого виділити тут немає.

[Nate]

The first volume was a great, self-contained six issue arc. Whereas this is a jumble of stuff, with half the issues tying into the Absolute Power event (which I haven’t read and likely won’t read). Those issues did nothing for me. The rest counties the story from volume one, with Diana captured by the Sovereign, subjected to psychological torment. Yep, this is King doing his deconstruction thing again. It reminds me most of the misfire Knightmares arc from his Batman run. King generally has two kinds of stories he tells: dark deconstructions of superheroes (like The Vision), and positive celebrations of certain characters (like Superman: Up in the Sky). With the first volume, I thought this was certainly going the route of the second, but now it looks like King is going to combine the two?

I did like the standalone issue of Diana and Clark shopping for Batman’s birthday gift. That was cute. The rest, however, doesn’t leave me eager to continue.

[Rylan · Rating 3 out of 5]

this is kinda an unfortunate volume because on one hand the issues where king continues his story are beautiful. a great deconstruction of diana’s character showing a vulnerable side of her while reinstating that she cannot be broken no matter how hard things get. it has great commentary on her relationships with steve trevor and cheetah two of her biggest support cast members throughout the years. this part of the volume is easily a 5/5. however the absolute power tie-in issues were so pointless and just interrupted the main flow of things. the only positive about them was diana and damian’s friendship. as much as i would like to rate this higher because the first half is great but because of the absolute power stuff it does bring down the book a bit.

[Jeff Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tom King’s first volume of Wonder Woman comics was so good. It’s one tight narrative thread that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The second volume . . . not so much.

Vol. 2 takes a break from the intensity and starts off with a sweet, humorous story: Diana and Clark go shopping for Bruce’s birthday. It’s as saccharine as it sounds. Then we get some stories about Diana in captivity and what her other Amazonians are up to. The final issues feature Robin, Constantine, Detective Chimp, and other figures in the DC universe.

This volume just seemed all over the place. The art was great though.

[Carol Tilley · Rating 3 out of 5]

What was the point of this collection?

[Anna Quilter · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Rick Ray · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Sacrifice" is the arc that follows the intriguing setup by writer Tom King and artist Daniel Sampere with Wonder Woman, Vol. 1: Outlaw. The aftermath of "Outlaw" saw a battered Wonder Woman following a clash against Sergeant Steel's assembled group of supervillains at the Washington Memorial, with the final fight against Grail taking everything out of Diana. Now held as a captive by the Sovereign, the clandestine monarch of the United States, Diana must battle the control exerted upon her by the mythical "Lasso of Lies". It's a strong follow up to the "Outlaw" arc, exploring the mental fortitude of Wonder Woman in an imaginative way. Setting her up as trapped in a suburban domesticated housewife setting, there is a light similarity to Tom King's splendid The Vision series to be found here.

But this arc is unfortunately truncated to just three issues (Wonder Woman #8-10), since the majority of the rest of this volume is caught within the midst of the DC wide event of Absolute Power. Issues #11-13 are all tie-in issues that have no bearing on the underlying story being told by King and Sampere. It mostly focuses on Wonder Woman teaming up with Damian Wayne to rescue their fellow heroes from Waller's supermax prison, and basically is an entirely skippable set of issues for those following Wonder Woman. Even issue #7 serves as a meaningless fill-in issue, that despite the nice Guillem March artwork, is a pretty unappealing story about Wonder Woman and Superman attempting to find a birthday gift for Batman.

The "Sacrifice" arc promised a lot better than we got, but hopefully the subsequent volume picks back up and continues to more riveting political thriller that was established with "Outlaw".

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A tale of two books. Sacrifice, when it's continuing the Sovereign tale from the previous volume, reallyyy leans into the Tom King Voiceover Festival, complete with freakin' Bible quotes. Basically, Sovereign captured Wonder Woman after the big battle at the end of the first volume and now he's torturing her (again, for reasons). King explores WW's reaction to this torture via his own torturous storytelling - extended dream sequences in which she discusses the definition of love with Steve Trevor. Puke!

Fortunately, the other half of Sacrifice is much better - and this includes the requisite Absolute Power tie-ins! There, she's teamed up with Damien to find Amanda Waller's hidden island holding all the depowered heroes. Torture is again being discussed, but this time in a fun and clever way with no literary references! The best bit in the book is the first issue, featuring WW and Superman as they hunt for a birthday gift for Batman. It's absolutely a silly trifle, but some elements actually made me laugh (okay, it was Superman's atrociously good dad jokes).

[Christopher M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this more than volume 1 as Sovereign plays a more active role, trying to break Diana with his lasso of lies, and there is a good confrontation with arch-enemy Cheetah, even if it does ignore her reformation in the previous run. The crossover event crashing in for the last 3 issues really messes with the flow, though; WW was an illegal alien, persona non gratia, what's she doing mucking about with Robin?

[Adam Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonder Woman got really dark and gritty here! Was kind of shocked at what I thought I was going to see at times.
Highlights:
- We begin with one of the funniest stories of DC I have ever read: Wonder Woman and Superman go to a planet sized mall to find something to get Bruce for his birthday. Check this Volume out for this if nothing else.
- The story with the Sovereign continues here. Diana is captured by him and his forces and refuses at all to break, despite crazy amounts of psychological torture. Plagued by visions of Steve and others in her life, she stands strong no matter what.
- Sovereign tries a different approach: Putting Diana and Cheetah on an island together to battle forever. Eventually, after much fighting they break down and discuss their relationship in detail. Lots of emotions here, but all truth. They are both able to escape when Cassie, Donna, and Yara bring the invisible jet to the island.
- We then get the Wonder Woman tie-in to Absolute Power. First a assist from Shazam against one of the Amazo bots, then teaming up with Damian Wayne to break Captain Boomerang for the location of Waller's base.

Overall, a very good Volume. Looking forward to seeing how they finish the Sovereign storyline. On to the next one!
Recommend.

[Benjamin]

How? Tom King read / needed something with pictures.

What? OK, this is a little odd and will be full of spoilers: in vol 1, Diana was fighting -- and got captured by agents of -- the Sovereign, the secret king of America (and also a misogynist).

Here, we get 3 different storylines:
- one is a fill-in with Clark and Diana going shopping for a gift for Bruce Wayne at the largest mall in the universe. There's some silly largest mall in the universe jokes.
- Then we get a few issues of Diana in the Sovereign's prison, which includes him tying her up with his rope of lies and making her live out a life of 1950s housewifedom with an emotionally abusive Steve Trevor, until she breaks his ropes of lies (previously described as unbreakable); and then also he keeps her isolated and she has a rich fantasy life of all her memories. Then she gets dropped into the Cheetah's island prison where they make up.
- And the third storyline is a bunch of issues tying into the Absolute Power storyline, where Amanda Waller steals all the super's powers. So Damien and Diana are trying to save everyone.

Yeah, so? The Sovereign storyline sort of peters out here, with some occasionally fun parts but mostly it feels like killing time; the Absolute Power is incomprehensible without an understanding of what's going on in other stories (as is the case with big events, crossovers, etc.). So: meh.

[Kailin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first part was good but the ww and Damian part in the second half was a SLOG

[Jannik Fogt · Rating 1 out of 5]

Jeg er ret begejstret for historien om The Sovereign. Første trade i serien (Wonder Woman : Outlaw) indeholdte kun historier om WW's kamp mod the Sovereign, men her i andet bind, blandes crosover eventen Absolute Power ind. Det gør at man som læser sidder og føler at man har købt en markedsføringspamphlet hvis eneste formål er at sælge dig flere tegneserier. I øvrigt er Absolute Power historien langt under niveau.

Jeg skal stadig læse afslutningen af The Sovereign, som jeg håber kommer i næste bind, men ellers så er det slut med at læse DC trades når de blander serierne sådan sammen. Det er en skod læseoplevelse. DC finest eller DC Compact Series, må væren vejen frem.

[Machiavelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

A noticeable step up in a few places, with some strong character beats and great art from Sampere, but the run still isn’t completely landing for me. The pacing feels uneven and the narration drags in spots, which makes the big moments hit with less impact. Not bad — just not quite connecting the way I hoped.

[Mia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Somehow, it got worse.

[Chase B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty decent but dug vol. 1 more.

(Starts with a random fun issue of Wonder Woman and Superman in an intergalactic shopping mall looking for a birthday present for Batman)

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25
It's a good book. I enjoy it and the message. But the overall story lost it's steam a bit for me. It meanders too long.

[FrontalNerdaty · Rating 2 out of 5]

This volume is a real mixed bag. The issues that lead on from volume 1 are fine but the tie ins to the big DC event? Terrible. They’re tonally at war with the main issues and frustratingly Diana is sidelined all too much in her own book.

Whilst the writing is a mixed bag the art is excellent. Daniel Sampere delivers yet again and the fill in issues by Tong Daniel are some of the best I’ve seen him do in years.

[Greg · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I’m done with mainstream superhero comics. Every time an interesting, powerful story is building it gets neutered and destroyed by a need to match up with whatever event is going on or to satisfy the need to force every character to stay within the same basic parameters to make sure they continue to be marketable in the exact same way for decades. It’s beyond frustrating to read these books when you just know at some point every good thing that is carefully crafted by the writer is going to get completely upended by some overarching corporate need.

Lots of good stuff being made by Image, Boom, etc. so I won’t be lacking comics to read.

[Logan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another solid volume from this run by Tom King, but not as good as Vol 1. This one is more of a introspective volume where we kind of get into Diana's head and see what she thinks of lots of the events going on.

Half way through the volume we get a filler issue drawn by a different artist where Diana goes to this space shopping mall with Superman to get a birthday gift for Batman. It was sort of fun but it felt very filler and just reminded me of why I don't like the current run of Batman comics. "Alfred's dead! Bruce doesn't have his fortune anymore!", ya I don't need a reminder guys.

There's issue 8 which is the most controversial where Diana is chained up and she has to listen to the old fart Sovereign quote Bible verses and tell her how she needs to be obedient to a man, intercut with this nightmare of Diana being married to a clearly abusive version of Steve Trevor. The issue is beautifully drawn and while it didn't offend me with the religious subtext I can see why it ruffled some feathers and King was not being subtle at all.

Issue 9 was kind of the opposite where shes talking to a more idealized version of Steve, which was cool but I'm kind of like where's the real Steve? Is he okay?

Issue 10 ended everything on a high note though where Diana gets dropped on this island and has to have a fight to the death with Cheetah (I'm assuming the Sovereign put her there because she was still chained up in his dungeon last issue?) which was cool and I like any story with Cheetah since shes always been my favorite Wonder Woman villain. We also get more of the three Wonder Girls working together to try and start up the invisible jet which was just awesome and I love how King is including all three of them as Diana's side kicks and not just one.

Overall though, a good volume and I'm interested to see where it all goes but it's probably going to be halted for a bit since we have Absolute power tie ins to come and hijack the book for a few issues. I like Diana's interactions with the different characters but the Sovereign is kind of a whatever villain to me.