In Trinity Special #1, DC Comics collects the first three backup stories from Wonder Woman to introduce fans to Elizabeth Prince, the daughter of Wonder Woman. It ends with a brand new, unreleased story.
This comic book review contains spoilers
Trinity Special #1 variant cover by Jorge Jimenez (All images courtesy of DC Comics)
Trinity Special #1 is split into five different parts, each taking place during different times over the course of the lives of Lizzie Prince, Damian Wayne, and Jon Kent. Trinity Special #1 follows the adventures and misadventures of the budding new DC Trinity: Robin/Batman, Superman, and Trinity. The first three are illustrated by Belén Ortega and were backups in three issues of Wonder Woman by Tom King (Wonder Woman, Volume 6, #3-#5). The fourth story, illustrated by Daniel Sampere, is a new story for the book about the Lizzie and Diana. The fifth story, also by Daniel Sampere, is from Wonder Woman #800.
World’s Finest Part 1 Summary:
We start when Lizzie is 5 years old, and a 19 year old Damian/Robin and 24 year old Jon/Superman are supposed to be babysitting the pigtailed Wonder Toddler who is complaining about the lack of pizza and the questionable quality of her macaroni and cheese while the Jon is trying to make his escape to save a collapsing dam. The two argue about who is allowed to call themselves Superman and whether rescuing lives or babysitting is more important when the tiny angry Amazon princess catapults a spoonful of offence dinner in Damian’s face, learning a new word from him her mother probably wouldn’t want her to know. Jon, knowing a lost cause when he sees one, abandons Damian to go save people.
Damian, not one to be left behind, decides in Jon and shirk his babysitting responsibilities to have fun playing the hero, so can he. Robing, along with his new sidekick WONDER ROBIN, suits up and and gives her first two hero lessons: that wasting time gets you killed, and how to tie your shoes. Robin tries to teach her many more lessons, but ends up being outshone then Wonder Robin takes out Killer Croc with one kick and ejected from the Batmobile when Lizzie pushes a wrong button.
Jon comes back, soaking wet and tired, to find Lizzie passed out and Damian chilling with her in Wayne Manor. Upon finding out what all the two had been up to while shirking his baby sitting duties, Jon decides that perhaps they don’t tell Diana everything that happened that night. Damian suggests that the Superman S stands for “Subterfuge” or “shut the @$%# up”, which Lizzie repeats in her sleep.
Review:
It’s going to be hard to stay impartial as I love Super Sons so much, and adding a little Wonder Woman to the duo is too cute of an idea for me not to love it before even reading it. However, Tom King delivers on every front. At first I was a little sad that this first story had so little Jon in it, but truly, upon re-reading it, it was great just as it was. The banter between the three, the choices and mistakes they make, the adventures they have – it’s all in character. Jon and Damian argue like good friends – they both think they’re right, they’re both mad, and it isn’t going to affect their relationship in the slightest.
Damian’s relationship with Lizzie is very sweet, in as much as a young man raised by assassins could be sweeet with a little girl. He doesn’t talk down to her, treating her like a Robin in training, yet she also demands he do the big brother things she wants him to do. It’s a great balance of power between the two. And, it’s obvious, that both these young men are wrapped around her little finger without losing who they are as characters. The art is also great. It’s a little hard to tell how old the boys are, but that might have stemmed more from the choice to keep Damian short. However, the art and colors are lots of fun.
There are also a few fun threads weaved into this first story that continue on. Obviously the bickering between Jon and Damian, which is a core of their relationship, but also Damian’s swears and his redefining what the “S” on Superman’s chest stands for. They’re small narrative threads that tie the stories together is a cute and thoughtful way.
World’s Finest Part 2 Summary:
This story opens at the Fortress of Solitude. Lizzie is 13, Damian is 27, and Jon is 32 and is on monitor duty. He thinks Damian is watching Lizzie, who is in fact training with Superbots, where he claims he took out four at once, in case Jon was wondering what would happen if they ever fought. Jon reminds him that they’re the bestest super friends, and that the younger Superman could crush the Robin and it would be super boring. Somehow (I assume they see it on the monitor?) they realize the missing princess is black mercying: that is, she is being attacked by a parasitic alien plant, Black Mercy, that creates dreams of the victim’s perfect life.
Lizzie’s fantasy features her as Queen of the Amazons watching a Gladiator battle between the greatest warriors of the realms of men – Jon, Son of Lois the Lost Prince of Metropolis, and Damian, Son of Talia, Sheriff of Got’ham.
The boys find her grinning and drooling on the floor next to a spilled cup off coffee with the plant wrapped around her chest. Damian puts Jon in charge of fixing the situation since it’s his science fiction problem. Jon tries to talk Lizzie back. Damian determines that the “S” on his chest must stand for “stupid”. The two argue.
In her dream, Lizzie beats the crap out of her two older brothers.
Jon realizes that dark, brooding, mopey Damian can be the “gloves” needed to take Black Mercy off Lizzie, as he is bereft of hope, love and joy – all things the alien plant feeds off of. Damian concedes that the plan could work, but that he will kill Jon afterwards.
In her dream, the boys give up and surrender to Lizzie, and she realizes this can’t be reality, as Superman and Robin would NEVER give up. She wants to go home. Meanwhile, Damian and Jon are working together to get the parasite off of the young princess, having a very sweet exchange, in as much as they can, neither letting the other give up.
The trio once again end up lounging on a couch together, recovering from their ordeal, with the image of their parents in the background.
Trinity Special #1 variant cover by Evan “Doc” Shaner
Review:
This story had much more Damian and Jon interaction, with Lizzie being on her own. It’s so interesting to see Tom King’s take on their relationship as older men, still rooted in their constant bickering. Jon is much older now, and able to hold his ground, defending himself against Damian’s negativity, and giving back as much ribbing as he takes. But through the veil of the arguing is a caring, loving, brotherly relationship, both encouraging each other, refusing to let the other give up. And Lizzie, while not consciously part of the action, knows this about her brothers – they don’t give up, they don’t surrender, and they don’t give up on each other. Though it may be her fantasy that she could win over them with them groveling at her feet, she knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that that is not who they are.
I truly loved this whole story, from the art, to the writing, to the characterizations, to the relationship portrayal. Tom King is hitting it out of the park so far. Along with the swearing and “S” redefining, another common thread has been that the three end up resting together in the shadow of their parents. The first story had them in Wayne Manor under a portrait of the original Trinity, and the second story has them in the Fortress of Solitude under ice statues of their parents. What I gleaned from this is that they are real people who have problems, physical limitations, and get tired, all while living in the shadow of their “perfect super hero parents” who never stop standing. Not sure if this what I’m supposed to think, but I like it.
If I had to point out one slightly frustrating thing, it’s that the art makes them look too young. Lizzie is fine, as she is supposed to be thirteen, but the boys are in their late 20s and early 30s now, and don’t look it.
World’s Finest Part 3 Summary:
The last of the backups is unclear when it starts, but we can assume that Lizzie is probably in her late teens, early 20s, making Damian, now sporting his own Batman look, early to mid 30s and Jon mid to late 30s. This time the trio is on Themyscira, with special permission from queen mom. They have very important business to attend to. The team is unable to decide on an official name for the new generation of the Trinity team of Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman, and are having a kangaroo riding race to determine who has the right to name the team.
Lizzie, or Trinity, wants to be known as Trinity’s Trinity, Damian wants the more straightforward Delta Force, whereas sentimental Jon wants to be known as Super Friends, as they’re not just Sons anymore.
Lizzie and her mount, Jumpa Jr., the farting wonder, are winning due to a combination of cheating, being gas powered (the afore mentioned farts), and the boys hindering themselves by talking while riding. The guys realize the young Amazon is coming close to a cliff and Jon calls out for her to stop. However, using the language she learned from Damian and the stupid decisions making skills that come from toxic parental expectations, she and Jumpa Jr. take the leap over the gorge and crash unto the other side. Damian comments that the S must stand for “so little, so late”.
Though banged up, Trinity is not as coma bound as her brothers think she is, and weakly declares her victory. After babbling some nonsense about not knowing if she could, but she did, the boys fight about how and who broke their little sister. She wakes and realizes that their parents were very privileged – theirs was a time of heroes triumphing, where as they, the next generation, grew up with nothing but hope that they could succeed. Gen-S, as it were. Jon of course loves the name. Damian is done racing.
The three rest in the grass in the city, lounging together eating ambrosia, cowl off, with a stone relief of their parents in the background, talking about spending forever together.
Review:
Here we see Damian firmly established as the next Batman. Since they are working so hard to finding a title for their trio, we have to assume that they are now the official heroes and their parents have stepped down leaving big shoes to fill. They are battling with heroes in a world that appears to have a lot going on and a lot of heroes failing to save the day. Lizzie refers to The Old Gods, Lex’s Legion, Brainia, President Psycho, and The Joker Corps…events that have apparently done a number of the world. It’s a very sweet ending, a every hopeful ending, and shows that the kids are all grown up, ready to fill their parents places, without losing their own identity. They are still Damian, Jon, and Lizzie, and have had and will always have a different dynamic than their parents did. I enjoyed this little foray into the future, a sneak peek into what could be coming for the Super Sons now that a new sibling has appeared. I enjoyed Tom King’s take on the kids so much. It could be said that they three stay immature, despite their age, but I feel that millennials, the middle aged people of today, are still kids at heart and aren’t letting go of childish wonders like most of our parents did. I enjoy a child-like heart and attitude, and feel like the new Trinity, Gen-S as it were, embodies this child-like freedom really well.
Mothers and Daughters Summary:
We see parallel stories told of Diana and Lizzie during their final trial with the Amazons. In the past and the present, the Amazonian queen loads a gun and points it at her daughter who is ready to deflect the bullets with her bracelets. This test has been failed by many women, and the queens, Hippolyta and Diana, struggle to pull the trigger, pleading with their daughters to forgo this test. Both daughters declare they are ready. But in past and present, the queens plead with their daughters – the duty to fight is a lonely burden. Both mothers touch their daughters telling them “When I was your age, I was so much older than you are now”. Both daughters punch the queen, determined that weakness shall not interrupt their ceremony. Each mother declares their love for their daughter, who reciprocate – and the story ends with a bang of a gun ringing out.
Review:
Right off the bat, the art style tells you you’re in for a completely different type of story in this one. It’s beautiful, mature, and lends credence to the solemnity of this story It’s a lovely parallel story, with the different parts of the conversation happening during different times, but also at the same time, showing how Diana has literally been in Lizzie’s shoes, yes still, now as a mother, can’t help but mirror and understand Hippolyta so much more now. There was one part of the story stood out to me in particular. On the last page there are four panels, where, instead of young Diana responding to queen Hippolyta or Lizzie responding to queen Diana as had been the norm in the story so far, we have young Diana talking and responding to queen Diana – in essence, talking to herself, taking on the role of young daughter ready for war, and the seasoned warrior mother distressed by her daughter’s possible futures. It’s a very deep and insightful story, showing the naivety, confidence and strength of youth and the experience, love, and resilience of age and motherhood.
Trinity Summary:
This last story in Trinity Special #1 is more of an introduction to Tom King’s Wonder Woman (Vol 6) and doesn’t really have a beginning, middle, and end. The story opens with Damian/Batman and Jon/Superman waiting for Elizabeth/Trinity, who is late, to enter a Magic Cave of Death as Lizzie calls it, as the name in Greek wouldn’t mean much to her brothers. It’s the cruelest prison in creation and must go through three trials for Trinity to get through: Pain, skill, and honor. Jon is nervous because they vowed to their parents they would never enter here. Jon opens the door for them by touching a statue and experiencing excruciating pain. Damian stays in the skill room to fight Nike for as long as it takes Trinity to finish in the prison. Trinity, now alone with a silver, black and gold lasso on her hip, faces a force taking on the appearance of Diana and telling the young woman that she’s a disappointment and the queen, former owner of the golden lasso of truth, knows all the things she has done to get here. Trinity tells the imposter that it’s the black lasso, not the gold, she needs to be concerned about.
The imposter Diana tries to use guilt on Trinity, reminding her that the man she’s coming to see, coming to rescue, deserves his punishment. Trinity knows the imposter is not really Diana, and uses the black lasso to strangle and kill her.
Finally walking halls of prison bars, Elizabeth sees the man she’s looking for. Someone she calls “Your Majesty”. He tells her he’s heard of her, even in the festering dungeon he’s in – she has been forged and she walks among mortal men. She wants him to tell her the story of her start, we assume she wants to know her parentage, as Diana refuses to tell her who her father is. The old man, who goes by The Sovereign, who’s face we never see, agrees to tell her the sad tale. She demands he tells it quickly, as she has one brother suffering never ceasing pain and another one in an unending battle. To Be Continued in The Pages of Wonder Woman.
Review:
As someone who has never really read Wonder Woman, I feel like this story is a bit lost on me. I am definitely interested in finding out more, and I may go back and read Tom King’s take on Wonder Woman, but that being said, as a story, this was a little lack luster. It was more of a commercial for the new book, and I somehow doubt we will ever come back here and finish this part of the story. As I said at the opening, this one really isn’t a story. It’s a prelude to a bigger story. However, the art is wonderful, the colors all reflect the sun set setting the story takes place during, and the characters all look beautiful.
The characters are obviously all older, the boys still fighting over who is responsible for making her so spoiled. I do love that they, as surrogate brothers, have taken responsibility for their younger sister and see her as family. The conversation comes up briefly that family can’t have favors, only obligations. The men would do anything for her, not as a favor, but because they will do it. They would do anything she asks. It’s been interesting thinking about the layers of their conversation and banter, and see how Tom King shows their relationship without spelling it out. They may come off as immature in some ways, but I feel, because we are only seeing these three with each other, we see them as the siblings they are. They behave in ways the would never in public. It’s very much like family.
Editor’s Note: DC Comics provided TBU with an advanced copy of this comic for review purposes. You can find this comic and help support TBU in the process by purchasing this issue digitally on Amazon or a physical copy of the title through Things From Another World.
