Wonder Woman 2026 Annual: Wonder War—The Matriarch Special #1 Review

 

Wonder Woman 2026 Annual: Wonder War—The Matriarch Special #1 Review

Writers: Stephanie Williams & Leah Williams

Artists: Eduardo Pansica, Júlio Ferreira & Belén Ortega

Colorists: Romulo Fajardo Jr & Triona Farrell

Letterer: Clayton Cowles

Cover Artist: Daniel Sampere & Tomeu Morey

Variant Cover Artists: Kyuyong Eom, Guillem March & Leirix

Editors: Marquis Draper & Brittaney Holzherr

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $5.99 US/Variant $6.99 US (Card Stock)

Release Date: September 30, 2026

 

Her mother, Emilie, battled Diana for the right to represent Themyscira on the world stage. Her father, the Sovereign, quietly ruled the United States behind the façade of democratic institutions. Lyssa succeeded her father as the Matriarch of the United States. And then she killed everyone who opposed her.

 

How did the girl Diana raised become such a brutal killer? And what happened after Diana defeated the Matriarch in the Temple of the Moirae? Let’s leap into Wonder Woman 2026 Annual: Wonder War—The Matriarch Special #1 and see!

 

Story

After Diana’s fist hurled her through a stone pillar, Lyssa awakens in a boat. Unlike Steve Trevor and Elizabeth, no Ferryman steers her course. And instead of gliding along the River Styx, her wooden vessel floats on the bloody currents of the Phlegethon.

 

While no one travels with her, Lyssa is far from alone in Wonder Woman 2026 Annual: Wonder War—The Matriarch Special #1. As the boat carries her toward Tartarus, shades of the heroes he killed rise to meet her. And as in life, Lyssa must decide how to confront them.

 

Stephanie Williams and Leah Williams intersperse Lyssa’s journey through the Underworld with key events from her past. These scenes chart Lyssa’s journey from her childhood on Themyscira to grasping for something that Hippolyta warned Diana she must avoid. But by the time she reaches adulthood, deviating from her Amazons’ code of conduct has become the rule of Lyssa’s life.

 

She may have lost her power ring. Still, Lyssa has someone who travels with her. It’s someone she has not listened to as much as she should have. Instead, this person has become a stranger to her. But after crashing through the barrier of death, this still small voice regains its strength. And unlike in life, Lyssa can no longer repress her conscience in Wonder Woman 2026 Annual: Wonder War—The Matriarch Special #1.

 

Art

When she awakens in the boat, no ring adorns her gloved hand. As she rises, Lyssa stands in the middle of the boat between two lamps to light her way. Like Diana in the Colosseum, Lyssa dodges projectiles. When her journey grows rough, Lyssa clings to the boat instead of a Kanga. As dark figures arise, red streams down their heads and backs. Yet when Lyssa meets this test of her strength and skills, no red trickles from her palm when she clenches her fist. Yet as Lyssa remembers how her path diverged from the Amazons, one person reaches out to help another when she falls.

 

As Eduardo Pansica, Júlio Ferreira, and Belén Ortega show Lyssa in black and white on a red river, Romulo Fajardo Jr. and Triona Farrell adorn the Matriarch’s past with a vibrant palette. Red mixes with violet and lavender when Lyssa and Elizabeth's paths diverged. The colors return later to convey how far apart they have grown. Blotchy red borders frame gray, brown, and green panels of love and loss. Yet, orange tinges more tragic memories of how Lyssa demonstrated her worth in Wonder Woman 2026 Annual: Wonder War—The Matriarch Special #1.

 

While Lyssa sees the Underworld as she viewed the Earth, her uppercase white thoughts appear in black narrative boxes. She cannot vanquish small, lowercase white letters in black boxes. Black uppercase dialogue in white balloons grows bold to convey inflection and shrinks when voices lower. While Clayton Cowles’ sound effects may be few, Lyssa’s dialogue grows progressively larger as the trials grow more difficult. Still, beige uppercase letters in blue boxes force Lyssa to remember the needless pain she has caused. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

Every decision we make empowers us. Yet no matter how much they help us accomplish, our decisions also limit us. As Lyssa looks back on her life choices, she measures the narrative she has spun. But if she wishes to act "so that all that will be might not be again," Lyssa must cut the threads binding her to her former life in Wonder Woman 2026 Annual: Wonder War—The Matriarch Special #1.

 

Rating 9.4/10

To look inside see Wonder Woman 2026 Annual: Wonder War –The Matriarch Special#1 Preview.

For Steve Trevor and Elizabeth's return to Themyscira, see Wonder Woman #37 Review. 

For the second half of Steve's story about falling in love with Diana, see Wonder Woman #36 Review.

For the first part of Steve's tale, see Wonder Woman #35 Preview. 

For Diana's battle with Lyssa in the Temple of the Moirai, see my review of Wonder Woman #34.

For how Diana, Steve, and Elizabeth enter the Underworld, see my preview of Wonder Woman #33. 

For Tammy's interview with the Matriarch, see my review of Wonder Woman #32. 

For how The Wonder War began, see my preview of Wonder Woman #31. 

 

Wonder Woman 2026 Annual: Wonder War –The Matriarch Special #1 Preview

 

Her mother, Emilie, battled Diana for the right to represent Themyscira. Her father, the Sovereign, quietly ruled the United States behind the façade of democratic institutions. Lyssa succeeded her father as the Matriarch of the United States. And then she killed everyone who opposed her.

 

How did the girl Diana raised become such a brutal killer? And what happened after Diana defeated the Matriarch in the Temple of the Moirae?

 

Here's all the info from DC Connect: 

 

 

Wonder Woman 2026 Annual: Wonder War –The Matriarch Special #1 Preview

Writers: Stephanie Williams & Leah Williams

Artists: Eduardo Pansica & Belén Ortega

Cover Artist: Daniel Sampere

Variant Cover Artists: Kyuyong Eom, Guillem March & Leirix

Publisher: DC Comics

Issue Length: 48 Pages

Price: $5.99 US/Variant $6.99 US (Card Stock)

Release Date: September 30, 2026

 

 

Matriarch’s Inferno!

 

 

After the shocking events of Wonder Woman #34, the Matriarch must crawl her way through Hell and back to the land of the living to stop Steve Trevor and Trinity from changing the past. The only thing that stands in her way is a river filled with the souls of heroes and villains alike that perished by her hand. Retribution is coming for the Matriarch. Will she survive it, or is she doomed to fate?

 

 

Now, let's take a look inside:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this preview with us.

For Steve Trevor and Elizabeth's return to Themyscira, see Wonder Woman #37 Review. 

For the second half of Steve's story about falling in love with Diana, see Wonder Woman #36 Review.

For the first part of Steve's tale, see Wonder Woman #35 Preview. 

For Diana's battle with Lyssa in the Temple of the Moirai, see my review of Wonder Woman #34.

For how Diana, Steve, and Elizabeth enter the Underworld, see my preview of Wonder Woman #33. 

For Tammy's interview with the Matriarch, see my review of Wonder Woman #32. 

For how The Wonder War began, see my preview of Wonder Woman #31. 

 

Summer of Supergirl Special #1 Review

 

Summer of Supergirl Special #1 Review

Writers: Sophie Campbell, Gail Simone & Mark Waid

Artists: Belén Ortega & Cian Tormey

Penciller: Emma Kubert

Inker: Sandra Hope

Colorists: Tríona Farrell, Trish Mulvihill & Alex Guimarāes

Letterers: Becca Carey, Ariana Maher & Steve Wands

Cover Artist: Belén Ortega

Variant Cover Artists: Pablo Villalobos & Tula Lotay

Supergirl Movie Variant Cover Artist: Mahmud Asrar with Mike Spicer

Editors: Jillian Grant & Brittany Holzherr

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $5.99 US/Variant $6.99 US (cardstock)

Release Date: June 24, 2026

 

When the weather turned cold amid the holidays, Kara Zor-El started to feel down. How could Kara enjoy time with her new family and friends when all the people she knew in Argo City are dead? Yet, life has its rhythms. And even though Kara has taken a few beatings, when trouble shook the miniaturized Kryptonian city of Kandor, she arrived to save the day.

 

After Lesla-Lar offered Kara a means of regaining what she lost in Kandor, Kara also discovered something that could give her more power than before. But when she interrupts Lobo during his first job following his self-imposed isolation on Azzplaque Major, Supergirl's fate seems to intertwine with the newly reinstated bounty hunter. Will they frag each other into extinction? Or will Supergirl, Lobo, Krypto, and Dawg team up for an extraordinary mission together? Let’s leap into Summer of Supergirl Special #1 and see!

 

Main Man’s Best Friend: Story

After sitting in a jail cell, Lobo, Kara, Krypto, and Dawg attend a hearing. As they face the judge, Lobo pleads innocence, while Kara Zor-El contends they are both guilty.

 

When fate separates them, Dawg returns to Midvale with Kara and Krypto in Summer of Supergirl Special #1. Lobo’s best friend even helps as Kara uses her powers to aid others. But Dawg misses his master. And unlike Lobo, he doesn’t understand the reasons for their separation.

 

As Sophie Campbell examines the bond between a pet and its owner, she also illustrates how Kara’s attitude influences the people around her. Lobo remains the petulant child who didn't want to conform to rules on Czarnia. Yet a little love can go a long way in encouraging good behavior, turning enemies into friends, and helping make the world a better place.

 

Main Man’s Best Friend: Art

As a judge sits beneath an enormous seal, Lobo raises his chain-wrapped forearm. Beside him, Kara smiles at Lobo’s antics. As Kara’s counsel hovers before the judge, his dispassionate discourse infuriates Lobo. Yet as Krypto, Dawg, and Leegra follow Kara’s lead, Lobo’s counsel slumps and supports his head on the table.

 

As Tríona Farrell adorns Belén Ortega’s cheery art with a bright palette, blue creeps into the green courtroom as Kara makes her case. Red tinges Lobo’s retelling of events, and the evening sky on Plinko Astra. Yet as Crush’s red attire seems linked with her father’s antics, stars twinkle in the violet air when she meets Leegra in Summer of Supergirl Special #1.

 

Becca Carey fills white dialogue balloons with black uppercase letters, while Kara’s thoughts fill white clouds. White offscreen dialogue appears in colored boxes. Sound effects accompany more property damage than the night of Clarissa Giltedge’s No Beer New Year party, while enlarged yellow letters help Kara appeal to Lobo’s deeply buried good side.

 

Lost Girls: Story

Taking an exercise break is a great way to relieve stress. But when Brad uses the company mascot to make a statement, Supergirl worries that it will hurt others. Yet instead of getting a good workout, Kara discovers she may have bitten off more than she can chew. When another hero arrives to help, Supergirl still wants to blow off steam. But by sharing her struggles with a like-minded person, Kara’s tension lessens, helping her reconcile with her painful past and look toward the future in Gail Simone’s story.

 

Lost Girls: Art

When a futuristic female robot tears through a concrete wall and a chicken-wire fence, guards brace to fire, while a fireman warns people of danger. As they gaze through a window, Brad’s coworkers look concerned and aghast, while his expression makes an unintended comparison with a supervillain. After Supergirl’s face reflects off the robot’s smooth metal face, Emma Kubert and Sandra Hope combine a tilted silhouette scene with a close-up of the robot’s attack.

 

When the gold robot induces fear, the guards respond with yellow-and-orange gunfire. While the red in her costume links Supergirl with the emergency responders, her gold belt suggests empathy for the robot’s plight. As Trish Mulvihill adorns this ten-page story in vibrant colors, Supergirl shares two colors of her costume with the hero who comes to her aid.

 

As Ariana Maher fills white balloons with black uppercase letters, the robot speaks in a machine font. Small black letters in a yellow banner locate the reader in time and space. Kara begins her tale by sharing her white thoughts in blue boxes. But her narration gradually disappears as Kara interacts with the similarly minded hero.

 

Who Is Supergirl: Story

Having regained a physical form, Red Tornado’s consciousness no longer inhabits the Justice League Watchtower’s computer systems. So, when he needs to recheck the data in the personnel files, Red Tornado asks Conner Kent to review the Super-Family archives. In Mark Waid’s story, Jon Kent finds Steel helping Conner with his assignment. Yet while both belong to the Super-Family, they are puzzled by contrasting entries. Jon may enjoy teasing Conner about living in the past. Yet as he recognizes Conner and Steel's concerns, Jon realizes he can help them understand Kara's place in the Super-Family.

 

Who is Supergirl: Art

As Jon enters the immense room, Kara's numerous costume changes fill a wall monitor in Summer of Supergirl Special #1. A white-and-indigo hologram showcases her origins, while a color photo displays Kara's arrival on Earth. Alex Guimarāes adorns Kara’s early choices with yellow, orange, and brown. But as Kara takes on more color, Cian Tormey’s blue line drawing of all the people who helped Kara appears behind her. 

 

Steve Wands introduces characters and the location with black uppercase letters in yellow boxes. Black uppercase dialogue fills white balloons as they debate Kara’s position in the Super-Family. Offscreen dialogue in white and colored boxes helps the trio realize the breadth and depth of Kara’s contributions to the people around her. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

Kara Zor-El may always feel like an outsider. Yet her vibrant spirit and positivity help her make friends wherever she goes. Lesla-Lar’s memory lingers as Kara protects Midvale while advocating criminal reform. And as friends bond over similar interests, histories, and food, Superman's son helps encapsulate Kara's rich history in Summer of Supergirl Special #1.

 

Rating 9.7/10

 

To look inside see my preview of Summer of Supergirl Special #1.

 

For how Lesla-Lar offers to help Supergirl power-up, see my review of Supergirl #14.

For Supergirl's encounter with Lobo, see my preview of Lobo #4. 

For Clarissa's No Beer New Year party, see my review of Supergirl #9. 

For the latest entry in DC's Elseworlds Universe, see my review of Supergirl: Survive #1. 

 

Summer Of Supergirl Special #1 Preview

 

When the weather turned cold, and the holidays neared, Kara Zor-El started to feel down. Why should she get to enjoy time with her new family and friends when all the people she knew in Argo City are dead? Yet, life has its rhythms. And even though Kara has taken a few beatings, when trouble shook the miniaturized Kryptonian city of Kandor, she arrived to save the day. 

After Lesla-Lar offered Kara a means of regaining what she lost in Kandor, Kara also discovered something that could give her more power than before. But when she interrupts Lobo during his first job following his self-imposed isolation on Azzplaque Major, Supergirl's fate seems to intertwine with the newly-reinstated bounty hunter. Will they frag each other into extinction? Or will Supergirl, Lobo, Krypto and Dawg team up for an extraordinary mission together?

Here's all the info from DC Connect: 

Summer Of Supergirl Special #1 Preview

Writers: Sophie Campbell, Mark Waid & Gail Simone

Artists: Belén Ortega, Cian Tormey & Emma Kubert

Cover Artist: Belén Ortega

Variant Cover Artists: Tula Lotay & Pablo Villalobos

Supergirl Movie Variant Cover Artist: Mahmud Asrar

Publisher: DC Comics

Issue Length: 48 Pages

Price: $5.99 US/Variant $6.99 US (card stock)

Release Date: June 24, 2026

 

 

The Summer belongs to Supergirl!

 

 

The quiet town of Midvale is shaken to its core when Supergirl finds herself face-to-face with the galactic bounty hunter, Lobo. Can the Maiden of Might stand up to the Main Man? Plus, two bonus stories celebrating Supergirl as she resumes her rightful place as the Heir to El!

 

 

Now, let's take a look inside:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this preview with us.

 

For how Lesla-Lar offers to help Supergirl power-up, see my review of Supergirl #14.

For Supergirl's encounter with Lobo, see my preview of Lobo #4. 

 

Batman #127 Review

 

Writer: Chip Zdarsky

Artists: Jorge Jiménez & Belén Ortega

Colorists: Tomeu Morey & Luis Guerrero

Letterer: Clayton Cowles

Cover Artists: Jorge Jimenez & Tomeu Morey; Guillem March & Arif Prianto; Alex Garner; Inhyuk Lee; Ryan Sook; Jock

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $4.99

Release Date: September 6, 2022

 

Batman feels blessed to have fostered so many capable sidekicks. They are more than fellow crimefighters. Bruce Wayne regards them as his sons and daughters. When he needs them, they drop everything and leap to his aid. But Bruce and his proteges cannot stop Failsafe. With the robot intent on killing him, Batman seeks his former Batcave.

 

Failsafe feels familiar to him. Bruce believes he knows why he does not remember the lethal Bat-robot. Who created Failsafe? And who is the hero who emerges from Batman's old Batcave? Let's leap into Batman #127 and see!

 

Story: Failsafe Part Three

When Tim Drake next sees Batman, his mentor wears a different costume, and his voice has changed. Tim wonders if he can trust this man. But as Batman reveals a secret control room, he explains that Bruce Wayne created him as a backup personality. Zur-En-Arrh is in charge, and his first job is to take down Failsafe.

 

Chip Zdarsky steps outside the chaos in the old Batcave to revisit the scene of Failsafe's clash with Batman and his proteges. GCPD Commissioner Renee Montoya confers with Nightwing as medical attendants treat Duke, Cassandra, and Stephanie. But she cannot protect Batman and his team from censure if Failsafe continues its reign of terror. Unfortunately, that is what is occurring in Wayne Manor, as the robot pursues Zur-En-Arrh and Tim Drake through Bruce Wayne's beloved home.

 

While Batman #127 is a fast-paced thriller, Zdarsky ponders how people who work outside the law must self-check their actions. Like in Superman: The Kryptonite Spectrum #1, Batman prepares for every contingency. But as Failsafe tries to shut down Bruce Wayne, Batman realizes all this is his fault. Superman challenged Bruce to ensure that he could prevent himself from hurting others should he become someone he does not want to be.

 

Art: Failsafe Part Three

In a glimpse of the past, Jorge Jimenez shows Batman in his Batcave. We see Batman from a distance, and from above, but mostly he keeps his back to us. When Superman appears, he faces the camera and demands that Bruce remove his mask. Bruce faces his friend. But he closes his eyes.

 

In his gold, red, and purple suit, Zur-En-Arrh shows solidarity with Robin's gold, red, and green. And instead of gray, Zur-En-Arrh's secret ops room shines with pink lighting. As the black Terminator-like robot hunts them, Failsafe's head glows red and projects beams of red into the darkness. Tomeu Morey adorns their battle with radiant colors, enhancing the big-screen spectacle of Batman #127. But while Batman and Robin fight for their lives, police tape and emergency vehicles surround the crater in a Gotham intersection where Failsafe leapt into the air before crashing down and flinging vehicles away.

 

Clayton Cowles places black uppercase dialogue in white balloons. Zur-En-Arrh speaks white uppercase letters into bluish-purple balloons. Failsafe's white utterances change size and case within their red boxes, while Batman's white lowercase thoughts fill black paper scraps. Sound effects accompany Failsafe as it demonstrates that it can be a more ruthless Batman than Bruce Wayne or Zur-En-Arrh.

 

 

 

Story: Two Birds, One Throne Finale

While Chip Zdarsky began this series with a nightmare of Jokers, the Penguin fuels the engine. In this short story, Catwoman discovers the truth behind the Penguin's ruse. She has gone from being a spectator to a reluctant participant. In the final issue, Catwoman goes beyond her brief to learn why Oswald Cobblepot had to die.

 

This second story in Batman #127 ponders how our environment and adversaries shape us. While seeking to be a force for good, the way we go about solving problems can create conflicts. The short tale also addresses the possibility of starting afresh. Yet it leaves the reader wondering if someone can turn their life around, once they have blackened their soul.

 

Art: Two Birds, One Throne Finale

Belén Ortega transports readers to Metropolis, where a man purchases a muffin from a bakery. When he returns to Blossoms and looks into his bag, a bat-like shadow appears on his counter. Catwoman enters the brightly lit shop in a black cat suit and blazer. His reaction, colored entirely in blue, evokes his previous place of business.

 

Luis Guerrero fills the shop with yellow light as Catwoman confronts the man surrounded by brown wood, green plants, and colorful blossoms. While his face glows pink as he makes a point, the man later plucks a pink rose as he justifies his decision. Clayton Cowles fills this quiet interlude with black uppercase letters in white balloons and shares Catwoman's thoughts with white lowercase letters in black boxes. Thanks to DC Comics for providing a review copy.

 

Now, let's take a look inside:

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

As someone who inhabits the night and attacks from the shadows, Batman prepares for the day when others will lash out at him. Batman #127 ponders how circumstances can force people into roles, making them wonder if life will ever allow them to fulfill their dreams.

 

Rating 9.6/10

 

 

Batman Vol 1: Failsafe is available in hardcover, paperback, and digital formats.

Batman #126 Reread

 

Writer: Chip Zdarsky

Artist: Jorge Jimenez

Colorist: Tomeu Morey

Letterer: Clayton Cowles

Cover Artists: Jorge Jimenez; Jock; Inhyuk Lee; Alex Garner; Guillem March & Arif Prianto

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $4.99

Release Date: August 2, 2022

 

Chip Zdarsky kicks off Failsafe: Part Two with a nightmare that reminds Bruce Wayne of the price he paid to remain Batman. He hopes his former sidekicks will not also have to forego happiness and fulfillment to continue protecting their community. But when a robot attacks Bruce, his sidekicks leap to his aid.

 

Jorge Jimenez delivers explosive action worthy of a big-budget action film, while Tomeu Morey helps the characters glow amid the nighttime battle. Fans will want to see all the great characters working together to defend their mentor amid the high-flying action. Despite his metal body and glowing face, their assailant resembles Gotham's greatest guardian. Amid the fighting, Bruce cannot help but think that, somehow, this is all his fault. But then, the past often has a way of catching up with us, even if we acted from the best motives.

 

 

 

In Two Birds, One Throne, Selena Kyle spends two weeks working for the Executor. As she tracks down her leads, Selena discovers others have arrived before her. Tonight, she endures a brutal scramble in tight confines with a killer. Once again, she fails to capture the object of her search. Selena is frustrated as she reports to the robot. But fate is about to hurl her another curveball.

 

Belén Ortega gives Catwoman an iconic look as she swings through the night sky before a full moon. Selena exhibits poise and beauty as she navigates dangerous confrontations and dramatic encounters. Luis Guerrero enhances interiors and the night with ambiance and energy, while making the metal marvel shine with a Human approachability. Clayton Cowles uses his lettering to communicate exhaustion, determination, a robot emulating his creators, and a tragic moment that frustrates and angers Selena. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

 

Batman #126 is available in compilation Batman Vol 1: Failsafe.

Trinity: Daughter of Wonder Woman #6 Preview

 

 

Elizabeth Marston Prince has a destiny to fulfill. But first, she must correct the errors of her past. An act of ill-judged compassion for her younger self created a paradox, turning her "brothers" Damian Wayne and Jon Kent into Corgis. As three aspects of Lizzie hunt down Bat-Corgi and Super-Corgi, they make some some surprising discoveries. Still, if they can't rectify their actions, Robin and Superboy will be relegated to the Bat- and Super-doghouse. Can Wonder Robin, Wonder Girl and Trinity put time back on the proper course again? Or, as in Back to the Future, might the three Lizzies improve their reality? 

Here's all the info from DC Connect:

 

Trinity: Daughter of Wonder Woman #6

Writer: Tom King

Artist: Belén Ortega

Cover Artists: Belén Ortega, Julian Totino Tedesco, Bruno Redondo & Haining

Publisher: DC Comics

Issue Length: 32 Pages

Series Length: 6 Issues

Price: $3.99/$4.99 Card Stock

Release Date: December 24, 2025

 

The Fateful Finale!

 

The final corgi has been located, and Trinity follows it to the events right before Steve Trevor’s death! As the Sovereign looms, Trinity races to set the timeline right and spend precious moments with her father. Could their time together in the past hold the key to bringing Steve back? Don’t miss the young hero’s greatest challenge as we conclude this thrilling tale!

 

 

Now, let's take a look inside:

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this preview with us.