DC Officially Just Undid Wonder Woman’s Worst Retcon

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A superhero’s origin story is crucial – it defines who they are and what they stand for, helping them stand out from the many other heroes out there. Because these stories are revisited and retold over time, they really stick with fans. A well-crafted origin can become a defining part of a character’s history. Think of Batman’s parents being murdered, the destruction of Krypton, or Uncle Ben’s death – even people who don’t follow these characters know these stories. The most popular origins are considered essential, and fans strongly resist any unnecessary changes to them.

Wonder Woman’s history has been complicated by two different origin stories. The original, and much preferred, tale tells of her being created from clay by her mother and brought to life by the goddesses – a story that beautifully represents themes of motherhood and love. However, a more recent version, introduced in the ‘New 52’ comics, claimed this was a lie and that Diana was actually the daughter of Hippolyta and Zeus. For years, DC Comics has wavered between these two explanations, but the latest issue of Wonder Woman (#33, released in 2023) officially confirms that Diana was not the result of an affair with Zeus, and the clay origin is once again considered the true story.

Wonder Woman Cuts Zeus Down to Size

In this story, future versions of Wonder Woman, Steve Trevor, and Trinity travel through incredible places on a dangerous journey. They’re trying to reach the home of the Three Fates and make them change the future to prevent a global disaster. Along the way, they face gods and monsters, but right before they arrive, Zeus appears and tries to stop them. He insists their quest defies the natural order, but Wonder Woman refuses to turn back.

Wonder Woman boldly severed Zeus’s leg with the God Killer Sword and continued on her path. Zeus repeatedly demanded she return, first appealing to her as a god, then as a king, and finally, as her father. Wonder Woman countered that he was the one who created the false narrative, but she was the one who would reveal the truth. The story has hinted before that the idea of Zeus being her father is a lie, with Wonder Woman previously stating she was created from clay, yet acknowledging the Zeus origin might have some validity. This moment essentially confirms that Wonder Woman’s earlier agreement with Zeus was simply to appease him, and it reinforces the subtle challenge to traditional, male-dominated mythology that has been a consistent theme throughout this storyline.

A Quiet Lie to Cover the Screaming Truth

Tom King’s recent work on Wonder Woman has faced criticism from fans, largely due to issues with pacing and a tendency to over-explain things. However, King consistently explores strong and relevant themes throughout the series. From the beginning, the story has tackled myths rooted in misogyny. The villain, The Sovereign, represented patriarchal control, even attempting to trap Wonder Woman in a traditional 1950s housewife role using a deceptive Lasso. The ‘Murder on Mt. Olympus’ arc further highlighted this theme, revealing that even the gods themselves were deeply flawed and perpetuated similar misogynistic patterns, mirroring the issues Wonder Woman encounters elsewhere.

Wonder Woman initially protected the gods because she believed they could coexist and work together. However, when a powerful ruler took control, everything changed. With no divine realm left to uphold based on Zeus’s deception, Wonder Woman felt she no longer needed to maintain the pretense of being his daughter. Zeus had falsely claimed fatherhood to take advantage of her strength and heroic deeds, and his authority silenced her from challenging him. The story reveals a wicked lie used to conceal the beautiful, loving origins of creation, all for personal gain – a theme perfectly suited to Wonder Woman. It’s incredibly satisfying to see this used to correct a long-standing mistake made by DC Comics.

Wonder Woman #33 is on sale now!

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2026-05-20 17:11