Superman/Wonder Woman Futures End #1 Review: A Hero Torn

Superman/Wonder Woman Futures End #1, released in 2014, presented a glimpse five years into a potential DC Comics future. Written by Charles Soule with distinctive art by veteran Bart Sears, this issue places Wonder Woman at the center of a desperate battle for the world. As a tie-in to the larger Futures End event, this comic provoked strong, conflicting feelings, particularly regarding the portrayal of its titular heroine, making this Superman/Wonder Woman Futures End #1 review a dive into character evolution and narrative choices.

The Conflicting Faces of Wonder Woman

Understanding the reaction to this issue requires context from the New 52 era, specifically Brian Azzarello and Cliff Chiang’s run on Wonder Woman. That series, while internally consistent and lauded for its mythological intrigue, presented a Diana significantly different from her classic interpretations. She was the daughter of Zeus, not magically formed from clay. Her Amazon sisters were depicted as murdering sailors and abandoning male offspring. Diana herself took on the mantle of the God of War. While the writing was strong and the character retained passion and integrity, these changes were controversial for longtime fans. This version often felt more like an Elseworlds take – a fascinating alternate reality, but perhaps not the mainstream Diana many recognized. This contrast becomes stark when this battle-hardened Diana appears in team-up books like Superman/Wonder Woman, often portrayed as excessively quick to violence, seemingly abandoning her role as an ambassador of peace.

Deconstructing Futures End: Plot and Revelation

This issue directly follows the events of Wonder Woman Futures End #1, where the Greek deity Nemesis amassed an army to conquer Earth. Wonder Woman, in her role as War, countered with an army of the dead, aided by Hades, but found herself losing. Superman/Wonder Woman Futures End #1 opens with Superman’s sudden appearance. Initially, Diana suspects he has joined Nemesis, but Superman corrects her, suggesting she is the one who has fallen, questioning her brutal methods and appearance – a horned helmet and a readiness to kill. He pointedly asks if this violent figure is truly who Wonder Woman should be.

Cover art for Superman/Wonder Woman Futures End #1 featuring Superman and a battle-ready Wonder Woman.

Superman’s words shatter an illusion crafted by Nemesis. Diana realizes she wasn’t battling Nemesis’ forces but demons within Tartarus. Superman braved the mythical labyrinth to rescue her. The subsequent scene, showing an exhausted Diana lamenting her actions while Clark offers support, provides a moment of genuine emotional connection. It feels more like love and partnership than some of the more superficial romantic interactions previously depicted in their shared title.

Superman supports a weary Wonder Woman in Tartarus in Superman/Wonder Woman Futures End #1.

When Diana questions why he risked everything, Superman’s simple answer, “Isn’t it obvious?”, reinforces this connection. This portrayal feels more substantial than prior depictions of their romance. However, a twist reveals this isn’t the Superman currently brooding in the desert in the main Futures End timeline. He’s a Superman from only one year future, brought forward by the Amazons specifically to aid Diana. This younger, more hopeful Superman expresses a desire to reach out to his future self, embodying the ideal that Superman should never hide from humanity.

Superman tells Wonder Woman he came to save her because he loves her in Superman/Wonder Woman Futures End #1.

War’s Toll and the Path to Peace

While Diana was trapped in Tartarus, Nemesis’s armies successfully conquered the world, leaving only Themyscira standing. Soule effectively portrays the burden Diana carried as the God of War. She attempted to be just, rewarding noble warriors and withholding aid from aggressors, but ultimately found she couldn’t change the nature of war; instead, war changed her. A panel depicting Diana alone, visually isolated, powerfully conveys her sense of defeat and disillusionment.

Panel showing an isolated Wonder Woman reflecting on how war changed her in Superman/Wonder Woman Futures End #1.

Their last hope involves a journey to Olympus. A crucial plot point reveals Nemesis had strategically eliminated Eirene, the Goddess of Peace, early in the conflict. By removing the avatar of peace, Nemesis ensured Earth became solely a domain of war, simplifying conquest. This detail adds a clever layer to the narrative.

Wonder Woman explains Nemesis killed Eirene, the Goddess of Peace, in Superman/Wonder Woman Futures End #1.

As Superman holds back Nemesis’ forces, Diana enters Eirene’s tomb. Her internal monologue resonates with her historical character: war is terrible, being a warrior doesn’t mean embracing war, war is death, and she loves life. Superman’s reaction mirrors the reader’s potential relief – it’s wonderful to hear her articulate these classic ideals again. Historically, Diana was an ambassador of peace, sent to teach humanity the folly of violence.

Superman reacts positively as Wonder Woman speaks about rejecting war in Superman/Wonder Woman Futures End #1.

In a climactic turn, Diana emerges, having absorbed the vacant mantle: she becomes the new Goddess of Peace.

A Reviewer’s Verdict: Torn But Hopeful

This conclusion is the source of the internal conflict. On one hand, seeing Diana reject the path of War and embrace Peace feels like a return to core principles, a correction toward the hero many believe she should be. It’s a powerful affirmation of her fundamental ideals. On the other hand, it can feel like a dismissal of the complex, albeit controversial, character developed during Azzarello and Chiang’s celebrated run. While that portrayal might not align with everyone’s ideal Wonder Woman, it was a well-crafted and compelling narrative in its own right. Ultimately, treating Futures End as another form of Elseworlds allows appreciation for this specific story. It presents a Wonder Woman who recognizes her deviation from her ideals and actively chooses a path away from endless conflict and killing, embodying hope rather than bloodshed.

In conclusion, Superman/Wonder Woman Futures End #1 is a thought-provoking issue. It grapples with the complex legacy and evolving identity of Wonder Woman within the New 52 context. While potentially jarring for fans of Azzarello’s specific take, its ultimate direction towards peace offers a compelling character arc and a return to ideals that resonate deeply with the hero’s history. The dynamic between Superman and Wonder Woman is also handled with surprising emotional depth. Despite the reviewer’s initial conflict, the story provides a satisfying, hopeful vision for Diana’s future, making it a noteworthy entry from the 2014 DC Comics event.