Wonder Woman Finally Gets a Girlfriend in New DC Comics Series
"Dark Knights of Steel" portrays the iconic hero as a medieval warrior and explicitly queer woman.
Main image: Wonder Woman in Dark Knights of Steel#2
Wonder Woman, a.k.a. Princess Diana of Themyscira, has long been heralded as a gay icon, but her queerness can now be found on the pages of a comic book.
The famed superhero is in a queer romantic relationship in DC Comics’s Dark Knights of Steel, a new limited series that reimagines the brand’s legendary heroes as medieval warriors. The high fantasy comics from writer Tom Taylor and artist Yasmine Putri center around an alternate universe where Superman and Batman are brothers. After their father is murdered, both heroes must figure out who will assume the throne.
Omg as if having @NicoleAMaines wasn’t amazing enough this year, Wonder Woman is FINALLY getting the queer romance she (and we) have always deserved 💕 https://t.co/u1hJquZ99z
— British LGBT Awards (@BritLGBTAwards) December 8, 2021
Wonder Woman’s medieval counterpart first appears in the second issue of the series, which sees Lois Lane travel to Themyscira to inform Zala-El — an Amazonian princess and Supergirl stand-in — that her father was murdered. Heartbroken, Zala collapses on a battlefield with Wonder Woman, who rushes to comfort her, passionately kisses her, and assures her she’ll always be there for her.
Although Wonder Woman’s queerness was long-rumored and later confirmed by DC Comics writer Greg Rucka in 2016, her relationship with Zala in Dark Knights of Steel #2 marks a rare instance of her sexual orientation being depicted on the page.
Princess Zala (who is this stories supergirl) & Diana
They seem like cute & supportive gf’s Zala has been staying on themyscira with Diana up until this point pic.twitter.com/0mBa5kV5m7— H (@shipperofstuff) December 7, 2021
It’s not DC’s first stab at queer inclusion, either. As recently as October, the comics giant revealed that Jon Kent, Superman’s son, would come out as bisexual in Superman: Son of Kal-El #5. The issue hit stands in early November. (Kent’s boyfriend is also a reporter. Like father, like son!)
The Supergirl franchise has been particularly welcoming to the LGBTQ+ community. After all, transgender actress Nicole Maines portrays the young hero in The CW’s eponymous television series.
