Warning: spoilers for Trial of the Amazons: Wonder Girl #2 are ahead!
The biggest question behind Wonder Woman's first crossover in decades has finally been revealed in the pages of DC Comics. The Trial of the Amazons event, spanning the pages of Wonder Woman, Nubia and the Amazons, Wonder Girl, and a two-part Trial of the Amazons title, has brought together the Amazons of Themyscira, Bana-Mighdall, and the Esquecidas to uncover the truth behind one of the most shocking events in recent Wonder Woman history: the death of Diana's mother, Hippolyta. Hippolyta's murder exacerbated existing tensions between the different Amazonian tribes, and with the identity of her killer now revealed, only time will tell how DC's Wonder Women will handle the truth.
The Trial of the Amazons event was billed to fans as a murder mystery, with Hippolyta dying during the first act of the story. But Hippolyta's death also gave the Amazons a chance to investigate the tensions between them. The warlike Bana-Mighdall felt like they were condescended to on Themyscira, while the reveal of a new, "lost" Amazonian tribe, the Esquecidas of Brazil, posed an existential question to both groups over what the value of "sisterhood" was when all three groups are so separated from each other in the first place. And with Nubia ruling as the new queen of Themyscira, there hasn't been a more crucial time in Wonder Woman history for this event to unfold.
In the penultimate chapter of Trial of the Amazons, former Wonder Girl, Cassie Sandsmark, used her detective skills to narrow down the list of suspects in Hippolyta's murder, ultimately settling on Artemis of Bana-Mighdall as her killer. This was a heartbreaking revelation, as Artemis herself has been Wonder Woman in the past, and is known for her brash sense of bravery. Artemis owns up to her crimes, but stops short of explaining why she actually poisoned Hippolyta in the first place. Cassie's investigation and accusation of Artemis unfolded in the pages of Trial of the Amazons: Wonder Girl #2, featuring a creative team of Joëlle Jones, Adriana Melo, Jordie Bellaire, and Pat Brosseau.
Artemis's actions are astonishing to consider, because it is clear that she didn't murder Hippolyta in order to gain power on Themyscira. As a character, Artemis possesses an independent nature that made her a good fit for Red Hood's Outlaws team, so gaining influence through murdering Hippolyta doesn't seem like a likely reason for why she killed her. Her stating that she will keep her reasons to herself suggests that there is an ugly truth hiding in plain sight on Themyscira that only Artemis was privy to, one so horrible that she sees keeping it a secret as the only way to protect her sisters. Either way, fans will likely find out the truth behind her decisions with her upcoming series Artemis: Wanted releasing this summer.
Artemis of Bana-Mighdall is one of the most headstrong figures in the Wonder Woman mythos, and her decision to poison Hippolyta will continue to impact this era of Wonder Woman books in the near future. While Artemis does have an impulsive streak, murdering Hippolyta with poison was something she clearly thought through, including what the possible consequences would be if the truth was discovered by her sisters. It is absolutely a shocking discovery for fans of DC's most brutal Wonder Woman, and only time will tell how Artemis can ameliorate her image to both fans and the Amazonian tribes alike.
Trial of the Amazons: Wonder Girl #2 is available now from DC Comics.