After 83 Years, Wonder Woman Reveals the True Purpose of Her Love Interest (Movies, Take Note)

Summary

• Steve Trevor is Wonder Woman’s strength, not her savior.
• Tom King reveals Steve’s purpose as Diana’s love interest in a subtle yet profound way.
• Wonder Woman’s love for Steve Trevor fuels her strength, reflecting her defining virtue of love as a cornerstone of her character.

WARNING: Contains Potential Spoilers for Wonder Woman #9!After 83 years, Wonder Woman fans finally have a definitive answer to the purpose of Diana Prince’s love interest, Steve Trevor, in her storylines. This romance has often faced criticism, with some describing it as pointless, boring, or, at times, too prominent in Wonder Woman’s tales. Furthermore, the complementary reveal of what Steve’s purpose is NOT offers even more insight into the significance of this relationship in Diana’s narratives.

Tom King and Daniel Sampere’s Wonder Woman #9 continues the Sacrifice story arc, centering on The Sovereign’s attempts to break Diana’s will and force her submission. In Issue #8, he used the Lasso of Lies, but to no avail. In Issue #9, however, he takes a more insidious approach—solitary confinement.

This is particularly brutal for Diana, considering she thrives on social connection. To combat this mental and physical torture, Wonder Woman retreats into her own mind to various dreamscapes. Within these fantasies, she reveals two key insights into her relationship with Steve.

After arguing with the imaginary Steve about his significance to her, Wonder Woman reveals that he is her strength.

Above All Else, Steve Trevor Is Wonder Woman’s STRENGTH (Especially In Times of Great Peril)

In one of Wonder Woman’s dreamscapes, she and Steve are in a bar playing pool. Here, after arguing with the imaginary Steve about his significance to her, Wonder Woman reveals that he is her strength. Steve’s role as Diana’s strength isn’t stated outright but is heavily implied in a piece of King’s dialogue that reads like a riddle: “You are what was given to me—what I always carry. What has now, in these dark days, carried me.” While this line is open to interpretation, considering the context, it is all but an outright declaration that the colonel is one of Wonder Woman’s greatest pillars of strength.

Some might cringe at the idea that Wonder Woman’s strength is tied to a man, suggesting she would be ‘weak’ without him. However, that isn’t what is being implied in this exchange at all. Wonder Woman’s strength isn’t the man himself, but her love for Steve, who just so happens to be a man. This aligns perfectly with everything fans know about Diana, as love is one of her defining virtues and has been a cornerstone of her character for decades. Consequently, Wonder Woman’s relationship with Steve is defined by the strength it infuses her with.

Down With Damsels In Distress: Wonder Woman Will NEVER Need Steve Trevor to Save Her

In addition to defining Steve Trevor’s purpose, King also clarifies what Steve’s purpose is not in his relationship with Diana. Wonder Woman succinctly sums this up in a piece of dialogue: “You cannot save me, Steven. This is not your role in my life. It never has been.” Diana is essentially saying that she never needed a savior, and this will never be Steve’s role. This makes him being her strength even more fitting, as it acknowledges their partnership and bond while respecting Wonder Woman’s independence and ability to save herself.

Wonder Woman #9 is available now from DC Comics!