Warning! Spoilers for Trials of the Amazons #1 by DC Comics below
DC Comics just killed off a recent member of the Justice League, as the new Trials of the Amazons event ends with the shocking death of Hippolyta. In Trials of the Amazons #1, after new tensions arise between the Bana-Mighdall and Themiscyran Amazonians, Queen Nubia discovers Hippolyta has been poisoned and killed ahead of the great trials that will determine the Amazon's true ruler.
Hippolyta debuted in the pages of DC Comics alongside her daughter, Wonder Woman, in All-Star Comics #8 by William Moulton Marston and Harry G. Peter. In most stories, Hippolyta is the queen of the Amazons of Themyscira. However, following Wonder Woman's death, the Amazonian took her daughter's place in the Justice League. She was a core team member alongside fellow new Black Adam and Naomi during Brian Michael Bendis' soon-ending run on the superteam. In her place, Queen Nubia took over as the Queen of Themisyra, while Wonder Woman would later return from death.
In Trials of the Amazons #1 by Stephanie Williams, Vita Ayala, Joelle Jones, Michael W. Conrad, Becky Cloonan, Skylar Patridge, Joelle Jones, Elena Casagrande, Romulo Fajardo Jr., Jordie Bellaire, and Pat Brosseau, Queen Nubia welcomes the Bana-Mighdall and Esqudcidas tribes to Themiscyra. With the new champion needed to defend Doom's Dorway, a great trial is about to begin. However, Queen Faruka of the Bana-Mighdall informs Queen Nubia that their carelessness led to a monster attacking their tribe without them even realizing it. She challenges "unfit" Queen Nubia to put the title of queen on the line, since the tribes didn't get a choice in selecting the ruler of the Amazons. Queen Nubia surprisingly agrees, but the night before the trial, she finds Hipplyta dead in her quarters, as she seems to have been poisoned.
The timing of Hippolyta's death is somewhat odd, considering she hasn't officially departed the Justice League in that series. However, back with the Amazonians on Themiscyra, the hero reaches her surprise demise. Considering the many new faces from the Bana-Mighdall and Esqudcidas tribes, there are several people who could have possibly poisoned her. Would Queen Faruka be so bold as to take Hippolyta out ahead of the trials to erase a prominent voice among the Themiscyrans? It would be a shocking play for power - but one that she wouldn't necessarily need to do considering she's vying for Queen Nubia's throne with or without Hippolyta around.
Killing off the Justice League hero in a different event book remains strange, but the death of Hippolyta sends a powerful message to the Amazons that someone is out for blood ahead of their great trials. The Amazons will be forced to solve a murder mystery amidst one of the most important trials Themyiscyra has ever had. The Trials of the Amazons #1 by DC Comics is available in comic book shops now.
