What Does The Character Mean For The DC Extended Universe?
If Wonder Woman is unique in fiction, then she’s surely the jewel in the crown of the DC Extended Universe – that is, the fledgling cinematic universe that DC’s now building in conjunction with Warner Bros. This holds true in terms of story and character, as well as the impact her arrival onscreen is about to have on popular culture as a whole.
Let’s look at story and character first. Diana Prince popped up in Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice a number of times – serving her own agenda, until she was compelled to leap into action at the unleashing of the creature, Doomsday. When she revealed herself in full Wonder Woman mode for the first time, it was to save the life of Batman. In a battle sequence that saw the Dark Knight mostly hang back – since he has no actual super powers of his own – the Amazon Warrior placed herself between him and the monster, and prevented his otherwise imminent demise.
This is undoubtedly a nod to the comic books – in which one of Wonder Woman’s most legendary storylines involves her reluctant killing of the villainous Maxwell Lord (Wonder Woman #219), in order to stop a mind-controlled Superman killing Batman. But, it also sets the tone for this superhero group going forward in their movie franchise.
Wonder Woman is a warrior, yes, but she’s also a team player. Her egalitarian perspective means she’s willing and able to leave room for others to succeed. She’s a staunch advocate for mutual support, not only among women, but also among those striving for peace. She suffers neither fools nor male privilege gladly, and is a seasoned strategist – able to quickly assess the prowess and weaknesses of both opponents and allies. This means that, not only is she a vital asset for the Justice League (which she co-founded), she’s also its leading voice of reason.
In this way, the title Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice does not simply relate to the resolution of the conflict between these two men as being the catalyst for the founding of the Justice League. Rather, it speaks to the idea of there being a more effective way forward than men constantly fighting for dominance. The film establishes the fact that Bruce Wayne is already enraged by the actions of Superman in his Man Of Steel fight with General Zod, and has consequently decided to act against the Kryptonian. Lex Luthor sees this as an opportunity to manipulate the two superheroes and level the playing field a little, to his own advantage. The three men are then locked in a battle for supremacy – Luthor using a combination of Lois Lane, Martha Kent and Doomsday to cause Batman and Superman to fight to the death; Batman wanting to kill Superman for destroying parts of the city; and Superman wanting to stop Batman meting out violent vigilante justice on the streets. While Batman and Superman then come to terms with each other through the intervention of Lois Lane (“It’s his mother’s name!”), it’s the arrival of Diana Prince – later revealed as Wonder Woman – that really places things in perspective for them.
