Two years ago, I became a fan of Wonder Woman after I had an idea for a story that I wanted to write. I asked a friend, who I saw as quite the expert on the Amazon Princess, about Diana to learn more about the character. I don’t remember the question I asked, nor do I know if I ever did anything with the idea that I had. What I do know is that after that moment in time, Wonder Woman became a favorite character of mine. I started buying books about her, I did all kinds of research, and I asked more questions. In the two years that I have read about Wonder Woman, I have developed my own interpretation of Princess Diana of Themyscira.

My view of Wonder Woman is that, like Superman, she places a very high value on life, yet unlike the Kryptonian, she stands apart in her personality. Diana is a strong woman who asserts her authority and presence, but not so much that she attempts to take over others. I understand that Diana will kill if the situation calls for it, as she did with Max Lord. If taking one life will save hundreds, then Diana would be the first of the entire league to step over that line. I believe she is that way because of her Amazonian upbringing, but that upbringing has never seemed to have over-ridden her value for life, and free will.

What Injustice: Gods Among Us has done is they have turned her into a figure that cares more about asserting her authority on the world than concern for free will and life. I first became disgruntled with her character in issue #6 of “Injustice: Gods Among Us”. In that issue, Wonder Woman approaches Superman after her liberates a Bialya from its dictator, and says after she agrees to call a press conference at the UN for him: “I will hear the words I’ve always wanted to hear you say since we first met.” This line alone shows that Diana had ulterior motives all along and that she wanted to assert her authority over the people of the world from the very begining. In the most recent issue (#10) of Injustice, after a foolhardy Atlantean soldier shoots Diana, her wrathful reply as she strikes Aquaman is “I am sick of words.” The outburst shows that her talks of peace are lies, because just before this happens she was talking to Aquaman, and attempting to convince him to have words of peace with the Japanese wailers.

Ares provides us with a sort of insight to this Wonder Woman in issue #9, when he confronts her in Qurac. Ares asks her if she will “take her place in his bed” referring to the loss of Lois. Diana does not deny this accusation yet confirms it by saying “I will be what he needs me to be”. She then goes to call the grieving Superman who has turned on his own values: “the greatest man she’s ever known.” The Diana that I’ve come to know and love would never say this, nor would she “share Superman’s bed” to get him to do what he needs to do. Ares provides further insight to this new Wonder Woman during his inner monologue after she defeats him in a humiliating manner. Ares states that he fears her union with Superman because she does not share Superman’s restraint, and that she is attempting to take away the restraint that Superman has.

I understand that in the game story that this Wonder Woman is not supposed to be the Wonder Woman that we all have become fans of. I understand that she is designed to be unlikable, and we are supposed to detest her actions. That being said it gives me the sensation of as if the Injustice Wonder Woman is an impostor. The Injustice comics I have read are decently written, and this Wonder Woman is portrayed in such a way that the so called desire for peace she speaks of is an obvious lie. This Wonder Woman has shown herself to be a violent warmonger who desires power, and other than her ferocity there is little to connect her to the Wonder Woman that I’ve come to call a favorite character. I can appreciate the intention of the crusade of bringing about peace, but I think we all know how this enforced ceasefire will turn out. When the time comes this will be a Wonder Woman that I will be more than happy to see lying on the ground defeated.