Our look at the top Wonder Woman villains examines Diana’s rogues gallery
Wonder Woman will be released by Warner Bros. this Friday and it stars Gal Gadot in the tite role. Fans of DC Comics may be more familiar with the rogues gallery for Batman and Superman, but there are some spectacular Wonder Woman villains out there. We know of at least two in the upcoming film. (She’s also had some decidedly odd ones like Egg Fu and Angle Man.) Check out our list of the best Wonder Woman villains and let us know which ones you want to see in upcoming films.
Giganta
Giganta first appeared in 1944 in Wonder Woman #9. Her real name is Dr. Doris Zeul, a brilliant scientist who has the ability to increase her shape and size. She is sometimes allied with the Atom and sometimes with Queen Clea, and owns a suit that makes her impervious to heat and cold. She currently retains her intelligence at her larger size.
Ares
Ares is the son of the god Zeus and the goddess Hera. He’s the god of war and is constantly battling Wonder Woman as she strives to maintain peace. He first appeared in Wonder Woman #1 in 1942. Ares will likely appear in the upcoming Wonder Woman film. We get a glimpse of his horned helmet in some of the footage, though we haven’t seen a clear shot yet.
Cheetah
Cheetah first appeared as Priscilla Rich in Wonder Woman #6 in 1943 and has been one of Wonder Woman’s main villains. There have been a number of Cheetahs, including Deborah Domaine and the current Barbara Ann Minerva. There has even been a male Cheetah. Minerva was a British anthropologist and now has abilities from Urzkartaga, the Plant God.
Doctor Psycho
Doctor Psycho first appeared in Wonder Woman #5 in 1943 and has the power of mind control. He lives to torment Wonder Woman and detests women. He was inspired by Lon Chaney and one of Wonder Woman creator William Moulton Marston’s college professors who opposed women’s suffrage and feminism.
Strife/Eris
Strife has been both uneasy ally and foe to Wonder Woman. She has invaded Theymyscira and caused the Amazons to go to war. She’s based on the goddess Eris, who is either sister or daughter to Ares.
Silver Swan
One of the classic Wonder Woman villains, Silver Swan first appeared in Wonder Woman #288 in 1982 and is based on The Ugly Duckling story from Hans Christian Andersen. Each of the three women who have taken on the name have thought themselves undesirable and have been transformed. Helen Alexandros was the first who made a deal with Mars (Ares). The second two are Valerie Beaudry and Vanessa Kapatelis. Silver Swan has the ability to fly and to produce a sonic weapon with her voice.
The First Born
One of the more modern Wonder Woman villains, the First Born was introduced in Wonder Woman vol. 4 #13 in 2012, created by Brian Azzarello and Cliff Chiang. He was the first born child of Zeus and Hera and it was prophesied that he would sit on his father’s throne surrounded by the corpses of his family. Zeus tried to have him killed, but he survived using his powers. First Born both loves and hates his father. He has the powers of strength, speed and invulnerability.
Circe
The sorceress Circe first appeared in Wonder Woman #37 in 1949. She’s another character from Greek mythology, as made famous in Homer’s Odyssey. She has lived for centuries and is one of the major Wonder Woman villains. She has a number of goddess-level powers, including the ability to control minds, create energy blasts, teleport and transform objects. If you’ve read The Odyssey, you know she loves changing men into animals. She has a siren’s call that can lure men to their deaths and The Mirror of Circe, which is forbidden in by the Olympian gods.
Queen Clea
Queen Clea first appeared in Wonder Woman #8 (March 1944). She’s the Queen of Venturia on the lost continent of Atlantis. She, like Giganta, Cheetah and Doctor Poison, was part of the nefarious organization Villany Inc. at one time. Queen Clea has the power to withstand underwater pressure, can breathe water and has super strength, as well as the Trident of Poseidon.
Medusa
If you’re familiar with Greek mythology, you know Medusa is a Gorgon with snakes for hair. Her gaze can turn you to stone. Medusa first appeared in DC Comics in Wonder Woman #153 in 1965. She was a beautiful woman who’s face was changed to the snake-haired monster by the Duke of Deception. In a later story, she caught the eye of the god Poseidon and Athena was the one who cursed her. She is a frequent adversary of Wonder Woman.
Doctor Poison
Doctor Poison will appear in the upcoming film, as you can see from the trailers. Doctor Poison, also known as Maru, is played by Elena Anaya. (She’s the one with the mask on part of her face.) The character of Princess Maru/Doctor Poison first appeared in Sensation Comics #2 in 1942, though there have been two (the other is Princess Maru’s granddaughter), both disguising their gender. Princess Maru is a Nazi spy (though in the film, the Nazis have not yet risen to power). She uses the “reverso” drug to confuse the minds of soldiers so they do the opposite of what they’re told to do.
Wonder Woman also stars Chris Pine (Star Trek), Robin Wright (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Netflix‘s House of Cards), Danny Huston (Clash of the Titans, X-Men Origins: Wolverine), Ewen Bremner (Exodus: Gods and Kings, Snowpiercer), Saïd Taghmaoui (American Hustle), Elena Anaya (The Skin I Live In), Connie Nielsen (Gladiator, Nymphomaniac: Vol. I) and Lucy Davis (Shaun of the Dead).
Who do you think is the best of the Wonder Woman villains? Which ones made your list? Are you excited to see Wonder Woman when it’s released on June 2? Are there particular Wonder Woman villains you’d like to see in future DC films? Let us know in the comments or tweet us @ComingSoonnet.
