10 Generic Wonder Woman Villains Who Desperately Need a Modern Makeover

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Wonder Woman might be the third member of DC Comics’ Trinity, but sadly, she’s largely not given the same respect and reverence as Superman and Batman. The same goes for her rogues gallery of villains, who are comparatively ignored compared to the Man of Steel and the Dark Knight’s enemies. Many of these antagonists need to be used more, while others might need a complete overhaul to work.

Some of Wonder Woman’s most overlooked villains have the most potential, but this sometimes involves returning to the drawing board with what makes them work. Likewise, the mythological and magical concepts seen in her modern comics also present an avenue to reinterpret these characters. Whether changed in the mainstream DC Universe or the new Absolute Universe, these renditions could see some of Wonder Woman’s oldest enemies finally given the spotlight.

10

Hypnota the Hypnotic Woman Can Be a Stand-In for Doctor Psycho

First Appearance: Wonder Woman #11 by William Moulton Marston and H.G. Peter

Hypnota debuted in the Golden Age of Comics, where she was one of many characters whose gender identity was somewhat suspect. This genderplay was due to the classic trope of Diana losing her powers when bound by a man, but once this concept was done away with, as was the ambiguity surrounding the villain. Hypnota is sometimes called Hypnotic Woman, and while she’s made a few appearances here and there, she’s never been particularly relevant.

The best way to update Hynota would be to either embrace or ignore the gendered aspects of her history, with the former having her illusion powers and masculine form being a manifestation of her own gender identity. Likewise, this take can instead be eschewed, with the character being more of a straightforward villain with immense psychic powers. By going along this route, she can be differentiated from the somewhat similar Doctor Psycho, who’s many times portrayed as a misogynist.

9

Minister Blizzard Is a Second Rate Mr. Freeze

First Appearance: Wonder Woman #29 by William Moulton Marston, H.G. Peter and Joye Hummel Murchison

Minister Blizzard seems very similar to characters like Batman’s enemy, Mr. Freeze, or Flash’s foe, Captain Cold, but he actually premiered before them. His gimmick is that he uses cryo technology for different means, namely by being something of a cult leader/eco-terrorist wishing to usher in a new ice age. His design is somewhat goofy, and given that later characters largely overshadow him, it’s one of several areas where he might need a redux.

Besides a much more impressive design, Minister Blizzard should double down on the eco-terrorist angle while using even greater technology to be a bigger threat to Wonder Woman. His fears over climate change of similar ideas could see him outright killing populations of countries that he deems aren’t taking the idea “seriously” enough, with his cult-like followers also eliciting comparisons to the Amazons’ own devotion to the Greek gods. This would make Mr. Freeze and Captain Cold seem penny ante in comparison, especially since the former is essentially trapped by the same tired narrative of his sick wife.

8

Giganta Should Be a Much Bigger Deal In the DC Universe

First Appearance: Wonder Woman #9 by William Moulton Marson and H.G. Peter

Giganta is one of Wonder Woman’s most notable foes, but she doesn’t have much to show for it. She definitely has both size and power on her side, with her physical strength being more than enough to challenge even the Amazing Amazon. Still, she lacks a definitive story that makes her truly worthy of Diana’s enmity, which modern comic books can finally give her.

Instead of having the character be an ape that evolved into a metahuman woman, Giganta might work better as a modern manifestation of Celtic giant myths such as the Fomori. This would tie her closer to Wonder Woman’s world without making all the mythological aspects of the franchise Greco-Roman. Likewise, given the inherently malignant mentalities of that species, this update for Giganta can make her a true monster, giving Wonder Woman a reason to fight her.

7

The Dark Man Was In One of the Most Controversial Wonder Woman Stories

First Appearance: Wonder Woman #601 by J. Michael Straczynski and Phil Hester

Lucius the Dark Man appeared in the controversial “The Odyssey” storyline in Wonder Woman comics, which tried and failed to reboot the character right before the DC Universe was rewritten through the New 52. An agent of the Mórrígan, the Dark Man was grievously burned alive but empowered by his cruel mistress. Killing almost all the Amazons, he had a very personal (if brief) grudge with Diana.

A new take on Lucius the Dark Man could keep his ties to Celtic mythology while making him a truly dark mirror to Diana. Instead of being blessed by the gods at birth, he would be empowered by the Celtic deities when he’s near death. Likewise, this pantheon would have a strong feud with the Greek pantheon, with Lucius being one of their champions and a physical match for Wonder Woman.

6

Queen Clea Can Face Two Justice League Heroes

First Appearance: Wonder Woman #8 by William Moulton Marston

As originally envisioned, Queen Clea was a so-called ruler of an Atlantean outpost, and her royal feud involved Wonder Woman. She’s had only occasional appearances since the Golden Age, especially since the DC Universe developed Atlantis and its mythos more for Aquaman. This creates major crossover potential for two prominent DC heroes, who can be vexed by the evil queen.

Modern DC comic books can pit Queen Clea against both Wonder Woman and the Atlantean king, Aquaman, with the ousted Atlantean amassing enough of an army and magical weaponry to challenge each Justice League member. This would tie them further together, as they’re both related to Greco-Roman myth. Likewise, Ocean Master might also become an ally of Clea’s, becoming her consort as she takes advantage of his resentment of his brother’s rulership.

First Appearance: Wonder Woman #157 by Robert Kanigher and Ross Andru

When it comes to problematic villains, Egg Fu is definitely at the top of DC’s list. Made to cash in on the “Yellow Peril” in comics and media as a whole, the original Egg Fu was an outright racist stereotype of Chinese people and culture, with the ovarian enemy even speaking in comical “Engrish.” Modern portrayals have done away with these aspects, but the villain hasn’t stood out much since this happened.

Egg Fu can essentially be Wonder Woman’s equivalent to Marvel Comics’ Mister Sinister and M.O.D.O.K., with the creepy Chang Tzu reimagined as a body horror experiment gone wrong. Likewise, he might take his name to its fullest fruition, seeking to use infants for his scientific debauchery. This would make him into a disturbing foe and one of the most depraved DC villains.

4

Mouse Man Is the Nadir of Wonder Woman’s Rogues Gallery

First Appearance: Wonder Woman #141 by Robert Kanigher and Ross Andru

Wonder Woman had several ridiculous and outright laughable villains in the Silver Age, with this era arguably featuring some of her worst comic books ever. Most of the foes introduced during this time had no real rhyme or reason, and that was especially the case for Mouse Man. Mouse Man, a villain who had accidentally become the size of a mouse, was the epitome of small potatoes among Wonder Woman’s adversaries.

Mouse Man was updated in the New 52 as Mäuschen,an intelligent mouse who sided with Cheetah’s horde of animal villains. This might be the best way to reinterpret him, and another path is to have his animal form belay a certain scientific intellect. Such a characterization would make him the opposite of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles villain Baxter Stockman. As a result, his small stature wouldn’t keep him from being a big threat to the world, including Wonder Woman.

3

Fireworks Man Deserves an Explosive Reinterpretation

First Appearance: Wonder Woman #141 by Robert Kanigher and Ross Andru

Fireworks Man was another rather odd and low-rated foe from Wonder Woman’s Silver Age comics, but he definitely has potential. He was originally portrayed as a crook who, due to chemical experiments, became an explosive energy being. Also known as Human Fireworks, this character’s firepower could be enough to take down even the Amazing Amazon.

A modern version of Fireworks Man might be a scientist looking into renewable forms of energy before being caught in a deadly explosion created by one of his experiments. Empowered beyond belief, he would find that he’s escaped death, but at the cost of becoming immaterial destruction. This would make him similar to Chemo, Molecule Man, and perhaps even Doctor Manhattan from Watchmen, with the loss of his humanity leaving him both emotionally and physically unstable.

2

Zara Has Never Been Given Her Due In Modern Comics

First Appearance: Comic Cavalcade #5 by William Moulton Marston and H.G. Peter

Zara, Priestess of the Crimson Flame, was a somewhat major enemy of Wonder Woman in the Golden Age. Since then, she’s fallen into obscurity, with her appearances in the DC Rebirth era being minute at best. There is, however, some potential to make her into a much bigger deal, especially if she’s given a magical boost.

Since Crisis on Infinite Earths, Wonder Woman was granted “sisterhood with fire” by the goddess Hestia, making her immune to normal flames. Zara can supersede this by boasting magical powers to fight Wonder Woman, making her flames far hotter than normal. Likewise, her Golden Age origins of being essentially a trafficking victim could make her somewhat tragic, with her “Cult of the Crimson Flame” adding another layer to her and perhaps making her the polar opposite of Minister Blizzard.

1

Dr. Poison Needs to Become Truly Toxic

First Appearance: Sensation Comics #2 by William Moulton Marson and H.G. Peter

For most of her existence, Doctor Poison had been somewhat forgotten among Wonder Woman villains. Disappearing after the Golden Age, she was briefly brought in the post-Crisis on Infinite Earths continuity and the New 52. The DC Extended Universe Wonder Woman movie made her more prominent, and she was also one of the first villains in the heroine’s DC Rebirth relaunch.

Doctor Poison has never been a major threat to Wonder Woman, even with her expertise in toxins and chemicals. The best way to update her is to have Marina Maru expand her knowledge with magical potions and brews. This would allow her to challenge even an Amazon, strengthening herself, weakening others and generally being a walking plague upon humanity.

“}]] Wonder Woman’s rogues gallery can be bolstered by taking some of her most lackluster villains and giving them reinterpretations worthy of the Amazon.  Read More