This past weekend, Wonder Woman proved to be a dominant force at the box office, and it’s only a matter of time before Gal Gadot’s Amazon heroine is officially slated to return for a sequel. We all know that Wonder Woman 2 is going to happen, so the question now is who should Diana face off against in such a sequel?
Mild SPOILER warning for the first Wonder Woman movie, so please use caution going forward. (Or just go see it first because it’s great.)
The first Wonder Woman movie used Ares, the God of War, as Diana’s primary antagonist. And while Ares was definitely a worthy villain, we would shy away from using another God as the next big bad for Diana. Wonder Woman’s rogues gallery may not have the deep bench of Batman’s enemies, but Diana’s comic book foes can offer her more personal conflicts while also challenging her in different ways. The best villains are always the ones that the heroes can’t easily defeat, and we’ve picked five who could give Wonder Woman the fight of her life.
Circe
One of the interesting changes in the DC Extended Universe is that Wonder Woman is over 5,000 years old. In most of her comic book incarnations, Wonder Woman was much younger. Potentially, this change could mean that Wonder Woman has already encountered Circe, the ageless sorceress who first appeared in Homer’s Odyssey. The Circe of DC’s comic book universe has been one of Diana’s most unrelenting enemies, and she truly does have more power than Wonder Woman.
In addition to her command over magic, Circe is a master manipulator and extremely ambitious about amassing even greater power. She may actually be too much for Diana to handle in the second movie, so we wouldn’t be too surprised if Circe is held back for a potential third film. But at some point, Circe has to be in these movies. She’s far too important to the Wonder Woman mythos to be left out.
Cheetah
What if one of your best friends was also your greatest enemy? For decades, Cheetah was simply another costumed supervillain. During the ‘80s, George Perez added layers to Cheetah by reintroducing her as Barbara Ann Minerva, an archaeologist who got close to Wonder Woman. Barbara had ulterior motives for getting Wonder Woman to accept her as a friend, and Diana understandably felt betrayed when she discovered that Barbara only wanted to steal her golden lasso.
Barbara’s cursed transformation into the Cheetah has also been retained in the most recent reboots from DC, and so has her friendship and rivalry with Wonder Woman. Cheetah is also one of the few foes who can truly challenge Diana on a physical level. Despite their past, Wonder Woman still views Cheetah as a lost friend more than an enemy. And while their battles have the potential to be dazzling on the big screen, it’s the very human connection between the two women that would be very compelling to see.
Medusa
Medusa is a famous creature who has been co-opted into Wonder Woman’s orbit, and she has the added advantage of being one of the few villains whom nearly everyone knows from mythology. Medusa is one of the Gorgons and her gaze can turn her victims to stone. One of the more recent incarnations of Medusa to appear in Wonder Woman showed a willingness to strike at those closest to Diana. She also proved to be an extremely formidable fighter.
To defeat Medusa, Wonder Woman would probably have to be willing to make a few major sacrifices. But that’s the thing about Wonder Woman. If it means saving innocent lives, there’s no price that she won’t pay. Medusa is one her few foes who can drive Diana to desperate measures. And who doesn’t want to see that?
Giganta
Giganta is one of the earliest Wonder Woman villains, as William Moulton Marston clearly realized the potential of giving Diana a nemesis who could match and possibly exceed her power. Later depictions of Giganta gave her the ability to grow to the size of a giant, and that could make for some impressive fights with Wonder Woman in the sequel.
Another reason that Giganta could work as the villain for Wonder Woman 2 is that her alter ego, Dr. Doris Zeul, is a legitimate genius who could threaten Diana with both her mind and her body. That intelligence combined with her incredible strength would make Giganta a true force to be reckoned with.
Donna Troy
If you know your comics, you’re probably screaming “Donna Troy isn’t a villain!†That’s true, but that didn’t stop Meredith and David Finch from reintroducing Donna Troy into the New 52 as an enemy of Diana and a rival for the throne of Themyscira. Donna’s origin has been all over the place across the decades, but the simplified version is that she is the closest thing to a real sister that Diana will ever have. Donna is also a close physical match for Diana herself, which means that she can more than hold her own against Wonder Woman.
The most compelling reason that Donna should be introduced as a villain is that it could give Diana a character arc in which she is desperately trying to save and redeem her latest rival. Remember, Wonder Woman’s greatest assets are her ability to inspire and her capacity for compassion. Donna Troy isn’t an enemy who can be defeated by mere physical might. To triumph in this battle, it would take all of Wonder Woman’s heart and will. And who knows? A redeemed Donna Troy could also find her place in the DC Extended Universe.
Who do you think should be the villain of Wonder Woman 2? Unleash your thoughts in the comment section below!
Images: DC Comics
