By Valerie Wang
Gorgeous, fierce, and badass, Wonder Woman is a dearly beloved DC superhero icon. From comic to movie, Wonder Woman stands as a symbol of truth, justice, and equality for all. Wonder Woman alludes to the Roman goddess of the hunt, animals, and children: Diana. Although the comic and movie describe Diana as a Greek goddess, Artemis is actually the Greek form; Diana, the Roman form.
Wonder Woman possesses superhuman abilities of incredible strength and speed, invulnerability to physical harm, and formidable combat prowess. Her signature weapon, the Lasso of Truth aka the Lasso of Hestia, compels victims to speak the truth when questioned, through physical contact. Another one of Wonder Woman’s significant qualities are her bracelets. Bulletproof, the bands serve as a form of protection and emit a wave of energy that topples enemies when slammed together.
In the two movies, Wonder Woman and Wonder Woman 1984, Diana is played by Gal Gadot. Personally, I think the first movie, Wonder Woman, is one of the most remarkable movies made. Through the action scenes and the story itself, I feel the thrill, boldness, and confidence conveyed. The sequel movie, Wonder Woman 1984, I found disappointing because the storyline felt more forced and less powerful than the first.
Furthermore, besides being admired by all, Wonder Woman especially reaches out to the female audience. As one of the few female heroes and a powerful female figure, Diana encourages and inspires female empowerment such as being a strong, independent woman, the courage to stand up for yourself, and to not be dependent on men. Through encountering obstacles in her story, her struggles touch on more realistic conflicts the audience might feel connected to or find relatable.
Overall, Wonder Woman is unquestionably one of the most superior superheroes in the fiction universe and is truly—a wonder.