DC Comics Unveils New Wonder Woman Successor

DC Studios’ new cinematic universe is moving forward full steam ahead. Lanterns, the latest release in the DC Universe, is garnering rave reviews from critics and fans alike, with the latter waiting with bated breath for any news on potential new projects coming to the franchise. One project we know for certain on the horizon is a revamping of the Wonder Woman franchise, with the Justice Leaguer formerly portrayed by Gal Gadot in the process of being recast by the James Gunn-led studio.

Even prior to Diana’s live-action return, DC is rolling out new iterations of the beloved character. Absolute Wonder Woman has dominated the shelves at your local comic shop for the better part of two years and now, the publisher’s latest take on the character has left readers cowering in terror.

DC’s new Wonder Woman is pure nightmare fuel

DC’s newest Wonder Woman arrives in the pages of Next Level: One Shot #1 from Gerry Duggan and Fernando Blanco. Deadshot is the primary focus of the issue, following the anti-hero as he finds himself wrapped up in a larger-than-life conspiracy. At the root of it all is the organization Cadmus and its genetically engineered beings known as Drones.

As Deadshot, real name Floyd Lawton, works his way through one Drone after the next, he eventually reaches the worst of the bunch: twisted copies of DC’s Trinity — Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman. While the new Wonder Woman possesses much of Diana’s familiar strength and speed, that’s about where the similarities end.

The clone sports dark markings and bears a much more menacing, spiked version of Wonder Woman’s traditional armor. Even worse, each of the Drones carry a miniature Starro within its body, giving the already disturbing copies an alien component to go along with their stolen DNA.

That makes this version of Wonder Woman especially unnerving. Diana has always been defined by more than her raw power. Her compassion, diplomacy, and sense of justice are just as important to the character as her superhuman strength or combat agility.

In all honesty, it’s a concept a bit too familiar in superhero fiction — the evil duplicate, clone, or corrupted counterpart — but the visual design here pushes the envelope further. The Starro connection, in particular, gives the Drone an invasive, almost parasitic quality that makes it feel less like a replacement hero and more like a biological weapon wearing Diana’s face.

Ultimately, none of this means Diana Prince is going anywhere at all. If anything, the introduction of this new Wonder Woman highlights how difficult it is to reproduce what makes the original version so special.

Next Level: One Shot #1 is now available at your local comic shop.

Source: Polygon