Summary
Tom King has taken a bold stance by arguing thatWonder Womanis the most complex hero in theJustice League, surpassing bothSupermanandBatman. While this viewpoint may stir controversy, King’s compelling argument has the potential to sway skeptical fans who might otherwise disagree with the idea of Diana Prince outranking Gotham’s brooding vigilante and Metropolis' literal alien in terms of complexity.
King argues that this absence of a defining trait and polar opposite villain contributes to Wonder Woman’s greater complexity.
Tom King, Daniel Sampere, and Tomeu Morey’sWonder Woman#10 may go down as one of the series' most impactful issues, as it teases a potentialromance between Cheetah and Wonder Womanwhile also making a bold claim about the Amazon Princess’s complexity surpassing that of both Batman and Superman.
In fact, this issue ambitiously labels the Dark Knight and the Man of Steel as “simple,” akin to branding them as ‘basic.’ While initially controversial, King dedicates a full page of narration to substantiate his argument,even labeling Cheetah and Wonder Girls Donna Troy, Yara Flor, and Cassie Sandsmark as more complex characters than the two iconic male heroes.
Wonder Woman’s All-Amazon Justice League Just Added an Unexpected Villain (& She’s the Perfect Addition)
Wonder Woman’s all-Amazon Justice League just got infinitely more badass with the unexpected addition of a villain who is sure to bring her A-game.
Sorry, Batman and Superman–But Tom King Has Officially Crowned Wonder Woman as the Justice League’s Most Complex Hero
King argues that Batman and Superman’s simplicity is grounded in their core values, each directly opposed by their respective archenemies:Batman’s order versus the Joker’s chaos, and Superman’s compassion versus Lex Luthor’s greed. These dynamics reduce them to singular defining traits that encapsulate their motivations and life missions. In contrast, Wonder Woman, alongside Barbara, Donna, Yara, and Cassie, are depicted by King as “not simple” and resistant to such reduction. He posits that they defy being defined by a single characteristic, challenging their ranking of complexity among heroes like the Dark Knight and the Man of Steel.
According to King, unlike Batman and Superman whose images can be metaphorically mirrored,the complexity of all five women lies in their inability to be summed up by a single defining word for their goals and lives.This inherent difficulty in pinning them down contrasts sharply with Superman and Batman, who are easily defined, each with primary villains serving as direct opposites. WhileWonder Woman also contends with a primary villain in Cheetah, Barbara isn’t Diana’s direct opposite. King argues that this absence of a defining trait and polar opposite villain contributes to Wonder Woman’s greater complexity.
Tom King May Believe That Wonder Woman Is the Justice League’s Most Complex Hero, But Is She Truly?
However, for King’s argument that Wonder Woman is more complex than Batman and Superman to hold strong, one must first agree with the notion that Bruce and Clark can be boiled down to one word and have a direct opposite. Thus, if someone disagrees with either one of these points, then King’s argument ultimately falls on deaf ears. Conversely, some might argue that Wonder Woman could be defined by ‘love,’ with Cheetah’s jealousy and hate serving as a direct foil. This perspective would also challenge King’s viewpoint. So, who do you think is the most complexJustice Leaguehero:Batman,Superman,Wonder Woman, or none of the above?
Wonder Woman #10is available now from DC Comics.
Superman
The icon who launched the entire world of superheroes, the last son of Krypton escaped his dying world to crash land on Earth and be raised as Clark Kent. The world knows him better as Superman, the Man of Steel, the leader of the Justice League, and the most well-known hero in the DC Comics Universe. Blessed with the powers of a demigod, Kal-El of Krypton fights enemies both small and cosmic in his endless pursuit of truth, justice, and a better tomorrow.
Batman
One of DC’s most iconic heroes, Batman is the vigilante superhero persona of billionaire Bruce Wayne. Forged by tragedy with the death of his parents, Bruce dedicated his life to becoming the world’s leading martial artist, detective, and tactician. Recruiting an entire family of allies and sidekicks, Bruce wages war on evil as the dark knight of his hometown, Gotham City.
Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman is the superhero identity of Diana, Princess of the Amazons. Created on the island of Themyscira, Wonder Woman is a super-powered demi-goddess with extreme physical strength who utilizes magical gifts (like her famous Lasso of Truth) to defeat her foes. As mighty as her fellow heroes Superman and the Justice League, Wonder Woman is unmatched in her compassion and virtue.
