10 Reasons Why Wonder Woman Is More Important Than Batman

Created by William Moulton Marston, Wonder Woman has endured as a symbol of the Golden Age and modern comics, especially in the fantasy genre. A heroine shaped by Greek mythology, a warrior spirit, and adventure, she's among the most powerful characters in DC's vast universe. However, with his juggernaut success, Batman has far eclipsed her in pop culture, leaving many to forget what makes her such an important character. An absolute powerhouse of magic, strength, and wisdom, Wonder Woman is among the most consequential characters in comics. She boasts a proud legacy readers often overlook, in no small part due to some lackluster runs from recent writers. At her best, she has enough to prove she's more essential to the DCU than Bruce Wayne, and it's time more fans admit it. 10 Diana Prince Is the Daughter of a Greek God Image via DC Comics It's no secret that Wonder Woman is among the few DC superheroes who can claim literal godhood among her strengths as a character. The daughter of Zeus himself, the Amazon princess can summon world-ending levels of strength and power, sometimes making Batman seem fragile by comparison. When all is said and done, she has the backing of a god and an army of ancient warriors at her disposal when she needs help. Being descended from the Old Gods of the DCU is no trivial matter, imbuing Wonder Woman with the primordial powers of the DCU, as was explored in "The Witching Hour." These abilities ensure Wonder Woman is an essential heroine no matter where she goes, making her among the few real challengers to Superman without the vulnerabilities of a Kryptonian. When compared to Batman, she's practically invulnerable. 9 The Amazonian Warrior Served on the Original Superhero Team Wonder Woman in the Justice League in DC ComicsImage via DC Comics Superhero teams have long been a cornerstone of the DCU, and Wonder Woman has served on almost all of them. Between the regular JLA, her leadership of the Justice League Dark, and being among the earliest additions to the JSA, she's seen it all. In particular, the latter allowed her to make comic book history by being the first female superhero team member in history. Long before Batman joined the Justice League or encountered Superman to form the World's Finest, Diana was fighting Golden Age villainy alongside the JSA. While she'd already been a symbol of female empowerment in comics, her placement alongside Jay Garrick and Alan Scott made her an essential part of the DCU's prestigious history. While Batman was still a humble street-level hero off on his own adventures, Wonder Woman was building the universe alongside her JSA friends. 8 Wonder Woman Will Long Outlive Bruce Wayne Donna Troy's Wonder Woman surrounded by StatuesImage via DC Comics As a character who has, depending on the timeline, existed in the DCU for millennia, Wonder Woman has lived through some of the world's most tumultuous eras. While much of that had her shielded from "man's world," her past isn't even as long as the future she has laid out ahead of her. With the longevity of a god, she is, for all intents and purposes, an immortal being, one who will still be saving the world long after Batman has died. Stories like Kingdom Come and Wonder Woman: Dead Earth prove that the future may end up relying on ageless heroes like Wonder Woman to survive. Nobody knows for sure what lies in DC's future, but readers can be confident that Diana Prince will play a bigger role in its future than Batman based purely on her de facto immortality. 7 Diana Prince Saved the Multiverse After Batman Doomed It Image via DC Comics During the events of Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo's two-part Dark Nights Metal saga, DC heroes are forced to repel an invasion of nightmare Batman from the Dark Multiverse. This concluded with Wonder Woman's valiant sacrifice at the end of Dark Nights: Death Metal, in which she restored the DCU to its prime after the brink of destruction. Two truths emerged from the Metal events: Batman's recklessness risked all existence when he looked into the Dark Multiverse, and it took Diana's strength to set things right. As readers continue to see Bruce Wayne for the careless vigilante he is, it's more clear than ever that, smart as he may be, his curiosity comes with a cost. It's not the first event that reminded readers of Wonder Woman's superior strength, nor will it be the last. 6 Wonder Woman Ascended to the Quintessence Image via DC Comics After the events of Dark Nights: Death Metal, Wonder Woman's heroism in battle, coupled with her unique powers, earned her a spot on the Quintessence. A team composed of the universe's most powerful beings, including the Spectre, Phantom Stranger, Ganthet, and Highfather, watched over the universe. Though their purpose wasn't initially clear, they went on to play a key role in protecting the DCU from the Great Darkness during Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths (Joshua Williamson and Daniel Sampere). Wonder Woman's place on the Quintessence stands as definitive proof that she's even more powerful than Superman himself, let alone Batman. More than anything else, it just went on to remind readers of the enormous power gap between the Caped Crusader and the literal gods who often serve on the JLA. While he might have the respect of a group like the Quintessence, he'd never be able to stand alongside them like Diana. 5 Wonder Woman Champions Women In Comics Image via DC Comics When Wonder Woman was introduced in 1941, she was one of only a handful of female heroes in print, a list even shorter when it came to solo books. In what would become the Big Two, such books were practically non-existent, instead being the domain of pulp magazines like Sheena, Queen of the Jungle. In Wonder Woman's success, DC led the way in representation at a time when only a single generation of women had grown up with the right to vote. Although Batman went on to gain cultural significance in comics, his impact pales in comparison to the early effect Wonder Woman had on the medium. Her inclusion not only led to the influx of female readers to the male-dominated hobby but also paved the way for generations of female superheroes. In fact, it's hard to find a prominent fantasy-driven heroine who doesn't share some DNA with Marston's creation. 4 Wonder Woman Is Truly An Original Comic Book Character Image via Marvel Comics One of the more unfortunate aspects of Batman's creation is the fact that Bob Kane and Bill Finger essentially copied him from Walter B. Gibson's Shadow. The same cannot be said for Wonder Woman, who, although she had a few things in common with the likes of Sheena, was a true original. From the mind of William Moulton Marston, she stepped up as both a symbol of femininity, female empowerment, and the United States' anti-Nazi war effort. Best of all, there wasn't even a hint that the writer had stolen her story from someone else's work, instead using Greek mythology to inspire an original heroine. Batman's importance in comics is more one of influence and success than it is historical importance. In truth, it took the character decades after his creation to be recognized as a genuine powerhouse in the DCU. For Diana Prince, that was evident from day one as she became a true American icon alongside Superman, giving readers something they couldn't get anywhere else. 3 Wonder Woman Has Diplomatic Power In the Comics Universe Image via DC Comics Something that's often lost in Diana's stories is the fact that, while a mainstay Justice League member, she's also essentially a diplomat of Themyscira. In that sense, her significance extends beyond simply battling evil and can actually sway global events. If she commits a crime as she did when she killed Maxwell Lord, she could trigger an international crisis, making Amazons persona non grata outside their island home. Stories like Flashpoint and Amazons Attack have shown just how powerful the Amazons are, especially when they're under the command of Wonder Woman. Batman might have billions of dollars to influence global events, but it doesn't come close to the raw might of Diana's warrior army. The temperament and actions of Diana can unite worlds under a banner of peace or trigger civilization-ending wars. 2 Diana Is Uniquely Qualified to Lead the Justice League Dark Justice League Dark trapped in the teeth of the Upside-Down Man.Image via DC Comics Despite what the DCAU might have fans believe, Batman's role in Justice League Dark pales in comparison to Wonder Woman. Although she worked with some of the universe's magical beings in past stories, she was cemented as the only logical team leader in the James Tynion and Ram V 2018 series. A group that includes Zatanna, Swamp Thing, Constantine, Dead Man, and Doctor Fate, leadership can't fall to a mere mortal like Bruce Wayne. The Justice League Dark series ironically stands out as one of the best Wonder Woman comics of the last decade, using her leadership to illustrate her strengths as a character. The title also proved she had a better handle on the magical side of the DCU, boasting more knowledge of her worst day than Batman has stored in all his memory banks. Going head-to-head with the likes of Hecate, The Upside-Down Man, and the Lords of Order would have broken Bruce Wayne, but not Diana. 1 Wonder Woman Is the Last Holdout of Fantasy Comics in DC Image via DC Comics As time has passed, the DCU has become more homogenized in its genres, alternating between cosmic science fiction and street-level crime. In that sense, while Batman is the company's best grounded hero, there's little to set his story apart from the likes of Green Arrow, Nightwing, or The Question. For Wonder Woman, however, she serves as the universe's last bastion of fantasy stories, serving up a healthy dose of mythology, magic, and history. As much as people might love Batman, he just doesn't bring much in the way of unique storytelling to DC. By contrast, Diana offers a window into the ancient world of the DCU, connecting the JLA to millennia of history. A character whose missions include everything from saving the world from ancient gods and witches to keeping dark dimensions at bay, Wonder Woman is every fantasy fan's last hope at DC.

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