Diana's current powers

[ClaudioPozas]

From Wikipedia:


Wonder Woman's body is a mystical creation made from the clay surrounding Themyscira. Through divine means, her disembodied soul was nurtured in and retrieved from the Cavern of Souls.[23] Once the soul was placed into the body it immediately came to life, and was blessed with metahuman abilities by six Olympian deities.

Demeter, the Goddess of agriculture and fertility, blessed Diana with strength drawn from the Earth spirit Gaea, making her one of the physically strongest heroes in the DC Universe [24]. She has been observed assisting in preventing large chunks of the Moon from crashing onto the Earth,[25] supporting the weight of bridges,[26], hefting entire railroad trains[27] and she has even managed to physically overpower Supergirl[28].

While not invulnerable, she is quite durable [29], capable of shrugging off high powered rifle fire with some pain but no injury[30], and even capable of surviving a warp core explosion[31]. She is even durable enough to survive the depths of space for a period of time before running out of breath. As noted, while her superhuman stamina affords her great resistance to blunt force trauma, her skin can be cut by weapons if they are sharp enough.

Aphrodite, the Goddess of love and beauty, blessed Diana with great beauty and a loving heart.

Pallas Athena, the Goddess of wisdom and war, granted Diana great wisdom, intelligence and military prowess. It is Athena’s gift that has enabled Diana to master over a dozen languages (including those of alien origin), multiple complex crafts, sciences and philosophies, as well as her amazon legacy of over 3000 years of leadership, military strategy, and armed and unarmed combat. More recently Athena bound her own eyesight to Diana's, granting her increased empathy.[citation needed]

Artemis, Goddess of the hunt, animals and the Moon, graced Diana with the Eyes of the Hunter and Unity with Beasts. The Eye of the Hunter ability gives Diana a full range of enhanced senses. Unity with Beasts grants her the ability to communicate with all forms of animal life, as well as to calm even the most ferocious of beasts[32].

Hestia, Goddess of Hearth and Home, granted Diana "sisterhood with fire, that it might open men's hearts to her." This power has been shown to control the "Fires of Truth," which Diana wields through her lasso, making anyone bound by it unable to lie. This ability also grants her some resistance to both normal and supernatural fire.

Hermes, the messenger God of speed, granted Diana superhuman speed, and the ability to fly. Through the an act of concentration, Diana can mystically defy the laws of gravity and propel herself through the air to achieve flight. She is capable of flying at speeds approaching half the speed of light.[33] She is swift enough to deflect bullets, lasers and other projectiles with her virtually impenetrable bracelets.

I think Eye of the Hunter, Unity with Beasts and Sisterhood with Fire could use more spotlight.

Also, I think the other Amazons could be downplayed a bit in strength. For all their immortality and fighting skill, they are still humans. Diana is the blessed one.

Also, totally unrelated: Being Zeus' daughter, Wonder Girl is Wonder Woman's aunt? :eek:

[4PointOh]

Unity with Beasts is used pretty often (last seen in WW #34).

Sisterhood with Fire is her truth-inducing ability which is channeled though the lasso.

[ClaudioPozas]

But it is HER power. She was already blessed with that before getting the Lasso of Truth from Artemis and Hephaestus. If it was only a conduit, it wouldn't work in the hands of anyone else. So there must be something else about Sisterhood With Fire.

The line "so it opens men's hearts to her" could mean that fire has kindled hope in the hearts of mankind, a hope for the better, and that Diana can likewise inspire hope in others, make them aspire to greater heights. She becomes the very flame of civilization.

Unity With Beasts would mean she can speak with any living animal on Earth, and no animal would attack her without being coerced. That's a pretty big power, bigger than Aquaman's rulership over aquatic creatures.

[BnL]

Also, I think the other Amazons could be downplayed a bit in strength. For all their immortality and fighting skill, they are still humans. Diana is the blessed one.

I think that's true for the Banas, but the Themyscirans have enhanced strength, speed, and durability. They're nowhere near Wonder Woman's level, though. I think it's been established that they can only lift about 1 ton, 2 maximum.

[troy2g1]

I *LOVED* when Waid wrote (in JLA):

"The Cathexis make their one mistake. They turn away... contemptuously oblivious to the notion that Wonder Woman's consciousness -- though divorced from her physical form -- is far from helpless. For while it cannot move brick and stone... it can touch souls.

The Magic Lasso, for all its legendary power, is merely a tool, a conduit... a symbol of what Diana IS at her very core: The Spirit of Truth."

[PabloD]

If the lasso only channels an inherent ability of Diana's to compel others to tell the truth, shouldn't that mean that the lasso in and of itself wouldn't work - for example - in the hands of other people? Does it jive with Genocide taking and using the lasso in Rise of the Olympian?

[Spiffy]

Well I thought Genocide WAS Diana. Wasn't that the whole point?

That said, the lasso has been used ON Diana at other points, by other villains. If it was simply an extension of her, then that never would have worked. Ergo, its not.

This is just people getting all caught up in a "favorite" past interpretation of Diana again--this time that being the "Avatar of Truth" version. Outside of that, what's ever suggested that the power was inherent in her?

[troy2g1]

Well I thought Genocide WAS Diana. Wasn't that the whole point?

That said, the lasso has been used ON Diana at other points, by other villains. If it was simply an extension of her, then that never would have worked. Ergo, its not.

This is just people getting all caught up in a "favorite" past interpretation of Diana again--this time that being the "Avatar of Truth" version. Outside of that, what's ever suggested that the power was inherent in her?

Hestia's gift, "Sisterhood with Fire," was always Diana's truth ability. So it seems the power was inherent to her at the characters Post Crisis inception.

Also, Wonder Woman has been shown with the ability to discern the truth without the Lasso (in fact, she's supposedly incredibly hard, if not impossible, to lie to).

[BnL]

Here's my understanding of the lasso/spirit of truth thing. Hestia's gift of "sisterhood with the fire, and the ability to open men's hearts" is Diana's inherent ability to detect the truth and convince others to be open to the truth. The lasso is often referred to as "Hestia's lasso," and when it glows, it's said to be burning with "Hestia's fire," so we know that Hestia's gift encompasses both the lasso and the inherent truth detecting ability she was given at birth. But, while she can usually tell if someone is telling her a lie, and she can see through most illusions, it works pretty much on a surface level only. The lasso actually allows her to delve into another person's soul, probing into their subconscious, and laying bare ALL their secrets, where they can't hide anything from her or from themselves. When other people are wielding the lasso, they can only make their captive tell the truth. It seems like Diana can also command the lasso to function on this "low setting" as well, but she can also forge a deeper connection that other people using the lasso cannot.

[brettc1]

One thing about the state of her powers at the moment is this - you can't really be like WW.

Seems a bizaare thing to say, I know, but I've come to see the value in the original concept of Amazon training - a way to unlock the potential that exists within all human beings. It a bit sad that this has gone by the wayside now. After all, no human could be like Superman since his power comes from his Kryptonian heritage, but aspiring to be like WW was possible. Alas, barring some sympathetic divinities this is no longer the case. :frown:

[Gail Simone]

I use the animal empathy a lot. I think it's important and fascinating, and shows a side of Diana that's Earthy and comfortable in a way that other superheroes are not.

The Eye of the Hunter is always in my mind. We'll be mentioning it quite clearly soon (we've implied it a couple times, I think most notably in the scene in DMA where she looks for Cheetah).

[brettc1]

I use the animal empathy a lot. I think it's important and fascinating, and shows a side of Diana that's Earthy and comfortable in a way that other superheroes are not.

The Eye of the Hunter is always in my mind. We'll be mentioning it quite clearly soon (we've implied it a couple times, I think most notably in the scene in DMA where she looks for Cheetah).

Maybe she should have relied on that when she was pursuing Tom. Lord knows, the wisdom of Athena and the beauty of Aphrodite 'aint cutting it LOL

[ClaudioPozas]

I use the animal empathy a lot. I think it's important and fascinating, and shows a side of Diana that's Earthy and comfortable in a way that other superheroes are not.

The Eye of the Hunter is always in my mind. We'll be mentioning it quite clearly soon (we've implied it a couple times, I think most notably in the scene in DMA where she looks for Cheetah).
Ever thought of how Unity With Beasts makes her connect real closely with heroes like Aquaman, Animal Man, Freedom Beast (he's dead?!) and Changeling?

The difference between WW and, say, Animal Man, is that Diana can see the circle of nature and understands the role of prey and predator, so she doesn't have to be a vegetarian (but I think she'd rather hunt her meat, instead of buying it at a butcher's shop).

Speaking of Aquaman: Arthur and Diana are royal heirs, both can speak with animals and both have a connection with the Ancient World (Atlantis/Themiscyra). Maybe Arthur (after he returns from the dead) could drop by as a guest star, maybe even a second feature in WW?

[hobomystical]

Speaking of Aquaman: Arthur and Diana are royal heirs, both can speak with animals and both have a connection with the Ancient World (Atlantis/Themiscyra). Maybe Arthur (after he returns from the dead) could drop by as a guest star, maybe even a second feature in WW?

a little off topic, but nice! i could see them being regular friends and working together from time to time, and it would be a great homage to their working together in the superfriends cartoon. (he used to always hitch a ride with her in the jet.)

there are lots of heroes out there besides the ones we usually see that could be great friends with diana and both could benefit from it, i think.

[rainbowcloak]

I also think the Sisterhood of Fire ability helps Diana talk to people and get them distracted from their agenda to second guess themselves. Diana has spoken to adversaries before and managed to get them calmed down entirely or get them to reveal things they wouldn't before they go back to their main plan and that was without the lasso around them, so while I think it's a "passive" power.. meaning not snazzy like "flight" or "super strength" it's still handy.

I would love to see her use the animal/hunter powers more. Maybe even with a teamup with Huntress.. :)

[troy2g1]

I always found it a bit odd that Marvel embraces Thor and has gone so far as to make all of his powers with Mjolnir innate abilities and yet DC seems to take powers away from Diana to place them in her weapons.

Also, why should anyone be able to use the Lasso of Truth other than Diana? It should "burn" them when they touch it. No one should be worthy of using the Lasso since Diana, as the avatar of the Truth, is the one who is gifted with the ability.

[knowwonder]

Ever thought of how Unity With Beasts makes her connect real closely with heroes like Aquaman, Animal Man, Freedom Beast (he's dead?!) and Changeling?

The difference between WW and, say, Animal Man, is that Diana can see the circle of nature and understands the role of prey and predator, so she doesn't have to be a vegetarian (but I think she'd rather hunt her meat, instead of buying it at a butcher's shop).

Speaking of Aquaman: Arthur and Diana are royal heirs, both can speak with animals and both have a connection with the Ancient World (Atlantis/Themiscyra). Maybe Arthur (after he returns from the dead) could drop by as a guest star, maybe even a second feature in WW?

Oh, this could be quite fascinating! It would've been cool to see WW owning Changeling in one of those cross-overs with the Titans--but I don't think he would mind! Same interesting possibilities for someone like Vixen or Animal-Man. With Diana's gift she should be able to clear out their entire arsenal with a thought.

[Wonder Watcher]

I always found it a bit odd that Marvel embraces Thor and has gone so far as to make all of his powers with Mjolnir innate abilities and yet DC seems to take powers away from Diana to place them in her weapons.

Also, why should anyone be able to use the Lasso of Truth other than Diana? It should "burn" them when they touch it. No one should be worthy of using the Lasso since Diana, as the avatar of the Truth, is the one who is gifted with the ability.The lasso always had significant power on it's own as far as I remember. There was a period of time when Diana's natural gifts were also emphasized. I believe the current status has added both together, more or less as BNL describes it up-thread. Diana's powers work in harmony with the lasso but the object itself is a very powerful artifact in it's own right.