Is there even a vague idea on what gods in the DC are capable of?

[seekquaze]

I ask this there since I would think the Greek gods would be the most involved thanks to Wonder Woman and have the most examples.

Whenever I try and get even a vague idea of what the gods in the DC are capable of and what limits they have I find it practically impossible. One story will state they depend heavily on mortal worship and another has them perform feats like it does not depend on it. Some stories have them being able to do practically anything and others they are much more vulnerable. Is there even a vague idea of what their limits are or has it traditionally been up to the story and whatever the writer wants?

Do they more or less follow the traditional rule that the more aloof and distant a god or cosmic being the more mysterious and powerful they are capable of doing just about anything, but the moment they begin to widely interact with the larger universe or Earth's heroes they become in a sense much weaker and vulnerable to mortals with their powers becoming much more limited?

[dreyga2000]

My assumption....

They are Gods... They can do anything...But prefer not to get their hands dirty... Hence all the minions... The only thing that keeps them in check are the other Gods...

[wagthedog]

I ask this there since I would think the Greek gods would be the most involved thanks to Wonder Woman and have the most examples.

Whenever I try and get even a vague idea of what the gods in the DC are capable of and what limits they have I find it practically impossible. One story will state they depend heavily on mortal worship and another has them perform feats like it does not depend on it. Some stories have them being able to do practically anything and others they are much more vulnerable. Is there even a vague idea of what their limits are or has it traditionally been up to the story and whatever the writer wants?

Do they more or less follow the traditional rule that the more aloof and distant a god or cosmic being the more mysterious and powerful they are capable of doing just about anything, but the moment they begin to widely interact with the larger universe or Earth's heroes they become in a sense much weaker and vulnerable to mortals with their powers becoming much more limited?

Basically it is up to the writer to decide how and when they use their powers. More of a plot device since the gods do not have well defined powers. Hermes is the God of Speed, the messenger and other names, yet he cannot avoid an arrow and move Zola out of the way at the same time. In other words, as powerful as these Gods should be, it is the writers that limit what they do at any given time.

[Mr. Holmes]

Trying to find a definition to the powers of the Greek god characters completely misses the point of the kind of story Azzarello is telling. Do you also try to read Sandman worrying about Morpheus's limit? The conflict is allegorical/ thematic, and character-driven. This isn't about overpowering them.

[wagthedog]

Trying to find a definition to the powers of the Greek god characters completely misses the point of the kind of story Azzarello is telling. Do you also try to read Sandman worrying about Morpheus's limit? The conflict is allegorical/ thematic, and character-driven. This isn't about overpowering them.

Don't read Sandman so I wouldn't even know what you are talking about there. And I am not talking about overpowering or what their upper limits are. The fact that the powers are so ambiguous lets the writer play fast and loose and makes it fit into his story line or arc. Sometimes it doesn't make sense. Why can Hera turn the entire amazon race into snakes and Hera into a statue and yet not be able to do the same to a mortal like Zola?

[West Mantooth]

I still don't know why it matters who is sitting on Zeus' throne. It's not like the Gods are manipulating anything beyond their personal space like Apollo killing those girls and Ares' non-descript African bar incident.

Seems like WW could just protect Zola at her house and be okay.

[Rob_Olivera]

My assumption....

They are Gods... They can do anything...But prefer not to get their hands dirty... Hence all the minions... The only thing that keeps them in check are the other Gods...

I dont think they have limits as to what they can do, but using that statement to its potential would render ANY story impossible to write. It's tricky. If they can do anything then Hera could simply reverse time and go back to the instance when WW broke the mirror pool and prevent it. At the same time, while Azzarello is pulling from different sources, it's important to note that the greek Gods are not supposed to be omni potent.

[Shurato2099]

I dont think they have limits as to what they can do, but using that statement to its potential would render ANY story impossible to write. It's tricky. If they can do anything then Hera could simply reverse time and go back to the instance when WW broke the mirror pool and prevent it. At the same time, while Azzarello is pulling from different sources, it's important to note that the greek Gods are not supposed to be omni potent.

The Greek gods, as with many pantheistic groups, have always been fairly attribute/domain limited. Within their specialties they are generally the last word on the subject: none rule the Underworld but Hades, none is a better smith than Hephaestus, no one has more control over nature and growing things the Demeter, etc. Their relative power waxes and wanes depending on the importance of their domain over time, but in general they control/embody said domain. They can be vastly powerful, but they aren't omni-anything.

[Rob_Olivera]

The Greek gods, as with many pantheistic groups, have always been fairly attribute/domain limited. Within their specialties they are generally the last word on the subject: none rule the Underworld but Hades, none is a better smith than Hephaestus, no one has more control over nature and growing things the Demeter, etc. Their relative power waxes and wanes depending on the importance of their domain over time, but in general they control/embody said domain. They can be vastly powerful, but they aren't omni-anything.

Yeah.. that's precisely what I thought to some extent. In other words, WW could kick Hades's azz outside of his domain.