Who is Wonder Woman's Arch-Nemesis?

[Dr. Poison]

Over the years, several villains have been thought of as Wonder Woman's arch-nemesis: Ares, Circe, Cheetah, and the First Born. Who takes the prize in your eyes and why?

[Gaelforce]

Prior to Azzarello, I've always seen her true 'arch nemesis' as Ares, who in both the original and the Perez origins was the driving force behind her leaving Themyscira. He was the representative of war while she was the ambassador of peace, and as such was set up to be her true, long-term opposition.

[Dr. Poison]

I went with Cheetah. She has been a recurring threat to Diana since the Golden Age, matches her in power and speed, is a dark mirror reflection of Diana's compassion and generosity, and knows how to to push Diana's buttons to send her into a state of rage at times. At the same time, she is more down to earth than the other 3 candidates and can walk side by side with the likes of Luthor, the Joker, Sinestro, Black Manta, and Captain Cold. As much as I like Ares and Circe, when they are part of a group of villains, it's like Darkseid or the Anti-Monitor joining the Legion of Doom - out of place IMO.

[Darius]

I was tempted to say she doesn't have one, but Ares/Mars is probably the closest so he got my vote.

[Nyssane]

As I've always said, Cheetah is her arch-nemesis. She was the one they used in Superfriends, she's the one they use in an "Evil Trinity," and she's the one that almost all outside media uses as Wonder Woman's primary foe. Even in the recent DC Chess game, Cheetah was chosen as the Black Queen to mirror Wonder Woman who was the White Queen. And in Lego Batman: Beyond Gotham, Cheetah is one of the main characters and is very clearly Diana's arch-nemesis. All the recent stuff wouldn't have Cheetah as the main enemy if public perception wasn't that she is the main enemy.

Circe's certainly out of the running now... she hasn't appeared in a Wonder Woman comic since, what... Amazons Attack? Although she did have that brief appearance in Sensation Comics not too long ago, and she was the main enemy for the DC Universe Online game (though when they used a playable Wonder Woman villain for the other mode, they chose Cheetah).

Ares is her "big bad," which isn't synonymous with arch-nemesis. He is her Darkseid, her Thanos... a supreme evil that she more often than not can't deal with just physically. Of course, he's out of the running in the comics now too as he's a frail old man who died to give Diana his power. And before that, he was a character who was shady but never really completely evil, as in Rucka's run he would walk around and chat with Diana at his leisure.

The First Born was never even in the running. He hasn't the longevity nor the appeal of the rest of her rogues, most of whom have been around since the 40's.

[wagthedog]

As I've always said, Cheetah is her arch-nemesis. She was the one they used in Superfriends, she's the one they use in an "Evil Trinity," and she's the one that almost all outside media uses as Wonder Woman's primary foe. Even in the recent DC Chess game, Cheetah was chosen as the Black Queen to mirror Wonder Woman who was the White Queen. And in Lego Batman: Beyond Gotham, Cheetah is one of the main characters and is very clearly Diana's arch-nemesis. All the recent stuff wouldn't have Cheetah as the main enemy if public perception wasn't that she is the main enemy.

Circe's certainly out of the running now... she hasn't appeared in a Wonder Woman comic since, what... Amazons Attack? Although she did have that brief appearance in Sensation Comics not too long ago, and she was the main enemy for the DC Universe Online game (though when they used a playable Wonder Woman villain for the other mode, they chose Cheetah).

Ares is her "big bad," which isn't synonymous with arch-nemesis. He is her Darkseid, her Thanos... a supreme evil that she more often than not can't deal with just physically. Of course, he's out of the running in the comics now too as he's a frail old man who died to give Diana his power. And before that, he was a character who was shady but never really completely evil, as in Rucka's run he would walk around and chat with Diana at his leisure.

The First Born was never even in the running. He hasn't the longevity nor the appeal of the rest of her rogues, most of whom have been around since the 40's.

Wasn't Circe back when Heinberg took over? That was after Amazons Attack.

[Dr. Poison]

Wasn't Circe back when Heinberg took over? That was after Amazons Attack.

Circe was in Heinberg's run but Amazons Attack came after that during Jodi Picout's(sp?) run.

[Step]

As I've always said, Cheetah is her arch-nemesis. She was the one they used in Superfriends, she's the one they use in an "Evil Trinity," and she's the one that almost all outside media uses as Wonder Woman's primary foe. Even in the recent DC Chess game, Cheetah was chosen as the Black Queen to mirror Wonder Woman who was the White Queen. And in Lego Batman: Beyond Gotham, Cheetah is one of the main characters and is very clearly Diana's arch-nemesis. All the recent stuff wouldn't have Cheetah as the main enemy if public perception wasn't that she is the main enemy.

Circe's certainly out of the running now... she hasn't appeared in a Wonder Woman comic since, what... Amazons Attack? Although she did have that brief appearance in Sensation Comics not too long ago, and she was the main enemy for the DC Universe Online game (though when they used a playable Wonder Woman villain for the other mode, they chose Cheetah).

Ares is her "big bad," which isn't synonymous with arch-nemesis. He is her Darkseid, her Thanos... a supreme evil that she more often than not can't deal with just physically. Of course, he's out of the running in the comics now too as he's a frail old man who died to give Diana his power. And before that, he was a character who was shady but never really completely evil, as in Rucka's run he would walk around and chat with Diana at his leisure.

The First Born was never even in the running. He hasn't the longevity nor the appeal of the rest of her rogues, most of whom have been around since the 40's.

Funnily enough, I always thought of Circle as her big bad, maybe because she was the head of Wonder Woman's only two DC events, but I always thought that when she came into the picture, stuff went DOWN.

But yeah, it was between her and Ares, but, I guess with Ares being good now, she's the front-runner.

Arch-nemesis I always thought was Cheetah, one of her most recurring villians, who can always give her a run for her money (when she's written well)

[brettc1]

I voted other - terrible, terrible writing.

[Stanlos]

Prior to Azzarello, I've always seen her true 'arch nemesis' as Ares, who in both the original and the Perez origins was the driving force behind her leaving Themyscira. He was the representative of war while she was the ambassador of peace, and as such was set up to be her true, long-term opposition.

Same. Torn between him and Circe really.

[Mel Dyer]

Prior to Azzarello, I've always seen her true 'arch nemesis' as Ares, who in both the original and the Perez origins was the driving force behind her leaving Themyscira. He was the representative of war while she was the ambassador of peace, and as such was set up to be her true, long-term opposition.

I would find Ares much more interesting, if he was portrayed as a destructive force, who couldn't help himself.

I can even imagine what it would be like, if in the middle of a story, he would beg Diana to stop him, knowing the inevitable and result, if he where to succeed. A writer could create atmosphere of desperation and impending doom, with Wonder Woman racing against a clock to stop him.

The thing about Ares is he already knows that, if he wins, that's the end of everything. He already knows that he can never be truly victorious, which makes his ambitions rather pointless. I think a writer has to make Ares a little schizophrenic, at this point in his publishing history. Considering that we already know how a battle between the war god and Diana must finish, that might even make things interesting.

[Tzigone]

I would find Aries much more interesting, if he was betrayed as a destructive force, who couldn't help himself. I can even imagine what it would be like, if in the middle of a story, he would beg Diana to stop him, knowing the inevitable and result, if he where to succeed. A writer could create atmosphere of desperation and impending doom, with Wonder Woman racing against a clock to stop him.

I wouldn't like that. Firstly, because I'm tired to death of so-called sympathetic villains. Secondly, because it's not really consistent with his prior portrayals or with other gods (and if you portrayed him that way, then all other gods must be consistent with that portrayal/nature, too or it makes no sense). I don't want to be depressed by villains, either - I want to see heroes either triumph over them or (on rare occasion, but definitely appropriate for Diana) redeem them. And, more than that, it can never be anything but a never-ending depressing story because, as a god of war, he cannot stop being about war. Or else he dies (gods can die in Greek mythology). Then someone else suffers in his place.

I suppose the positive side of war - the aspect of fighting back to keep one's people from be conquered or destroyed - could be an interesting idea in the short term. Not sure it's compatible with the mythos, but maybe.

But I know we all have different tastes. Lot of people love tragic villains.

[Gaius]

Ares to me was at his most interesting in Rucka's first run where he was an open and proud deceiver who challenged Diana and her mission more with words as much as open conflict, similar to Batman and Ra's relationship.