DC Reveals How Darkseid and Wonder Woman Could Become a Couple

Warning: contains spoilers for Justice League Infinity #4!

In almost every imaginable way, Darkseid and Wonder Woman couldn’t be more opposed. Where the Ruler of Apokolips will destroy anyone who gets in the way of his quest to enslave all sentient life, the Princess of Themyscira uses her powers as an ambassador for peace, inclusion and justice throughout the universe. Fans were therefore shocked to see the cover to Justice League Infinity #4 showed the two kissing – and now, DC has finally explained how they could become the multiverse’s most unlikely couple.

Written by J.M. DeMatteis and James Tucker with art from Ethan Beavers, Justice League Infinity follows the continuity of Justice League Unlimited and the DC Animated Universe. In the story so far, the multiverse has been fractured by Amazo’s existential search for self-understanding, and heroes are swapping places with their counterparts from alternate universes. In the first issue, Superman is on a date with Lois Lane when he is suddenly replaced by Overman, who comes from a universe in which America is controlled by a resurgent Nazi Party. At the end of Justice League Infinity#3, Wonder Woman is transported to a barren universe, having been replaced with her counterpart’s skeletal remains. There, she is greeted by Darkseid’s open hand.

Although she begins to fight Darkseid, believing him to be responsible for the multiversal chaos, Wonder Woman is surprised to see that her enemy is not fighting back. As this pacifistic variant of the New God explains, his obsession with the Anti-Life Equation brought him into conflict with the Justice League of his universe, before Diana’s wisdom convinced him to call a truce. Acting as an ambassador between Earth and Apokolips, Wonder Woman showed the villain also known as Uxas that “existence could be more than struggle and misery”, and they ended up falling in love. However, Diana was unable to draw Darkseid away from his fascination with the Anti-Life Equation, which subsequently uses him as a conduit to eradicate life throughout the cosmos, including his new lover. The Wonder Woman from the primarily DCAU universe is not convinced, however, until she sees this Darkseid sacrifice his own life to save her from the Anti-Life Equation. Recognizing that this New God is different from the one she knows, Diana weeps, “Not for a monster… but for a man.”

While it is not out of character for Wonder Woman to see the good in others, it is shocking to see Darkseid express any regret or repentance, let alone love. However, his affectionate side has an important precedent in the comics: in Female Furies #1 (from Cecil Castellucci and Adriana Melo), it was revealed that Darkseid’s first wife, Suli, was assassinated by his mother, Heggra, so that he could marry Tigra instead (believing that Suli’s “weak genetic stock” would have “muddied” their lineage.) Although little is known about Suli, her murder apparently played an important role in shaping the tyrant, as he soon thereafter commanded Granny Goodness to assassinate his mother so that he can seize the throne of Apokolips.

Perhaps this Darkseid’s encounter with the Wonder Woman of his universe brought back something he had lost in Suli’s death; a wise and compassionate partner to keep him from indulging his violent tendencies. If anyone could transform the New God’s heart of stone, it would be Wonder Woman. Although it is unlikely that fans will see Darkseid and Wonder Woman together in the mainstream DC universe, DeMatteis and Tucker have exposed a hidden sensitivity to the tyrannical ruler of Apokolips, opening up the possibility that his eventual defeat may come not through violent destruction, but loving redemption.

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