Wonder Woman’s Forgotten Gauntlet is One of DC’s Deadliest Threats

The bracelets that Wonder Woman wears are one of the most iconic parts of her outfit, but one particular gauntlet in DC’s universe is a far more dangerous accessory. The Gauntlet of Atlas doesn’t make very many appearances – for good reason. It is one of the deadliest aids Wonder Woman has in her arsenal.

Wonder Woman typically uses her bracelets to defend herself. They can block bullets, as well as other projectiles and attacks. She also uses them for attacking, as smacking them together creates a blast wave, as seen in the film Wonder Woman or to channel Zeus’ divine lightning in some comics. They have been used as representations of imprisonment, control, and submission. However, there is one gauntlet that has dangerous potential that the Goddess of Truth can wear.

The Gauntlet of Atlas is a singular bracelet that will increase the wearer’s strength and stamina tenfold. It first appeared in Wonder Woman #1 in 1987, but hasn’t appeared very often since. Not only would it make Wonder Woman slightly overpowered, but it also has some negative effects that the heroine would rather avoid altogether. The power granted by the Gauntlet can cause Wonder Woman to lose control – an ironic fact since her bracelets have been said to help control her powers in some series. This Gauntlet does the opposite, which could lead the heroine to hurt others far more than she wants.

In Wonder Woman #112 (1996), Wonder Girl (Cassie Sandsmark) wears the Gauntlet, not knowing what it is. She tries to help Diana fight Doomsday, but ultimately Wonder Woman ends up wearing it to take down her foe. When asked why she doesn’t use the Gauntlet, Wonder Woman reveals that it can cause her to lose control. Considering how strong Wonder Woman is naturally – particularly in instances where she is a daughter of Zeus – this is a terrifying notion. An important part of her character is her ability to pull her punches and stop fighting in order to offer mercy to her foes. She is also a highly-skilled fighter. Losing control in a fight would not only cause her to lose a defining characteristic – it would also go against her honor and undermine her abilities gained from her Amazon training.

Wonder Woman is not the only Amazon to have worn the Gauntlet of Atlas. In Wonder Woman #100 (1995), Artemis fought under the Wonder Woman mantle and wore the Gauntlet in a fight against Cheetah, White Magician, and his accomplice – Cassie Arnold, a reporter White Magician transformed into a monster. Despite the strength increase, Artemis was unable to defeat her foe. She died and Diana took up the Gauntlet to avenge her. Hippolyta, former queen of the Amazons, also wore it to fight Imperiex probes in Wonder Woman #172 (2001). This comic also ended in death, as Hippolyta sacrificed herself to save her daughter.

Thus far, Diana is the only Amazon capable of wearing the Gauntlet of Atlas and surviving, though she prefers to go without it. This weapon is a very uncommon one and with good reason. Wonder Woman is already incredibly powerful, so while a power-up is handy in some fights, it is better than DC leaves it in her past. Increasing Amazon strength tenfold has ended in death on more than one occasion and Wonder Woman has a high potential of losing who she is when she wears it – which could easily result in the death of others at her hands.

About The Author

Samantha King
(830 Articles Published)

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Samantha King is a Comic News Writer for Screen Rant. She has a B.A. in English & American Literature with a concentration in Shakespeare and a minor in Creative Writing from UTEP. She also has a M.S. in Library Science from the University of North Texas.

Samantha used to get in trouble for reading comics in class back in high school, but she gets the last laugh. She took a graphic novel course in college and now gets paid to write about comics. She runs her own blog at: www.therealworldaccordingtosam.blogspot.com

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