How CREATURE COMMANDOS’ Circe Hints Toward a DCU Wonder Woman

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As a long-time comic book enthusiast and DC Universe aficionado, I have to say that the introduction of Circe as a villain in the Creature Commandos series has truly piqued my interest. With her roots deeply entrenched in Greek mythology, it’s intriguing to see how this character has evolved over time within the DCU.

In the initial outing of “Creature Commando”, the immortal sorceress Circe, modeled after the character from Greek mythology, was unveiled as a new adversary in the DC Universe. Known for her prodigious magical abilities, Circe is sometimes regarded as a lesser deity. Her most renowned tale appears in Homer’s “Odyssey”, where she enticed men to her island of Aeaea, transforming them into animals. It’s no surprise that this sorceress eventually became one of Wonder Woman‘s formidable enemies. With Circe’s introduction in “Creature Commandos”, she has now been recognized as an official member of the DC Universe. However, it’s interesting to note how she differs from her comic book counterpart, as there have been various depictions of Circe in comics dating back to 1949. As we anticipate her cinematic journey, let’s delve into her comic book origins instead.

Circe in DC Comics’ Golden and Silver Ages

Initially introduced in the comic book ‘Wonder Woman’, Circe was primarily portrayed as an adversary for various DC heroes for nearly three decades following her debut. In 1949’s issue #37 of ‘Wonder Woman’, the mythical sorceress/demigoddess clashed with Diana Prince, who later became known as Wonder Woman. Robert Kanigher, the writer, and artist H.G. Peter designed this character, often depicted as a blonde bombshell. Queen Hippolyta had cast Circe out to an isolated planet for using dark magic. Upon her return, she aimed revenge on the Amazons. The battle ended with Wonder Woman bringing Circe to Transformation Island among the Amazons, which marked her last appearance as a villain in ‘Wonder Woman’ for over 30 years. For the next few decades, she predominantly fought Superman and Supergirl without any reference to Wonder Woman. However, this would change in the early ’80s.

How Circe Became a Primary Wonder Woman Enemy

1983 saw the reintroduction of Circe as a significant antagonist in Wonder Woman’s comic book storyline. Although it wasn’t explicitly stated, she might have been the same Circe who caused trouble for Superman and his associates previously, given their shared history. However, her appearance and design were noticeably distinct, hinting at a different character altogether. Upon discovering an ancient prophecy predicting that Diana would be her demise, she spent multiple issues attempting to eliminate Wonder Woman first. DC Comics established Circe as a formidable foe for Wonder Woman on par with characters like the Cheetah and Dr. Psycho. However, the event “Crisis on Infinite Earths” in 1985 erased this particular version of the character from continuity. Yet, the most impactful version of Circe was still to unfold.

Circe in the Modern DC Comics Era

In the reimagined DC universe post-Crisis, I found George Perez’s take on Wonder Woman’s lore incredibly captivating, as it deeply intertwined her story with Greek mythology. This revamp made Circe a formidable adversary for Diana. In this version, Circe remains an immortal sorceress, drawing her power from the goddess Hecate. However, she’s not an Amazon herself, but has long harbored resentment towards these warrior women due to centuries of animosity. She’s been sowing discord between the sexes and views Diana’s championing of equality as a direct threat. Notably, much like in earlier versions, Circe abides by prophecies that point to Diana as her downfall, creating an inherent hostility.

After that moment, Circe emerged as Diana’s most relentless adversary, surpassing even the war god Ares and the Cheetah in tenacity. Circe frequently employed her magic to bolster Diana’s other foes, and at one point, she disguised herself as a mortal friend of Wonder Woman, attempting to get close to her under false pretenses. This character was known for her sassiness, sexiness, and psychotic behavior. She also gained notoriety in the animated series Justice League Unlimited. In the New 52 continuity, Circe joined the magic-centric Injustice League Dark. To this day, she persistently causes trouble for Wonder Woman in the comics.

Creature Commandos‘ Version of the Immortal Witch

In the series Creature Commandos, Circe is portrayed as a renegade sorceress who lays claim to being the rightful queen of Themyscira, which contrasts with her comic book persona, where she was never an Amazon, neither good nor evil. Surprisingly, in the opening episode of Creature Commandos, it’s reported that Circe is rallying men to wage war against Themyscira. This new interpretation of Circe provides us with some intriguing insights into Wonder Woman’s background. To begin with, her main adversary has changed to an Amazonian sibling, a relationship she did not have previously. Furthermore, it appears that the wider world is aware of Wonder Woman’s homeland, even if its existence as a real place remains questioned by some.

In the DCEU where Cheetah and Ares have previously faced off against Wonder Woman, it’s logical to assume that Circe could take on the role as her main antagonist in future films. Director James Gunn has expressed a preference for actors portraying both animated and live-action characters, hinting at possible involvement of The Witcher actress Anya Chalotra in the role of casting spells against Diana Prince. As of now, it’s unclear who will play Wonder Woman, but Gal Gadot’s return seems less likely. If she does make an appearance, a confrontation with the ancient Greek witch seems highly probable.

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2024-12-06 04:02