"Wonder Woman": A Christian Response to Superhero Saviors

COMMENTARY

Diana Prince (aka Wonder Woman) deflects speeding bullets with her bracelets, swan dives off a tall cliff to rescue an Army officer who's crash landed in the ocean, and dazzles with spectacular sword-and-shield combat moves. Her golden lasso compels you to tell the truth. She's a friend/companion to the Army officer, a princess to her Amazonian sisters. And she does it all with power, grace, wisdom, and wonder.

If you were choosing teammates to defeat the bad guys, would you pick Wonder Woman?

Created in 1941 as a kinder, gentler comic book superhero, she most recently appeared onscreen in 2016's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, intervening in the nick of time to help the Man of Steel and the Caped Crusader. They'll all return this November in Justice League.  But first, Diana (Gal Gadot) gets her own film – filled with action, excitement, nobility (parts made me want to cheer), plot twists, compassion, and love – to remind the world of her roots, her mission and power. 

Wonder Woman Embodies Strength and Beauty

Wonder Woman's comic book creator, William Moulton Marston, was a Harvard-trained psychologist with a complicated, multifaceted life.

Superman (1938 comic launch) and Batman (1939) were becoming too violent for many readers' tastes. Seeking a family-friendly solution, publisher M.C. Gaines hired Marston, who recommended a "female superhero" with powers related to "love and truth and beauty" to inspire and sell comics to girls.

Strongly influenced by the women's suffrage movement, Marston wanted "to create a feminine character with all the strength of Superman plus all the allure of a good and beautiful woman." He once admitted, "Frankly, Wonder Woman is psychological propaganda for the new type of woman who, I believe, should rule the world."

A Feminist Icon

Wonder Woman has indeed become a feminist icon, gracing the cover of Ms. Magazine three times. Gloria Steinem, a huge fan, complained to DC Comics when writers stripped the heroine of magical powers. The publisher restored them.

The United Nations named Wonder Woman its ambassador for female empowerment – until a slew of UN staffers and others complained she was too white, too American, and too curvaceous. 

Regarding creator Marston's life: his wife (Elizabeth Holloway), his lover (Olive Byrne) and he all lived together. Each woman bore two children. Marston also invented the lie detector (think Wonder Woman's golden lasso) and the famous DISC psychological personality model (Dominance, Influence, Submission, and Compliance contribute to Diana's mission).

Olive Byrne's aunt was Margaret Sanger, whose feminist views also influenced Marston. 

Greek and Roman mythology figured prominently in Marston's youth, so it's not surprising that Wonder Woman's saga is steeped in such lore. She hails from Themyscira, a fictional island with only female inhabitants who fled Greece to escape enslavement by men. She worships and interacts with Greco-Roman gods.

Superhero Spirituality

Many comic book/cartoon characters exhibit spiritual links. Superman often is a Christ-like figure. His father sent him, his only son, to save Earth. Charles Schultz wove numerous spiritual themes into Peanuts. The Simpsons depicts multiple faiths including Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, and Buddhist.

Some find biblical parallels in the Wonder Woman canon. Amazons first lived in an earthly paradise, then were cast out (Eden allusions?). The comic book Wonder Woman died, rose again, ascended to heaven for a time, then returned to earth. Jesus certainly elevated the status of women (a central Wonder Woman cause). In contrast to social norms, Jesus taught, befriended, and traveled with women. They were the first at his empty tomb, first to see him alive again, and first to spread that news.

The biblical Deborah was a judge, prophetess, and military strategist with wisdom somewhat similar to Diana's (read Judges 4:1-24CloseJudges 4:1-24 After Ehud's death, the Israelites again did evil in the LORD's sight. So the LORD turned them over to King Jabin of Hazor, a Canaanite king. The commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-haggoyim. Sisera, who had 900 iron chariots, ruthlessly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years. Then the people of Israel cried out to the LORD for help. Deborah, the wife of Lappidoth, was a prophet who was judging Israel at that time. She would sit under the Palm of Deborah, between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites would go to her for judgment. One day she sent for Barak son of Abinoam, who lived in Kedesh in the land of Naphtali. She said to him, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, commands you: Call out 10,000 warriors from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun at Mount Tabor. And I will call out Sisera, commander of Jabin's army, along with his chariots and warriors, to the Kishon River. There I will give you victory over him." Barak told her, "I will go, but only if you go with me." "Very well," she replied, "I will go with you. But you will receive no honor in this venture, for the LORD's victory over Sisera will be at the hands of a woman." So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh. At Kedesh, Barak called together the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali, and 10,000 warriors went up with him. Deborah also went with him. Now Heber the Kenite, a descendant of Moses' brother-in-law* Hobab, had moved away from the other members of his tribe and pitched his tent by the oak of Zaanannim near Kedesh. When Sisera was told that Barak son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor, he called for all 900 of his iron chariots and all of his warriors, and they marched from Harosheth-haggoyim to the Kishon River. Then Deborah said to Barak, "Get ready! This is the day the LORD will give you victory over Sisera, for the LORD is marching ahead of you." So Barak led his 10,000 warriors down the slopes of Mount Tabor into battle. When Barak attacked, the LORD threw Sisera and all his chariots and warriors into a panic. Sisera leaped down from his chariot and escaped on foot. Then Barak chased the chariots and the enemy army all the way to Harosheth-haggoyim, killing all of Sisera's warriors. Not a single one was left alive. Meanwhile, Sisera ran to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, because Heber's family was on friendly terms with King Jabin of Hazor. Jael went out to meet Sisera and said to him, "Come into my tent, sir. Come in. Don't be afraid." So he went into her tent, and she covered him with a blanket. "Please give me some water," he said. "I'm thirsty." So she gave him some milk from a leather bag and covered him again. "Stand at the door of the tent," he told her. "If anybody comes and asks you if there is anyone here, say no." But when Sisera fell asleep from exhaustion, Jael quietly crept up to him with a hammer and tent peg in her hand. Then she drove the tent peg through his temple and into the ground, and so he died. When Barak came looking for Sisera, Jael went out to meet him. She said, "Come, and I will show you the man you are looking for." So he followed her into the tent and found Sisera lying there dead, with the tent peg through his temple. So on that day Israel saw God defeat Jabin, the Canaanite king. And from that time on Israel became stronger and stronger against King Jabin until they finally destroyed him. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) , Judges 5:1-31CloseJudges 5:1-31 On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song: "Israel's leaders took charge,  and the people gladly followed.Praise the LORD! "Listen, you kings!  Pay attention, you mighty rulers!For I will sing to the LORD.  I will make music to the LORD, the God of Israel. "LORD, when you set out from Seir  and marched across the fields of Edom,the earth trembled,  and the cloudy skies poured down rain. The mountains quaked in the presence of the LORD,  the God of Mount Sinai—in the presence of the LORD,  the God of Israel. "In the days of Shamgar son of Anath,  and in the days of Jael,people avoided the main roads,  and travelers stayed on winding pathways. There were few people left in the villages of Israel*—  until Deborah arose as a mother for Israel. When Israel chose new gods,  war erupted at the city gates.Yet not a shield or spear could be seen  among forty thousand warriors in Israel! My heart is with the commanders of Israel,  with those who volunteered for war.Praise the LORD! "Consider this, you who ride on fine donkeys,  you who sit on fancy saddle blankets,  and you who walk along the road. Listen to the village musicians*  gathered at the watering holes.They recount the righteous victories of the LORD  and the victories of his villagers in Israel.Then the people of the LORD  marched down to the city gates. "Wake up, Deborah, wake up!  Wake up, wake up, and sing a song!Arise, Barak!  Lead your captives away, son of Abinoam! "Down from Tabor marched the few against the nobles.  The people of the LORD marched down against mighty warriors. They came down from Ephraim—  a land that once belonged to the Amalekites;  they followed you, Benjamin, with your troops.From Makir the commanders marched down;  from Zebulun came those who carry a commander's staff. The princes of Issachar were with Deborah and Barak.  They followed Barak, rushing into the valley.But in the tribe of Reuben  there was great indecision. Why did you sit at home among the sheepfolds—  to hear the shepherds whistle for their flocks?Yes, in the tribe of Reuben  there was great indecision. Gilead remained east of the Jordan.  And why did Dan stay home?Asher sat unmoved at the seashore,  remaining in his harbors. But Zebulun risked his life,  as did Naphtali, on the heights of the battlefield. "The kings of Canaan came and fought,  at Taanach near Megiddo's springs,  but they carried off no silver treasures. The stars fought from heaven.  The stars in their orbits fought against Sisera. The Kishon River swept them away—  that ancient torrent, the Kishon.March on with courage, my soul! Then the horses' hooves hammered the ground,  the galloping, galloping of Sisera's mighty steeds. `Let the people of Meroz be cursed,' said the angel of the LORD.  `Let them be utterly cursed,because they did not come to help the LORD—  to help the LORD against the mighty warriors.' "Most blessed among women is Jael,  the wife of Heber the Kenite.  May she be blessed above all women who live in tents. Sisera asked for water,  and she gave him milk.In a bowl fit for nobles,  she brought him yogurt. Then with her left hand she reached for a tent peg,  and with her right hand for the workman's hammer.She struck Sisera with the hammer, crushing his head.  With a shattering blow, she pierced his temples. He sank, he fell,  he lay still at her feet.And where he sank,  there he died. "From the window Sisera's mother looked out.  Through the window she watched for his return, saying,`Why is his chariot so long in coming?  Why don't we hear the sound of chariot wheels?' "Her wise women answer,  and she repeats these words to herself: `They must be dividing the captured plunder—  with a woman or two for every man.There will be colorful robes for Sisera,  and colorful, embroidered robes for me.Yes, the plunder will include  colorful robes embroidered on both sides.' "LORD, may all your enemies die like Sisera!  But may those who love you rise like the sun in all its power!"Then there was peace in the land for forty years. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ). She instructed Barak, a male military leader, to engage in a strategic battle. Barak replied, "I will go, but only if you go with me" (Judges 4:8CloseJudges 4:8 Barak told her, "I will go, but only if you go with me." OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ). Deborah chided Barak: "Very well … I will go with you. But you will receive no honor in this venture, for the Lord's victory over Sisera [the opposing commander] will be at the hands of a woman" (Judges 4:9CloseJudges 4:9 "Very well," she replied, "I will go with you. But you will receive no honor in this venture, for the LORD's victory over Sisera will be at the hands of a woman." So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ). Another woman, Jael, used guile and stealth to kill Sisera (Judges 4:21CloseJudges 4:21 But when Sisera fell asleep from exhaustion, Jael quietly crept up to him with a hammer and tent peg in her hand. Then she drove the tent peg through his temple and into the ground, and so he died. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ). 

Do We Need Superheroes?

Of course, significant differences exist between Greco-Roman deities and the God of the Bible. The former were multiple, could be capricious, and exhibited flawed behavior. The latter is depicted as being "one"(Deuteronomy 6:4-15CloseDeuteronomy 6:4-15 "Listen, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone.* And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. "The LORD your God will soon bring you into the land he swore to give you when he made a vow to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It is a land with large, prosperous cities that you did not build. The houses will be richly stocked with goods you did not produce. You will draw water from cisterns you did not dig, and you will eat from vineyards and olive trees you did not plant. When you have eaten your fill in this land, be careful not to forget the LORD, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt. You must fear the LORD your God and serve him. When you take an oath, you must use only his name. "You must not worship any of the gods of neighboring nations, for the LORD your God, who lives among you, is a jealous God. His anger will flare up against you, and he will wipe you from the face of the earth. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ), unchanging (Malachi 3:6CloseMalachi 3:6 "I am the LORD, and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already destroyed. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ), and "holy" (Isaiah 6:1-6CloseIsaiah 6:1-6 It was in the year King Uzziah died* that I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple. Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. They were calling out to each other,"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Heaven's Armies!  The whole earth is filled with his glory!" Their voices shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke. Then I said, "It's all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the LORD of Heaven's Armies." Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ). 

In any case, superhero stories are universally popular, perhaps because they tap into our human need to negotiate an often hostile world. Fantasizing about vanquishing evil and darkness – or cheering imaginary characters that do – can provide temporary diversion from life's fears. 

Consider this: Many embrace God as their "superhero" seeing Him as an all-powerful, just, and loving reality, one who longs to deliver us from darkness. Could fictional-hero stories' popularity reflect genuine human desire for divine connection?

It's something to chew on as you watch Wonder Woman and other superhero movies.