With mystical powers from ancient Greek ruins, a gorgeous wing span, and a drive to help women all over the globe, Astro City's version of Wonder Woman is a sight to behold. Winged Victory is a towering hero sporting golden armor, a Greco-inspired leaf crownlet, and unparalleled talent with a sword. But far from being a rip-off, Winged Victory is Astro City's way of asking what would happen if Wonder Woman took her mission to fix the world a little more seriously.
Beginning in 1995 - and created by Kurt Busiek, Brent Anderson, Alex Ross - Astro City depicts superheroes in a realistic world where normal people have to live their lives in the midst of superhero narratives. Astro City found its first home with Image Comics, then DC eventually purchased the rights and relaunched Astro City in 2013, as a part of their more mature comic content via their Vertigo label. There's nothing explicit in Astro City, but these comics do cover emotionally intelligent and realistic storylines. There are a few risque panels of Winged Victory and her partner, Samaritan, but her wings act as their own censor bars; artists Anderson and Ross leave plenty of graceful, visual clues up to the readers' imagination, and rightly so; it wouldn't jive with Winged Victory and Samaritan's elegant, mature personalities and symbolism. And that's, perhaps, the best description of Astro City's atmosphere: graceful, elegant, mature super hero stories and characters.
Winged Victory starts her story as Lauren Freed, an unremarkable woman. Busiek shows readers just how unremarkable Lauren is by having Lauren comment on how boring she finds herself. Lauren discovers the Council of Nike, a cosmic female collective essence comprised of strong women. In 2014's Astro City Vol. 3 #9, the Council's power is described as, "the psychic potential to pool that strength... and empower a champion", meaning the council can gift the Winged Victory mantel to a worthy female of their choosing. The council can likewise revoke the Winged Victory mantel if they deem their champion is no longer worthy of its power, and Lauren has a few close calls.
Her winged silhouette and Hellenistic armor is inspired by the famous "Winged Victory of Samothrace" statue. Her character is all about female empowerment, safety, and strength. Her stories serves as great role models for younger readers, male or female, and offer insight into stories of inclusion, such as in Astro City Vol. 3 #10. Here, Winged Victory welcomes the first male character into one of her famed Protection Centers - refuges erected as part of her mission to safeguard women - and argues with the Council of Nike about his inclusion. Winged Victory used to only work alone, and only had female victims' interest in mind; over time, however, Winged Victory has expanded her rescue missions to include all humans, and even joins the Honor Guard - Astro City's version of the Justice League.
What's most interesting about Winged Victory is that way in which she explores Wonder Woman's championing of gender equality. Rather than simply saving the world and leading by example, Winged Victory stands in opposition to patriarchal constructs and actively founds centers to protect and uplift women of all races and creeds. Because of this, she meets some pretty strong opposition, and is even briefly labelled a terrorist by the government, who are suspicious of her endgame. This is rendered even more interesting by the fact that Astro City doesn't have a static timeline, meaning societal change is actually possible within its pages, and Busiek isn't afraid to show the progress Winged Victory makes in her mission.
Lauren's transformation into Winged Victory is physical, and turns her into an expert swordswoman who possesses huge wings for flight, gains enhanced intellect, and has super strength. As a last resort, she can access the Council of Nike's energy for additional power boosts. The Council also offers her vision dreams that assist Winged Victory in her rescue missions for female victims. With an Astro City TV show in the works, watchers will soon be delighted with Winged Victory's thoughtful and compelling critique of the iconic Wonder Woman, but comic readers have an advantage, as there are already plenty of Astro City stories to track down and read.