Wonder Woman 1984 introduced Asteria, an ancient Amazonian hero - but could she be a daughter of the gods, like Diana? The Amazonian society of Themyscira is one of the most fascinating parts of Wonder Woman's lore. According to the first Wonder Woman movie, the Amazons were created by the gods to influence men's hearts with love and bring peace to the Earth. Unfortunately they failed in their mission, and they were forced to flee from the very people they had sworn to protect.
Wonder Woman 1984 further developed this story, revealing that the Amazons were forced to sacrifice one of their own in order to escape mankind. A warrior woman known as Asteria stayed behind, donning almost-invincible golden armor in order to fend off the attacking waves of men and give her people time to flee. Apparently Diana sought out Asteria when she left Themyscira during the First World War, but she was unable to find her and eventually assumed that Asteria had died long ago. Diana did, however, recover the golden armor - which proved essential during her battle with Cheetah in Wonder Woman 1984's final act.
But Wonder Woman 1984's post-credits scene revealed Asteria is still alive, still wandering the Earth and doing good. The character was played by none other than Lynda Carter, the actress who played Wonder Woman in the popular 1970s TV show. It's impossible to say whether this was just a fun Easter egg, or whether director Patty Jenkins intends to develop Asteria further in Wonder Woman 3. The character has only ever had a few brief mentions in the comic books themselves, meaning there is almost no precedent, and Jenkins can basically do whatever she likes. And Wonder Woman 1984 may have already dropped enough hints to suggest that this version of Asteria is a lot more like Diana than Wonder Woman herself suspects.
Wonder Woman's Golden Eagle Armor Is An Important Clue
In the comics, Wonder Woman's Golden Eagle armor first appeared in the 1996 mini-series Kingdom Come, an Elseworlds story. Artist Alex Ross' design was absolutely stunning, and it didn't take it long to make its way into the main comic book continuity. Those lavish golden wings are an important part of the design, and some stories have hinted they give Diana greater maneuverability in flight when she is wearing the armor. Wonder Woman 1984 gives the Golden Eagle armor a fresh, more detailed origin story, but it reproduces the appearance almost perfectly.
This is significant because it suggests Asteria may have possessed powers beyond those of the other Amazons. The flashback showed Asteria using the wings as a shield to protect herself from the marauders who were attempting to get to the fleeing Amazons, but they clearly also function as wings. It is therefore reasonable to assume Asteria is able to fly, and that - like Diana in the comics - these wings help her to maneuver. That would explain how she was able to escape the army of men; she held them back until her fellow Amazons were gone, and then she took to the skies. Presumably she landed some distance away and ditched the armor; the soldiers she had fought knew they had been battling a golden warrior woman, but had no idea what she actually looked like without it.
Asteria Seems To Be Unusually Strong In Wonder Woman 1984
Wonder Woman 1984's post-credits scene suggested Asteria possesses strength beyond normal Amazons as well. The scene is set in an unknown market, with tragedy almost striking when a heavy pole falls, about to kill a child. Asteria catches hold of the pole with ease, using just a single hand, demonstrating prodigious strength. "It's just a simple shift of weight," Asteria insists, "Takes practice." This line of dialogue is important in that it mirrors excuses Diana used earlier in Wonder Woman 1984 to explain why she was able to beat off a drunk attacking her friend, Barbara Minerva. Not only does Asteria appear to be stronger than any ordinary Amazon, she is also using the same lines as Wonder Woman to explain away her strength, hinting at a sense of commonality between them.
Theory: Asteria Was A Daughter Of The Gods As Well
Wonder Woman possesses powers beyond those of the other Amazons because she is a daughter of the gods - specifically a daughter of Zeus. This is why she was revealed to be the Godkiller in the first Wonder Woman film, because only one god can kill another. Indeed, Wonder Woman 1984 saw Diana begin to explore her ever-increasing powerset, initially riding lightning bolts and subsequently learning to fly - or, perhaps, glide - under her own power. If Asteria possesses similar abilities, then it stands to reason that she too was no ordinary Amazon - rather, like Diana, she is another daughter of the gods. This would explain why Asteria was the one left behind to protect the other Amazons; she was their greatest, most powerful warrior, possessed of abilities that could be matched only by the gods themselves.
All this does, however, raise a curious question: if Asteria is another daughter of the gods, why didn't she kill Ares? The most likely reason is that, while she is a daughter of the gods, she is not a child of Zeus. As such, she would be well aware her powers were dwarfed by Ares, and that she would not be able to defeat the God of War. Instead, she wandered the world simply doing good, attempting to fulfil the ancient mission of the Amazons - to set an example of love and peace in a world of conflict. That is certainly hinted at in Wonder Woman 1984's post-credits scene, when Asteria tells a thankful mother she's been performing subtle, quiet acts of heroism for a long time.
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Asteria only makes a brief appearance in Wonder Woman 1984, but her presence is important in that it means Diana is not alone. There is another Amazon out there in the world of men, someone else who shares her mission, and potentially someone who is even more similar to Diana than Wonder Woman suspects. If that is indeed the case, then Asteria could play an important role in Wonder Woman 3.
