With every superhero movie, an end-of-credit scene is to be expected – whether it bothers as a sequel, essential building blocks for a broader film universe, or just meta-nods. The saving grace (or greatest sin, depending on who you ask) Patty Jenkins‘ Wonder Woman movies is that it exists in their own little corner of the DC Universe, with the 2017 Wonder Woman to avoid even the scene after credits completely. But Jenkins turned around to a Wonder Woman 1984 end credit scene, just not one that fans expected.
Spoilers for Wonder Woman 1984 follow.
Who is Asteria? This is one of the unanswered questions Wonder Woman 1984, to a series that took place in ancient times before the creation of Themyscira, when the Amazons freed themselves from slavery by humans. Diana describes the backstory of the gold armor she wears in the last act of the film, and tells how Asteria, their greatest warrior, held back the army of men using unbreakable gold armor while the other Amazons escaped to safety. When Diana came to the world of men, she searched for Asteria, but never found her body, only the empty armor.
But according to the final credit scene, Asteria is not dead as Diana assumed.
In the middle credit scene, we see a woman with dark hair walking through an outdoor market when a large wooden pole starts crashing. The woman comfortably catches the heavy pole with one hand, to the relief of a family with a small child who was directly in the path of the pole. The mother thanks the woman, who turns around and reveals her Lynda Carter, the star of the iconic Wonder Woman TV show from the 1970s, which introduces itself as Asteria with a little wink for the camera.
It’s a sweet nod to fans of the 70’s icon, and a tease that Diana may not be the only Amazon working discreetly to save humanity in the world of men. Will it lead to something in the sequel or larger DC universe? Probably not – it looks more like a cute moment for supporter service. But the character of Asteria does exist in DC Comics, although in a much smaller way than she does in Wonder Woman 1984.
Who is Asteria?
As far as we know, Asteria has only appeared once in the mainstream DC Comics Continuity, as a background character in the 1998 Elseworlds: Supergirl & Batgirl. Early in the story, several members of the Justice Society leave for Gotham City for an awards gala, but a few are left on the back seat to watch cases at Justice Society HQ. One of them is Asteria, who may get one-line dialogue – talking to the alternative universe Tim Drake – and who never shows up again.
Asteria does have a little more presence in Greek mythology than a Greek goddess who escapes Zeus’ progress by fleeing to Mount Olympus and transforming herself into the island of Delos. Later, she finally gave birth to Hecate, goddess of witchcraft and witchcraft.
Wonder Woman 1984 now streaming on HBO Max.
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