Comic book games have become exponentially popular over the last decade, with games like the Batman: Arkham series and Marvel's Spider-Man serving as paradigms for the modern comic book video game experience. These landmark games have inspired a wave of similarly impressive comic-related titles like the recent Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, and the next few years are set for a fleet of new releases that should give all kinds of comic fans something to enjoy. One such game that was recently announced at The Game Awards 2021 already has many gamers asking questions, and that is Monolith Productions' Wonder Woman.
The reveal trailer for Wonder Woman didn't give away very much, aside from showing the titular superheroine and her various bits of armor and gear. One of the biggest points of speculation around the game is how it might be able to use the renowned Nemesis System that was introduced in Monolith's Middle-Earth series, but there has been little word on any of Wonder Woman's finer story details. There are decades of Wonder Woman stories that the game could rely on for inspiration, but when approaching the character's first major solo gaming venture, it might be best if Diana's origin story was skipped.
How Comic Book Games Are Skipping The Origin Story
Origin stories can be the most important aspect of a comic character, as they establish who they are and what fans can expect from them in future adventures. With some characters, however, origin stories can get rehashed so much that a vast majority of fans will become tired of seeing them over and over again. This is most prevalent with characters like Batman and Superman, heroes that have been in the public eye for so long that writers don't have to constantly repeat their origins because fans are already familiar with what motivates the character.
While this relationship with origin stories has persisted for quite some time in the comics, it has just recently become more prominent in gaming. Marvel's Spider-Man is perhaps the best example of this, as the game not only skipped Peter Parker's origin story, but told a story that was much further in his career as Spider-Man compared to depictions like the MCU. This allowed Insomniac to tell a much more mature story than what often takes place around Spidey's origin, which helped make Marvel's Spider-Man one of the most compelling narratives for the character over his long history.
How Wonder Woman Could Benefit From Skipping The Origin Story
When looking at Wonder Woman as a character, her origin story is also on the same level as Spider-Man or Batman's. Most fans are already familiar with the Amazons and Diana's origins on Themyscira, as well as Wonder Woman's relationship with characters like Steve Trevor. If Monolith puts trust in the fans' prior knowledge of her origins, the developer could tell a much more varied story than if it decided to repeat the same familiar story beats. Wonder Woman could give players a narrative that is new enough to stand on its own, while still being familiar enough to feel like a true adventure fit for Diana Prince.
With Gotham Knights and Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League coming this year, it seems the next couple of years could be a very good time to be a DC Comics fan. Wonder Woman is likely in the early parts of development, but with Monolith at the helm and an exciting teaser available for fans to watch on repeat, it seems this could be one of the biggest games for DC since the golden days of the Arkham series. Wonder Woman fans will just have to keep a close eye on the project to see what the character's first solo gaming adventure will have in store.
Wonder Woman is currently in development.