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| Zeus | |
|---|---|
 Zeus as he appeared inThe New 52 continuity. Art by Cliff Chiang | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Superman #28 (May 1944) |
| Created by | Jerry Siegel Ira Yarbrough |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Zeus |
| Place of origin | Mount Olympus |
| Team affiliations | Olympian Gods |
| Notable aliases | Jupiter, Jove |
| Abilities |
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Zeus is afictional deity in theDC Comicsuniverse, an interpretation ofZeus fromGreek mythology. His appearances are most significant in stories ofWonder Woman (Princess Diana). With the 2011 relaunch of DC Comics dubbedThe New 52, Zeus has received a prominent role in the Wonder Woman mythos, as he is now the biological father of Wonder Woman throughHippolyta.
Zeus' origins and early history mostly conform to the way they are presented in classical mythology. He is a child of theTitansCronus andRhea and leader of the twelveOlympian Gods. During a war between the Titans and Olympians, Zeus slays his father and assumes his place as King of the Gods, ruling fromMount Olympus with his sister-wifeHera. He is the father of numerous gods and heroes, the most famous beingHercules.
In the DC Universe, the machinations of the alien godDarkseid when he spreads tales of the Roman Gods cause the Olympians to split into multiple aspects, with theRoman gods existing for a time as separate entities. Zeus' counterpartJupiter rules his own Olympus in a separate dimension following this. The two pantheons are merged into single entities again centuries later.
In present day, Zeus is a benefactor of theAmazons, the last remaining people who still worship the Olympians. However, his patriarchal attitudes, disregard for mortals, and unreasonable demands have sometimes led to conflict with his followers, particularly their champion Wonder Woman. Additionally, he is one of the seven deities who empowerCaptain Marvel / Shazam.
After Wonder Woman's defeat ofAres, which causes the latter to go into self-exile, Zeus becomes interested in Diana and wants hervirginity, offering to make her a goddess. Diana becomes the first woman ever to refuse his advances while professing love for him as god and father. Enraged at being rejected, Zeus threatens her, but is summoned back to Olympus by Hera at the urging at the Goddesses who created the Amazons and are incensed themselves at Zeus for trying to make Themyscira his personal brothel. As punishment, Zeus demands that Diana undertake the Challenge of the Gods, on which she defeats the evils that have been trapped underParadise Island, including aHecatonshire and theLernaean Hydra. She frees Heracles, who had been turned to stone and was supporting the Island.[1]
During aWar of the Gods, Zeus leads the Olympians in a conflict with their Roman counterparts and other deities, until mortal heroes intervene to end the war. After Darkseid destroys the glory ofOlympus,[2] Zeus convinces the other gods to abandon both it and Earth, and onlyHermes refuses. The gods later return to Olympus but have occasionally been forced to defend or relocate it.
As in classical myth, Zeus frequently cheats on his wife Hera and couples with mortals to producedemi-god offspring. Zeus has been revealed as the father ofWonder Girl (Cassie Sandsmark) and shares a complicated relationship with his daughter, who resents his absence from most of her life.
Zeus is briefly deposed as ruler of Olympus during a coup staged by his daughterAthena with help from Ares. In the wake of this conflict, Athena becomes Queen of the Gods and Ares is appointed Lord of theUnderworld. Shortly after this, the gods enter their second exile, following the Amazons into another dimension followingInfinite Crisis. Their return to the Earth-realm is brought about by Darkseid, who captures the Olympians and tampers with their memories, seeking the secrets of their power. InCountdown to Final Crisis, Darkseid'sNew Gods pose as Olympians and manipulate their followers.Mary Marvel later frees the gods from Apokolips, after which Zeus returns to the position of leader.
Zeus' manipulations of his followers finally come to a head with the creation of theGargareans, a race of warriors intended as male counterparts of the Amazons. Zeus murders theHawaiian godKāne Milohaʻi, a patron of Wonder Woman, and uses his heart to resurrectAchilles Warkiller, whom he appoints as leader of the Gargareans. Zeus also instates Achilles as the new ruler ofThemyscira. When Wonder Woman learns of this and of the murder of Kāne, she becomes enraged and physically assaults Zeus. This blasphemy shocks her motherHippolyta and leads Diana to enter self-exile.
InThe New 52 reboot, Wonder Woman is the biological daughter of Zeus and Hippolyta, and was raised to believe that she was made from clay to protect her from Hera.[3][4] Zeus is later reborn as an infant and raised byZola.[5]
As a god, Zeus possesses vast mystical abilities. He is immortal and can generate electricity, shapeshift, teleport, and travel between dimensions.
Zeus appears inDC Universe Online.
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