Duke of Deception

Duke of Deception
The Duke of Deception as depicted in Wonder Woman #788 (August 2022). Art by Emanuela Lupacchino.
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceWonder Woman #2 (Fall 1942)
Created byWilliam Moulton Marston (writer)
Harry G. Peter (artist)
In-story information
Alter egoDolos
Thomas Byde (The Legend of Wonder Woman)
Abilities
  • Mastery of manipulation and deceitful strategy
  • Illusion generation
  • Astral projection
  • Possession
  • Necromancy

The Duke of Deception is a fictional character appearing in DC Comics publications and related media. Apparently based on Dolus, a deity of deceit and lies in Classical mythology, he is a longstanding recurring adversary of the superhero Wonder Woman.[1] Introduced as a treacherous operative of the war god Mars / Ares[2] in 1942’s Wonder Woman #2, the Duke would rise to become one of Wonder Woman's most persistent foes, appearing regularly in her adventures throughout the Golden, Silver and Bronze Age of Comics. His portrayal evolved into that of a figure autonomous from Ares, frequently confronting Wonder Woman and her allies as an independent antagonist with his own aims of conquest.

For the greater part of his publication history, the Duke's origin and identity was not established, nor was his precise position within DC Comics’ Greek mythological pantheon. The 2020 feature film Wonder Woman 1984 suggested that the Duke had a specific mythological antecedent, Dolos. In 2022's Wonder Woman #788, writers Michael W. Conrad and Becky Cloonan confirm this; the Duke identifies himself by name as Dolos, as does Wonder Woman, suggesting unchronicled previous interactions in DC's Rebirth-era continuity.

  1. ^ Who's Who in the DC Universe Volume VII. DC Comics, September 1985, p. 13.
  2. ^ Jimenez, Phil. The Essential Wonder Woman Encyclopedia. Del Rey, 2010, p. 123-125.