A rogue Amazonian named Aresia (born in the mortal world, raised in Themyscira) gathers a small group of Lex Luthor's former Injustice Gang and sets out to kill the world's male population, who she holds responsible for the death of her family members in a war.
Tropes:
- All Abusers Are Male: Men caused Aresia pain in the past, so "all men must be evil." It is then revealed that the male captain of the destroyed ship she was on as a child saved her life, though, she was not aware of this fact. Once she finds out, she merely switches her stance to "All men are evil except for him."
- Armor-Piercing Response: Hawkgirl argues that Aresia’s planned Gendercide is merely taking the Amazon Code to its logical extension, something Diana has no response to.
- Artistic License – Biology: Superman is felled by a cloud of airborne particles released at him by Aresia. It's assumed to be a fast-acting virus until J'onn's research shows that it is, in fact, an allergen which only affects men.
- Calling the Old Man Out: Aresia was upset that Hippolyta never said anything about the male captain who saved her life. When asked why, Hippolyta said she thought "it didn't matter, that he didn't matter." Hawkgirl calls her out on it.
- Chekhov's Gunman: The refugee ship captain is briefly seen reacting to the pirate attack in the first flashback. A second flashback reveals that he saved Aresia's life.
- Composite Character: Aresia bears similarities to both incarnations of the DC Comics character Fury: Hippolyta "Lyta" Trevor, an Amazon and daughter of the Golden Age Wonder Woman and Steve Trevor, and Helena Kosmatos, a young Greek girl whose parents were murdered by the Nazis when they occupied Greece, who eventually made her way to Themyscira and was made an honorary Amazon (and was created to replace the Golden Age Wonder Woman as Lyta's mother following the Earths being merged in Crisis on Infinite Earths).
- Continuity Nod: Shade considers Aresia an improvement over Lex Luthor when he was leading the Injustice Gang.
- Create Your Own Villain: Aresia, already bearing deep-seated trauma regarding men attacking her and causing her pain, was taken in by the Amazons, granted their power, and trained in their philosophies, especially in regard to their misandry. In the end, Hippolyta inadvertently created the monster Aresia became and gave her the power and tools she needed to enact a Gendercide.
- Does Not Like Men: Aresia is a standout example, as she not only hates men but also wants to kill every single male in the planet. Even by the amazons' standards, Aresia's hatred of men is horrible.
- Dramatic Irony: Hawkgirl musing to Batman about what the trauma of becoming an orphan could do to a child. "Starcrossed" would later reveal, however, that Hawkgirl discovered at some point off-screen who Batman really was, so the irony might've actually been on him here instead of her.
- Due to the Dead: Zig-zagged with the Sea Captain who saved Aresia's life and got her to the nearest island (which happened to be Themyscira). Hippolyta was passing by when they made it to the beach and saw him die from the strain. She gave the captain the dignity of a proper burial (the only man to be buried on the island), but she never bothered to tell Aresia the truth because she didn't think the man was important.
- Everyone Has Standards: While the Amazons may not like men, they're still horrified at Aresia's plans at Gendercide. However, Hawkgirl rightfully points out Aresia is just taking their view to its logical extension, as if they see no good or worth in men then killing them is the only thing they could come to.
- Freudian Excuse: Aresia was a child when male soldiers ravaged her home. She and her mother tried to escape the war on a boat, but male pirates robbed and then sank it, with Aresia the only one shown surviving. In other words, she had a lot of personal anger towards men when she was inducted into the Amazons and learned their teachings. The Amazons inadvertently left her anger to fester because their own misandry and peaceful lives on Themiscyra blinded them to how she was growing to actively despise men- something Hippolyta probably could have nipped in the bud by telling her how the male captain saved her life before she was too far gone for it to matter.
- From Nobody to Nightmare: A war orphan nearly kills all of the men on the planet.
- Gendercide: Aresia's ultimate goal by releasing a disease into the atmosphere that nearly kills off all of the men on the planet.
- Girl's Night Out Episode: With the male members of the Justice League incapacitated by Aresia's Gendercide allergen, it's up to Wonder Woman and Hawkgirl to save the day (of course, this includes fighting against an all-female alliance of villains).
- Impairment Shot: Batman realizes he's been infected when experiencing blurred vision, as Hawkgirl flies a sick child to the hospital.
- Irony:
- Aresia was shocked that a fellow woman left her on her own devices. Which is probably why in Justice League Adventures #17, Aresia chose more loyal like-minded women as her minions.
- Hippolyta notes that Aresia owes her life to a man, despite hating the entire gender.
- Karma Houdini: The pirates who rob and murder Aresia's fellow refugees get away clean.
- Men Are the Expendable Gender: Invoked by Aresia although she and about one other women, Tsukuri, are the only ones who actually think that's true. Even the other Amazons are shocked at her attempted Gendercide. Wonder Woman is shocked at the degree that Aresia is going to...but Hawkgirl points out that this is the logical conclusion to the Amazons' teachings. Diana notably has nothing to say about this.
- My God, What Have I Done?: The tone of Hippolyta's voice when she says she didn't think the captain was important.
- Mystical Plague: Aresia's male-killing sickness is implied to be partially magical in nature, since it even affects Superman & J’onn, who aren’t human, and Solomon Grundy, who is The Undead.
- Not-So-Well-Intentioned Extremist: Aresia might actually believe the world will be better if it's all-female, as it is on Themyscira, though it's becoming evident she's taking her frustrations on innocent people because of what someone else did to her. Even learning one man saved her life isn't enough to convince her all men shouldn't die.
- Oblivious to His Own Description: At first, Wonder Woman claims it's ridiculous that the criminal Batman fought was an Amazon because, in her words, "Amazons don't steal,..and [they] never leave the island." She doesn't seem to realize until Batman subtly points it out that she herself is an exception to both rules*.
- Poor Communication Kills: Aresia's hatred and attempted Gendercide could very well has been prevented had Hippolyta told her from the start that one of the men she so despises was the one who saved her life and brought her to Themyscira in the first place. By the time she reveals this, Aresia is beyond caring.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: When Aresia's plane is about to explode.Aresia: Wait! You can't leave!Tsukuri: I like you, but not that much.
- Tainted Veins: The primary visual indicator of Aresia's plague allergen.
- Token Evil Teammate: Wonder Woman admits that she always sensed a bitterness in Aresia that the other Amazons didn't have.
- Unwitting Pawn: The male Injustice Gang members to Aresia. Star Sapphire and Tsukuri didn't know what she was up to, either, but Aresia didn't mean them any harm.
- Your Approval Fills Me with Shame: Inverted, Aresia thought Hippolyta would approve of her goal, but Hippolyta is appalled and tells Aresia she brought shame to the Amazon code. Aresia didn't take it well, so she took her hostage.
