Character Relationship Map: Superman/Batman: Apocalypse

Characters

• Superman (played by Tim Daly) — protagonist

  Kryptonian hero, symbol of hope, and core member of the Justice League.

• Batman (played by Kevin Conroy) — protagonist

  Genius detective, billionaire vigilante, and Justice League founder.

• Kara Zor-El / Supergirl (played by Summer Glau) — supporting

  Kryptonian survivor, Superman's cousin, and skilled warrior.

• Darkseid (played by Andre Braugher) — supporting

  Tyrannical New God ruler of Apokolips and cosmic threat.

• Wonder Woman (played by Susan Eisenberg) — supporting

  Amazonian princess, warrior, and founding Justice League member.

• Big Barda (played by Julianne Grossman) — supporting

  New God warrior, former Darkseid lieutenant, and Freedom Fighter.

• Granny Goodness (played by Ed Asner) — supporting

  Ruthless New God, leader of the Female Furies, and Darkseid's lieutenant.

• Lyla / Harbinger / Artemis (played by Rachel Quaintance) — supporting

  Telepathic AI and Justice League communications specialist.

• Stompa / Vicki Vale (played by Andrea Romano) — supporting

  Amazonian warrior and investigative journalist.

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Darkseid → Kara Zor-El / Supergirl (Power Brainwashing Master) — Darkseid attempts to convert Kara into a weapon and leader.

  Darkseid orders Kara's abduction and has her brainwashed into becoming captain of the Female Furies.

• Granny Goodness → Darkseid (Power Lieutenant) — Granny acts as Darkseid's operative in the Kara plot.

  Darkseid orders Granny Goodness to bring Kara to Apokolips, and Granny carries out the kidnapping and brainwashing.

• Big Barda → Granny Goodness (Power Former Subordinate) — Their confrontation reflects Barda's break from the system that shaped her.

  Big Barda was trained within the Apokolips warrior system, while Granny Goodness leads and trains its female warriors.

• Big Barda → Darkseid (Power Former Lieutenant) — Barda's past service gives her knowledge of Darkseid's regime.

  Big Barda is described as a former Darkseid lieutenant, and she reluctantly helps the heroes invade Apokolips.

• Wonder Woman → Kara Zor-El / Supergirl (Professional Trainer) — She helps prepare Kara to control her abilities.

  Wonder Woman suggests training Kara on Themyscira and participates in her Amazonian training environment.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Lyla / Harbinger / Artemis → Darkseid (Conflict Victim) — Lyla becomes a casualty of Darkseid's kidnapping operation.

  After the Doomsday clone attack, Batman discovers Lyla dead, and the attack was ordered by Darkseid as a diversion.

• Lyla / Harbinger / Artemis → Kara Zor-El / Supergirl (Alliance Training Companion) — Lyla is present during Kara's Amazonian adjustment period.

  Lyla and Kara sneak away for a swim while Kara is being trained on Themyscira.

• Darkseid → Batman (Conflict Strategic Opponent) — Batman defeats Darkseid's immediate advantage through strategy rather than force.

  Batman confronts Darkseid in the palace and threatens to activate the Hell Spores unless Darkseid frees Kara.

• Darkseid → Superman (Conflict Arch Enemy) — Their repeated battles define the film's central external conflict.

  Darkseid battles Superman on Apokolips and later attacks him and Earth after promising only to leave Kara alone.

• Granny Goodness → Kara Zor-El / Supergirl (Conflict Captor) — She is directly responsible for Kara's forced transformation.

  Granny Goodness kidnaps Kara during the Doomsday clone diversion and brainwashes her into becoming a Fury captain.

• Wonder Woman → Stompa / Vicki Vale (Alliance Combat Ally) — Their shared warrior affiliation supports cooperation during the defense.

  The Amazonian fighting force battles the Apokolips attackers, while Stompa is identified in the story as an Amazonian warrior.

• Wonder Woman → Granny Goodness (Conflict Enemy) — Their confrontation is part of the rescue operation.

  Wonder Woman fights Granny Goodness in the Apokolips arena and helps subdue her.

• Wonder Woman → Big Barda (Alliance Combat Partner) — They form the assault team inside the arena.

  Wonder Woman and Big Barda enter the Apokolips fighting arena together and fight Granny Goodness and the Female Furies.

• Wonder Woman → Batman (Alliance Mission Partner) — They coordinate as senior members of the rescue team.

  Wonder Woman works with Batman during the attack on Themyscira and the rescue mission to Apokolips.

• Wonder Woman → Superman (Alliance Teammate) — She is one of Superman's principal combat allies.

  Wonder Woman fights beside Superman against the Doomsday clones and joins him on the mission to Apokolips.

Story Analysis

Kara's struggle for identity becomes a conflict between family protection, authoritarian control, and her choice to become a heroic force on Earth.

Plot Progression

1. The Kryptonian Arrival — A crashed spaceship brings Kara to Gotham, where her uncontrolled powers cause destruction. Superman identifies her as his cousin, while Batman remains wary of her intentions.
2. Amazonian Sanctuary — Kara begins learning about Earth and is sent to Themyscira for training. Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman disagree about how closely Superman should remain involved.
3. The Apokolips Abduction — Darkseid learns that Kara exists and uses a Doomsday clone assault as a diversion. Granny Goodness kidnaps Kara and Darkseid brainwashes her into a Fury captain.
4. Invasion of the Dark World — The heroes recruit Big Barda and enter Apokolips to rescue Kara. Wonder Woman and Barda battle the Furies while Batman discovers the Hell Spores.
5. A Hero Finds Her Name — Batman forces Darkseid to release Kara, but Darkseid later attacks Superman and Kara on Earth. Kara uses the Mother Box to exile him and embraces the Supergirl identity.