Content Warning: This article contains discussions/descriptions of violence
Steppenwolf is the main villain of both cuts of the Justice League. Originally considered a weak villain by both audiences and critics, many fans now believe he has fairly been redeemed. This is a result of a variety of new scenes that helps to add context to the character. By improving his motivations and allowing the villain to truly stand on his own, he has made just as much of an impact on the viewers as the titular team.
However, that's not to say there aren't some qualities from the original that haven't been kept. Say someone decides to take a look at Steppenwolf's fighting style - they will notice that he pulls the same tricks and stunts to best his opponents. And that's not the only similarity either...
10 Changed - His Design
The most dramatic change about the character is his design. Instead of his skinnier and unthreatening appearance, the editors replaced it by creating a more dangerous design. Not only are his spikes more protruding but they had also enhanced his alien-like features.
His frame is also larger, which allows him to stand tall and be powerful. This change in the design allows the character to feel threatening and lets the viewers feel that sense of impending doom. When seeing the enhanced version, fans couldn't wait to see him come face to face with the Justice League.
9 Same - Main Villain
Despite the growing presence of Darkseid in the Snyder cut, Steppenwolf is still the main villain of the film. Through his actions, he inherently fights against the other characters and almost succeeds in his mission to open the mother's boxes, (only faltering fully against the might of Superman).
He also fights against different races, such as the Amazons and Atlanteans, besting them in combat and giving everyone reason why the Justice League should be worried.
8 Changed - Motivation
When the theatrical cut released in theatres, Steppenwolf's motivation didn't seem to be fully clear. All the audience knew was that he wanted to get the mother boxes and ravage the earth.
However, thanks to the Snyder cut, his motivation is clearer as he simply wants to return to Darkseid's graces. This allows a deeper connection with the audience and despite being a villain, could be sympathetic to some degree. Even if it's for a threat that is anything but good.
7 Same - Base Of Operations
The area that Steppenwolf chooses for the climax of the film remains intact. Taking place within Pozharnov, this is where the Justice League fights him during the remainder of the film.
If the team doesn't stop him, the mother boxes would unite and Earth would be lost. Because of this, the differences between both films in the climax is fairly minor. Outside of some minor CGI changes, there are a few new scenes shot and a stronger ending to Steppenwolf.
6 Changed - Flashback
Interestingly, in the theatrical cut of the film, it's shown in a flashback that Steppenwolf arrived on Earth to conquer. Yet in the Snyder cut, Steppenwolf is nowhere to be found. Instead, it is shown that the main villain behind the initial invasion on Earth is Darkseid.
This changes the context to being less about Steppenwolf and more about the overarching threat of Darkseid. However, it also allows the context of the Snyder cut to feel more impactful. Especially regarding the Anti-Life equation.
5 Same - Order Of Attack
The sequence of events that occurs regarding Steppenwolf acquiring the mother boxes is left intact. First, he retrieves the first mother box by obtaining it in Themyscira. Following that, he and his army go to Atlantis in order to get the second one.
Finally, he obtains the third mother box sometime after Superman's revival. It shows that despite the various changes, the character still follows the sequence of events in both cuts.
4 Changed - Almost Succeeded
Unlike the theatrical cut where the characters won the climax fairly effortlessly, the Snyder cut shows the team failing initially due to the unity of the mother boxes killing almost everybody. It was only through the Flash's ability to reverse time was the team successful in the end.
Nevertheless, this sequence helps to add credence to Steppenwolf as a villain, due to the fact that he could have succeeded had he known about the Flash's broken powers.
3 Same - Search For The Motherbox
As everything circulates around these mother boxes, it is fair to assume that its power would be what Steppenwolf is looking for. Despite the various changes that were made to Steppenwolf in both his motivations and design, his drive to get these mother boxes to remain potent. He almost succeeds in his fight against the Justice League were it not for a few circumstances.
2 Changed - His Death
One of the major changes to the film was how Steppenwolf went out as a villain. In the Snyder cut, Steppenwolf is killed in an extremely brutal way. First, he gets stabbed in the back by Aquaman, punched by Superman, and then beheaded by Wonder Woman. Then, after that, he gets his head is squashed under Darkseid's boot.
Counter this with the theatrical cut where he dies in a pitiful way. Due to being overcome by fear, he ends up being killed by his parademons, making the victory from the Justice League feel far less gratifying.
1 Same - Thrashed By Superman
One of the most consistent moments in Steppenwolf's existence is his staggering defeat against Superman. In the theatrical cut, Superman embarrasses Steppenwolf and makes him seem like a joke in comparison to his power.
Although it is still present in the Snyder cut, it is heavily magnified by making Steppenwolf's defeat against him feel much worse. Getting heavily wounded and being defeated in an astonishing way.
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