She’s the most famous female superhero of all time, with comics published nonstop for over 80 years. And in those eight decades, Wonder Woman, both as a character and as a comic book title, has had many ups and downs. We’re here to count down to the best of the best, the greatest comic book creative team runs for Diana of Themyscira that truly defined DC Comics’ Amazing Amazon.
10. Wonder Woman (Vol.4) by Brian Azzarello and Cliff Chiang
with Tony Akins, Goran Sudzuka, Aco
When DC rebooted its universe in 2011 in what it called “the New 52” initiative, no one got a bigger status quo change than Wonder Woman. Writer Brian Azzarello (100 Bullets) and artist Cliff Chiang’s (Paper Girls) run was critically acclaimed and sold very well. So why is it at the bottom of this list? It’s not a particularly good Wonder Woman comic. Much of it seems to disregard the original intent for Wonder Woman and the Amazons from her creator William Marston back in the Golden Age of comics.
In Azzarello’s take on Diana, she was not born of clay and given life by the gods with no male influence. Instead, she was the secret result of a torrid love affair between Zeus and Queen Hippolyta. The story revealed the Amazons as sexual assaulters and murderers of men, and then quickly removed them from the story. Azzarello’s reinterpretation of the Olympian Gods was extremely interesting, though, a highlight of the book. But they became more of a focus on the title than the titular heroine. DC would undo most of these changes, although Diana may or may not still be Zeus’ kid these days. DC doesn’t even seem to know. We do think some of the story choices here were bad for Wonder Woman. But objectively, as just a comic book about interfamily drama among gods, the craft on display is top-notch.
Issues in Brian Azzarello’s Wonder Woman run:
Wonder Woman Vol.4 #0-34, (2011-2014)
9. The Legend of Wonder Woman by Kurt Busiek and Trina Robbins
Writer Kurt Busiek is known for many legendary runs of comics for well-known heroes, specifically, Avengers, Superman, and his own creator-owned work, Astro City. In the mid-80s, he produced a love letter to Wonder Woman’s Golden Age heyday, along with underground comics legend Trina Robbins doing the art and helping with the plot. Robbins’ art style was a near-perfect mimic of Harry G. Peter, Diana’s principal artist in the ‘40s. Shockingly, Robbins became the first woman to illustrate Diana’s adventures, over 40 years after her creation. Hard to believe it took that long.
Released in 1986, this 4-part mini-series came out after Diana “died” in Crisis on Infinite Earths, but before her George Perez reboot. As the Amazons mourned their lost princess, her mother Hippolyta recalls an old adventure of her daughter’s. One where she battled Atomia, “Queen of the Atom Universe.” Told in complete retro style, this series featured many staples of ‘40s Wonder Woman. There was a precious little girl Diana befriends, and wacky super science. Plus, Wonder Woman always looking to rehabilitate an enemy before fighting one, a Golden Age staple. It was meant as a fond farewell to the Wonder Woman of old, and succeeds at doing so. Hopefully, one day DC will collect this fun throwback.
Issues in Kurt Busiek and Trina Robbins’ Wonder Woman run:
The Legend of Wonder Woman Vol.1 #1-4, (1986)
8. Wonder Woman (Vol.1) by Robert Kanigher and Ross Andru
The ten years of Wonder Woman stories after the death of her creator William Moulton Marston were mostly a dreary affair. The character was still popular enough that she survived the post-World War II decline in the popularity of superhero comics. But these uninspired stories focus too much on Diana’s romantic pining for pilot Steve Trevor. Then, the late ‘50s saw a renaissance in superhero comics, an era we now call the Silver Age. Wonder Woman got in on this change too, and the writer/artist duo of this time, Robert Kanigher and Ross Andru, produced some of the most off-the-wall (yet fun) Wonder Woman stories of all time.
During the Kanigher/Andru run, Diana got a new origin story. The first one where she had a father, the long-lost Prince Theno. The gods blessed her upon birth, hence her amazing powers. Following Superman’s lead, Diana had a “Wonder Family” of her own which included time-traveling versions of herself, like baby Wonder Tot and a teenage Wonder Girl. Wonder Girl was so popular, she would eventually evolve into her own, separate character for Teen Titans, Donna Troy. Silver Age Wonder Woman fought space aliens, and wacky characters like the Crimson Centipede, Angle Man, and even Paper Man.
Because of all these weird stories, clearly written with 8-year-olds in mind, Wonder Woman eventually began to feel like a relic of a bygone era. Especially as Marvel Comics grew in popularity as the ’60s rolled on. But many aspects of the Kanigher/Andru run stuck around in Wonder Woman lore. Although the idea of Diana having a father would go away by the early ‘70s, modern versions retain her being blessed by the Gods as a baby for example. Certainly not a complex series of stories, but filled with imagination just the same. And perfect for a young kid to read, even today.
Issues in Robert Kanigher and Ross Andru’s Wonder Woman run:
Wonder Woman Vol.1 #98-170, (1958-1967)
7. Wonder Woman (Vol.2) by William Messner-Loebs and Mike Deodato
We want to start by saying this run on Wonder Woman is somewhat problematic. The ‘90s art style of artist Mike Deodato is heavy on the cheesecake style, with Wonder Woman and her fellow Amazons practically all wearing thongs and overly sexualized togas. (We should add Deodato’s style has definitely evolved since then). But writer William Messner-Loebs’ storytelling skill was still on point, and made it so the reader can look past the extremely dated artistic elements. Messner-Loebs took over writing on Wonder Woman after five years of George Perez, who famously reinvented the character. An unenviable position, to be sure.
But after a couple of years of oddball stories, including one where Diana worked as a fast food employee, Messner-Loebs got to write his own Amazon epic. For twelve issues, he told the story of how Hippolyta was so disappointed in Diana’s failure to change the world, that she began a new contest to pick a new Amazon champion as Wonder Woman. The winner was Artemis, a surly Amazon from a militant tribe. One who thought she had what it takes to be a better Wonder Woman. But Diana didn’t quit the fight, even if she wore a hideous biker outfit to fight in now. This story is very “of its time,” but also fun. It introduced a very important member of the supporting cast in Artemis. Most importantly, it also reaffirmed why Diana was, and always will be, the best Wonder Woman ever.
Issues in William Messner-Loebs and Mike Deodato’s Wonder Woman run:
Wonder Woman Vol.2 #0, 90-100 (1994-1995)
6. Wonder Woman (Vol.3) by Gail Simone
with Terry and Rachel Dodson, Aaron Lopresti, Bernard Chang, Matt Ryan, Nicola Scott
After successful runs on the female-centric Birds of Prey, fans wondered out loud when writer Gail Simone would take on Wonder Woman, a character she professed much love for. The day finally came in 2007, when Simon took over writing duties on the third volume of Wonder Woman, which had been plagued with writer turnover since it began. She wound up being the female writer with the longest tenure writing Wonder Woman ever. Simone’s run built upon much of what came before, even largely hated events like Amazons Attack. And it made lemonade out of lemons.
Gail Simone’s Wonder Woman stories weren’t mainstream newsworthy and attention-getting, and there was no major reveal or change to Diana’s personality or history here. It was just really good comic book storytelling. She also created some truly memorable villains like the Circle, a band of Amazons who believed Diana’s supernatural birth was an abomination. Also Genocide, her physical rival in the way Doomsday was for Superman. A villain with incredibly creepy ties to Diana herself I won’t spoil here.
She also found a way to address the other pantheons of Gods, and how they related to the Olympians who gave Diana her powers. The artwork, primarily from Aaron Lopresti and Bernard Chang, showed off how good they were at just telling a story. This run ended the storyline of Wonder Woman that Perez had begun in 1986, and we could think of much worse ways to go out. Plus, Gail Simone’s Wonder Woman had talking apes in it as a supporting cast. That alone makes this an all-timer.
Issues in Gail Simone’s Wonder Woman run:
Wonder Woman Vol.3 #14-44, Vol.1 #600, (2007-2010)
5. Wonder Woman (Vol.2) by Phil Jimenez
with Roy Allan Martinez
When writer/artist Phil Jimenez came on board the monthly Wonder Woman title in 2001, he was already a well-known super fan of the character. He’s even the author of the Wonder Woman Encyclopedia. However, by the time he took over, the book had drifted from its core, altering the character to fit into stories about other DC characters the current writer wanted to tell.
Jimenez, whose art style draws heavily from George Perez’s interpretation, explored ideas post-Perez creators just glossed over. What did it mean to have two different tribes of Amazons on one island? What did it really mean for Hippolyta to time travel and replace her daughter in World War II history? And what did it mean for Diana and Donna Troy to effectively share a soul? Jimenez crafted compelling stories around these lingering questions with some of the most gorgeously rendered art the series had ever seen, before or since.
Most importantly, Phil Jimenez crafted the best single issue of Wonder Woman ever, titled “She’s a Wonder.” It covered reporter Lois Lane tailing Diana for a full day, examining what 24 hours in her existence were really like. Turns out, it wasn’t as perfect as most would like to think. Jimenez’s run only lasted three years, but I felt his deep love for the character on every page. Luckily, he got to return to the world of Diana in the Wonder Woman prequel graphic novel Amazonia, itself a masterpiece. If there’s any creator we’d follow on a Wonder Woman project anytime, it’s Phil Jimenez.
Issues in Phil Jimenez’s Wonder Woman run:
Wonder Woman, Vol.2, #164-188, (2000-2003)
4. Wonder Woman: Earth One, Vol. 1-3, by Grant Morrison and Yanick Paquette
Writer Grant Morrison is a legend when it comes to writing comics, and has been for the better part of forty years. Their runs on X-Men, Superman, Batman, and JLA are among the best ever for those characters. They finally gave fans their take on Diana in a series of three original graphic novels, Wonder Woman: Earth One, which came out between 2017 and 2020. Joining on all three volumes of Earth One was artist Yanick Paquette. He had briefly drawn the ongoing Wonder Woman series in the late ‘90s, but now his craft was on another level. It’s safe to say his version of Paradise Island remains the most beautifully illustrated ever.
While most other writers since William Marston had shied away from the sexual and BD/SM aspects of Wonder Woman, Morrison leaned in hard. They explored why it was both great and problematic at the same time. Their Diana was finally openly bisexual giving her a girlfriend at last. They also restored one aspect of Diana’s lore that DC disregarded for years, which was the weird sci-fi angle. We acknowledge that Morrison’s Earth One version of Wonder Woman is a love-it-or-hate-it affair. Some moments are overblown and almost campy, and many modern readers don’t like to be reminded of the innate absurdity of superheroes, something Morrison absolutely loves.
And yet, Morrison did what they almost always do with their take on iconic superheroes. They take pieces from decades of lore, and fashion them into something new and modern while honoring the past. There’s almost no era of Wonder Woman comics Morrison doesn’t lovingly homage in Earth One. Even the bad ones. Elements from Perez, Messner-Loebs, and Greg Rucka are all here in some form. All refashioned as a statement on 21st-century misogyny, and how to fight against it. For that, Morrison and Paquette’s three-part graphic novel series is well worth the time of any Wonder Woman fan.
Issues in Grant Morrison and Yanick Paquette’s Wonder Woman run:
Wonder Woman: Earth One, Volumes 1-3, (2017-2020)
3. Wonder Woman and Sensation Comics by William Moulton Marston, Harry G. Peter, Elizabeth Marston, Olive Byrne
In the cases of Diana Prince’s fellow Trinity friends Superman and Batman, their creators did not necessarily write their best stories. But in Diana’s case, her creator William Moulton Marston absolutely did weave some of her most formative tales, even if some aspects of them are cringe nearly 80 years later. It’s well documented how Marston, along with his wife Elizabeth and their partner Olive Byrne, wanted to create a modern feminist icon with Wonder Woman. Someone strong who would serve as the antithesis of the “bloodcurdling masculinity” of most comics back then.
With the help of artist and collaborator Harry G. Peter, whose art style was unique for the time resembling Victorian illustrations. Marston, Elizabeth, and Olive (who were uncredited) crafted stories of Amazonian super science, mythical lands, and bizarre villains. Perhaps more important were tales where Diana Prince helped her enemies become better people, and didn’t just throw them in prison and wait for their escape. Yes, some of these stories have problematic politics. Diana wasn’t so much for equality of the sexes, Marston believed women should rule over men. We don’t want to kink shame, but the focus on bondage imagery was over the top, and the less said about its depictions of the Japanese during World War II, the better.
And yet, more than almost any other Golden Age superhero comics of the time, Wonder Woman and Sensation Comics remain incredibly readable today, even if you’re often thinking “Wtf is going on” while reading them. The stories are wildly entertaining, featuring one wonderfully bizarre concept after another. It’s no surprise that so many prominent American feminists were readers of these comics as little girls. When Marston died in 1947, it marked the end of five years of wild and weird stories, soon replaced by other writers who didn’t adhere to Marston’s feminist views. But despite massive changes to Wonder Woman after Marston’s tenure, the core of what he created in these stories remains, and always shines through.
Issues in William Moulton Marston’s Wonder Woman run:
All-Star Comics #8, Sensation Comics #1-68, Wonder Woman Vol.1, 1-24 (1941-1947)
2. Wonder Woman (Vol.2, Vol.5) by Greg Rucka
with Drew Johnson, J. G. Jones, Rags Morales, Cliff Richards, James Raiz, Nicola Scott, Liam Sharp, Bilquis Evely
Prolific comic book writer Greg Rucka, famous for his work on Batman, has not just one but two excellent runs on Wonder Woman. He first took over the series with issue #295 back in 2004. Many previous runs after Perez’s tenure on the title focused on traditional heroics. Yet Rucka chose to focus on Diana’s role as ambassador of Themyscira. Her main function in society was to help people become the best versions of themselves through example. She even wrote a bestselling book to get her point across.
But Rucka didn’t shy away from portraying Diana as the greatest warrior on Earth. In the graphic novel The Hiketeia, she shows Batman just who is the most skilled fighter on the planet when she upholds her sworn duty to defend a young woman. When she takes on Medusa, she blinds herself to fight her, proving she doesn’t need eyes to take her down. Rucka also deftly deals with the consequences of Diana’s moral failing, when she kills Maxwell Lord to save Superman (and countless others).
In 2016’s Rebirth era, Rucka returned to Wonder Woman, this time restoring much of her original lore that was removed by the New 52 run. In “Year One,” Wonder Woman’s new origin story goes back to Marston’s original, while also keeping key elements of the Perez-era Amazons. For “The Lies,” Rucka and Liam Sharp address Diana’s role in the present time, and reimagine villains like Cheetah. Most creators are lucky to have one run on a particular superhero that is so great. Greg Rucka gets to say he had two.
Issues in Greg Rucka’s Wonder Woman run:
Wonder Woman: The Hiketeia (2002) Wonder Woman Vol.2 #196-226 (2003-2006), Wonder Woman Vol.5, #1-25, Rebirth Special #1 (2016-2019)
1. Wonder Woman (Vol.2) by George Perez
with Greg Potter, Len Wein, Chris Marrinan, Jill Thompson, Colleen Doran
After the sales highs of the Golden Age, Wonder Woman as a comic book rarely sold like gangbusters. However, a clause in the contract with her creator’s estate meant DC had to publish Wonder Woman comics, or the company would lose the rights. Wonder Woman was too valuable as an IP due to merchandise sales to ever let her go but the actual comics were neglected creatively for years. The only exception was the bump when the Lynda Carter Wonder Woman series was on the air. DC used their big 1985 continuity reboot Crisis on Infinite Earths to give Diana a big makeover. The trouble was, no one wanted the job.
Artist George Perez was already a comics superstar thanks to his work on The New Teen Titans and The Avengers. When he finished drawing Crisis, he realized Superman and Batman had major creators doing their respective reboots; Wonder Woman had no one. So he volunteered, and along with writer Greg Potter, did a massive overhaul of Wonder Woman in 1986, bigger than almost anything that had been done before. Under their guidance, the Amazons became more like the warriors of Greek myth than ever before, and the importance of the Olympian pantheon went into overdrive. The artwork and stories were detailed and epic, somehow evoking ancient myth and modernity at the same time.
Under Perez, Diana was powered up, befitting her status. She didn’t need an invisible plane to fly anymore, she could do so on her own power. Her super strength was now on par with Superman’s. Her longtime love interest, Steve Trevor, became an older man who was like a big brother. Perez was in no rush to give Diana a love interest. Perhaps the biggest change, the secret identity trope was done away with. Diana Prince was over, she was just Princess Diana, ambassador of Themyscira. Not only that, he made her principal supporting cast a single mother and daughter, amping the feminism of the title harder than anyone since Marston himself. However, unlike Marston, fewer people were tied up.
Perez illustrated the book for only 25 issues, but wrote (and did covers) for the entire five-year run. Sales and critical acclaim for Wonder Woman were better than they’d been in decades, and it was the foundation for the next two decades of Wonder Woman storytelling, including many of the other great and creative runs on this list. Both the modern animated and live-action versions of Wonder Woman owe George Perez an incredible debt for his version of Princess Diana. For this reason, we rank it as the greatest of all time.
Issues in George Perez’s Wonder Woman run:
Wonder Woman Vol.2, #1-62, Annual #1-2, Wonder Woman: War of the Gods #1-4 (1986-1991)
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Source: Kiat Media
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