Top 20: Best Wonder Woman Stories, Part 2

From ancient witches to vengeful gorgons, Wonder Woman has battled some of the most unbelievable threats over the course of her illustrious career. This Amazing Amazon has proven her worth time and again in incredible stories that rival that of her contemporaries Superman and Batman. 

Picking up from part one, here is the second half of the top 20 greatest Wonder Woman stories.

10. Wonder Woman: The Hiketeia
 Written by: Greg Rucka
Illustrated by: J.G. Jones

In this modern Greek tragedy crafted by Greg Rucka, Wonder Woman is duty-bound to protect a young woman named Danielle Wellys. When she discovers that Danielle is responsible for the murder of a group of sex slavers, Wonder Woman must do battle against Batman as he attempts to bring Danielle to justice.

The Hiketeia is a brilliant example of the complexity of Wonder Woman's character. She is bound by ancient traditions that often conflict with modern laws and rights, which puts her at odds with some of her allies. Aside from that, The Hiketeia serves as a reminder that Batman is far from invincible and the Amazing Amazon is always ready to put him in his place (under her stylish red and white boots).

09. The Fist of Flame,
Wonder Woman v1 #201-202
Written by: Dennis O’Neil, Samuel R. Delany
Illustrated by: Dick Giordano

In this mod era adventure, Wonder Woman forges an unlikely alliance with Catwoman in order to procure an ancient artifact known as the Fist of Flame. After an initial cat fight (pardon the pun), the pair band together to defeat the forces of the villainous Lu Shan.

Of all of the mod era adventures, this one stands out as one of the most unique and ambitious. It blends globe-trotting 007-style intrigue with science fiction to create a memorable read for this time period. On top of that, it provides a rare team-up between two of DC Comics' most iconic heroines. I'll admit this choice is 100% biased since the story (as all were from this era) is quite problematic by today's standards.

08. Rise of the Olympian, 
Wonder Woman v3 #26-33
Written by: Gail Simone
Illustrated by: Aaron Lopresti

When an unstoppable menace known as Genocide threatens to destroy everything Wonder Woman holds dear, the Amazing Amazon is pushed to her limits and must go further than she's ever gone to bring down her foe.

In general Gail Simone's run on Wonder Woman was a satisfying read, but "Rise of the Olympian" managed to be an exceptional story from that era. Simone simultaneously created an incredibly terrifying villain and crafted an epic befitting of Wonder Woman's stature.

07. Gods of Gotham, 
Wonder Woman v2 #164-167
Written by: Phil Jimenez, J.M. DeMatteis
Illustrated by: Phil Jimenez

After the Greek Gods of terror, discord, and fear take possession of Gotham City's most dangerous criminals, Wonder Woman and Batman team up to stop this divine threat and rescue Harley Quinn.

By and large, Wonder Woman's supporting cast is often overlooked by the comic community. However, this four part adventure put them at the forefront and used Batman's cast to create an interesting comparison between the two "families." Beyond that, it proved that Wonder Woman's baddies are exponentially more dangerous than Batman's (just saying).

06. The Witch on the Island, 
Wonder Woman v2 #18-19 
Written and Illustrated by: George Perez

While touring Greece with her friends Julia and Vanessa Kapatelis, Wonder Woman is captured by the devious Circe and is marked for death by the witch.

As far as Wonder Woman villains go, Circe is arguably the most dangerous. In this introductory arc, her origin is detailed and she makes a rather big impact on the Amazing Amazon's life. From this point onwards, Circe would be treated as Wonder Woman's arch nemesis and would show up in nearly every succeeding major storyline.

05. The Medusa Saga, 
Wonder Woman v2 #196-213
Written by: Greg Rucka
Illustrated by: Drew Johnson

After penning a best-selling memoir, Wonder Woman comes under fire from the media for her beliefs and is targeted by the insidious Veronica Cale. To make matters worse, Circe resurrects the monstrous Medusa and pits her against the Amazing Amazon.

Often considered one of the best Wonder Woman writers, Greg Rucka outdid himself with this epic. This grouping of issues are an informal continued narrative held together by the presence of Veronica Cale, Circe, and Medusa. Rucka shows off his knowledge of the character rather well over the course of these issues and he rightly focuses on her status as an ambassador.

04. The Legend of Wonder Woman Volume 1: Origins,
Written and Illustrated by: Renae De Liz

As a mysterious darkness begins infecting Paradise Island, the young Amazon Princess Diana dedicates herself to finding its cause. This eventually leads her to America, where she takes up arms alongside the singer Etta Candy to fight the Axis during World War II.

The Legend of Wonder Woman is a colourful and whimsical retelling of Wonder Woman's origins that places an emphasis on the power of sisterhood. It is gorgeously illustrated and features some truly creative reimaginings of the Wonder Woman mythos.

03. The Witch & The Warrior,
Wonder Woman v2 #171, 174-176
Written and Illustrated by: Phil Jimenez

After Wonder Woman's arch nemesis Circe turns every male citizen of New York City into animals and unleashes an army of female villains to hunt them down, Wonder Woman enlists the aid of every known heroine on Earth to stop the wicked witch.

Aside from this being hands-down the best Wonder Woman vs. Circe story around, Phil Jimenez uses this arc to re-introduce the Perez-era character Vanessa Kapatelis to readers as well as a new Cheetah. This narrative acts as a beautiful tribute to the George Perez run and proves to be an excellent example of just how dangerous Circe can be.

02. The Princess and the Power,
Wonder Woman v2 #1-7
Written by: George Perez, Greg Potter
Illustrated by: George Perez

In this origin story, Princess Diana of Themyscira competes in a contest that earns her the right to travel to "Man's World" to battle the evil forces of the God of War. This unassuming Princess subsequently becomes the superheroine known as Wonder Woman and she brilliantly takes down Ares before he can unleash World War III upon the world.

This arc would serve as the beginning of George Perez's legendary run on Wonder Woman. It re-introduced the character for a new generation of readers and helped to revitalize the franchise. The supporting cast at this time was incredible and the stories were woven with the intricate narratives from Greek mythology. 

01. A Day in the Life, 
Wonder Woman v2 #170
Written by: Phil Jimenez, Joe Kelly
Illustrated by: Phil Jimenez

As part of a new assignment, intrepid reporter Lois Lane follows Wonder Woman around for one day in an attempt to uncover the Amazing Amazon's dirty laundry. Even though she initially sets out to write a cynical expose, Lois quickly discovers that the truth about Wonder Woman is that she's flawlessly imperfect.

Perhaps it's my own bias for Phil Jimenez speaking, but this single issue stands as the greatest Wonder Woman story ever told. In the pages of this one comic, Jimenez and co-writer Joe Kelly sum up the character so brilliantly and poignantly that it is sure to move even the most cynical of readers. Wonder Woman is more than just a superhero and this story celebrates that by showing that she is Gloria Steinem, Diana Princess of Wales, Marie Curie, and Angelina Jolie all wrapped up in a star-spangled one-piece.

Reading List: Cheetah, Part 2

With the help of Greg Potter and George Perez, DC Comics relaunched its Wonder Woman title in 1987. Her continuity was rebooted and she was given a new origin. By erasing the narratives that existed previously, this gave the creators a chance to reinvent several of Wonder Woman’s most dangerous enemies.

Arguably, the most successful reinvention was that of the Cheetah. George Perez introduced readers to Barbara Ann Minerva, a power hungry archaeologist who wants nothing more than true divinity and the death of Wonder Woman.

Below you will find a list of the most notable appearances the modern Cheetah has made since her introduction in 1987. Watch out for those claws!

Wonder Woman v2 #7-9 (1987)

Barbara Ann Minerva made her first appearance in Wonder Woman v2 #7, which led to her dramatic transformation into the Cheetah two issues later.

Along with her faithful servant Chuma, archaeologist Barbara Minerva flew from her home in England to the United States to meet the media sensation known as Wonder Woman. Intending to steal her golden lasso, Minerva’s plan goes off the rails when the lasso violently rejects her.

Not one to give up easily, Minerva is transformed into the Cheetah through an ancient ritual and attacks the Amazon at her Boston residence. What ensues is a knock-down drag out fight between the Amazon Princess and her most dangerous foe.

Read these issues online on Comixology.

Wonder Woman v2 #27-35 (1989)

In one of George Perez’s most epic storylines, the Cheetah successfully steals Wonder Woman’s mystical lasso. The Amazon Princess pursues the feline fatale to Africa, where she learns of the Cheetah’s origins and of the long lost tribe of Amazons known as the Bana-Mighdall.

Wonder Woman v2 #94-95 (1995)

After losing the title of Wonder Woman to the Bana-Mighdall Amazon named Artemis, Diana is captured by the combined forces of Poison Ivy, Cheshire, and the Cheetah. She must defeat these deadly foes without her Gods-given gifts.

Read these issues online at Comixology.

Wonder Woman v2 #118-119 (1997)

In these John Byrne-penned issues, the Cheetah returns more dangerous than ever. These issues mark a few dramatic twists and turns, which ultimately lead to Diana’s shocking death at Neron’s hands a few issues later.

Read these issues online at Comixology.

Wonder Woman v2 #186-187 (2002-2003)

After Minerva loses her divine powers to the businessman known as Sebastian Ballesteros, she strikes a deal with the spirit of vengeance to reclaim her mantle.

This two-part story serves as the ultimate climax for Phil Jimenez’s run on Wonder Woman. It is dramatic and manages to wrap up all his most pressing plot points.

Read these issues online at Comixology.

Catwoman: When In Rome (2005)

Even though she’s largely been Wonder Woman’s number one nemesis, the Cheetah makes a surprising appearance in this mini-series helmed by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale.

Suspecting that she may have family ties to the mafia, Catwoman travels to Italy to learn the truth about her heritage. This vacation turns deadly when she is forced to face off against the nefarious Cheetah.

Read these issues online at Comixology or purchase the trade paperback on Amazon.

Wonder Woman v3 #1-4, Annual #1 (2006-2007)

Following the dramatic events of “Infinite Crisis,” Donna Troy takes over as Wonder Woman. In her first outing, she is attacked by the combined forces of her sister’s enemies. The Cheetah returns and is revealed to now be able to control her transformations. 

Read these issues online at Comixology or purchase the graphic novel on Amazon.

JLA: Wedding Special, Justice League of America v2 #13-15 (2007)

Following the wedding of superheroes Green Arrow and Black Canary, Lex Luthor assembles an army of supervillains to bring down the Justice League of America. The Cheetah joins this anti-Justice League and faces off once more against the Amazon Princess.

Read these issues online at Comixology or purchase the trade paperback on Amazon.

JLA: Salvation Run (2008)

In this company-wide crossover, DC Comics’ most dangerous villains are transported to an uninhabited island to repent for their crimes. The Cheetah is amongst these criminals and quickly aligns herself with Lex Luthor in order to get back home.

It’s worth noting that the Cheetah was also featured in the issues of Catwoman that tied into this event.

Read these issues online at Comixology or purchase the trade paperback on Amazon.

Wonder Woman v3 #26-33 (2009)

When Gail Simone took over Wonder Woman’s title, fans were excited to see what the critically-acclaimed writer would do with the Amazing Amazon. In 2009, she launched an epic six-part storyline known as “Rise of the Olympian.”

In this event, Wonder Woman faces off against a deadly new foe known as Genocide and deal with the machinations of the Greek Gods as they launch a plot against the Amazon Princess. On top of all of this, she must contend with the return of the Cheetah.

Read these issues online at Comixology or purchase the graphic novel on Amazon.

Justice League #13-14 (2012-2013)

In 2011, DC Comics rebooted its continuity and relaunched 52 new titles under an initiative known as “The New 52.” As part of this, Wonder Woman was given a new origin and the story of the Justice League’s first meeting was retold.

Geoff Johns re-introduced the Cheetah into the New 52 in this two-part story. Minerva is portrayed to be an enigmatic and manipulative woman, who gains divine powers through the use of a mystical dagger.

Read these issues online at Comixology.

Review: Wonder Woman v2 #170

After an epic crossover with the Batman family in Gotham City and a bloody civil war on her home turf of Themyscira, Wonder Woman takes a break from the drama in the one-off “She's a Wonder” story in issue #170 of her second series. The issue itself is a beautiful summation of who Wonder Woman is and offers a multi-faceted view of the character that has largely been ignored by most writers.

Told from the perspective of intrepid reporter Lois Lane, “She's a Wonder” sees Lois spending the day with Wonder Woman as she performs her duties as hero and ambassador. Far from being objective, Lois is looking for the cracks in Wonder Woman’s metaphorical armour from the get-go. Her slightly icy reception of the Amazing Amazon offers a fresh perspective and heightens the tension between the characters. Phil Jimenez writes Lois impeccably and her wittiness is on full display in this issue. Additionally, he takes advantage of Wonder Woman’s role as an ambassador to explore the Amazon’s life outside of superheroics. We see Diana meeting with dignitaries, devoting time to charities and giving speeches on her beliefs. Diana is met with antagonism wherever she goes. People are suspicious of her beliefs and she is unfairly criticized for desiring peace. The issue, in essence, holds up a mirror to society and highlights the cynicism with which people lead their lives. Also on display is her intelligence and generosity. Lois observes Diana as she familiarizes herself with alien technology that could lead to curing diabetes and Diana later spends time stuffing envelopes for a charity. Highlights from this issue include a brief sojourn at the Trevor household where Lois interviews Steve and Etta as well as the scene in which Diana meets with Lex Luthor, who was President at the time, after which Diana is notably upset. The most heartrending scene of the issue, however, features Diana lending her aid to an orphanage in Africa where she cradles the ailing infants until they pass away. Phil Jimenez truly paints Wonder Woman as someone who is a relatable role model. She acknowledges her imperfections and embraces her flaws. As can be expected, his art is just as fabulous as his writing. The characters are vividly depicted within a certain realm of realism and the expressiveness he uses is near unmatched. He also flexes his style muscles by depicting various characters in an array of casual and professional attire. Bravo, Mr. Jimenez!

For those interested in familiarizing themselves with Wonder Woman, they need look no further than Wonder Woman #170. It is an accessible story that provides a well-rounded cross-section of the character and effectively answers the question of “Who is Wonder Woman?” For fans of Lois Lane, this is a must-have issue as well. She is at the top of her game and her narration throughout is flawlessly rendered. The best thing about issue 170 is that it is a comic that has something to say. It leaves room for discussion and clearly shows that Diana is unique in her pursuit of peace in that she’s not just about busting bad guys but about inspiring change with her words. If anything can be learned from this issue it is that Diana of Themyscira is a true Wonder Woman.

Grade: A+