Top 10: Comic Book Characters Ruined by A-List Writers

Women in Refrigerators is a term coined by comic book legend Gail Simone and is used to describe a group of female characters who have been abused, depowered, and killed as a plot device to create drama. Unfortunately, it seems like no woman has been safe from this trend and the sad truth in the matter is that many of the worst perpetrators are some of the most successful creators in the comic book industry. More often than not, most of these instances occur in some of the most celebrated works in comics.

In this top ten list, I've counted down some of the worst instances of Women in Refrigerators where A-list writers have seen it pressing to use and abuse female characters as a way of heightening the drama of their stories. This list isn't meant to shame these writers (okay, maybe it is just a little), but it is meant to force us to re-examine the way writers treat women in fiction and to realize that something can be amazing narratively if a woman can make it through a story without being raped, tortured, or killed.

10. Talia al Ghul (DC Comics)

The Perpetrators: Greg Rucka, Grant Morrison

Originally created by Dennis O'Neil and Bob Brown, Talia al Ghul was a brilliant femme fatale whose characterization was inspired by the Bond Girls and the Fu Manchu stories. She was consistently portrayed as one of Batman's greatest love interests and was depicted as being torn between her feelings for the Dark Knight and her loyalty to her father.

In the 2003 story Death and the Maidens, Talia becomes a pawn in her sister Nyssa's schemes to destroy their father's empire. Nyssa repeatedly kills Talia and revives her using the mystical Lazarus Pits. This process drives the character crazy and turns her against not only her father, but Batman as well. This is a rare example where Rucka betrays the female sex by depicting Talia as a helpless victim in Nyssa's schemes.

Several years later, Grant Morrison got his hands on the character and single-handedly destroyed her. Once a viable love interest for Batman, Morrison revealed that Talia drugged the Dark Knight and raped him in order to conceive a child sired by him. From then on, she was consistently portrayed as a stereotypical conniving bitch and was responsible for the death of her son. Dear Grant Morrison, thanks for turning Batman's most complex love interest into a rapist and murderer.

09. Elektra (Marvel)

The Perpetrator: Frank Miller

During his seminal run on Daredevil, Frank Miller introduced the enigmatic Elektra Natchios, a love interest and antagonist for the titular hero. She's largely depicted as a cold, unfeeling assassin who ultimately meets her demise at the hands of Bullseye. She is subsequently resurrected and Miller then takes it upon himself to reveal that she was molested as a child (though this is later recanted).

While Elektra is celebrated as one of Miller's most successful female creations, he does her little justice. She's downright mean and has very little agency. On top of that, she's supposed to be one of Marvel's greatest assassins and yet she's easily made mince meat by Bullseye. Thankfully, Larry Hama and Greg Rucka would rescue the character from the pile of generic ice queens at Marvel in subsequent adventures.

08. Scarlet Witch (Marvel)

The Perpetrators: John Byrne, Brian Michael Bendis

Arguably one of Marvel's most powerful super heroines, Scarlet Witch was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby as part of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. Years later, she became a member of the Avengers and has been with the team ever since.

During her tenure with the West Coast branch of the Avengers, Scarlet Witch is put through hell at the hands of John Byrne. She loses her children and turns evil on more than one occasion. In the process, he also puts her in some pretty hideous outfits to emphasize the fact that she's teetering on the brink of insanity.

As if that wasn't bad enough, Brian Michael Bendis would revisit the "Wanda goes crazy" narrative for Avengers Disassembled. In this story, Wanda's powers go awry and she nearly kills the Avengers. She subsequently blames mutants for all the terrible things that have happened in her life and she alters reality to negate the mutant gene. It's also worth noting that Bendis treats She-Hulk and Wasp with just as much "respect" as Scarlet Witch. She-Hulk gets turned into a lean, mean, green murdering machine and Wasp is depicted as a loose-lipped drunk.

07. Catwoman (DC Comics)

The Perpetrators: Frank Miller, Paul Dini, Judd Winick

Second only to Wonder Woman, Catwoman is one DC Comics' most iconic heroines. Unfortunately, that hasn't saved her from the incapable hands of some writers.

In Frank Miller's Batman: Year One, he takes it upon himself to give Catwoman a new origin story. This time around she is a "dominatrix" (let's be honest, she's a hooker) who operates out of the city's dirty East End and she dons the cat costume as a way of escaping her life. He'd revisit this in The Dark Knight Returns where Selina is portrayed as a fat, aging madame at a brothel who is attacked and trussed up in a Wonder Woman outfit. Oh yeah, this guy so respects women.

While Paul Dini may have proven himself as a capable writer of female characters with his depictions of Harley Quinn and Zatanna, he fumbled while writing Catwoman in Heart of Hush. She became little more than a plot device when he had Hush surgically removed her heart as a way of driving Batman insane.

Catwoman's lack of luck with decent depictions continued in 2011 when Judd Winick was assigned to write her title. While his characterization would improve with later issues, he initially depicted Selina as a reckless and rather stupid character who blindly sleeps with Batman in his first issue. Why must writers treat Catwoman as if she's little more than a blow-up doll?

06. Dazzler (Marvel)

The Perpetrator: Brian Michael Bendis

Introduced in the 1980s, Dazzler starred in a groundbreaking solo series and eventually became an integral member of the X-Men. The character would largely disappear from publication in the 1990s and dropped into the D-list. In more recent years, she's returned to prominence.

After stints in New Excalibur and X-Treme X-Men, Dazzler was scooped up by Brian Michael Bendis for his run on Uncanny X-Men. She became a S.H.I.E.L.D. liaison and was given a super chic outfit… then things got weird. Bendis had Mystique shoot Dazzler in the head and then hold her captive in order to harvest Mutant Growth Hormones from her. Now angry and bitter, Marvel's Lightengale has cut her hair and dresses like she belongs on a street corner. Hey Bendis, Dazzler isn't a character of darkness… she's not Lisbeth Salander, she's Kylie Minogue. Kay thanks.

05. Black Canary (DC Comics)

The Perpetrators: Mike Grell, Frank Miller

Let's be really honest here, Black Canary has been done wrong a lot. She's been continually victimized and hadn't been written right until Chuck Dixon's Birds of Prey. Two of the worst instances of poor characterization come from the desks of Mike Grell and Frank Miller.

During Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunters, Black Canary was relegated to a background player and was depicted as little more than Green Arrow's hapless girlfriend. While investigating a drug ring, she was kidnapped and tortured. This left her emotionally and physically scarred, without her Canary Cry and unable to have children. For a character who is supposed to be one of the greatest martial artists and detectives, it seems unfathomable how she would have even been kidnapped in the first place.

For his alternate reality title All-Star Batman & Robin, Frank Miller introduced Black Canary as a scantily clad bartender whose violent tendencies were only matched by her sexual appetite. As usual, Miller continues his streak of depicting women as violent nymphomaniacs.

04. Jean Grey (Marvel)

The Perpretrator: Grant Morrison

As one of the founding members of the X-Men, Jean Grey is one of the most recognizable female characters at Marvel. She's been consistently depicted as the team's den mother and is portrayed as one of their universe's most powerful characters.

During his run on New X-Men, Grant Morrison seemed to have a personal vendetta against Miss Jean. She went from being one of the more compassionate members of the X-Men to being rather careless and cold. She seemed unconcerned with what her husband Cyclops had been going through after being consumed by Apocalypse and instead went off to play superhero. When she discovers that Cyclops has been engaging in an affair with Emma Frost, she directs her anger towards Emma and subsequently forces her rival to live through all her most painful memories. Shortly after this, Jean hooks up with Wolverine and is then brutally murdered by an imitation of Magneto. All in all, Morrison single-handedly turned the matriarch into a vengeful shrew and then kills her off.

03. Barbara Gordon (DC Comics)

The Perpetrator: Alan Moore

The Killing Joke continues to be cited as one of the greatest Batman stories of all time, but it is also one of the most disgusting displays of disregard towards the female sex. In the pages of this graphic novel, Alan Moore takes one of DC Comics' most influential heroines and does despicable things to her.

During his one-man crusade to drive Commissioner Gordon crazy, the Joker targets his daughter Barbara and uses her in his schemes. He invades her apartment, shoots her, and molests her. He takes pictures of the degrading event and shows them to her father. In the end, Barbara is left barely holding on to her sanity and is confined to a wheelchair for the rest of her life.

Let's get this straight, the vast majority of the comic community cites this story as the best and it is a story that features the injuring and rape of a character strictly for the emotional torment of another character. This isn't okay and it should never be. It would take the combined efforts of John Ostrander, Chuck Dixon, and Gail Simone, as well as two decades worth of storytelling to wipe the smear of Alan Moore's contempt towards women off of Barbara Gordon.

02. Wonder Woman (DC Comics)

The Perpetrators: John Byrne, Frank Miller

As the most iconic superheroine of all time, Wonder Woman has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions. However, she's also been the victim to many crimes committed against her by supposedly talented writers. From her eye-roll worthy Silver Age depictions to the degrading thong costume of the '90s, Wonder Woman has never been more wronged than when John Byrne and Frank Miller got their hands on her.

During his run on Wonder Woman, John Byrne tore through the Amazing Amazon's world like a bulldozer. He removed her supporting cast and replaced it with inferior carbon copies, sacrificed Themyscira, and turned the title into a rotating guest starring book. As if that weren't enough, he killed off Wonder Woman without a fight and then messed with her continuity by having her mother take up the mantle.

For The Dark Knight Strikes Again and All-Star Batman & Robin, Frank Miller fell into the tried and true Wonder Woman as feminazi characterization. He presented her as a violent and irrational man-hating Amazon who turned into putty in Superman's manly arms. Many other writers would portray her this way, but Miller's just too easy a target here. Maybe he should start writing women like multi-dimensional characters instead of sexually aggressive hero-hookers.

01. Carol Danvers (Marvel)

The Perpetrators: James Shooter, Chris Claremont

As Ms. Marvel, Carol Danvers was Marvel's very first feminist heroine. Her title regularly subverted stereotypical portrayals of women in comic books and she became one of the most capable heroes in the Marvel Universe. Then she joined the Avengers and she was sucked into a vacuum of victimization.

In Avengers #200, it was revealed that Carol had been raped by an otherworldly being known as Immortus and gives birth to a baby boy after a gestation period of only a few days. Her teammates seem unconcerned with her health and sanity, as they gush over the pregnancy while simultaneously ignoring Carol's pleas for help. In the end, they allow her to be carted off to another dimension by her rapist and show zero regard for her well-being. By and large, this storyline continues to be one of the most disgusting instances of the mistreatment of women at Marvel and the company has long tried to act like it never happened.

Former Ms. Marvel writer Chris Claremont would attempt to rectify this event, but only ended up doing more damage. He has the then-evil mutant known as Rogue attack Carol. Rogue absorbs too much of Carol's abilities and memories, then dumps her seemingly lifeless body off the Golden Gate Bridge. Carol is subsequently saved by Spider-Woman and is then taken in by the X-Men. It is then revealed that this event has left Carol without an emotional attachment to her memories and she has lost her superpowers. Shortly after this, Carol regains her abilities and receives a major power upgrade. While it seemed like Claremont was building towards Carol joining the X-Men full-time, she would leave the team when Professor Xavier allowed Rogue to join. Even though the X-Men stood with Carol and threatened to quit the team, Professor X pulled rank. His lack of loyalty towards Carol proved to be the nail in her coffin. Unfortunately, it seems like Claremont's decision to write Carol off denied her A-list status and allowed Rogue to take her place instead.

Thankfully, most of the women on this list have been taken in by more capable writers who have the utmost respect for them. The lesson to be learned here is that women are not objects to be maimed and injured for the sake of shock value. Beyond that, it is a matter of consistency as well. More often than not, many of the women landed on this list due to a lack of concern towards established characterization.

Top 5: Batman Love Interests

Lois Lane and Mary Jane Watson. These two women are the undisputed true loves of Superman and Spider-Man. For decades, they have stood by their superhero's sides and have earned the respect of many a comic book fan in the process.

Unfortunately, it seems like fellow A-lister Batman has had a tougher time finding the love of his life. He's had many girlfriends over the years, but none have ever quite led to anything long-lasting. It seems like he's destined to be an eternal James Bond. That said, it's still not too late for him to settle down.

In this list, I examine his five greatest loves and detail their compatibility with the Dark Knight.

05. Julie Madison

Julie Madison was a socialite who managed to capture the heart of the infamous playboy Bruce Wayne.  Julie was Bruce's first love and this led to a brief engagement. However, their relationship would not last. Julie had become a film actress and was unsatisfied with the lack of stability Bruce offered her. After calling it quits, she went on to marry into royalty and became the ruler of the fictional kingdom of Moldacia.

Julie was also Bruce's love interest in Matt Wagner's Batman & The Monster Men and Batman & The Mad Monk. In these revised story lines of Batman's early adventures, Julie was depicted as a law student and the heiress to her father's company. She ends things with Bruce after discovering his double life as Batman and becomes a member of the Peace Corps.

Julie's status as Batman's first love holds a lot of weight to it, especially since the pair had quite a bit in common. They shared a similar devotion to their families, had a similar economic background, and maintained a desire for justice to be done. However, it's quite clear that Julie is better off without Bruce in her life as she's been consistently depicted as being happier and more successful after their relationship ended.

04. Silver St. Cloud

Often cited as "the one that got away," Silver St. Cloud was a businesswoman who owned an event planning firm. She met Bruce Wayne at a party and the pair hit it off right away. Silver showed a loyalty and dedication to Bruce like no other love interest had before. When he was captured by Doctor Strange, she went to Dick Grayson for help and pursued leads to find her boyfriend. These events led to Silver cleverly deducing Batman's identity, which made her one of the very first comic book love interests to do so. Silver then made the decision to end their relationship, realizing that Batman's mission was more important.

Silver is often overshadowed by lesser Batman love interests, but remains one of the most endearing. She was caring and compassionate, as well as quite clever. She also showed an understanding for Batman's mission and this truly emphasizes the notion that it's quite possible that things could turn out well for the Dark Knight and Silver St. Cloud. (Unless, of course, you're Silver St. Cloud in a Kevin Smith story…)

03. Catwoman

Selina Kyle, otherwise known as the master thief Catwoman, is Batman's most widely recognized love interest. Across all mediums, she has shamelessly flirted with the Dark Knight and, in some continuities, has even married him.

In the comic continuity, Selina began dating Bruce Wayne when she was making the rounds as a socialite in Gotham City. This relationship eventually fizzled out, but the pair rekindled their romance on multiple occasions in their costumed identities. Each time, however, the relationship would sour due to Batman's lack of commitment and Catwoman's addiction to stealing.

While many people believe Catwoman to be Batman's "true love," the two simply can't seem to work it out. Batman's devotion to his mission and Catwoman's criminal background seem to drive a wedge between the pair that neither can quite seem to dislodge. On top of that, whenever Bruce and Selina wed in a story, her death often follows. Clearly, this is one cat that shouldn't be domesticated.

02. Vicki Vale

Vicki Vale was Batman's answer to Lois Lane. She was a smart and sassy reporter who has been one of Batman's longest running love interests. Vicki was introduced in the late-1940s and was physically based off of a young Marilyn Monroe. Her stories often revolved around her quest for uncovering Batman's true identity, which inevitably made her a perpetual thorn in the Dark Knight's side.

Vicki would eventually leave Gotham City and spent a great deal of time in Europe. Upon her return, she resumes her career as a reporter and rekindles her romance with Bruce Wayne. When she is brutally attacked by the Ventriloquist, Bruce ends things in order to protect the intrepid reporter from his dangerous life.

Truth be told, there is very little keeping Vicki and Bruce from being together. She's a very capable journalist who can take care of herself and has demonstrated an independence that is compatible with Bruce's unpredictable lifestyle.

01. Talia al Ghul

As far as love stories go, the romance of the Dark Knight and the Daughter of the Demon is both epic and tragic. Batman met Talia al Ghul in the windswept deserts of her father's headquarters, where the pair shared a brief but meaningful night together. He became her "beloved" and her unwavering love for the Dark Knight gave her the strength to seek independence from her father.

In the years that followed, Talia has gone against her father's desires and even temporarily became Batman's partner in fighting crime (much to Catwoman's dismay). Though they parted ways, Talia's love for Bruce has lived on.

Unfortunately, Talia has fallen victim to some seriously bad writing and was transformed from Batman's greatest love to his most hated enemy. Grant Morrison's one man crusade to turn Talia into a psychotic bitch seems to have soured any potential for a reunion between the femme fatale and the Dark Knight. 

However, it remains evident that previous writers treated their relationship with respect and it is not hard to imagine that one day Bruce Wayne and Talia al Ghul could settle down together. After all, where else is he going to find an ass-kicking independent woman who knows how to run a business, dress like a supermodel, and give up a criminal lifestyle to put up his dinosaur-sized baggage?

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.

Review: Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal - Episode 2

After becoming the heroine known as Sailor Moon, Usagi Tsukino is tasked with finding allies to help her in her quest to protect a mysterious Princess. In "Act 2: Ami -SAILOR MERCURY-," the shy genius Ami Mizuno is introduced and subsequently becomes the water-wielding Sailor Mercury.

As a character, Ami Mizuno is remarkably multi-faceted from the get-go. Her intelligence has alienated her from her classmates and her loneliness is painfully obvious. When Usagi introduces herself to this enigmatic genius, the audience witnesses a shift in Ami's characterization and priorities. What is more interesting, however, is the contrast between the two. Where Ami is focused and precise, Usagi is scatterbrained and impulsive. This leaves room for some pretty funny moments, including one scene where Usagi shakes an arcade machine in an attempt to earn a prize from it. The friendship that blossoms within the span of this 20 minute episode is great and only serves to emphasize Usagi's remarkable ability to befriend anyone and everything.

With Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal staying faithful to the manga, the series has gotten off to a great start and sets a pace that isn't as meandering as its predecessor. In the original anime, it took several episodes before Sailor Mercury was introduced and the villains' goal was to harvest energy. Thankfully, Crystal debuts Sailor Mercury in its second episode and varies the tactics of its villains as they search for the mysterious Silver Crystal. If the series continues on in this vein, there's no doubt that it will quickly pick up steam and become the best adaptation thus far of Naoko Takeuchi's groundbreaking manga series.

Top 20: Best Wonder Woman Stories, Part 1

As far as superheroines go, no one is as iconic as Wonder Woman. Introduced in 1941, this Amazing Amazon has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions of people with her incredible adventures. Personally speaking, I've been reading Wonder Woman's comics since I was a kid and have devoured as many issues as I can. As such, I've developed an affection for the character.

Presented here are the 20 greatest Wonder Woman stories (that I've read). Whether you're a hardcore Wonder Woman fan or new to comics, there will be something for everyone here. 

Sit back and experience the wonder...

20. The Twelve Labors,

Wonder Woman v1 #212-222
Written by: Len Wein, Cary Bates, Robert Kanigher, Eliott S. Maggin, Martin Pasco
Illustrated by: Curt Swan, Irv Novick, John Rosenberger, Dick Giordano

Like Hercules before her, Wonder Woman undergoes a series of trials to prove her worth to the Justice League after an extended absence from the team.

This ten issue arc is a varied display of Wonder Woman at her finest. Over the course of this narrative, the members of the Justice League observe the Amazing Amazon as she takes down such threats as the nefarious Mars and the devious Dr. Cyber. While "The Twelve Labors" varies in quality, it features some beautiful art and does a great job of showcasing not only Wonder Woman, but the other members of the League as well.

19. The Wrath of Dr. Cyber,

Wonder Woman v1 #178-182
Written by: Dennis O'Neil
Illustrated by: Mike Sekowsky

When Wonder Woman's lover Steve Trevor is murdered, the Amazing Amazon must hunt down his killer. There's only one problem -- her fellow Amazons have left the mortal plane to replenish their magics, leaving Wonder Woman without her powers. Now fully mortal, Diana becomes a master martial artist and takes off in pursuit of Steve's murderer.

During the 1960s, sales for Wonder Woman's title plummeted and Dennis O'Neil was brought on to revitalize the comic. He brought the character into the mod era without her powers and transformed her into somewhat of a James Bond (in cuter outfits of course!). In this first arc, Diana proves just how badass she can be without powers and she comes up against one of the coolest villains from the Silver Age (Dr. Cyber). For fans of the Sean Connery 007, these issues should be right up your alley.

18. War of the Wonder Women,

Wonder Woman v1 #204-206

Written by: Robert Kanigher, Cary Bates

Illustrated by: Don Heck

After the death of her mentor I-Ching, Diana returns to Paradise Island. Before she can reclaim her title of Wonder Woman, she is challenged by the mysterious warrior Nubia. It is soon revealed that Nubia is Diana's twin, but was kidnapped by the God of War when she was an infant. Now an adult, Nubia has returned, but is she friend or foe?

The introduction of Nubia is fraught with a lot of problematic elements that come across as racist. This three issue arc should be picked apart and critiqued within an inch of its life. At the same time, it's an important and noteworthy arc due to the fact that it introduces (arguably) the first black superheroine in comics. Nubia establishes herself as a complex and conflicted character who is a worthy rival to Wonder Woman. This arc is notable for the beginning of Diana's career with the United Nations as well, which was a great way to bring the character into the Bronze Age of Comics.

17. The Queen of Fables,

JLA #47-49

Written by: Mark Waid

Illustrated by: Bryan Hitch

When the Queen of Fables is released from an ancient mystical tome, she comes to believe that Wonder Woman is her most hated foe -- Snow White. She puts the Amazing Amazon in a deep slumber and it is up to her teammates in the Justice League to save her.

Even though Wonder Woman is most closely associated with Greek mythology, the usage of fairytale lore works remarkably well within the context of a Wonder Woman story. It also brilliantly subverts the archetypes as well, proving that the Amazing Amazon doesn't truly need a bunch of white knights to protect her.

16. The Circle,

Wonder Woman v13 #14-17

Written by: Gail Simone

Illustrated by: Terry Dodson, Rachel Dodson, Ron Randall

With Themyscira left without Amazons following a war with America, the island is invaded by the forces of Captain Nazi. A newly resurrected Queen Hippolyta and her estranged daughter must fight them off, while also contending with the return of an Amazonian cabal that once plotted to kill Diana.

Gail Simone was joined by superstar artist Terry Dodson for this opening arc to her impressive run on Wonder Woman. This tale adds layers to the Wonder Woman's backstory without compromising what makes it so unique. It's also got a lot of action with the right amount of humour and heart that has become a trademark for Simone's work.

15. Chalk Drawings,

Wonder Woman v2 #46

Written by: George Perez, Mindy Newell

Illustrated by: Jill Thompson

In this sobering one-off issue, George Perez and Mindy Newell explore suicide and the emotional impact it leaves behind. While Wonder Woman may be used to battling demons and super villains, the idea of someone taking their own life leaves the Amazon with a much different perspective on human life.

During the Perez era, Wonder Woman faced many real world issues and saw first-hand how self-destructive people could be. While he'd dealt with abuse and drug addiction in previous story lines, this issue in particular remains especially relevant in today's climate of high suicide rates among teenagers.

14. A Star in the Heavens,

Wonder Woman v3 #24-25

Written by: Gail Simone

Illustrated by: Bernard Chang

In this two-parter, Wonder Woman heads to Hollywood in order to act as a consultant for a movie based on her life. Things go from bad to worse when the Queen of Fables shows up to sabotage the production.

It's been a long-standing joke that Wonder Woman had never had a live-action theatrical film of her own. Writer Gail Simone takes that head on and uses these two issues to explore the very real problems of the depiction of women on film. It's clever and witty, while still being quite critical of the film industry. At its core, this two-parter is Simone giving the middle-finger to every film exec who thinks Wonder Woman needs to be changed in order for audiences to love her.

13. Strangers in Paradise,

Wonder Woman v2 #37-40

Written by: George Perez, Mindy Newell

Illustrated by: Chris Marrinan

When the Amazons open their island paradise to outsiders for the very first time in centuries, the Goddess of Discord uses her Golden Apples to turn everyone against each other. It's up to Wonder Woman and intrepid reporter Lois Lane to stop this Goddess from behaving badly.

If there's one thing that Perez did well, it was incorporating Greek mythology into Wonder Woman's stories in a seamless way. He did so impeccably in this four-parter, as the Goddess Eris unleashed her fury upon the Amazons and their mortal guests. It was also a chance to see Lois Lane outside of her role as Superman's love interest.

12. The Serpent and the Amazon,

Wonder Woman v1 #274-278

Written by: Gerry Conway

Illustrated by: Jose Delbo

On a day like any other, Wonder Woman meets an environmental activist named Debbie Domaine. This meeting proves fateful as Debbie is subsequently kidnapped and transformed into the evil Cheetah in order to kill the Amazing Amazon. The terrorist organization known as Kobra is revealed to be behind this plot and Wonder Woman must do everything within her power to stop them.

The Golden Age and Silver Age weren't terribly friendly to Wonder Woman. The thinly plotted stories often featured goofy villains and woefully racist caricatures, while the character herself got tied up or bound in nearly every issue. Thankfully, the Bronze Age brought on a tougher and more competent Wonder Woman. These four issues demonstrate that perfectly and serve to introduce a much more interesting Cheetah to readers. These issues also get props for addressing environmental concerns.

11. The Savage Moon,

Wonder Woman v2 #28-35

Written by: George Perez

Illustrated by: Chris Marrinan

When the Cheetah pilfers Wonder Woman's golden lasso, the Amazing Amazon embarks on a globe-trotting adventure to recover her stolen weapon. In the process, she stumbles upon a long lost tribe of Amazons… and they're none too happy to see her.

One of the most fascinating things George Perez did during his time on Wonder Woman was introduce the Bana-Mighdall faction of Amazons. They were a splinter group of Amazons who chose the way of war instead of peace, living in the sand-swept deserts of east Africa. Their contrast to the Amazons on Diana's homeland was fantastic and it served to really give the character further perspective into her heritage.

Part two can be found here: https://divas-femmes-fatales.blogspot.ca/2014/07/top-20-best-wonder-woman-stories-part-2.html

Review: Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal - Episode 1

Nearly 23 years after her debut in the pages of Nakayoshi magazine, Sailor Moon returns to television for the first time since 2004 in Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal. This series is a brand-new anime adapted from the original manga created by Naoko Takeuchi and promises to be more faithful to its source text.

In its first episode, the anime introduces its titular heroine Usagi Tsukino. She is an ordinary 8th grader whose life takes an extraordinary turn after meeting a mysterious black cat. Usagi subsequently transforms into the crime fighter Sailor Moon and rescues her best friend from the clutches of an as yet unseen evil organization.

The character designs for the series are based off of Naoko Takeuchi's art from the manga. It is incredibly gorgeous and detailed. The animation itself is crisp and modern, creating a beautifully colourful world for these iconic characters to inhabit. By and large, it is a vast improvement upon the original anime which was fairly dated and inconsistent with its art. Additionally, the music is ambient and does not distract from the action, yet it is whimsical at times as well. The voice acting thus far is passable. Kotono Mitsuishi returns to voice Usagi, which means we can expect to hear her childish and grating tone throughout. It's a slight misstep, as it would have been nice to hear a more mature voice used this time around. Beyond that, the voices are on point. Luna's casting in particular should be praised. Ryou Hirohashi provides the voice for the character and interprets her as being much younger than previous adaptations.

For fans of the manga, Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal will be a welcome addition into the iconic franchise. Its first episode takes great care to stay close to its source text, providing a more whimsical and darker take than the first anime. For those who grew up with the first anime, this series will likely be an adjustment. Anyone with nostalgic hang-ups will likely find it harder to embrace this new style and tone. With just one episode in, the jury is out in terms of how successfully the producers will adapt Takeuchi's iconic series. Nevertheless, it's smooth sailing so far.

Review: Wonder Woman - Warkiller

After the events of Rise of the Olympian, Gail Simone set to work delivering her last major arc on Wonder Woman. Warkiller is comprised of two stories, Wonder Woman's journey to Japan to apprehend Doctor Psycho and her quest back home to reclaim Themyscira. In this set, Simone promises to tie up the loose ends left over by her previous arcs and return the Amazons back to their former glory.

The first two issues in this collection are a team-up between Wonder Woman and Black Canary as they travel to Japan to put an end to a metahuman fighting ring. These issues are light in tone and hinges on the friendship built between the two characters due to their time spent together on the Justice League. It's full of action and punchy dialogue. Nevertheless, Simone's treatment of Canary seems a little off. Given the fact that Simone spent years writing the character in Birds of Prey makes this all the more puzzling. The issue at hand is simply that she's trying too hard to make Canary the funny man to Wonder Woman's straight man.

The rest of the collection is comprised of the four-part Warkiller. Wonder Woman returns to Themyscira and is imprisoned by the combined forces of Achilles' Olympians and Alcyone's Circle. Unhappy about her confinement, Artemis leads a faction of Amazons against her captors in order to free her ally and restore balance to their island. Warkiller acts as a satisfying conclusion to the loose trilogy of stories beginning with The Circle. Much like the rest of her run, this arc is introspective and seeping with bloody action. The difference here is that she ceases to shake things up and instead returns things to the status quo. This, of course, isn't a bad thing. She re-establishes the Amazon's hold on Themyscira, solidifies Diana's right to be Wonder Woman, and gets rid of that pesky Nemesis as the Amazing Amazon's love interest.

As far as unofficial trilogies go, Simone's Warkiller is a fair conclusion to the events of The Circle and Rise of the Olympian. While it lacks surprising plot twists and provides way too much "girl talk," it does a remarkable job in tying up all the loose ends that had been left with the preceding story arcs.

Rating: B