The Duality of Wonder Woman: Amazonian Warrior, Princess of Peace

Wonder Woman: Blood, by Brian Azarello and Cliff Chiang
DC’ The New 52 launch wasn’t exactly welcomed with open arms, but it’s responsible for one of the strongest Wonder Woman arcs to date, and a must-read on this list. Brian Azarello and Cliff Chiang set the bar high for New 52 narratives right off the bat, as Wonder Woman’s Blood arc was easily one of the best debuts. In it, Diana’s life turns out to be a lie, as both she and readers discover she’s the daughter of Zeus (rather than a divine creation made from clay and magic), and is thus thrown into a gauntlet of vengeful gods making their claim to Mt. Olympus. We even find out that the demi-goddess was secretly trained by the master of war himself, Ares, in her youth. This blast of the past eventually comes full circle as Wonder Woman takes on the mantle of Ares, becoming the God of War herself. Wonder Woman shows mercy in this run, but she is not a warrior to be trifled with. She bests the best of the Olympian pantheon and has no qualms about solving her issues with sword and shield in hand. Cliff Chiang’s take on both adult and teenage Diana ranks his most impressive work to date—not to mention the fact that it’s some of my personal favorite artwork of the Amazon princess. He beautifully illustrates the aggression and tension that remains at the forefront throughout the series. It’s speculated this take on the Amazon princess most influenced the final Wonder Woman film.

The Justice League: The New 52, by Geoff Johns, Jim Lee, and Scott Williams
Maybe this one’s a given, but where Wonder Woman was book was occupied by the gods, you really get to see her let lose on Justice League foes in this New 52 run, and it highlights her as a sword-slashing, arm breaking Amazon you don’t want to mess with. There’s a bland romance with Superman along the way, admittedly not a highlight, but since it runs parallel with her won New 52 run mentioned above, it does provide a glimpse of her steady evolution as she ascends to godhood. Even better: Wonder Woman’s New 52 costume was redesigned by the one and only Jim Lee, as he was charged with outfitting and drawing the New 52 revamp of the Justice League. His art gives Wonder Woman the ferocity and grace she deserves. 

Wonder Woman: The Circle, by Gail Simone, Terry Dodson, and Rachel Dodson
Gail Simone, known for groundbreaking feminist comic narratives, brings fun and originality back to the Amazon, who had been suffering from a few dry runs. In The Circle, Wonder Woman comes out swinging, as we find not all the Amazons were thrilled about the birth of a new child, and are contemplating death for the newborn princess—and that’s just the beginning of her worries. Diana has to fight a group of hyper-intelligent Gorillas, neo-Nazis (because it wouldn’t be Wonder Woman without Nazis…) and deal with the loss of her powers. Terry Dodson’s artwork has always worked well for Diana. He’s never afraid to embrace her Amazonian physique, while still playing up her grace and strength. All in all, this arc is also great fun, and powerfully and brilliantly shows that nothing can stand in Diana’s way—not even talking gorillas.

Emissary of Love

Wonder Woman: Earth One, by Grant Morrison and Yanick Paquette
Grant Morrison’s Earth One introduced a new origin story to the mythos of Diana and the Amazons, diving into the lush world of Paradise Island and taking an intricate look at the landscape and the environment that grooms our future Wonder Woman to be. The exploration is well worth it. Artist Yanick Paquette beautifully illustrates Amazonian technology, including the invisible jet, which looks sleek and alien, reminiscent of Atlantis. But more importantly, also featured is a young and naive Wonder Woman who follows Steve Trevor into the world of man and diffuses every conflict she enters without one ounce a violence. That’s right: Earth One may be one of the most peaceful Wonder Woman stories ever. She flawlessly diffuses tensions on both Paradise Island and in the world of man. In this book, she is truly a beacon of hope and a manifestation of love.

Sensation Comics Featuring Wonder Woman, Vol 1 & 2, by Gail Simone, Gilbert Hernandez, Marcus To, and Ethan Van Sciver
If you want a greatest hits album of Wonder Woman narratives, look no further. Sensation Comics is a gateway into what Wonder Woman embodies for different creators and fans. You see her peacefully diffuse chaos in Gotham while Batman’s away, as Gail Simone pens a story so darn cool, you’ll end up asking why Batman doesn’t leave his rogues gallery for Wonder Woman to take care of. Ever wondered what Wonder Woman would look like as a rock star, headlining her own band? No? How about Wonder Woman comforting a boy about how silly heteronormative behavior can be? She’s a hero in every story, and every story reflects the brilliant, loving version of Wonder Woman the world needs right now.

Wonder Woman Rebirth: The Lies, by Greg Rucka and Liam Sharp
The DC Rebirth run brings Greg Rucka, a fan favorite writer for the Amazon princess, back into the fold, with stunningly detailed art by Liam Sharp that gives us a new, yet instantly familiar, representation of an icon. Wonder Woman’s trying to find her way back to Theymiscara, and seeks the help of a friend-turned-enemy, Barbara Ann, aka Cheetah. Cheetah is one of Wonder Woman’s oldest villains, and Rucka delves into the dense history of their relationship. The result is a study of their sisterhood, and how Diana has never given up on Barbara. Their relationship is the beating heart of the book, and it gives Diana so much new depth. Along the way, Liam Sharp beautifully illustrates some of Wonder Woman’s best panels ever. Check out the panel below  panel features Diana looking into Cheetah’s eyes with such passion and conviction, it only makes the narrative hit that much more powerful.

How are you celebrating Wonder Woman Day?