Saluting the Amazing Amazon…
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UPDATED 5/9/18: William Moulton Marston, Wonder Woman’s creator, was born on this date in 1893. This first ran in 2016, but now’s the perfect time to present it again. Dig it. — Dan
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At the beginning of WONDER WOMAN WEEK, 13 of the comics industry’s top pros revealed how the Amazon princess changed their lives (click here).
Now, with the United Nations declaring it Wonder Woman Day on Friday (10/21), they’re all back with their picks for their favorite WW stories ever. (UPDATED 12/14/16: Unfortunately, the UN bowed to pressure from 45,000 ill-informed petitioners who say Wonder Woman doesn’t deserve this honor. We strongly disagree with their reasoning. Click here for more on that.)
Who are they? In alphabetical order: Marc Andreyko, Cliff Chiang, Amy Chu, J.M. DeMatteis, Franco, Jamal Igle, Paul Levitz, Andy Mangels, Jeff Parker, Trina Robbins, Greg Rucka, Liam Sharp and Des Taylor. Also included is Christie Marston, granddaughter of Wonder Woman creator, William Moulton Marston.
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For the full WONDER WOMAN INDEX of stories, click here.
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Marc Andreyko, co-writer, Batman ’66 Meets Wonder Woman ’77
Probably Wonder Woman #46 by George Perez, Mindy Newell, Jill Thompson and Romeo Tanghal. It was a powerful, moving story about the suicide of Vanessa’s friend and showed the humanism and love and compassion of Wonder Woman in a tale grounded in realism.
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Cliff Chiang, Wonder Woman artist. His art is featured on the new U.S. Postal Service commemorative stamps
My favorite story is Jill Thompson’s Wonder Woman: The True Amazon. Years ago, I remember Jill telling me the story she had planned and it got me all weepy, and seeing the final book is astounding. Jill has such a strong and nuanced understanding of the character, and has made something instantly classic and beautiful.
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Amy Chu, writer, Sensation Comics Featuring Wonder Woman
So many great stories, but gotta say The Circle by Gail Simone and Terry and Rachel Dodson wins out. I haven’t read Jill Thompson’s new book though! I need to do that! (For Gail Simone’s pick, click here.)
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J.M. DeMatteis, writer, Wonder Woman
I don’t think I have a favorite Wonder Woman story, but I remember the George Perez-Len Wein run being a real breakthrough for the character. And I feel lucky to have written Wonder Woman in both animated (for Justice League Unlimited) and comic-book form (most notably in Justice League 3000/3001). Any time you get to play with these icons, it’s an honor.
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Franco, co-creator of the upcoming Super Powers from DC (co-starring Wonder Woman)
Challenge of the Gods by George Perez and Len Wein.
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Jamal Igle, artist, Sensation Comics Featuring Wonder Woman
My favorite run is Greg Rucka’s Down to Earth storyline, where she establishes the Themysciran embassy, publishes her book Reflection and takes on international despots and overly zealous religious purists. Just a powerful run of the series, followed very closely by Gail Simone’s run.
Adam Hughes
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Paul Levitz, writer and former president and publisher of DC Comics
My favorite run was the one George Perez did, with bits of collaboration by Greg Potter, Len Wein and others.
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Andy Mangels, best-selling author and writer, Wonder Woman ’77 Meets the Bionic Woman
There have been a lot of fantastic Wonder Woman stories told over the last 75 years, but many of the standout storylines happened post-TV show, and mostly, post-Crisis on Infinite Earths.
The original TV pilot with Lynda Carter was one of the strongest comics-to-TV adaptations ever done, but the two-part Feminum Mystique from Season 1, with the Nazis invading Paradise Island and the introduction of Wonder Girl was pure bliss.
In terms of the comics, George Perez’s reinvention of Wonder Woman post-Crisis had some strong storylines, especially the first arc, but Issue #46’s Chalk Drawings, with Mindy Newell, Jill Thompson and Romeo Tanghal, about teen suicide is still a high point.
Issue #170’s She’s A Wonder by Phil Jimenez, with Joe Kelly and Andy Lanning, is an excellent look at Wonder Woman through Lois Lane’s eyes, while Phil’s final issue, #188’s Wonder Boys, was perhaps the crystallization of almost every aspect of Wonder Woman I’ve ever loved (and I’m thanked in the credits!).
Adam Hughes
Gail Simone did some superb character work, and I’ve loved both of Greg Rucka’s runs on the book. Currently, The Legend of Wonder Woman series by Renae De Liz with Ray Dillon is an immense love letter to the character.
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Christie Marston, granddaughter of Wonder Woman creator William Moulton Marston, and family historian
My favorite Wonder Woman stories are the originals (gee, are you shocked?…) but there is one specific story that stands out from the rest; surprisingly it is not from the Golden Age:
The Once and Future Story by Trina Robbins, Colleen Doran and Jackson Guice deals with domestic abuse in a manner that can hit home with both abused and abusers. Despite (or perhaps because of…?) the difficult subject matter, the story is thoroughly engrossing.
It really should be mandatory reading in every school, everywhere. I love seeing Wonder Woman in education and public service; this tale is a shining example of both.
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Jeff Parker, writer, currently on the upcoming Batman ’66 Meets Wonder Woman ’77
It’s hard to say a favorite story, I kind of like the Silver Age ones of her book when you sometimes saw her as a teen or a kid. As a character she unfairly has a lot of weird pressures and expectations lumped on, when I’d rather just see her have cool adventures.
Ross Andru pencils, Mike Esposito inks
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Trina Robbins, Wonder Woman writer/artist and underground comics pioneer
Jill Thompson’s new graphic novel that just came out is a beautiful revisionist take on Wonder Woman’s origin! It’s so feminist that there isn’t even a guy who she rescues that sets her in motion to go to Man’s World and right wrongs. Instead, the catalyst is another Amazon, and the strong suggestion that Diana is in love with her. And Jill’s art is, as always, gorgeous!
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Greg Rucka, writer, Wonder Woman
I’m always gonna have just an unreasonable fondness for George Perez’s first, the sort of retelling of the origin, and the recontextualizing of it. And not only about Diana’s place in it but the Amazons’ place in it.
One can argue that perhaps it hasn’t aged well, but it’s a magical story to me. And I think it’s one of those stories that I found at a very formative age so I found it at the right time and I said, “Oh, I get it. Oh, this is so cool.” So it’s always, always, ALWAYS gonna be that.
All other things being equal — and there are stories that we can go way back on, and you know there are stories that contemporary peers have written that I think are quite wonderful — but it’s always gonna be George. It’s always gonna be George.
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Liam Sharp, artist, Wonder Woman
Nicola Scott and Greg Rucka’s Year One!
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Des Taylor, artist
Easy! Wonder Woman Issue #8: Time Passages, by George Perez and Len Wein. Not only was this an awesome story that gave us insight to Diana’s personal life and the true meaning of her mission on Earth but I loved the way the book was prose heavy and written in diary format.
My favorite parts were her test of skill and strength and the little hint that she went silent whenever Superman was mentioned.
Des Taylor
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For the complete WONDER WOMAN WEEK INDEX, click here.
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Cover images and credits from the Grand Comics Database.
October 21, 2016
Here’s my Wonder Woman Top Ten list! 10) “Wonder Tot and Mister Genie” Wonder Woman #126 by Robert Kanigher, Ross Andru and Mike Esposito from 1961! Robert Kanigher wrote a number of Impossible Stories featuring younger incarnations of Wonder Woman, the most convincing of which was Wonder Tot, perfectly drawn by Ross Andru and Mike Esposito. Kanigher distilled Wonder Woman’s mission down to its essence with Wonder Tot’s limited vocabulary, Ross Andru & Mike Esposito (who would later illustrate the Spider-Man title) drew the most persuasive toddler superhero ever with Wonder Tot, and Queen HIppolyta has never been more sympathetic than when she says, “Thank Hera you’re safe, Wonder Tot! Why, the very thought of what you’ve gone through — makes my blood run cold!” 9) “Return To Paradise Island” Diana Prince: Wonder Woman #183-184 by Mike Sekowsky and Dick Giordano from 1968. Mike Sekowsky’s still-controversial decision to take away Wonder Woman’s Amazon powers resulted in this excellent story where her wits and her courage win the day against the beastly forces of Ares. 8) “The Widow Maker” The Brave And The Bold #87 by Mike Sekowsky and Dick Giordano. Diana Prince: Wonder Woman teams up with Bruce Wayne (Batman) to do a few laps around the race track, and this is as close to a “John Steed/Emma Peel The Avengers” episode as this phase of her career ever produced. Again, intelligence and steely nerve prevail over the grease pit evildoers. 7) “Jerry Lewis meets Wonder Woman” The Adventures of Jerry Lewis #117 by Alan Riefe and Bob Oksner. Diana Prince: Wonder Woman signs her celebrity book for star-struck Jerry Lewis, he promptly breaks her ankle, and when they are magically transported to Paradise Island, since he had injured her, he dresses in her armor for battle against the evil forces – so it’s a typical opportunity for Jerry to cross dress like an Amazon. Unlike their Distinguished Competition, DC is a stickler for continuity and knows how to laugh at itself, so aside from the outrageous premise, the internal logic of the story is excellent and yields a great read. 6) “The Hand That Shook The World” Justice League Of America #100-102 by Len Wein, Dick Dillin, Joe Giella and Dick Giordano. Len Wein’s first JLA story occurred during the annual JLA/Justice Society of America cross-over, and he included The Seven Soldiers Of Victory for good measure, so we end up with 33 superheroes over these three issues. However, it is Diana Prince: Wonder Woman who ends up saving the day when she is left alone in the JLA satellite with the villain. It is never wise to corner an Amazon. 5) “The Beauty Hater!” Diana Prince: Wonder Woman #200 by Denny O’Neil and Dick Giordano. Doctor Cyber was Diana Prince’s primary foe and she kidnaps Diana with the intent to slice off her face without anesthetic, but Diana turns the tables on her wicked plan in this tautly told and beautifully illustrated tale. 4) “The Hypothetical Woman” JLA Classified #16-21 by Gail Simone, Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez and Klaus Janson. When the Justice League title first launched in Showcase magazine, neither Superman or Batman were on the team, but Wonder Woman was, and it is her wisdom here which leads to the resolution of this war which rages in a Third World country with a dictator who acquires superhuman abilities. 3) “Camp Amazonia” Wonder Woman DC RetroActive The 90s #1 by William Messner-Loebs, Lee Moder and Dan Green. Wonder Woman is saddled with babysitting a group of spoiled teenage girls by Etta Candy and she teaches them self-reliance, even how to be heroic with a bunch of ungrateful teenaged boys. A wonderful story. 2) “Trinity” #1-3 by Matt Wagner. How Wonder Woman first met Batman and Superman thanks to a rogue Amazon, R’as Al Ghul and Bizarro, and it’s the kind of Space Western you never knew that you always wanted to see by the masterful Matt Wagner. 1) “DC: The New Frontier” #1-6 by Darwyn Cooke. Earth is being invaded by aliens and Batman is too paranoid to form a Justice League to stop them, Superman is too pacifistic to defend the Earth in that way, so it is up to Wonder Woman to throw the first punch and to get Superman to get his Super together. The late Darwyn Cook brings the Space Race into crytstal clear focus and this is one of the few epics that truly lives up to its name. Happy 75th anniversay, Wonder Woman; HOLA 😀
October 30, 2016
Wow thanks for such indept detail too ten Wonder woman stories I will surely re-read those few Issues I own .I just recently got back into Wonder Woman I into Sensation era and Silver .Thou of late strated to get into 80s era now .Thanks again for your review of too 10.
November 1, 2016
You’re welcome, tonypeace1969! Make sure, also, to pick up the Wonder Woman 75th Anniversary Special, which includes a text piece by Greg Rucka which follows the continuity of Wonder Woman: Rebirth #9! Rucka is doing a remarkable job of reconciling all the incarnations of Wonder Woman over the years, and I believe his current run will remain canon for decades to come 😀
May 9, 2018
My favorite story is The Hiketeia team-up with Batman.
May 11, 2018
I really like Wonder Woman 212, from the original run. It was the first Wonder Woman comic I ever read, so my view might be a bit biased. Len Wien was given the task of fixing the continuity mess that had just happened (An ongoing problem with the title until Crisis ) and he managed to pull all the threads together in to a pretty entertaining story. It also set up the storyline for the next 2 years.