If you’ve watched DC’s excellent Wonder Woman film, you’re probably craving more. While Wonder Woman 2 is a long way off, there are decades of comics that you can read while you wait.
Of course, not every comic about Diana Prince is worth reading. Like every comic book character, Wonder Woman has had her share of bad stories. If you want to learn more about Wonder Woman , but don’t know what to read, these Wonder Woman comic recommendations are a great place to start.
The Legend of Wonder Woman
If you’re completely new to Wonder Woman, Renae De Liz’s 9-issue miniseries is an ideal starting point. The series was conceived as a streamlined re-telling of Wonder Woman’s origins, and it’s definitely friendly to new readers. It’s the ideal Wonder Woman primer; it introduces many crucial characters and contains plenty of Amazonian lore.
If you loved the recent Wonder Woman film, you’ll find a lot to like here. Like the movie, this book has a period setting, kickass training sessions, and a delightful portrayal of Etta Candy. It’s a fast and entertaining read that will fill you in on all the Wonder Woman basics.
Where to buy: You can purchase the complete 9-issue series on Things From Another World.
Wonder Woman: The Hiketeia
It’s impossible to talk about Wonder Woman without mentioning Greg Rucka. Rucka has been writing Wonder Woman comics off and on for more than 15 years, and he’s created some incredible stories during that time. If you pick up a Wonder Woman book with Rucka’s name on it, you can expect top-notch storytelling — Rucka is one of the strongest and most consistent writers in the industry.
Rucka’s first Wonder Woman story, The Hiketeia, might just be his best. It’s a beautiful, tragic story with some thought-provoking and compelling themes. While it’s most famous for the Wonder Woman/Batman showdown that appears on the cover, the real highlight of this story is Rucka’s portrayal of Diana. Diana may be a god, but in this tale, she feels like a believable human being (with god-like powers and a complex heritage). If you want to get into Wonder Woman, this story is a fantastic place to start.
Where to buy: Although The Hiketeia was originally published as a graphic novel, the standalone book has gone out of print. You can now find the story in Wonder Woman By Greg Rucka Vol. 1, which is available to purchase on Amazon.
Wonder Woman: The True Amazon
If you want to read a Wonder Woman story, but don’t want to deal with comic book continuity, The True Amazon may be the book for you. This original graphic novel, which was written and illustrated by Eisner-winner Jill Thompson, is truly a standalone story. In fact, this doesn’t feel much like a comic at all; it’s more like an adult storybook.
This isn’t exactly Diana at her most likable. In fact, she’s downright obnoxious for a large portion of the book. That said, she shows real growth over the course of the story. By the time this tale concludes, she’s become a hero that’s more than worthy of the Wonder Woman moniker.
Where to buy: You can buy a hardcover version of Wonder: Woman The True Amazon from Things From Another World.
Wonder Woman: Year One
Like Batman: Year One and Green Arrow: Year One before it, Wonder Woman: Year One chronicles Diana’s first year as a superhero. The story, which was written by Greg Rucka and illustrated by Nicola Scott, is a new but excellent addition to the Wonder Woman canon.
If you’re planning on picking up this book, make sure you grab Year One and not Earth One. Earth One isn’t a bad book — it’s visually stunning and thought-provoking — but it assumes that the reader is familiar with Wonder Woman history. Year One is a great choice for both new and long-time readers.
Where to buy: You can pick up a paperback copy of Year One on Things From Another World.
Wonder Woman by Brian Azzarello
Brian Azzarello’s run on Wonder Woman is incredibly polarizing. While some readers adored his take on the character, others responded poorly to his dark, twisted, and action-heavy run. Love it or hate it, Azzarello’s Wonder Woman work is definitely worth checking out. Azzarello leans heavily on Wonder Woman’s mythological connections; gods like Ares and Hades play a major role in the story.
Azzarello’s storytelling is top-notch, but Cliff Chiang’s spectacular artwork elevates this run to an entirely new level. The unique character designs and kinetic fight scenes make this an engaging story from start to finish. Chiang doesn’t illustrate all 35 issues of this run, but his artwork is still a major highlight.
Where to buy: Azzarello’s Wonder Woman kicks off with the six-issue Blood story arc, which is available in trade paperback on Things From Another World. This story also appears in the Wonder Woman 75th Anniversary Box Set. The first 18 issues of the run are collected in Absolute Wonder Woman Vol. 1. Volume 2 is set to release at a later date.
Wonder Woman: The Circle
When Gail Simone began writing Wonder Woman, the character wasn’t in the best of shape. DC’s notoriously unpopular Amazons Attack event had just concluded, and Wonder Woman sales had plummeted.
Thankfully, Simone was able to get Wonder Woman right back on track. Her debut Wonder Woman story, The Circle, is a character-driven story that returned Diana to her roots. When it was released, it felt like a soft reboot of the character, and the tale still stands on its own today.
Where to buy: The Circle is collected in the Wonder Woman 75th Anniversary Box Set, which is available on Things From Another World.
Wonder Woman: Gods and Mortals
If you’re interested in reading classic Wonder Woman, you can’t go wrong with George Perez. Wonder Woman was created by William Moulton Marston and Harry G. Peter in the 1940s, but Perez is the father of the modern version of the character. Many essential elements of Wonder Woman, including the city-state Themyscira, were the work of Perez.
Perez’s first Wonder Woman story, Gods and Mortals was designed to introduce readers to a brand new version of Wonder Woman. Today’s it’s the perfect introduction to modern-day Wonder Woman.
Where to buy: Gods and Mortals appears in the Wonder Woman 75th Anniversary Box Set. If you’re not a fan of 80s comics, you may want to check out the animated version of this classic tale.