Wonder Woman: 9 Best Comic Issues Of The 1990s

Wonder Woman has entertained fans of DC comics for decades. The 1990s were no exception as she continued appearing in several comics that explored her powers as well as her Amazonian roots.

Apart from her main series, Wonder Woman appeared in ’90s Elseworld storylines like Amazonia and Kingdom Come, both of which featured alternate versions of the character. One-shots, crossover events, and even “humanitarian” comics were some of the other publications in which she appeared. All in all, it was a significant decade for Wonder Woman’s growing popularity. She wasn’t depicted as just a superheroine but also an empathetic protector of her Amazon sisters as well as her human allies.

Superman and Wonder Woman – The Hidden Killer (One-Shot)

The Hidden Killer is a “humanitarian” comic book that featured Wonder Woman and Superman as not just superheroes but also educators. As a result of the wars that America and other countries have fought over time, some landmines continue to be active and harm innocent children.

Talking to such children in wartorn countries, the two Justice League leaders talk about landmine awareness. The story is pretty straightforward and aims to spread a social message. Still, the comic can be seen as an interesting time capsule and rare collector’s item for fans of Wonder Woman.

“The Contest” (Wonder Woman Vol. 2 #90-93)

The Amazons of Themyscira aren’t alone as they even have a rival tribe called the Amazons of Bana-Mighdall. While both tribes fight for territorial control, they also unite to defeat the witch Circe and her demonic plans to take over the island. The crux of the story also includes Hippolyta deciding to send a new Wonder Woman to the world of humans as Diana’s progress in building human relations is slow.

The titular “contest” for the new Wonder Woman is a watershed moment as Artemis ends up taking this mantle. She even dons the iconic red-and-yellow outfit while Diana sports a black uniform and plans to aid her in human society. Apart from a focus on Artemis, the comic also significantly highlights Hippolyta and Diana’s strained mother-daughter relationship.

Kingdom Come (Limited Series)

A four-issue storyline set within the Elseworlds Universe, Kingdom Come is set in the future where the stalwarts of Justice League are on the brink of retirement. Meanwhile, a new age of militant vigilantes leads to the possibility of a world-ending war. Wonder Woman plays a chief role as she coaxes Superman to reform the League. Both also end up imprisoning metahumans while Batman practically acts like a villain, feeling that balance will be restored if all metahumans kill each other.

The ideological conflicts within the heroes add a touch of realism to the story. Exiled from Paradise Island, Wonder Woman also has her own fair share of internal troubles. Alex Ross’ art also makes her stand out as she sports her classic gold armor (which was seen later in the movie Wonder Woman 1984).

“The Challenge Of Artemis” (Wonder Woman Vol. 2 #94-100)

Following the events of The Contest, Artemis introduces herself to the “man’s world” as the new Wonder Woman. However, humans and members of the Justice League give Artemis a cold shoulder as they have been more fond of Diana. Artemis’ public interest also falls as her actions are more violent than the previous Wonder Woman.

The comic perfectly brings out the grey areas within Artemis’ personality while highlighting the popularity that Diana has enjoyed among humans. The clash of ideals between the two Amazon warriors adds to the excitement. Both are morally good characters; it’s just that their approach to justice is different.

Wonder Woman: Amazonia (One-Shot)

Amazonia is one of the best DC Elseworlds stories, presenting an alternate history between 1888 and 1928. The story starts off from the collapse of the British Empire as an American destroys the queen’s lineage and exerts his own militaristic rule from Britain. Not only does this new king wage unnecessary wars but he also snatches aways women’s rights. This prompts Diana (a theater actor forcibly married to an antagonistic Steve Trevor) to lead a counter-revolution.

While Diana’s heroism is the same, Amazonia largely differs from the Wonder Woman continuity. The biggest difference can be Steve Trevor being introduced as a villain rather than Diana’s lover. The alternate history along with steampunk overtones make the one-shot a must-read for fans.

War Of The Gods (Limited Series)

As is evident from its title, War of the Gods describes a monumental battle involving Zeus and the Olympian gods going against other deities in the heavens. As Wonder Woman realizes that this War can wreak havoc on Earth, she teams up with Superman, Captain Marvel, and other heroes to unearth the cause of the conflict.

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Authored by the legendary George Pérez, this crossover event is a good example to show the tensions between Amazonians like Wonder Woman and the Greek Gods above them. Despite being accorded the status of gods, Zeus and his divine peers engage in actions using human lives as collateral damage. Wonder Woman, on the other hand, is always willing to protect the Amazons and humans.

“Wonder Woman: Lifelines” (Wonder Woman Vol. 2 #105-108)

In this storyline, Wonder Woman faces off against three powerful DC characters, all of whom were presumed to be dead. This trio includes Superman’s killer Doomsday, Green Lantern’s powerful enemy Sinestro, and Wonder Woman’s former ally Barry Allen (aka the Flash) .

As Wonder Woman seeks to find the answers behind the sudden resurrections, she engages in several over-the-top battles with these villains. For readers who are looking for action-packed Wonder Woman storylines, “Lifelines” would be a good recommendation.

“Second Genesis” (Wonder Woman Vol. 2 #101-104)

As Darkseid continues his evil acts of universal dominance, he also snatches power from the Olympian Gods. As his forces of Apokolips charge toward Paradise Island, Wonder Woman and her Amazon allies must find a way to defeat the self-proclaimed New God.

Given his immense power and ruthlessness, Darkseid makes for a compelling foe to fight Wonder Woman. Even though the latter has her own tussles with the Gods of Olympus, Diana is willing to unite all forces to save the gods and mortals. Second Genesis is yet another must-read example from the 1990s that shows Diana’s constant struggle to build balance between multiple worlds.

Wonder Woman: The Once and Future Story (One-Shot)

Wonder Woman meets two Irish researchers as they uncover a tablet that tells the story of Artemis and her pursuits to free her mother from the clutches of Theseus. As one of the researchers herself suffers from an abusive husband, Diana finds parallels between the present and the past and vows to save her.

The Once and Future Story presented an empathetic look at Artemis’ backstory while also touching upon a patriarchal society. Instead of just action and mythology, the one-shot succeeds at painting a more introspective picture of Wonder Woman.

About The Author

Shaurya Thapa
(727 Articles Published)

Shaurya Thapa is an Indian freelance journalist who mostly dabbles in writings on cinema, music, and human interest features. When it comes to Screen Rant, he writes lists on a wide array of subjects ranging from international films to mainstream Netflix series and comic book trivia. He also hosts a podcast called ‘BhindiWire’, an Indian parody of IndieWire.

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