Wonder Woman is one of the greatest characters in the DC universe. Along with Superman and Batman, Wonder Woman makes up part of the trinity, symbolizing truth to Superman's hope and Batman's justice. A strong character for female readers, her stories have since captivated many fans of both genders over her long 70-year run and has shown up in a variety of cartoons and films. However, with a character with that long of a history, she's bound to have a variety of different interpretations. Some being the best the character has ever been and some that put her at her most sinister.
Here are the 5 best versions of Wonder Woman and the 5 most evil.
10 Evil: Injustice Wonder Woman
One of the most recent Elseworlds interpretations on the list, Injustice Wonder Woman is easily one of the evilest versions of the character seen yet. Not only did she see Superman's descent into evil before it happened, but she also actively encouraged it. Practically manipulating the Man of Steel when he was at his worst for her own personal gain. Not only that but by the events of the original Injustice video game, she had been ruling Themyscira with an iron fist. If it wasn't for the timely intervention of the good Justice League and her defeat from her better counterpart, she and the other heroes would be ruling Earth still.
9 Best: DCEU Wonder Woman
One of the few offerings from the DC extended universe that a majority of fans love, Gal Gadot's version of the character helps highlight what Wonder Woman is all about. A warrior princess who's incredibly compassionate, Gal Gadot's performance helps to show all of that in a way that her fellow actors couldn't.
As unlike her colleagues who only showed aspects of their characters in later films, it can be argued that Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman remains comic accurate and appealing to fans till the end. Appealing enough to get her own sequel in the form of Wonder Woman 1984.
8 Evil: Frank Miller's Wonder Woman
Created by the critically acclaimed Frank Miller, writer of amazing works such as The Dark Knight Returns and Daredevil Born Again, the character first appeared in The Dark Knight Strikes Again. However, the Wonder Woman that appeared wasn't exactly what people expected. Although she's most definitely a warrior, her cold and quite frankly sexist portrayal in the comic was nothing short of distasteful. It doesn't help that her humanity was also put into question throughout the graphic novel. Add in her really awkward dialogue as a result of Miller talk and readers are offered one of the worst portrayals of the character seen yet.
7 Best: Legend Of Wonder Woman
One of the best versions of the character seen yet, The Legend Of Wonder Woman is a retelling of the Wonder Woman mythos during World War 2. With a beautiful animated-like aesthetic akin to the Disney films of the 90s, the graphic novel helps highlight Wonder Woman as a kind warrior princess.
Being someone virtuous of heart, her upbeat yet thoughtful personality helped connect with readers and her cast. It's unfortunate the story got cancelled before the story reached its conclusion sometime around 2016. Thankfully the work was briefly seen again in DC's Wonder Woman: 75th Anniversary Special.
6 Evil: Flashpoint Wonder Woman
When the Flash accidentally created Flashpoint as a result of attempting to save his mother, the ripple effects changed the timeline to the worst it's ever been. Batman is Thomas Wayne, Superman is in a government facility and Wonder Woman is currently at war against Atlantis. All as a result of killing Aquaman's wife, who knew Wonder Woman was having an affair with her husband. Absolutely cruel and bloodthirsty, this Wonder Woman has something that she shares with her Injustice counterpart. Her lack of love and above all, her sickening lack of humanity.
5 Best: Kingdom Come Wonder Woman
One of the best things that came out of Kingdom Come is the portrayal of the DC characters in the future. As a result of a morality shift on the public perception of superheroes, the world has gone more violent and run by a new generation of superheroes.
Because of this, Wonder Woman was stripped of her home and her status as an ambassador for the amazons. Despite this, however, her personality didn't shift into something out of pure evil. Although the heroes did do questionable things in the story, it was from a place that was fairly understandable and in the end, the world was changed for the better.
4 Evil: Superwoman
An obvious choice for an evil Wonder Woman, Superwoman is a renegade Amazon who has also taken the identity of Lois Lane depending on the version of her. Depending on her origins, she is either from Themyscira or its anti-matter equivalent "Damnation Island." While there are many versions of her, what is synonymous is her sadistic personality and the love triangle she has with her colleagues. Also a theme with any version of evil Wonder Woman, she is extremely manipulative often toying with anyone from her lovers to her enemies.
3 Best: Bombshells Wonder Woman
Originally just a series of statues based on designs by Ant Lucia, the world of DC Bombshells became so popular that they became its own comic franchise. Reimagined as WW2 pin-up girls, it created one of the best and underrated versions of the character in the form of Bombshell Wonder Woman. Fighting against Germany during WW2, Wonder Woman became a symbol of the war effort and eventually ended the world war with the rest of the DC Bombshells. Even then, this Wonder Woman travels around the world doing everything she can to end the conflict.
2 Evil: Whom Gods Destroy Wonder Woman
One of the two Nazi versions of the character, this version of Wonder Woman only showed up in a four-issue series called Superman/Wonder Woman: Whom Gods Destroy. This takes place in a world where the Nazi's have won WW2 and Lois Lane has become the new Wonder Woman in order to stop the evil version of the original. An evil tyrannical version of the character that has aligned herself with the Nazi regime, not much is known of her other than she betraying her home in order to obtain more power. Just like the other evil versions of her, her lack of humanity is paramount as she looks down on Lois Wonder Woman for being a "mortal".
1 Best: Lynda Carter Wonder Woman
Just like Superman and Batman, some fans often debate about who is the definitive version of the character. For Superman that could be the two Reeves or Henry Cavill, for Batman that could be Adam West, Michael Keaton or Christian Bale. But for many people, the absolute definitive version of Wonder Woman is Lynda Carter. The series had over three seasons and has had her own comic called Wonder Woman '77. The character holds everything that makes Wonder Woman great from her compassion to her superheroics. Carter's portrayal is influential and can be felt for many years to come.