Wonder Woman is one of DC's most beloved heroes and has been hailed as a role model since her creation in 1941. Created by psychologist William Marston, Wonder Woman drew inspiration from both Marston's wife, Elizabeth, and their life partner, Olive Byrne, as well as prominent feminists of the time. With these roots, it's no surprise that Wonder Woman, also known as Diana, has been adopted as a role model by so many.
Throughout her long history in comics, Wonder Woman has been through a lot of changes, but her core values have always remained the same. Wonder Woman has been one of the best DC role models for a long time, thanks to her values and her actions.
10 Wonder Woman Leaves Themyscira
Wonder Woman has been through many variations of her origin story, but regardless of which version fans prefer, one key element remains the same; Diana chooses to leave Themyscira, the home of the Amazons, in order to save the world. After Steve Trevor washes up on the shores of Themyscira, he tells Diana about the dangers outside of the Amazons' paradise, and she chooses to sacrifice her personal safety and her home to go and help.
One of the most popular versions of this event occurs in Greg Rucka and Nicola Scott's Wonder Woman Rebirth arc "Year One". Instead of sneaking away, the Amazons send Diana to the world of men with a touching ceremony to crown her as Wonder Woman. Her choice to give up her life to help others is definitely a role model standard.
9 Wonder Woman Takes On Superman
Wonder Woman often teams up with Superman, but there have been times when the two heroes have had to go toe to toe. In Superman: Sacrifice, created by Gail Simone, Greg Rucka, and Mark Verheiden, the Man Of Steel was under mind-control by Maxwell Lord and thought his allies were his enemies. The only hero strong enough to stop him? Wonder Woman.
The fight is long and brutal, but Diana is able to hold her strength enough to beat Superman without killing her friend or hurting him too badly. Her willingness to do the hard thing and go up against her Justice League teammate is admirable.
8 Wonder Woman Loses Her Powers
One of the most bizarre eras of Wonder Woman's stories takes place in the 1960s when Diana chooses to give up her powers in order to stay in the world of men with Steve Trevor. Instead of being a superhero, she owns a fashion boutique. Despite losing her powers, Diana proves herself to be every bit as capable as she always was, instead using spy gadgets and martial arts to take on the bad guys.
Her commitment to doing good, even without her powers, is part of what makes her an inspiration to so many.
7 Wonder Woman's Trials Of Heroism
In Len Wein and Nick Cardy's Wonder Woman #212 - 222 "The Twelve Labors", Wonder Woman decides that before she can join the Justice League Of America, she must first complete a series of twelve trials of heroism.
The following stories see her take on a range of challenges and foes, including a clone of herself, robots, Mars the God of War, and even a spoof of Walt Disney. These stories show Wonder Woman's independent nature, how important being intelligent is to her, and her commitment to being the very best version of herself that she can be.
6 Wonder Woman Supports Vanessa
Wonder Woman #46, "Chalk Drawings", by George Perez and Mindy Newall, is one of the most challenging Wonder Woman stories ever written, as the story deals with the difficult issue of teen suicide. In the story, Wonder Woman supports her young friend, Vanessa, who has just lost a friend.
This single-issue story is a tough read, but it gave fans the chance to see a new side of Diana. Diana is undeniably physically strong, but her mental fortitude and her kindness are also big strengths. "Chalk Drawings" shows Diana making good use of both as she struggles to come to terms with what has happened herself at the same time as caring for her young friend.
5 Wonder Woman Visits A Women's Shelter
In the story Wonder Woman #5 "Gimme Shelter", by Will Pfeifer and penciled by Geraldo Borges and Jean Diaz, Wonder Woman is working as a government agent in her civilian identity of Diana Prince. Her investigations lead her to a network of women's shelters. While she's there, Diana begins to learn about how Wonder Woman has inspired the women there.
This unusual story doesn't focus on Wonder Woman and her actions and instead looks at the effect that she has on others. Wonder Woman is a figure of empowerment to the women in the shelter. "Gimme Shelter" is a clear example of Wonder Woman being a role model, both in the world of the comics and in ours.
4 Wonder Woman Visits Mayfly
Some of Wonder Woman's best role model moments don't focus on her standing as a warrior, and instead focus on her compassion for others. In Steve Orlando and Laura Braga's Wonder Woman #51 "The Fifty-Second Visit", Diana visits her one-time foe Mayfly in prison, hoping that her presence will do more to rehabilitate Mayfly than jail time will.
This story is all about empathy and shows how some problems can be resolved without fighting, even if you're a warrior. Diana might be one of the strongest heroes around, but she often chooses peaceful actions over violence.
3 Wonder Woman Battles The Justice League
Wonder Woman has been through many epic fights in her time, but fighting the entire Justice League is among one of her toughest. After learning of a prophecy that the Justice League will be defeated by a dragon, in the story JLA: A League Of One by Christopher Moeller, Wonder Woman decides that she must do everything she can to stop it.
She knows the world needs the Justice League, and she would rather sacrifice herself to save them than let them fight. To prevent the prophecy from coming true, she takes out each member of the Justice League, one by one, and then takes on the dragon herself.
2 Wonder Woman Considers An Indecent Proposal
Legends of the DC Universe #30 - 32 "The 18th Letter", written by maverick comic book writer Christopher Priest and illustrated by Karl Waller, is another story that isn't about Wonder Woman's powers. In it, a Central European dictator has begun a program of ethnic cleansing, and the UN has forbidden any of the heroes from stepping in.
Inspired by the film Indecent Proposal, this one-shot goes to an unusual place where most comics won't. The dictator makes Diana an offer. if she'll spend the night with him, he'll stop the cleansing. As Diana agonizes over what to do, fans are treated to another story with Diana's morals front and center.
1 Wonder Woman Declines The Chance To Be A God
Wonder Woman's tales are often interlinked with the Gods, and in some versions of her origin story, Diana is a descendant of Zeus himself. In the George Perez arc, Wonder Woman #8 - 14 "Challenge Of The Gods", Zeus calls Diana to Mount Olympus and offers her the chance to leave behind the world of men forever and join the Gods.
Diana refuses, and Zeus punishes her by sealing her in a cave under Themysicra, where she must face demons, monsters, and some secrets about her own birth. Her refusal of Zeus's offer is another example of Wonder Woman's selflessness and her dedication to using her abilities to help others, instead of seeking power for herself.