Although the New 52 Wonder Woman by Brian Azzarello and Cliff Chang was controversial, it also introduced new interpretations of the Greek Pantheon. Reinventing basic enemies into complex allies, Wonder Woman created an entirely new version of the ancient gods -- even if they aren't canon anymore.
How did the New 52 incarnation of Wonder Woman reinvent the Greek Pantheon?
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HERA & ARES
Hera is the initial antagonist of the New 52 Wonder Woman. Having committed herself to take revenge against all the human lovers Zeus has ever had, Hera attempts to destroy Zola before she can have her child. She later turns her ire against Hippolyta, Wonder Woman's mother. Revealed to have had an affair with Zeus that led to the birth of Diana, Hera turns the Amazonian Queen to stone for her transgression. However, her time on the throne of Olympus came to an end. She would be deposed by Apollo when he took control of the throne, exiling her and making her mortal. Despite her animosity for Hera, Diana became a protector of the former goddess -- with Hera slowly growing empathy and eventually fighting alongside Zola to protect her child.
Ares is typically held up as one of Wonder Woman's chief villains, a diety that fights against Diana and her mission for peace. But in the New 52 incarnation, Ares is portrayed in a far more sympathetic light. Ares took a young Diana under his wing and taught her the ways of war. But Diana's reluctance to kill drove a wedge between them. In the modern-day, War has grown exhausted with humanity and has significantly aged. He's often seen drinking himself into a stupor. He was crucial to fighting against the First Born and preventing him from stealing the throne of Olympus. When it's revealed that whoever kills War may take his place in the pantheon, he forces Diana to kill him to prevent the First One from doing so. His death serves as one final lesson for his successor.
POSEIDON & HADES
The Poseidon and Hades of the New 52 Wonder Woman are dedicated to claiming more power for themselves now that their brother Zeus has been dethroned. For the sea-monster-looking Poseidon, that involves unleashing his armies to try and destroy Diana and Zola. Hades (now a miniature man with an eternally burning candle for a head) instead steals away Zola and briefly considers letting her free in exchange for Diana's hand in marriage. But Diana is able to threaten Hades with nothing but loneliness if she's so forced into marriage, and he allows her to pass. Despite Diana defeating both of their plans, both end up developing a begrudging respect for Diana.
However, things are more difficult for them during the rise of the First Born and during the final battle for command of Olympus. Desperate to seize the throne while Wonder Woman fights the First Born, Posideon tries to force Diana to hand over Zola and her infant so he can kill him and assume the throne. But this activates a surprising transformation in Zola, giving her the strength and speed to attack Posideon, claw out one of his eyes, and force him to retreat from the final battle. Meanwhile, Hades himself is targeted by the First Born and killed -- leading to the spirits of the undead to roam the world of the living unmoored.
HEPHESTUS & HERMES
Diana does find some loyal allies from the beginning of her journey, even if they aren't always there for her. Hermes, the bird-like messenger god, plays a pivotal role in bringing Zola to Diana in the first place and fights alongside them for the majority of the story. Even when it appears he's betrayed Diana and steals the child, he's just working with the orders Zeus gave him before his death to help ensure their plans for Zeke to coincide with the schemes being carried out by the heroes. Despite being seriously wounded, Hermes still takes part in the final battle and helps turn the tide against the First Born.
In his New 52 incarnation, Hephestus is revealed to be surprisingly connected to the Amazonians. It turns out that whenever an Amazonian gave birth to a boy, that child would be left for the elements instead of taken in by the warrior tribe. Hephestus recruited the sons of Thymiscara and kept them alive, using them as helpers in his mighty forge. Although Diana initially believes them to be slaves to Hephestus, they actually defend their master when Diana threatens to dethrone him. Hephestus constructs many weapons throughout the series, and he -- along with his aides -- take part in the final battle against the First One and his forces.
APOLLO & ARTEMIS
Apollo is one of the most ambitious gods in the Greek pantheon throughout the New 52 run. The God of the Sun and one of the children of Zeus, he sees the disappearance of his father as the perfect chance to finally take the throne for himself. Working with his siblings Artemis and Dioynoseus, Apollo actually manages to achieve some real power -- even deposing Hera from the throne and taking the throne for a time. But after capturing the First Born, he doesn't kill the powerful brute when he has the chance.
Instead, Apollo tries to torture the First Born into obedience while continuing his plans, even seeking to torture him into servitude. But the First Born eventually breaks free and attacks Apollo -- with the God destroying Mount Olympus in an attempt to bring down the First Born with him. The First Born survives, however, prompting Artemis to keep fighting alongside Wonder Woman in the battles after having developed something of a friendly rivalry with the hero. Alongside the other gods, the group unites around defeating the First Born.
ATHENA & ZEUS
At the onset of the New 52 Wonder Woman, Zeus disappears, having seemingly abandoned his throne. This sets off a number of potential prophecies, especially regarding the birth of the Last Born -- the son of a regular woman named Zola. Zola explains to Wonder Woman that she'd just assumed the man she'd slept with had been a regular person, leading to the conception of his final child. But it eventually turns out that Zeus actually wanted the chance to try and become someone else in life by being reborn as Zeke.
He even worked with another goddess to do this: Athena. The Goddess of War and Wisdom actually allowed herself to take the mortal form Zola to help him be reborn. This way, Zeus could have the chance to change and become better. Zola was actually unaware of this for a long time, genuinely believing herself to be a regular human being. But as the conflict escalates and Zeke is threatened by the First Born, Zola takes on owl-like qualities that allow her to attack Poseidon. Eventually coming to terms with the truth, Athena initially prepares to sacrifice the Zola persona and restore herself, but she grants Wonder Woman a boon -- sparring Zola and allowing her to become her own person while splitting off and resuming her godly power.