Created in 1941 by psychologist William Moulton Marston, Wonder Woman / Diana Prince is the most iconic superheroine in comics history. An Amazon princess from the hidden island of Themyscira, she has embodied justice, peace, and female empowerment for over 80 years — earning a permanent place in global popular culture. From her origins in the golden pages of the Golden Age to the modern reboots of George Pérez and Greg Rucka, Wonder Woman is also one of DC's richest franchises for valuable key issues.
This guide covers the 10 essential Wonder Woman key issues every serious collector needs to know, with historical context, narrative significance, and estimated CGC values. Whether you're just starting out or looking to identify the crown jewels of a quality DC collection, these are your priorities.
Wonder Woman in DC Comics History
The Wonder Woman franchise at DC Comics is one of the longest continuously running series since the Golden Age:
- All Star Comics (1940–1951): the anthology series where Wonder Woman makes her foundational cameo in issue #8
- Sensation Comics (1942–1952): Wonder Woman's original monthly series, 109 issues
- Wonder Woman Vol. 1 (1942–1986): the long solo series, over 320 issues spanning the Golden, Silver, and Bronze Ages
- Wonder Woman Vol. 2 (1987–2006): George Pérez's post-Crisis reboot, the defining modern run
- Wonder Woman Vol. 3–5 (2006–present): the Rebirth, New 52, and current series
- Wonder Woman: Black Label and limited series: major out-of-continuity arcs
Collecting Wonder Woman from the beginning means venturing into the Golden Age, with extremely rare issues. Use the My Comics Collection tracker to plan your run and identify every missing issue.
Top 10 Wonder Woman Key Issues
Here are the ten absolutely essential issues for any Wonder Woman franchise collector, ranked by historical importance and value.
All Star Comics #8
All Star Comics #8 is the absolute foundational issue of the entire Wonder Woman mythology. It is in these pages that William Moulton Marston and artist H.G. Peter first introduce Diana / Wonder Woman, Amazon princess come to the world of men to serve justice. While technically a cameo, this issue lays the groundwork for the character who would dominate the superheroine landscape for the next eight decades. The female equivalent of Action Comics #1 for Superman or Detective Comics #27 for Batman, this Golden Age issue is extraordinarily rare in high grade. In CGC 9.0, the estimated value hovers around $500,000 — a grail that's out of reach for the vast majority of collectors.
Sensation Comics #1
Sensation Comics #1 is the true birth certificate of Wonder Woman as a lead heroine. It's the first issue to feature her on the cover and to dedicate the entire main story to her. William Moulton Marston here develops Diana's origin story, her mission in the world of men alongside Steve Trevor, and the Amazonian values that define the character. This issue predates Wonder Woman #1 chronologically and represents the true narrative starting point. Sensation Comics would publish 109 issues starring Wonder Woman, but this debut remains the most valuable of the series, fought over by Golden Age collectors at stratospheric prices.
Wonder Woman #1
Wonder Woman #1 (1942) is the launch of the first solo series entirely dedicated to the Amazon. Published by DC Comics in quarterly format, this issue marks the official recognition of Wonder Woman as a flagship character alongside Superman and Batman. The content, by Marston, expands the mythology of Themyscira, the Amazons, and Diana's powers with a depth absent from earlier cameos. The series went on to publish over 320 issues across several decades. A CGC 7.0 copy trades around $50,000 — proof of the absolute scarcity of surviving copies in decent condition after more than 80 years.
Wonder Woman #98
Wonder Woman #98 marks the transition from the Golden Age to the Silver Age for the character. Under the direction of Robert Kanigher on script and Ross Andru on art, Wonder Woman receives a redesigned costume, a narrative tone more in line with Silver Age conventions, and a series of mythology reboots. This issue is the Wonder Woman equivalent of what Showcase #4 was for Flash or Showcase #22 for Green Lantern — the starting point of a new era for the character. Less spectacular in value than Golden Age issues, it remains a solid key issue for collectors targeting DC's Silver Age period.
Wonder Woman #1
Wonder Woman #1 (1987) by George Pérez is universally recognized as the best modern run on the series and the starting point of contemporary Wonder Woman. As part of the post-Crisis on Infinite Earths overhaul, Pérez completely reinvents Diana's origin, enriches the Greek mythology at the character's core, redefines the Amazons, and delivers a narrative and visual richness unmatched before or since. This reboot is to Wonder Woman what Batman: Year One is to the Dark Knight. Pérez's run would last through issue #62 (1992) and remains the absolute benchmark for understanding the character. In CGC 9.8, this issue is accessible around $300 — an excellent investment for its historical importance.
Wonder Woman #171
Wonder Woman #171 is part of the Phil Jimenez run, one of the most respected creative periods in the character's history. This issue features a memorable confrontation between Wonder Woman and Superman, revealing the deep philosophical divergences between the two DC icons. Jimenez, a virtuoso artist trained in the Pérez school, brings exceptional graphic care to every page and deepens the political and mythological dimensions of the character. The Phil Jimenez run (issues #164–188, 2001–2003) is considered one of the most accomplished of the modern period, a worthy successor to Pérez. A representative issue from a creatively significant chapter in the Amazon's history.
Wonder Woman #600
Wonder Woman #600 is a special collector's issue marking the end of one era and the beginning of another. With contributions from iconic creators and the introduction of the controversial new costume by J. Michael Straczynski — a darker outfit abandoning the iconic bustier — this issue sparked intense cultural debate about the Amazon's visual identity. While the costume lasted only through one run, issue #600 remains a top collectible for any fan: it brings together different artistic visions of Wonder Woman and celebrates 70 years of the character's existence. A symbolic issue that captures a decade of transition for the series.
Wonder Woman #1
Wonder Woman #1 (2016) launches the Rebirth run by Greg Rucka, his second stint on the title after a celebrated first run in the early 2000s. With art by Liam Sharp and a narrative structure alternating between past and present, Rucka redefines the truth of Diana's origin story and delivers one of the franchise's most beloved modern arcs. This Rebirth relaunch benefited from the imminent release of the Wonder Woman film (2017) to attract a new generation of readers. In CGC 9.8, copies are available around $50 — one of the best value propositions for such a significant recent run.
Wonder Woman: Dead Earth #1
Wonder Woman: Dead Earth #1 is the first issue of the Black Label miniseries by Daniel Warren Johnson, who serves as both writer and artist. In a devastated post-apocalyptic world, a Wonder Woman who has survived the end of civilization awakens and attempts to restore hope to humanity. The series received exceptional reviews for its explosive visual energy, brutal tone, and emotionally resonant treatment of the character. Published under DC's mature-readers Black Label imprint, it represents a radically fresh vision of the Amazon, far removed from conventional superhero conventions. A 4-issue miniseries that every Wonder Woman fan absolutely needs to own.
Nubia & the Amazons #1
Nubia & the Amazons #1 is the launch of the first series entirely dedicated to Nubia, the Black Wonder Woman whose creation dates back to the 1970s but who has been powerfully relaunched since 2021. Written by Stephanie Williams and Vita Ayala, this 6-issue miniseries explores Themyscira from a new angle, with Nubia stepping up as Queen of the Amazons. The future importance of this issue is directly tied to James Gunn's DCU plans: if Nubia appears in a film or series, this first solo issue will become a highly sought-after key. Savvy collectors are already positioning themselves on a character with strong adaptation potential.
Essential Wonder Woman Runs
Beyond individual key issues, the Wonder Woman franchise has produced complete runs of remarkable quality. Here are the essential creative stints to own:
William Moulton Marston (1941–1947)
The original creator's run. A uniquely feminist and psychological vision rooted in Greek mythology. Hard to find in original form, but available in DC Archives reprints.
George Pérez (1987–1992)
THE defining run for modern Wonder Woman. Post-Crisis, Pérez reinvents the entire mythology with unmatched narrative and visual mastery. The absolute benchmark for any collector.
Phil Jimenez (2001–2003)
The most graphically accomplished run after Pérez. Jimenez, a Pérez disciple, delivers a politically and mythologically rich vision of the character with exceptional narrative density.
Greg Rucka — Two Runs (2002–2006 & 2016–2017)
Rucka returned twice to Wonder Woman with brilliant results. His realistic and diplomatic approach to the character, supported by top-tier artists, defines 21st-century Wonder Woman.
To track and complete these runs, use the Story Arcs feature on My Comics Collection — create custom lists and track your progress issue by issue.
Managing Your Wonder Woman Collection with My Comics Collection
Collecting Wonder Woman presents a unique challenge: the series spans from the Golden Age (1941) to today, with regular relaunches, special issues, major DC crossovers, and Black Label limited series. Navigating this richness without a dedicated tool is a daunting task.
My Comics Collection lets you:
- Import all Wonder Woman series from the Grand Comics Database catalog
- Visualize your progress on every run — from Marston to Rucka — with the missing comics feature
- Track your key issues (All Star #8, Sensation #1, WW #1 1942) with their estimated CGC values
- Manage your CGC-graded copies with grade, certification number, and value
- Estimate your collection's total value with real-time valuation
- Monitor potentially important issues like Nubia & the Amazons #1
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