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1. Return to Paradise Island, Wonder Woman 183-184 (Reprinted in 198)

In 1968 Wonder Woman was not selling well at ALL, and hadn't been for some time. DC's solution was to send the Amazons to another dimension, causing Diana to lose her powers. The period didn't last long, and

had a lot of really dodgy things in it, but this story? Chef's kiss. Not for it's bad continuity but for its spirit and its message.

So basically, Diana is contacted by a returned messenger Amazon in the aftermath of another of her very frequent heartbreaks. The Amazons are at

war with Ares, whom we learn (in a mythological callback) is Hippolyta's father. He wants the secret of interdimensional travel, which Hippolyta clearly has since she's just traveled interdimensionally; Hippolyta refuses to give it up, even after he crushes her nation underfoot.

As a result, Hippolyta is cursed to an agonizing sleep, where she basically just writhes and screams constantly. Despite this, Hippolyta and Diana both refuse to back down. And when Ares decides to take Hippolyta with him, it is the Amazons as a body who refuse to stand down.

So Diana and the Amazons start planning for war. They know they have no chance. Diana doesn't have her powers, and Ares is a god - a god of war, no less. But they don't falter. They are Amazons. *What are odds of 5 to 1 to them?* WHAT?! My heart, guys, my heart. Anyway...

From there the story goes full on mythological epic warfare, and I'm not kidding. You have Ares' army, which is too monstrous for them to fight without shielding their eyes...

...the abduction of Hippolyta by enemy forces, which leads to perhaps the first time Diana was shown to kill (that panel was removed in the reprint, too)...

and the weariness and bravery of Diana and of Amazons who know they're doomed, but stand unafraid!

Eventually Diana gets the idea to use Hippolyta's dimension traveling amulet and go to the dimension inhabited by the heroes of old only to find them angry and embittered by centuries of coming to the air of people who don't appreciate them. Diana tries to persuade them...

But in the end it's her martial prowess that wins the respect of Brynhilde, who joins the cause with the Valkyries.

Still, without history's heroes, there is the fear that there is no overcoming the hordes. Diana comes to terms with the reality that if they can't turn back Ares' army, she will have to kill her mother to protect her secret and prevent Ares from raining blood on all reality.

The final battle comes, but there are just too many of Ares' forces. All is lost!

Until the horn of Roland signals the arrival of the Cavalry.

Together the Amazon-Valkyrie army and the heroes of old catch Ares' army in a deathtrap and are able to turn the tide. With the battle won, Hippolyta awakens...

Only to be greeted by a grim sight. Diana has fallen!

...but not as far as she might have. While she was overwhelmed, her actions have won the respect of Ares himself, who carries her back to her people on his shield as a mark of respect. She is honored by Gods, Valkyries and heroes alike...

And is able to rest and recover on Paradise Island before returning to Man's World.

Is the story perfect? No - it's sort of weird that in such a beautifully feminist story about Amazons refusing to bow even against a god, and Valkyries rising to save the world when heroes wouldn't ultimately turns on an army of men deciding to help out. And of course, there's

a blind asian martial artist named I-Ching which really should speak for itself as far as the wtf goes. But you know what?

I'm not going to get stuck on those things. Because in the end it was Diana's incredible bravery and determination that brought those heroes around.

And as far as Diana herself goes, IMO took YEARS for her portrayal to catch up to this one again.