Still from Wonder Woman (2017). Image via Warner Bros./DC Entertainment via “Power” TV spot.
8. Wonder Woman
What is there to say about Wonder Woman that hasn’t already been said about a million times over? She’s one of the premier female superhero characters, if not the biggest one of all time. Wonder Woman has been a fighter in various world wars and conflicts, saving humanity’s bacon over and over. She’s a founding member of the Justice League.
She’s either made out of clay or the daughter of Zeus, depending on whether you’re reading an issue pre- or post-New 52. Given her recent success in the Wonder Woman film directed by Patty Jenkins and starring Gal Gadot as the title character, she’s bound to stick around for a while longer.
At first, it may seem strange that Wonder Woman — whose given name is Diana — is even close to a patriotic character. She originally hails from Themyscira, a hidden Greek island that is home to the warrior Amazons. When the American Steve Trevor crashes onto their island, he brings news of a serious outside conflict to the Amazons. In the film, he’s a World War I pilot and spy. In other versions of Wonder Woman’s backstory, he’s fighting in World War II or a more modern conflict.
Wonder Woman is compelled by his story. In fact, she’s so interested that she follows Trevor back to the outside world and begins fighting for good. While early Wonder Woman comics make her lovesick over Steve Trevor, more contemporary stories focus on her growing empathy and dedication to peace.
Thanks to Trevor, Diana most often teams up with U.S.-based superheroes. Her costume, arrayed with red, white, and blue features is especially patriotic.