The Essential Wonder Woman Encyclopedia — Phil Jimenez

A definitive A-to-Z guide to the action-packed history of Wonder Woman, high-flying feminist icon and twenty-first-century movie star

She's as wise as Athena and as beautiful as Aphrodite, stronger then Hercules and swifter than Hermes. Blessed at birth by the gods themselves, Princess Diana left an idyllic island paradise ruled by wise and brave women to bring the peace, love, and nobility of the Amazons to the tumultuous world of humankind. In January 1942, Wonder Woman took the world of comics -- and its pantheon of superpowered males -- by storm.

Wielding her impervious silver bracelets and golden Lasso of Truth, she's battled forces of evil from the Axis powers to a slew of super-villains worldwide, teamed up with the likes of Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, and the Flash, and transcended comics and film to become a pop-culture superstar. It's all here in more than 400 fact-filled pages:

• Wonder Woman's origins, as imagined and reinterpreted by generations of comics writers -- including her groundbreaking creator, William Moulton Marston 
• biographies of every major character in Wonder Woman's universe, including her mother, Hippolyta; sister, Donna Troy; and mortal ally Steve Trevor -- as well as such classic foes as Ares, Cheetah, Hades, and the members of Villainy Inc.
• classic black-and-white comic book artwork throughout
• two sixteen-page full-color artwork inserts -- plus a dazzling original cover illustration by fan-favorite artist Adam Hughes

Written by veteran Wonder Woman artist and writer Phil Jimenez and comics historian John Wells, The Essential Wonder Woman Encyclopedia is the ultimate archive, proving that her die-hard devotees don't have to visit Paradise Island for a taste of heaven on earth.