Ever since Wonder Woman caught his eye in a climactic battle with Darkseid in LEGENDS (1986-1987), Superman hasn’t been able to stop thinking about her! Surely two of the most-powerful costumed heroes in the DC Universe are perfect for one another, right? Well, get ready, because Superman we’re about to see the Man of Steel go into this one all wrong…
Crossover: This Superman/Wonder Woman storyline jumps across all three Superman titles, and tie into Wonder Woman’s own ongoing series; the Omniverse Comics Guide has named the crossover ‘Different Worlds’ after the story featured in Action Comics #600.
Must-Reads: The essential chapters are included in bold in the Core List and include a ✔ in the Full Reading Order and Fallout sections.
Anthology Issues: When an issue contains multiple stories, the relevant story is denoted with square brackets. For example, [2/5] refers to the second story of the five stories in that issue.
Spoilers: The issue descriptions and fallout section contain spoilers, so be warned!
Previous events that directly impact this story:
- LEGENDS (1986-1987) – Superman & Wonder Woman first meet
- INVASION FROM DIMENSION X (1987) – Superman asks Batman a favour
- MILLENNIUM (1987-1988) – Superman & Wonder Woman meet a second time
Want to keep it simple? Here’s the chronological reading order without story descriptions, or spoilers; bold issues are ‘must-reads’:
- Wonder Woman (1987) #15-16
- Superman (1987) #17
- Adventures of Superman #440
- Action Comics #600 [1/5]
- Action Comics #600 [3/5] (tie-in)
- Action Comics #600 [2/5] (tie-in)
- Wonder Woman (1987) #17
| Must Reads | Title, Issue & Synopsis |
| ✔ | Wonder Woman #15 Wonder Woman (Diana of Themyscira) wakes from a dream in which she kisses Superman, which makes her uneasy. Maxine Sterenbuch becomes the target of a hitman apparently hired by her old pen-pal, Valerie Beaudry, until Solomon Buchman saves her life. Beaudry was born of parents exposed to nuclear radiation. Her deformities were cured as part of Henry Cobb Armbruster’s experiments, transforming her into the beautiful Silver Swan. Buchman wants to kill the Silver Swan for murdering his father, Dr Benjamin Buchman. Diana attends the Wonder Woman Fair held in Boston in her honour. The Silver Swan shows up and uses her devastating scream to destroy the fair’s big wheel! 1st appearance: Henry Cobb Armbruster, Solomon Buchman, Mr Choi, Eileen Flowers, Deni Hayes, Inspector Ed Indelicato (unnamed), Skeeter LaRue, Silver Swan/Valerie Beaudry, Maxine Sterenbuch, Ogawa Electronics |
| ✔ | Wonder Woman #16 (pp.1-17) Wonder Woman saves the people on the big wheel. Henry Cobb Armbruster orders the Silver Swan to unleash her powers on the crowds while armed men steal the charity money raised by the event. Alison Clooney threatens to sue Wonder Woman. Solomon’s attempt to assassinate the Swan fails. The fight in the skies between Wonder Woman and the Silver Swan ends explosively, separating them both. Later, Wonder Woman tells Steve Trevor how his mother died (which she learned during MILLENNIUM, 1987-1988). The bags of money dropped in the fight are lost. Solomon Buchman recovers in hospital… 1st appearance: Inspector Ed Indelicato (named), Lt Michael Shands |
| ✔ | Superman #17 (pp.1-21) The Silver Banshee isn’t dead and is still searching for that elusive book (since MILLENNIUM, 1987-1988). Superman initially holds her off while disguised as ‘Batman’. The Banshee’s brother, Bevan McDougal, shows up to take her home, but she gets away again. Superman takes Jimmy Olsen home and meets Sarah Olsen, Jimmy’s mother… 1st appearance: Bevan McDougal |
| ✔ | Wonder Woman #16 (pp.18-19) Wonder Woman tells her young friend Vanessa Kapatelis about the feelings she’s developing for Superman… |
| ✔ | Superman #17 (p.22) At the Daily Planet, Clark Kent is alerted to a call from Wonder Woman’s publicist, Myndi Mayer! |
| ✔ | Wonder Woman #16 (pp.20-22) Myndi Mayer arranges for Wonder Woman to speak to Superman on the phone and they agree to meet at the weekend. Clark Kent refuses to tell Myndi Mayer where they’re meeting! |
| Must Reads | Title, Issue & Synopsis |
| ✔ | Adventures of Superman #440 Superman is excited about his upcoming meeting with Wonder Woman. Batman returns the scrap book to Superman (shared during INVASION FROM DIMENSION X, 1987) having deduced he’s Clark Kent. Superman hints that he knows Batman is Bruce Wayne. Superman finds out the scrap book belongs to Martha Kent. Lex Luthor uncovers a secret Captain Maggie Sawyer is keeping. In Antarctica, wo scientists assess the girl they found in the ice wearing a Superman costume. Superman finally meets with Wonder Woman and kisses her immediately! |
| ✔ | Action Comics #600 [1/5] Wonder Woman pulls away from the kiss, which Superman apologises. Hermes’ distress call interrupts their date. The two heroes end up in separate parts of Olympus which has been warped and partially destroyed by Darkseid. Amazing Grace and Kalibak are put in place to toy with the heroes – initially disguised as Wonder Woman and Superman, respectively – then tricking them into fighting each other! But their mock battle leads them straight to Darkseid and DeSaad who make their escape, failing to do any lasting damage. Back on Earth, Superman and Wonder Woman agree to remain friends and share their real names. |
| ✔ | Wonder Woman #17 (pp.1-11) Wonder Woman receives a message from Hyppoltya telling of storms on Themyscira (likely caused by the fight with Darkseid) and the division among the Amazonians between those who want to reveal the existence of Themyscira to the World, and those who don’t. The gods return to the ruins of Olympus. Zeus denies Heracles’ demands for retribution against Darkseid and calls for the creation of a new Olympus… 1st appearance: Hebea |
| Action Comics #600 [3/5] (tie-in) Lex Luthor is about to confront Maggie Sawyer over her secret when he experiences pain in his right hand. Luthor finds out he has Kryptonite poisoning from the Kryptonite Ring he’s been wearing. Maggie passes on the opportunity to steal the files on her Luthor procured. | |
| ✔ | Wonder Woman #17 (pp.12-14) Following a nine-hour flight, Wonder Woman and Vanessa Kapatelis are reunited with Julia Kapatelis. Wonder Woman also meets Julia’s friend, Stavros Christadoulodou, who’s arranged for Diana to meet the Greek Prime Minister in two days. A who man appears desperate to speak to Wonder Woman is killed off by a cat and a bird… 1st appearance: Stavros Christadoulodou |
| Action Comics #600 [2/5] (1988) Lois Lane risks her life investigating the criminal activities of George Kozak, but rumours of a relationship between Superman and Wonder Woman steal the front page. Lois is more upset about the news than the front page. Clark Kent arrives at Lois’ apartment, offering support. But he sneaks off as Superman when he picks up a signal from Jimmy Olsen’s watch! | |
| ✔ | Wonder Woman #17 (pp.15-22) In America, Myndi Mayer is reacts to the news of Wonder Woman’s meeting with the Greek Prime Minister and is taking flak for the fair fiasco, though she refuses to fire Skeeter LaRue who’s clearly responsible for most of the fair’s issues. In Greece, the shadowed mastermind who killed the informant plots against Wonder Woman. Diana visits key landmarks and senses such powerful evil from a distant island owned by a billionaire, she falls unconscious. In Cephalonia, the body of Paul Drivas is discovered. And the discovery is observed by an evil sheep! 1st appearance: Circe (shadow), Aeaea |
See how this story fits into the wider DC Universe with these reading orders:
- BATMAN FAMILY, 1987-1988 – Deaths in the Family
- SUPERMAN, 1987-1988 – The Man of Steel
| Must Reads | Issue(s) & Fallout | Event / Crossover |
| Action Comics #600 (1988) Superman responds to the call from Jimmy Olsen. | RETURN TO KRYPTON | |
| Superman #19 (1988) Lex Luthor’s hand is amputated to save his life. Adventures of Superman #442 (1988) Clark Kent uses Professor Emil Hamilton‘s force field belt to defeat Dreadnaught when he’s left powerless by Psi-Phon. | POWER PLAY | |
| Action Comics Weekly #635-638 (1989) Superman next clashes with Darkseid. | ||
| ✔ | Wonder Woman #18-19 (1988) The immortal sorceress Circe is revealed to be the shadowy figure in Greece who proves to be a deadly threat to Wonder Woman; it was Circe who had Paul Drivas killed. | |
| Superman #22 (1988) Supergirl is revealed to herald from a Pocket Universe and is actually a protoplasmic being originally called Matrix; after facing the threat of General Zod of the Pocket Universe, Superman brings Supergirl back to his Earth. | THE SUPERGIRL SAGA | |
| ✔ | Wonder Woman #19-20 (1988) Wonder Woman returns to America and learns Myndi Mayer has been murdered; it’s revealed Skeeter LaRue encouraged Myndi’s cocaine addiction and left her enough to overdose on after telling her he doesn’t love her; Skeeter is killed by Triads. | |
| ✔ | Superman #23 (1988) Superman and Jimmy Olsen head to Ireland to discover the Silver Banshee’s origin; centuries ago, Siobhan McDougal‘s attempt to steal her brother’s supposed birthright to lead her Irish clan led to the Crone bestowing the power of the Silver Banshee to her so she could enact her revenge on him. | |
| Adventures of Superman #446 (1988) Gangbuster returns, but it’s not Jose Delgado under the helmet. | ||
| ✔ | Invasion! #2 (1988) Superman and Wonder Woman next meet. | INVASION! |
| Wonder Woman #27 (1989) Steve Trevor gets to see the memorial dedicated to his mother on Themyscira. | ||
| Adventures of Superman #456 (1989) Having had a special chip installed in his spine that allows him to walk again, Jose Delgado resumes his Gangbuster identity. | THE EXILE | |
| ✔ | Wonder Woman #42-44 (1990) Henry Cobb Armbruster prepares the Silver Swan for a direct attack on Wonder Woman, making her more savage; it’s confirmed that the Silver Swan killed Benjamin Buchman; Maxine Sterenbach and Wonder Woman help restore the Silver Swan’s humanity; Henry Cobb Armbruster is arrested as Solomon Buchman exposes his illegal activities. | |
| Wonder Woman #46 (1990) Vanessa Kapatelis’ relationship with her best friend Lucy Spears becomes increasingly strained, leading to Lucy’s suicide. | ||
| Action Comics #660 (1990) Before the Kryptonite poisoning can claim him, Lex Luthor crashes his plane in the Caribbean; Lex’s remains are returned to Metropolis. | ||
| ✔ | Wonder Woman #50 (1991) The Amazons announce their existence to the world. | |
| Action Comics #662 (1991) Clark Kent finally reveals to Lois Lane that he’s Superman. | TRUTH, JUSTICE AND THE AMERICAN WAY | |
| ✔ | War of the Gods #1 (1991) Circe frames the Amazons for a series of murders; Wonder Woman dons Diana Rockwell’s armour to defend her home. Wonder Woman #58 (1991) Despite Hyppolyta’s hope for peace between the Amazons and humanity, General George Yedziniak orders Steve Trevor to attack Themyscira. | WAR OF THE GODS |
| Suicide Squad #59 (1991) The Silver Swan is revealed to have joined the Captains of Industry super-team. | WAR OF THE GODS | |
| Action Comics #670 (1991) Lex Luthor’s son, Lex Luthor Jr, comes to Metropolis and appears far more benevolent than his father. | ARMAGEDDON 2001 | |
| Action Comics #678 (1992) Lex Luthor Jr is revealed to be the real Lex Luthor in a cloned bdy. | THEY SAVED LUTHOR’S BRAIN | |
| Superman: The Wedding Album #1 (1996) Clark Kent marries Lois Lane. | THE EVENT OF THE CENTURY | |
| Wonder Woman Annual #7 (1998) Myndi Mayer’s ghost comes back to haunt Wonder Woman. | GHOSTS | |
| Wonder Woman #170-171 (2001) Business tycoon Sebastian Ballesteros is revealed to have purchased Henry Cobb Armbruster’s business, Armbruster International; Ballesteros, Circe and Doctor Psycho transform Vanessa Kapatelis into the next Silver Swan, pitting her against Wonder Woman. | ||
| Wonder Woman #226 (2006) Vanessa Kapatelis’ Silver Swan conditioning is revealed to have finally been broken. |
| Collected Edition Title | Collects… |
| Superman: The Man of Steel vol.8 tpb (2013) | Action Comics #598-600 Adventures of Superman #439-440 Superman #16-18 |
| Superman: The Man of Steel vol.4 HC (2022) | Action Comics #598-600 Adventures of Superman #439-444 Doom Patrol #10 Superman #16-22 |
| Wonder Woman: Beauty and the Beasts tpb (2011) | Action Comics #600 Wonder Woman #15-19 |
| Wonder Woman by George Perez vol.2 tpb (2017) | Wonder Woman #15-24 Wonder Woman Annual #1 |
| Wonder Woman by George Perez Omnibus vol.1 OHC (2015) | Wonder Woman #1-24 Wonder Woman Annual #1 |
| Collected Edition Title | Includes… |
| Lois Lane: A Celebration of 75 Years | Action Comics #600 [2/5] |
| Superman: They Saved Luthor’s Brain | Action Comics #600 [3/5] |
| Wonder Woman by John Byrne Omnibus | Action Comics #600 Adventures of Superman #440 |
| Wonder Woman Through The Years | Wonder Woman #15-16 |
Reading Order © Omniverse Comics Guide 2025
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