Best Wonder Woman villains

Wonder Woman has her share of arch-enemies, and one of the most infamous, her own family member Ares the god of war, is joining the so-called 'Dark Army' of supervillains that will seemingly kill the Justice League - Wonder Woman included - in Justice League #75's 'Death of the Justice League' story.

But Ares is just one of the strange, mythical villains that popular Wonder Woman's adventures - and we've got the rundown of the ten best Wonder Woman villains ever right here.

10. Strife / Eris

Strife (or Eris as she's known by her proper name) isn't so much a villain as she is a nuisance to Diana. Though they've clashed, they've also been uneasy allies at times - such is the case with many of Diana's olympian foes.

In her most heinous act, Strife invaded Themyscira, causing the Amazons to become confused and do battle with each other, leading to the deaths of many Amazons before Wonder Woman was able to put a stop to Strife's manipulations.

9. Silver Swan

Several women have worn the mantle of Silver Swan over the years, though they have all been enemies of Wonder Woman. The original, Helen Alexandros, was granted her powers of flight and sonic energy by Mars/Ares. Later Silver Swans Valerie Beaudry and Vanessa Kapatelis shared Alexandros's sonic powers but wore winged exoskeletons to achieve flight and strength.

The Vanessa Kapatelis version of Silver Swan was revamped as part of DC's 'Rebirth' era. In these stories, she was an innocent bystander injured in a battle between Wonder Woman and Major Disaster. Rumble fell on her in the melee, leaving her with a spinal injury that robbed her of the ability to walk. Diana visited her in the hospital during the first few months of her recuperation, but as the visits became less the young woman thought Wonder Woman had abandoned her. 

Reeling from that, Vanessa took part in an experimental nanite procedure (based on Cyborg) that gave her the ability to walk again - and soon run, proverbially speaking, to become a villain terrorizing other people Wonder Woman had saved.

8. Giganta

Giganta's origin has changed a few times since her first appearance back in Wonder Woman #8, but she's always been one of the biggest - pun intended - thorns in Diana's side.

Long story short, Giganta is Dr. Doris Zuel, a scientist with a fatal blood disease that leads her to try and swap bodies with Wonder Woman. Through a mishap in her attempt to do so, she gained the ability to grow in size. 

She's often allied herself with other villains, including Wonder Woman nemesis Dr. Psycho.

7. Apollo

One of Zeus's favored sons, Apollo used his station to wrest control of Olympus when his father disappeared. Like his father, Apollo was hungry for power and feared retribution from Zeus's other children.

Apollo employed a veritable army of faithful Gods and warriors in his quest to ascend the throne of Olympus and was only defeated when Wonder Woman threatened the life of his sister Artemis, forcing him to surrender.

6. Dr. Psycho

Dr. Psycho began as kind of a silly villain when he was introduced in Wonder Woman #5, but even then he had a murderous streak and an intense hatred of women - traits that have only gotten stronger in the decades since his introduction.

In recent years, Doctor Psycho masqueraded as an ARGUS scientist to take possession of a comatose Silver Swan to use her for his ulterior motives.

5. First Born

Though the first child of Zeus has no name, he's got a reputation for brutality that is almost unrivaled in Wonder Woman's rogues' gallery.

Brought into conflict with Diana in his quest to destroy the gods of Olympus, she was almost unable to defeat First Born's incredible strength and ruthlessness, only being defeated when she threw him from Olympus, dooming him to fall forever.

4. Ares

The God of War and Wonder Woman have occasionally been uneasy allies, but more often than not his schemes have brought them into conflict. He's also one of her oldest foes, having first appeared back in Wonder Woman #1.

Interestingly, it was Diana who ascended to his station as God of War after she struck a killing blow against him to defeat First Born, finally ending their long rivalry.

Ares resurfaced as part of 'Rebirth' in a retelling of Wonder Woman's origin. He was also the villain in the first Wonder Woman movie.

3. Maxwell Lord

Maxwell Lord began as something of a hero, organizing and bankrolling a new Justice League in the wake of the original team's dissolution. However, years later, he showed his true colors by trying to conquer the world.

Max Lord's rampage, fueled by his heretofore unknown mind control powers, reached its apex when he brainwashed Superman into fighting his allies. His reign of terror only ended when Wonder Woman was forced to break his neck, killing him and ending their fight.

Lord returned in 'Rebirth' as an adversary of the Suicide Squad, eventually bonding with the villainous Eclipso in Justice League vs. Suicide Squad. He's since become a reluctant ally of Wonder Woman in her ongoing title and appeared in Wonder Woman 1984 (played by Pedro Pascal).

2. Cheetah

Cheetah is one of Wonder Woman's longest-running enemies (no pun intended), with multiple women having filled the role throughout the decades. But the current Cheetah, Barbara Minerva, might be the most vicious of the bunch.

Having killed her brother as a teenager to prove her devotion to the cause of a secret cult, Minerva's ruthless streak began early. When she retrieved the artifact known as the 'God-Killer Knife,' she was transformed into the Cheetah and thrust into a conflict with Wonder Woman that is still ongoing.

Cheetah was given a slightly revised origin in 'Rebirth,' and she is still a primary Wonder Woman antagonist. She was played by Kristen Wiig in Wonder Woman 1984.

1. Circe

The legendary sorceress Circe first came into conflict with Wonder Woman when she believed Diana to be part of a prophecy that would grant her immense power. 

She tried to kill Wonder Woman to enact the prophecy, but failed, starting a long career of menacing the Amazonian warrior, even bringing her into conflict with the Justice League and Wonder Woman's allies.

Circe has been perhaps the most powerful and consistent thorn in Diana's side, making her the greatest Wonder Woman foe of the bunch.