Few heroes can be considered a pillar of the DC Universe like Wonder Woman. For nearly a century, Diana of Themyscira has fought for righteousness and become one of the most prolific characters in comic books. Like Batman and Superman, Wonder Woman has had a long history with moments that have shaped her into an iconic DC hero.

But what exactly are some of Wonder Woman’s most notable moments? What stories and events have defined her and given Diana the identity she currently has? There can only be a few moments that truly stand out, and the following 15 are some of the most crucial to defining Wonder Woman’s history and lore.

15 Debuting in the DC Universe

Wonder Woman was created by William Moulton Marston and Harry G. Peter. She debuted in All-Star Comics #8 in Marston and Peter’s story “Introducing Wonder Woman”. Moulton envisioned Diana as psychological propaganda to communicate his beliefs in female superiority. Moulton was unabashed in his writing, and Wonder Woman’s early adventures with her sisters on Paradise Island showed the world the power women were capable of.

14 Training on Paradise Island

Amazons are renowned for their fighting skills, especially Wonder Woman. But Diana had to train hard to become the amazing warrior she is. Various origin stories have examined the training the princess underwent to mold her into a great fighter. The Legend of Wonder Woman by Renae de Liz and Ray Dillon shows Diana being trained by the Amazon Alcippe, who teaches the princess not just to fight, but when to show compassion.

13 Meeting Steve Trevor

Wonder Woman’s home of Themyscira was infamous for its law that allowed no men to set foot on the island. But that all changed when military pilot Steve Trevor washed ashore, sparking a long and complex relationship between Steve and Wonder Woman. Many stories have told how the two met, but a modern version can be found in Grant Morrison and Yanick Paquette’s Wonder Woman: Earth One Vol. 1.

12 Gaining Invisible Jet

Wonder Woman’s Invisible Jet is one of the more curious parts of her history. While Wonder Woman can fly, she has a barely visible plane that makes it much more convenient for transporting others. The origin of the Invisible Jet has changed a bit over the years, but the "Year One" storyline of Wonder Woman by Greg Rucka, Nicola Scott, and Bilquis Evely revealed that the jet was actually Steve Trevor’s downed plane the Amazons repaired and enchanted with magic.

11 Fighting to Become Wonder Woman

Though the world knows Princess Diana is Wonder Woman, she had to earn that title. In most continuities, the Amazons decide to send an ambassador to return Steve Trevor to Man’s World and have a contest to decide who will earn the honor. Against her mother’s wishes, Diana competes and wins, earning the mantle and costume that would define her for years.

10 Leaving Themyscira

Wonder Woman loved Paradise Island and her sisters, but when the opportunity arose she eagerly escorted Steve Trevor back to Man’s World (as seen in the "Year One" storyline). Leaving Themyscira was hard as it showed Diana how backward and non-equal society really was. But instead of sending her running back to her mother, Wonder Woman forged ahead, becoming a hero and using her role to inspire people to be better.

9 Joining the Justice Society

Wonder Woman has the distinct honor of being one of the few heroes to serve on the Justice Society as well as the Justice League. Diana joined the crew of heroes in All-Star Comics #11 by Gardner Fox, Jack Burnley, Harry G. Peter, Cliff Young, Howard Sherman, and Stan Aschemeier. She wasn’t made a full member of the Society, instead being given the ancillary role of secretary. However, it was a development that paved the way for her to join another hero team in a much bigger capacity.

8 Founding the Justice League

Rather than be a bit player on a superhero team, Wonder Woman was a founder of the DC Universe’s greatest crew, the Justice League. The team’s secret origin was revealed in Justice League #144 by Steven Englehart and Dick Dillin. Wonder Woman, Superman, Martian Manhunter and others banded together to fight back against a crew of White Martians, an event that would lead to them officially forming DC’s ultimate squad of heroes.

7 Losing Her Powers

In a development that shocked Wonder Woman’s biggest fans, Diana lost her powers and became a spy. In a story arc that began in Wonder Woman #178 by Dennis O’Neil and Mike Sekowsky, the Amazons’ power is fading, and they must retire to another dimension. Diana chooses to stay in Man’s World, robbing her of her Amazonian strength. While Diana would later get her powers back, her brief respite from them showed she was still a total ass-kicker without them.

6 Gods and Mortals

Crisis on Infinite Universes was a chance for the DC Universe to start fresh, free from the burden of decades of continuity. In the same way that Superman was relaunched under John Byrne, Diana's history was redefined with Wonder Woman's “Gods and Mortals” storyline by George Pérez, Greg Potter, and Len Wein. The story smoothed out the wrinkles in Diana’s origin, updated her for the modern era, and gave her a stronger tie to Greek mythology.

5 Meeting Cheetah

Cheetah is considered Wonder Woman’s greatest nemesis. Throughout the years, there have been numerous versions of the character, but the one that’s stuck was her post-Crisis version, Dr. Barbara Minerva, who made her first appearance in Wonder Woman #7 by Len Wein and George Pérez. This version of Cheetah would be the definitive take on her nemesis, and begin a long and trying dynamic between the two.

4 Dying and Being Reborn as a God

As an Amazon, Wonder Woman has had occasional brushes with gods, both as allies and as enemies. However, Diana received godhood for herself after she was killed by the demon Neron in Wonder Woman #124 by John Byrne. However several issues later would see Wonder Woman resurrected as the Goddess of Truth thanks to Hera. This would be the first of many times Wonder Woman would become a literal god.

3 Killing Maxwell Lord

Unlike many other heroes, Wonder Woman doesn’t have a kill code and one shocking death proved it. In Wonder Woman #219 by Greg Rucka, Tom Derenick, Georges Jeanty, Karl Kerschl, David Lopez, Rags Morales, Superman is under Maxwell Lord’s control and he’s ordered the hero to kill Wonder Woman. With no other choice, Diana snaps Lord’s neck to break his control. Wonder Woman’s actions, though well-intended, nearly destroyed her friendship with both Batman and Superman.

2 Confirming Her Bisexuality

Queer subtext has been a part of Wonder Woman’s history since her inception. However, during Greg Rucka’s run on Wonder Woman during the "Rebirth" era, he made it a point to express that Diana was indeed bi and experienced attraction to both men and women. Wonder Woman was even shown to be romantically involved with an Amazon named Kasia when she lived on Themyscira. It was an important development that reaffirmed Wonder Woman’s status as a prominent queer hero.

1 Gaining Her Daughter, Trinity

Technically, the birth of Wonder Woman’s daughter is something set to happen in the future. But Wonder Woman #800’s story “Trinity” by Tom King and Daniel Sampere introduced Diana’s firstborn child, Elizabeth Marston Prince. She works alongside Superman Jon Kent and Batman Damian Wayne in a trio of heroes mirroring their parents. While it’s still early, Trinity’s existence seems to guarantee that the Wonder Woman legacy will carry on into the next generation.

The Amazing Amazon has been fighting in the name of love and peace for close to one hundred years. But out of all the amazing adventures she's been on, these 15 moments define Wonder Woman more than anything else.