Wonder Woman #177

Published in 1968, Wonder Woman #177 arrived during a pivotal and controversial era for the character. This period, often referred to by fans as the 'mod' era, followed a decision by DC Comics to strip Diana of her powers and costume to have her operate as a secret agent trained in martial arts. The creative team, led by writer Dennis O'Neil and artist Mike Sekowsky, intended to modernize the character to reflect the shifting social landscape of the late 1960s, drawing inspiration from spy fiction and the Emma Peel archetype from the television series The Avengers.

The reception to this fundamental departure from Wonder Woman's superhero roots was deeply polarized. While the new direction was an attempt to keep the character relevant to younger readers, many longtime followers and feminist icons like Gloria Steinem openly criticized the removal of her iconic identity, arguing that it diminished her status as a symbol of female empowerment. Because of the lasting debate surrounding this creative direction, issues from this run, including #177, remain significant markers of the experimental, albeit contentious, history of the comic book industry during the Bronze Age.