Fan-favorite costumes are a massive part of both DC Comics and Marvel Comics, but when their universes faced off in the pages of Marvel vs. DC, the Marvel Versus DC event by Ron Marz, Peter David, Dan Jurgens, and Claudio Castellini saw the two titular publishers collaborate on a single storyline in which their most iconic characters went head-to-head.
As a result, fans got to see some pretty interesting events - including a brief moment in which Diana of Themyscira seizes the power of Thor. Like most of her fellow comic book heroes, Wonder Woman is no stranger to exciting costume changes. But when she got her hands on Thor’s famous hammer Mjolnir, her iconic wardrobe was changed for the worse in Marvel vs. DC #2.
Forced to fight one another to ensure the survival of their respective universes, Marvel vs. DC #2 sees Thor facing off with Shazam - at the time known as Captain Marvel - and losing Mjolnir in the process. Eventually, the mystical hammer is found by one of DC’s worthiest champions: Wonder Woman. But when she first wields Mjolnir, her iconic stars and stripes are transformed into a horrendous leather monstrosity equipped with a cape. Diana quickly renounces the hammer, claiming that she’s doing so in order to meet her opponent Storm on more equal ground, but it would be understandable if she just couldn't get out of her Asgardian costume fast enough.
This look was clearly inspired by Thor’s own wardrobe at the time - which is also typically considered to be one of his most reviled - but Diana's is even more focused on showing as much skin as possible, even to the point of offering minimal protection during one of the greatest battles of her life. This version is full of some of the worst costume habits of the '90s, adding random straps and spikes to what little material is allowed to exist. Seeing Wonder Woman with the archetypal superhero cape should have been a treat for fans, and her more warlike headdress is a great nod to the Asgardian inspirations of this look, but these small touches can't save a frankly juvenile overall design.
Luckily, this suit didn’t even last two full issues. But that doesn’t change the fact that it was so horrendous that it still gives nightmares to fans and creators alike. Marvel and DC had the chance to create something really special with a Thor-powered Wonder Woman, but unfortunately, this look is truly unworthy.
