DC has officially shared the first image of Wonder Woman’s most radical costume change to date, with the Amazon Warrior donning a mask, something extremely rare throughout her 85-year history in comics. While the mask may be an obvious eyesore, fans need not worry that DC is “ruining” Wonder Woman’s iconic design, thanks to one important detail.
DC has recently dropped its solicitations for August, including a preview for writer Stephanie Williams and artist Clayton Henry’s Wonder Woman #36, which continues the duo’s retelling of the Amazon Princess’s origin story through the eyes of the love of her life, Steve Trevor.
This issue will specifically revolve around Diana as she enters “the Contest, where only one Amazon emerges victorious and is granted passage to Man’s World as Wonder Woman.” In addition to this tantalizing teaser, the preview for the issue, which will fully release on August 19, 2026, has also revealed the main cover and several variant covers. The main cover by artist Jeffrey Spokes is of particular note, as it depicts a dramatic redesign of Wonder Woman in which she wears a golden mask.
Wonder Woman Dons Ancient Greek Mask For Origin Retelling
Main Cover by Jeffrey Spokes for Wonder Woman #36 (2026)
Spokes’ main cover for Wonder Woman #36 shows Diana in what has become her character-defining gladiator-style skirt and red bustier, accented with gold detailing. However, this outfit differs from her present-day mainstream continuity costume in several ways, including the absence of her double “W” insignia, the addition of armor elements she doesn’t typically wear, such as a silver shoulder pauldron, and, most notably, a golden mask.
This golden mask is a bit of an eyesore, especially for a character who is famous for going bare-faced for most of her 80-plus-year history. However, the mask’s style makes more sense when considering how closely Wonder Woman is linked to Greek mythology. The mask Diana dons is a somewhat accurate representation of ancient Greek theatrical masks.
This particular design reflects the three-quarter masks often worn by performers in open-air amphitheaters, as this style allowed actors to project their voices without hindrance. However, where Diana’s mask deviates from historically accurate ancient masks is that it appears to be made of solid gold, whereas such masks were typically crafted from perishable materials such as stiffened linen, cork, or wood.
While the material and use may not align with historical accuracy, it is clear that Spokes drew inspiration from authentic ancient design elements when creating Diana’s mask. There is certainly reason to appreciate the concept, but there is also no denying that the look doesn’t fully feel like Wonder Woman, and that is for good reason, because technically this is a mask for Diana of Themyscira, not Wonder Woman.
Don’t Worry, Wonder Woman’s Golden Mask Isn’t Here to Stay
Cover D ACO Variant for Wonder Woman #36 (2026)
As previously mentioned, despite being a canon story, this takes place in the past, before Diana officially becomes Wonder Woman. As the synopsis for the issue makes clear, Diana is still fighting for the right to claim the Wonder Woman mantle and venture into Man’s World. As such, this mask is not expected to be part of her present-day continuity design. Fans should therefore enjoy this design change for the hero, as it is likely to be only temporary while Wonder Woman’s origin story is being reexplored.
The 32-page Wonder Woman #36 will be available at local comic shops for $5.99.
Wonder Woman #36 from DC Comics will be available to read on August 19, 2026!
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