Wonder Woman (comic Book)

''Wonder Woman'' is an ongoing American comic book series featuring the DC Comics superhero Wonder Woman and occasionally other superheroes as its protagonist. The character first appeared in ''All Star Comics'' #8 ( cover dated December 1941), later featured in ''Sensation Comics'' (January 1941) series until having her own solo title.

The series would contain many volume revamps and many new writers during the ages. Many of the events within the DC Universe affected the stories of the titular superhero with several reboots such as ''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' and ''The New 52''.

The series was given a relaunch in 2016, when DC Comics rebooted its entire line of titles in an event called ''DC Rebirth''. The series received a revamp in 2021, as part of a line-wide relaunch called Infinite Frontier, with issue #770.

Volume 1

Golden Age

Wonder Woman first appeared in ''All Star Comics'' #8 (December 1941), during the era known to comics historians as the " Golden Age of Comic Books". Following this debut, she was featured in ''Sensation Comics'' #1 (January 1942), until starting in her own series in Summer 1942.

During 1942 to 1947, images of bound and gagged women frequently graced the covers of both ''Sensation Comics'' and ''Wonder Woman''. An early example is a scene in ''Wonder Woman'' #3 (Feb.-March 1943) in which Wonder Woman herself ties up several women, dresses them in deer costumes and chases them through the forest. Later, she rebinds them and displays them on a platter.

Various Wonder Woman enemies would debut in the comic series. Issue #1 introduced Wonder Woman's nemesis, Ares, as the embodiment of all abnormal emotions, evil, and essentially all that Wonder Woman was against. In issue #5, the character of Doctor Psycho, a murderous psychopath with an intense hatred of women, was debuted, Issue #6 introduced the Cheetah while issue #9 introduced Giganta. Also issue #9 debuted Queen Clea, which would later help form the female supervillain team Villainy Inc. Later on, issue #49 debuted another recurring enemy, Circe.

Silver Age

''Wonder Woman'' experienced significant changes from the late 1950s through the 1960s during the Silver Age of Comic Books. Harry G. Peter was replaced by Ross Andru and Mike Esposito in issue #98 (May 1958), and the character was revamped as were other characters in the Silver Age. In Diana's new origin story (issue #105), it is revealed that her powers are gifts from the gods. Receiving the blessing of each deity in her crib, Diana is destined to become as "beautiful as Aphrodite, wise as Athena, stronger than Hercules, and swifter than Mercury". Further changes included the removal of all World War II references from Wonder Woman's origin, the changing of Hippolyta's hair color to blonde, Wonder Woman's new ability to glide on air currents, and the introduction of the rule that Paradise Island would be destroyed if a man ever set foot on it.

In the 1960s, regular scripter Robert Kanigher adapted several gimmicks which had been used for Superman. As with Superboy, Wonder Woman's "untold" career as the teenage Wonder Girl was chronicled. Foils of Wonder Woman in the Robert Kanigher run included the Angle Man.

The Diana Prince era and the Bronze Age

In 1968, under the guidance of scripter Denny O'Neil and editor/plotter/artist Mike Sekowsky, Wonder Woman surrendered her powers to remain in "Man's World" rather than accompany her fellow Amazons to another dimension where they could "restore their magic" (part of her motivation was to assist Steve Trevor, who was facing criminal charges).

Now a mod boutique owner, the powerless Diana Prince acquired a Chinese mentor named I Ching. Under I Ching's guidance, Diana learned martial arts and weapons skills, and engaged in adventures that encompassed a variety of genres, from espionage to mythology. During this time she fought villains such as the Catwoman, Doctor Cyber, the hippie gang Them!, and the campy witch Morgana.

This new era of the comic book was influenced by the British television series '' The Avengers'', with Wonder Woman in the role of Emma Peel. With Diana Prince running a boutique, fighting crime, and acting in concert with private detective allies Tim Trench and Jonny Double, the character resembled the Golden Age Black Canary. Soon after the launch of the "new" ''Wonder Woman'', the editors severed all connections to her old life, most notably by killing Steve Trevor.

During the 25 bi-monthly issues of the "new" ''Wonder Woman'', the writing team changed four times. Consequently, the stories display abrupt shifts in setting, theme, and tone. The revised series attracted writers not normally associated with comic books, most notably science fiction author Samuel R. Delany, who wrote ''Wonder Woman'' #202–203 (October and December 1972).

The I Ching era had an influence on the 1974 ''Wonder Woman'' TV movie featuring Cathy Lee Crosby, in which Wonder Woman was portrayed as a non-superpowered globe-trotting super-spy who wore an amalgam of the Wonder Woman and Diana Prince costumes. The first two issues of Allan Heinberg's run (''Wonder Woman'' (vol. 3) #1–2) include direct references to I Ching, and feature Diana wearing an outfit similar to that which she wore during the I Ching era.

Wonder Woman's powers and traditional costume were restored in issue #204 (January–February 1973). Gloria Steinem, who grew up reading Wonder Woman comics, was a key player in the restoration. Steinem, offended that the most famous female superheroine had been depowered, placed Wonder Woman (in costume) on the cover of the first issue of ''Ms.'' (1972) – Warner Communications, DC Comics' owner, was an investor – which also contained an appreciative essay about the character.

The return of the "original" Wonder Woman was executed by Robert Kanigher, who returned as the title's writer-editor. For the first year, he relied upon rewritten and redrawn stories from the Golden Age.

Following the popularity of the ''Wonder Woman'' TV series (initially set during World War II), the comic book was also transposed to this era. The change was made possible by the multiverse concept, which maintained that the 1970s Wonder Woman and the original 1940s version existed in two separate yet parallel Earths. A few months after the TV series changed its setting to the 1970s, the comic book returned to the contemporary timeline. Soon after, when the series was written by Jack C. Harris, Steve (Howard) Trevor was killed off yet again.

Writer Gerry Conway brought Steve Trevor back to life again in issue #271 (September 1980). Following Diana's renunciation of her role as Wonder Woman, a version of Steve Trevor from an undisclosed portion of the Multiverse accidentally made the transition to Earth-One. With Diana's memory erased by the Mists of Nepenthe, the new Steve again crash-landed and arrived at Paradise Island. After reclaiming the title of Wonder Woman, Diana returned to Military Intelligence, working with Trevor and re-joined by supporting characters Etta Candy and General Darnell.

In the preview in '' DC Comics Presents'' #41 (January 1982), writer Roy Thomas and penciler Gene Colan

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