Wonder Woman is arguably the most famous female superhero out there — one with a colorful history through the years. Making her debut in the 1941’s All Star Comics No. 8, the character was created by William Moulton Marston, who envisioned her as the ideal love leader and the type of woman who should rule the world with the strength of Superman and the appeal of a good and beautiful woman. The comic book has been published by DC Comics for its entire run, apart from a brief hiatus in 1986.
Created in response to the prominence of male super heroes at the time (Superman, Batman, Captain America) Marston hoped his female hero would inspire young kids — both girls and boys, although aimed slightly more towards the former — to become leaders through articles and features celebrating female empowerment. There were stories about the career paths of famous and accomplished ladies called the Wonder Women of History.
Wonder Woman is viewed as a feminist icon, though her appearance is just as noteworthy. Her red, white, and blue star-spangled suit is among her most striking characteristics — though her beauty does not serve to downplay her strength — as well as one of the most famous costumes in comic books ever. The famous getup includes gauntlets of Atlas which increases the strength of the wearer by ten — these sometimes cause Diana trouble when it comes to controlling the sudden increase in strength. Another item in her weaponry repertoire is the Lasso of Truth: a lasso which forces people to tell the truth; can restore memories; get rid of or cause illusions to those it holds; heal the holder of insanity, and protect those in close proximity from magical attacks. A non-combat version can also be used to change Diana’s clothing.
Wonder Woman tells the tale of Princess Diana of Themyscira. Her original origin story says she was formed out of clay by her mother, Hippolyta, and had life bestowed upon her by the Greek gods — making her the only Amazon not conceived by a man. She grows up free of men on the Paradise Island where the Amazons teach her warrior skills as well as lessons of love and peaces. The gods also gift Diana with powers including strength, wisdom and courage, a hunter’s heart, beauty, sisterhood, speed and flight.
Original Wonder Woman
After making her debut in All Star Comics No. 8, Wonder Woman graced the cover of Sensation Comics No. 1 in 1942.
Her original story sees her leave behind her home on Paradise Island after an American pilot named Steve Trevor crash lands on Themyscira and the islanders compete to determine who will travel to the “Man’s World” to return him. Wonder Woman wins and also has the honor to act as an ambassador of the Amazons’ values on a mission of peace and diplomacy.
Once in America, Wonder Woman meets an army nurse who wants to leave for South America, but can’t due to money problems. Since the nurse and Wonder Woman look identical, they decide to switch identities and Wonder Woman takes on the nurse’s position at the hospital, which happens to be the same hospital where Steve Trevor has been admitted. The nurse reveals her name is Diana Princess and thus Wonder Woman’s secret identity as an army nurse is created. She quickly attains the ranks of lieutenant in Army Intelligence — a position rarely obtained by woman at that time. During this Golden Age of the comic book, Diana was certainly interested in fighting crime, but she also took on more stereotypical female desires as she pursued a marriage with Steve Trevor.
In the Silver Age of the comic, Wonder Woman gives up her powers and title to her mother in order to stay in the “Man’s World.” Though she no longer holds the title of Wonder Woman she meets and trains under a blind martial arts mentor and resumes her crime fighting ways.
The Bronze Age saw Diana’s powers and costume return as she is reinstated as Wonder Woman in issue No. 204 of Volume 1. In the last issue of the same volume, Diana and Steve Trevor profess their love for one another and are married.
As Wonder Woman embarked on the modern age, her history and backstory were further revamped. Wonder Woman took on the role as an emissary and ambassador for Themyscira, whose mission it was to bring peace to the outside world. In a distinct change from the methods of her male counterparts, Batman and Superman, Diana was willing to use deadly force when she judged it necessary. Another notable change in this era was that Diana’s marriage to Steve Trevor was removed from her story and he was introduced as a much older man instead.
In September 2011, DC Comics rebooted its entire publication line, naming the relaunch New 52. Written by Brian Azzarello, New 52 sees Wonder Woman’s origin story altered once more — this time she becomes the love child of Hippolyta and Zeus and no longer born from clay and earth. She also becomes romantically involved with Superman.
Wonder Woman Movie
The upcoming movie from Warner Bros. Pictures will be directed by Patty Jenkins (Monster) making it the first superhero movie with a female protagonist directed by a woman. The screenplay was written by Allan Heinberg and Geoff Johns. While Gal Gadot stars as Wonder Woman, Chris Pine plays the American military pilot, Steve Trevor. Connie Nielsen, Robin Wright, and Danny Huston also star. Shooting for the film began in late 2015 and the movie wrapped in May 2016. It is slated to be released in both 2D and 3D on June 2, 2017.
The story sees the Amazon princess living among her people on the island of Themyscira where she meets the military pilot Steve Trevor after his plane goes down and he is washed ashore. When Trevor informs Wonder Woman of the war raging in the outside world, Diana leaves her home convinced she can be of use in ending the fighting. She choses to fit in alongside man, and in doing so, discovers the full extent of her powers and more of her true identity. Changing up the setting from the Second World War to the First, the film will act as a prequel to Batman vs. Superman. The movie also follows the changes to Diana’s origin that were introduced in the New 52 reboot, where Diana is the daughter of Zeus rather than made out of clay by the gods.
Justice League Movie
Set for release on November 17, 2017, Justice League will serve as the fifth installment in the DC Extended Universe after Wonder Woman. The film sees Batman (Ben Affleck) and Wonder Woman assemble a team consisting of Flash (Ezra Miller), Aquaman (Jason Momoa), and Cyborg (Ray Fisher ) to take on forces of Steppenwolf (Ciarán Hinds) and his army of Parademons.
Directed by Batman vs. Superman’s Zack Snyder and screenplay writer Chris Terrio, the movie began shooing in April 2016 and wrapped in October 2016. Its plot focuses on Batman’s restoration of faith in humanity. Inspired by Superman’s selfless acts on Doomsday, billionaire Bruce Wayne enlists his new ally Wonder Woman as he faces an even more threatening enemy. Together the new superhero team work to recruit other metahumans in their quest to stop Steppenwolf — the herald and second in command to alien warlord Darkseid, who is charged by Darkseid with hunting down three artifacts hidden on Earth. Despite the formation of this league of heroes, (Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg and The Flash) the group struggle in face of catastrophic destruction.