Wonder Woman - SpeedyLook encyclopedia

Origins and its creator

In 1940, William Moulton Marston was education adviser for the company Detective Comics, Inc. (more known under the name cd. Comics ). Martson noticed that the series of cd. used exclusively of the male heroes (Superman, Batman). He thus wondered why there was no woman superhéros.

Max Sheaths, then with the head of cd. Comics, was interested by the concept and authorized Marston to create a super-heroin - Wonder Woman . This last created the series under the pen name Charles Moulton (combination of its 2nd name and that of max Sheaths).

Marston is the creator of the test of blood pressure systolic, which brought to the creation of the Lie detector . Of its discovery, Marston is convinced that the women are more honest and more reliable than the men and can work more quickly and more precisely. During its life, Marston fought for the cause of the women.

In a publication of 1943 of The American Scholar , Marston known as: “Even the girls will not want to be girls as long as our female prototypes will lack force, of strength and power. As they do not want to be girls, they do not want to be tender, subjected, peaceful like are the good women. Great qualities of the women were scorned because of their weakness. The logical remedy is to create a female character with all the force of Superman plus the pace of a good and beautiful woman. ”

Beginnings

In December 1941, the “ beneficial and beautiful femme ” of Marston makes its beginnings in number 8 of All-Star Comics (second larger magazine of comics). Following this first appearance, it appears in the first number of Sensation Comics (January 1942).

Six months later (be 1942), it obtains a title with its name, making of it the first super-heroin have its clean comic book .

Until its disappearance in 1947, Marston writes all the appearances of its heroin and poses the foundations of the character which will be useful during the forty following years. The draftsman H.G. Peter gives him a rather simple but quite identifiable female pace, which contrasts with the other supermen of the time.

Armed with its bracelets the ball proof, of its magic, and strong lasso of its drive of the Amazon, Wonder Woman is the prototype of the perfect woman in the spirit of Marston. She is beautiful, intelligent, strong, but has nevertheless a soft side. At that time, its capacities came from its “ concentration of amazone ”, and not of a gift of the gods.

The “ lasso magique ” of Wonder Woman is supposed to be forged magic belt of Aphrodite which was bequeathed to Hippolyta (the mother of Wonder Woman) by the goddess. In order to make the lasso, the god Héphaïstos borrowed the belt of Olympe, withdrew the bonds from them and made use of it to create the lasso. It is unbreakable, infinitely extensible and has the capacity to make obey those which are encircled by it, and more particularly to make them say the truth.

Wonder Woman was helped by the “ Holliday Girls ”, with greedy Etta Candy at their head. Etta was only group to take a real importance and is besides one of the most durable characters of the series.

Drawings of women bound by men illustrated occasionally the covers of Sensation Comics and Wonder Woman of 1942 with 1947. In the n°3 of Wonder Woman, it is super-heroin itself which takes the top, binding women, and, in a memorable scene, equipping them with furs and then driving out them in the forest, for finally attaching them and exposing them on a plate. These subtle insinuations erotic S in the albums were noticed by the historians of the cartoon, who discussed to know if it were about a way for Marston of exposing its own phantasms (certain biographies claim that he would have been a follower of the Bondage) or if it were about a means (conscious or not) of attracting the young readers.

During this period, Wonder Woman joined off the Justice Society America , the first team of superman, in the review All-Star Comics . But, the time being what it was, Wonder Woman, although one of the most powerful members of the group, is relegated to the rank of secretary.

Wonder Woman does not stop simply the criminals, but wants to reform them. There is, close to Paradise Island , an small island called Transformation Island , on which a center of rehabilitation is. The “ tender by the amour ” is indeed one of the important topics of Wonder Woman, even if he were sometimes parodied, criminals going to the beautiful heroin to benefit from its company.

After Marston

In 1947, Robert Kanigher takes again the character always illustrated by H.G Peter. The series loses a little its gloss of antan: less female, Wonder Woman is affirmed as an American heroin. H.G Peter continued until the number 97. Peter and Marston miss with those which lived this golden age of the comics books.

In the last stories, the capacities of Wonder Woman increase. Its earrings make it possible to him to breathe in space, the origin of its plane invisible (at the origin a propeller plane, a P-40 Warhawk or a P-51 Mustang, but become, in order to follow the technological change, a jet) is explained, its tiara becomes a indestructible Boomerang and its bracelets enable him to communicate with Paradise Island .

These modifications did not influence the audience of the series, contrary to the crisis which was going to follow.

End of the golden age and the years 1960

In 1954, the doctor Fredric Wertham off writes its book discussed Seduction the Innocent, in which it exposes his anti-comics point of view of, and which marks for much the end of the golden age of the comics. To face criticisms, the editors create the Comics Codes Authority, which was in fact an organization of Censure. During the application of this code, the feminist side of Wonder Woman is put between brackets.

Wonder Woman knows many changes starting from the medium of the Années 1950 and during the Années 1960. Its origin is rewritten, conferring its powers on a combination of Greek and Roman divinities.

In the years 1960, the scenario writer Robert Kanigher decides to apply formulas which had already functioned for Superman, under the direction of Dead Weisinger. As for Superboy, the history of Wonder Girl is told. Then it continues with Wonder Woman child or “ Wonder Tot ”, and with the Hyppolyta queen joining it under the name of “ Wonder Queen ”.

The scenario writer Bob Haney - who undoubtedly did not realize that Wonder Girl is not a separate character - includes the latter in the team of the Teen Titans, with Robin, Kid Flash, and Speedy. A few years later, one gives an origin separated to Wonder Girl, making of it orphan saved by Wonder Woman.

The era Diana Prince/I Ching

At the end of the years 1960, Wonder Woman gives up its capacities in order to be able to remain in the “ world of the hommes ”, rather than to accompany his/her sisters amazones in another dimension where they could preserve their magic.

From now on owner of a shop of mode, Diana Prince finds himself quickly under the wing of a Chinese mentor named “ I Ching ”. With the assistance of I Ching, Diana involves herself to use her body as of a weapon, learning the Martial arts and controls it weapons, in order to undertake adventures in the style “ agent secret ”.

The new direction taken by the data base was very influenced by characters like Emma Peel of the British series Bowler hat and leather boots , or by the series Kung Fu , Diana being the inexperienced pupil of a Master in martial arts. Shortly after the beginning of the “ news Wonder Woman ”, the editors remove one after the other the bonds with the world of the supermen, in particular by killing Steve Trevor (although the character reappeared later). A notable exception was its confrontation with Catwoman.

This period has its supporters like its detractors. Some appreciate the abandonment of the Kitsch first adventures comics for more serious stories. Others find that the data base had completely turned the back on the original history. On a discussed cover, one sees Diana Prince drawing on a plane with a Mitraillette; contrary to the traditional image of Wonder Woman, this Diana Prince does not hesitate to kill to defend or defend the others.

This new series attracts writers who are not familiar of the Comic S , for example the author of science fiction Samuel Delany, which writes two numbers.

This scenario lasts two years, and Wonder Woman finds finally its capacities and its costume with the beginning of the year 1970. The return of Wonder Woman original is partly due to a campaign in which the feminist Gloria Steinem took part - outraged that most famous of super-heroins can be thus stripped of its capacities. The era I Ching, in spite of the controversies which it caused, had an unquestionable influence on the continuation of the adventures of Wonder Woman and on its televised adaptations (in particular 2nd and 3rd seasons of the series with Linda Carter).

Years 1970 until Crisis one Infinity Earths

Following the return of Wonder Woman original, heroin tries to be made D-admit within the Ligue of the Dispensers of justice . It must for that pass 12 tests, each one directed in secrecy by a member different from the league.

Hardly Wonder Woman is it D-allowed within the Ligue of the Dispensers of justice that cd. Comics decides to change the format of the adventures once again. Indeed, meanwhile, the adventures of Wonder Woman are adapted on television, in a series which was very popular and whose action was during the Second world war, as in the first albums.

Cd. thus decided to also locate its stories at the same time, which was possible thanks to the concept “ multivers ” of cd. (both Wonder Woman existing in two different parallel worlds).

Wonder Woman took part in a series of battles “ épiques ” during the years 1970 and 1980, until its death in 1986 in Crisis one Infinity Earths . But the character would not remain dead very a long time.

After Crisis

After Crisis , Greg Potter and George Pérez were charged to start again the adventures of super-heroin, in 1987.

The fans and the critics regard the 60 numbers created by Pérez as one of the culminating points of the history of Wonder Woman. Pérez and Potter gave to Wonder Woman a personality pro-woman, and the thorough searchs for Pérez as regards Greek Mythologie insufflated more depth and of richness that in the previous models.

In its new incarnation, Wonder Woman is Diana, a princess and emissary of Paradise Island in the world of the men. At the beginning, it does not keep its secret identity, and does not behave either like a “ super-héroïne ”. Indeed, its character is initially that of an innocent young girl. Diana speaks only the old Greek , and must learn the English when it arrives at the E. - U., instead of knowing the speech intuitively. Nevertheless, Diana received a drive of warlike and does not have a remorse to kill if it is necessary. The subjects of its adventures are the war, the injustice, the inequality, death, and of the conflicts implying the gods of the Olympe.

The supporting characters are them also modified. For example, Steve Trevor is changed into an officer of the Air Force much older than the apparent age of Diana, and the traditional lovesong between the two is abandoned. In the place, Trevor is sentimentally dependant on Etta Candy, which becomes itself a military officer of important row and rather round, but without exaggeration. Cheetah, the enemy one of Diana, becomes a woman who can transform herself into a wild cat-like-humanoïde creature, same level as Diana with the combat.

After Pérez left the series of comics, other writers and draftsmen, such as William Messner-Loebs, John Byrne or Greg Rucka tried to walk in its steps, with more or less of happiness.

Graphic novels

The recent series are gathered in several collections:

God and Mortals : Wonder Woman #1-7
Challenge Off The Gods : Wonder Woman #7-14
The Contest : Wonder Woman #90-93 & #0
The Challenge off Artemis : Wonder Woman #94-100
Second Genesis : Wonder Woman #101-105
Lifelines : Wonder Woman #106-112
Paradise Lost : Wonder Woman #164-170 & Wonder Woman Secret Files #2
Paradise Found : Wonder Woman #171-177 & Wonder Woman Secret Files #3
Down to Earth : Wonder Woman #195-200
Bitter Rivals : Wonder Woman #201-205
Eyes off the Gorgon : Wonder Woman #206-213
Land off the dead : Wonder Woman #214-217 + Flash #219
Mission' S End : Wonder Woman #218-226

In the other media

The first attempt at adaptation to the small screen takes place in 1967, following the success of the recent series Batman . Greenway Productions , the company behind the series Batman , produces a “ essai ” four minutes and half for Wonder Woman, with Ellie Wood Walker in the role of the Amazon princess. The series would undoubtedly have kept the same kitsch spirit and shifts that Batman , but does not exceed the stage of project.

Wonder Woman also appears in cartoons, in particular in Superfriends during the years 1970.

The second filmed adaptation is for a telefilm in 1974 with Cathy Lee Crosby. This version is closer to the era I Ching than of traditional Wonder Woman. Cathy Lee Crosby incarnated a fair heroin indeed, without capacities and with a costume rather far away from the original.

The third test is the good: Stanley Ralph Ross writes a pilot episode for a series which would be closer to the data base with a comic kind more subtle. The new television series are diffused of 1976 to 1979, with Lynda Carter, and are certainly the most known version of Wonder Woman. The most known scene of the series is the transformation of Diana into Wonder Woman, which it carries out while rotating.

Wonder Woman also appears in cartoons, such Superfriends (animated series of Hanna & Barbera years 1970-1980) and the Ligue of the Dispensers of justice ( Justice League and Justice League Unlimited - 2000-2006). (For more information and a guide of the episodes of this last series, to see)

In 2005, the project of a film devoted to Wonder Woman is announced, with Joss Whedon like realizer. The February 3rd 2007, this last explains on its Internet site that it withdraws project, not having known to get along with Warner Bros on a scenario. The exit of film is then pushed back in 2009, without precise details as for the scenario writer and with the realizer which will replace Whedon. The advertisement of the production of film, during two years, caused an avalanche of rumors (often contradicted at once) concerning the identity of the actress who should incarnate Wonder Woman (Catherine Zeta-Jones, Eva Green, Jennifer Connelly, Kate Beckinsale, Lindsay Lohan, Sandra Bullock, Katie Holmes, Charisma Carpenter, etc). By explaining the motivations of its withdrawal of the project, Joss Whedon put an end to these rumors, affirming that the casting of forever started film and that no name had been evoked.

In 2010, It is the realizer George Miller who will carry out the film adaptation of Justice League bringing together the largest supermen like Superman, Batman, Flash and obviously Wonder Woman.

See too

Wonder Woman (televised series)

External bonds

the origin of Wonder Woman in data base on the official site of cd.
Wonder Woman Online
Page Wonder Woman of comics-dB

Simple: Wonder Woman

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