Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman is the most widely recognized and the most popular super-heroine in comic books. She has been a staple of the DC Comics lineup for over 60 years since her original creation. She first appeared in All Star Comics #8, which was published by All American Publications in December of 1941. All American Publications was one of the companies that would go on to merge and form DC Comics.

The creator of Wonder Woman was William Moulton Marston, who was originally hired by All American Publications as an educational consultant. Marston, a psychologist and the inventor of the polygraph, was outspoken to the potential ability of comic books to be an educational and inspirational force.

The superhero genre in the early 1940s was completely dominated by male superheroes, such as Superman and Batman. Marston wanted to create a new kind of superhero, one that thrived off of intelligence and love. But it was actually his wife, Elizabeth, who had the idea to make the new character in the making a woman. Another woman, who was in a relationship with the both of them, Olive Byrne also served as a model for the character that would be Wonder Woman.

Marston wanted Wonder Woman to be a role model for young women. He wanted girls to see her strength, her free spirit and her smarts as a way that they should be. From his work with polygraphs and in psychology, Marston had a firm belief that women were more honest and reliable than man, and that they should utilize these strengths to realize power and strength in the real world. When Wonder Woman first appeared she was busy fighting the Nazi's. Her character also always had a strong sexual presence, in both physical proportions and costume design.

Wonder Woman's true personality is that of Princess Diana, a member of the Amazons tribe. The name is a homage to Greek mythology, and she was touted as being stronger than Hercules and more beautiful than Aphrodite. The Olympian Gods (a clear homage to ancient Greece and Mount Olympus) bestowed upon Diana the physical and mental gifts as well as her weapon, the Lasso of Truth.

While Wonder Woman today is most likely to be found in the adult costume section of your local Halloween store, she was at one point one of the more popular comic book characters in pop culture. There was a live action Wonder Woman television show between 1975 and 1979. Wonder Woman would also appear as a member of the Justice Society, Justice League and Super Friends. She is also one of only three characters to be continually published by DC Comics since the comic book company was formed.