Wonder Woman (1942-1986) #1

Wonder Woman (1942)

by William Moulton Marston (Writer), Harry G. Peter (Cover Artist, Penciler, Inker), Sheldon Moldoff (Artist)

Learn the secret origin of Wonder Woman--how she was created and how she became the Amazon's champion in Man's World! Includes four stories starring the Amazon Princess, written by Wonder Woman creator William Moulton Marston.

Features:

"The Origin of Wonder Woman"
"Wonder Woman Goes to the Circus"
"The Master Plan of Paula Von Gunther"
"The Greatest Feat of Daring In Human History"

Genres: Comics, Fiction, Graphic Novels, Dc Comics

57 pages, Paperback

First published May 31, 1942

About the author

Dr. William Moulton Marston (May 9, 1893 – May 2, 1947), also known by the pen names Charles Moulton and William Marston, was an American psychologist, feminist theorist, inventor, and comic book writer who created the character Wonder Woman. Two women, his wife Elizabeth Holloway Marston and Olive Byrne (who lived with the couple in a polyamorous relationship), served as exemplars for the character and greatly influenced her creation.

He was inducted into the Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2006.

Reviews

[Saffyre Falkenberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I really enjoyed getting to read Wonder Woman's early stories, the blatant sexism and racism throughout made it difficult to fully appreciate.

[Jennie Meetze · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sexist and racist, 1942 at its finest, but the graphics were awesome and full of adventure. Cheesy at best, but this is a long serie and I wanted to start with the beginning. One down a million more to go!

[Phil Bova · Rating 5 out of 5]

always a plus re-reading this classic tale of the Amazonian Princess. Hard to imagine how revolutionary Wonder Woman was during that time...

[ÆtherealReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Features a special message from Henry Morgenthau Jr., Secretary of the Treasury! (Why on Earth did they think that would hook the 'boys and girls of America'?)

Interesting stories, though ooh do some parts really not hold up. Like all the Burmese bits. (Amazing how Japan managed to set up a secret underground elephant temple and a base right in the middle of Mexico.)

Also holy hell that porter and... "Pancho".

The Florence Nightingale biopic was unexpected but not bad.

Wonder Woman being unable to thwart enemies because Diana Prince had to take dictation really encapsulated something.

And it is impossible not to read a BDSM subtext into all the talk of slaves and dominance and submission nowadays; Wonder Woman constantly being handcuffed, shackled, "bound hand and foot". Very Fifty Shades.

Superman's Secret Message, for those playing along, is: GWCZ NQZAB TQVM WN LMNMVAM QA BPM TQVM IB BPM EQVLWE AMTTQVO ABIUXA IVL JWVLA!

[Lulu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Origin 1st part https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
2nd part https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...


Both parts collected here (with alterations?) & additional material


Also check his ‘women in history’ mini comic which accompanied wonder women

[Pinky · Rating 2 out of 5]

Has not aged well.

[matina.reads]

DNF 30%
It had a great beginning but after 20 pages it just went downhill for me.

[Steven Shinder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wow this was much longer than I expected.

[Nafi Riddle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine dating a woman that you know for a day who drugged you, tried to kill your sister and a national hero.Damn he thirsty.

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

Okay so I read this on a whim and it was much better than I was expecting. It was full of action and adventure. It reminded me of the very old Archie comics I used to find in antique shops and book sales because of the way it was styled and told. Wonder Woman's adventure reminded me very much of the T.V. show with Linda Carter and it was cool to see the connection between the show, the comic, and the block-buster film. I like dhow the Amazons were a bit more tech-savvy. It was a lot more believable.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I grew up knowing of Wonder Woman but never really getting into her as a superhero. Truth be told, I'm not a huge superhero fanatic but this semester I'm taking a course on comics and was asked to read a DC comic from the Golden Age and a companion issue of the same superhero published within the last 15 years. I thought I would give Wonder Woman a shot after I finished watching Jessica Jones on Netflix.

The comic explained Wonder Woman's origin story (extremely helpful for a newbie like me) and is soon followed by a tale of Wonder Woman at the circus (very patriotic, constantly battling between female empowerment and sexism, and pretty racist) where the famous circus elephants keep dying. Rather hilariously, Wonder Woman and her best friend (a la something out of I Love Lucy) dress up an elephant to see if they can spy on the culprit. Of course the plan doesn't go off without a hitch but the day is eventually saved by Wonder Woman and America wins again.

The third Wonder Woman story in the comic is about the investigation of how German soldiers are learning about American plans, strategies, and whereabouts. Wonder Woman (Diana) is originally brought into the investigation as the stenographer (her "day job" is as a secretary) but she quickly finds herself involved with finding out who is leaking the information to the Germans. While visiting the prison to question a suspect, Diana'a overnight bag is accidentally opened and her lasso is "borrowed" by the warden's son without knowing it is Wonder Woman's. It also becomes a not so subtle advertisement to buy war bonds.

The fourth and final comic in the issue centers on Wonder Woman helping Etta Candy's brother, Private Mint Candy (still laughing about that name), the Japanese in Mexico, and bull fighting. BE WARNED: THIS ONE CONTAINS RACIST DEPICTIONS AND REFERENCE TO RAPE. This one also contains pretty sexist language coming from Wonder Woman herself. It's pretty disappointing to she her body shaming Etta. By the end of the issue the world has been saved several times over.

[Baylee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Puoi trovare questa recensione anche sul mio blog, La siepe di more

Devo ammettere che, se non fosse stato per la 2017 Read Harder Challenge, avrei avuto scarse probabilità di leggermi il primo fumetto su Wonder Woman e, con il senno del poi, non penso ne avrei sentito la mancanza.

Il fatto è che, sebbene possa essere esaltante vedere una supereroina intenta a salvare il mondo, non ho potuto fare a meno di rabbrividire di fronte al razzismo che contraddistingue la raffigurazione delle persone di colore. Okay, stiamo parlando di un fumetto del 1942, quando gli USA avevano dichiarato guerra al Giappone, ma ho letto altre opere sulla guerra e in queste al nemico, ancorché nemico, viene riconosciuta la dignità di essere umano.

Questo è il primo motivo per cui non riesco a definire questo fumetto femminista: il razzismo non ha niente a che fare con quello che per me è il femminismo e l’idea che solo le donne bianche debbano emanciparsi dal patriarcato è fuori da un mondo giusto.

La concezione stessa della donna bianca di William Moulton Marston, però, non mi è sembrata poi tanto femminista: all’interno di questo numero, c’è una storia a fumetti su Florence Nightingale, che è raffigurata come una specie di super-angelo del focolare, intento a salvare i soldati inglesi affidati alle sue cure amorevoli, senza curarsi di chi lo accusava di viziarli. È un personaggio che trasmette l’idea di una che ha la verità in tasca e che pretende che le altre persone seguano le sue direttive senza discutere: molto poco emancipatorio e ancor meno femminista.

Suppongo che con il tempo il personaggio di Wonder Woman sia cambiato e si sia evoluto: se siete più espert* di me sulla questione, sarò felice di saperne di più, scrivetemi nei commenti!

[B. P. Rinehart · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well...gonna make this one short.

Pros: Harry Peter's artwork and the first story retelling Wonder Woman's origin.

Cons: The other three stories. Even if we excuse the fact that it is a first time writer and co., still a little much 1940s in this comic, I mean all the crazy "-isms" come into play here--I mean damn! Just read All-Star Comics (1940-) #8 and Sensation Comics #1 and call it a day.

Thank Athena for George Pérez and Wonder Woman, Vol. 1: Gods and Mortals being the foundation of modern Wonder Woman.

[Rachel Friedland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very fun read. A bit less entertaining through a 2017 lens than a '42 one. There were some stereotypes which I wasn't too thrilled with, but this is still the best way to start reading Wonder Woman comics.

[Lauryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish I could rank this higher, because I love Wonder Woman, but I have several issues with this first volume.

[Kristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love wonder woman but this comic definitely reflects the attitude of the world during the time it was written.

[Jakob Sandevill]

Read around a half, not feeling it anymore, might return to it at some point, but, for now, it's a DNF. (As I read a big chunk of it I still count it as read.)